Civil Partnerships - Changes in the Law

The government is to push ahead with plans for gay marriage, following the personal intervention of David Cameron, and will legislate to make gay marriage legal before 2015. At present, gay men and women are allowed to form civil partnerships, which offer most of the legal protections of marriage. However, the term ‘marriage’ cannot be legally used.

In a recent speech, the Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone announced that Britain should be a ‘world leader for gay rights’. She said, “Civil partnerships were a welcome first step – but this party rejects prejudice and discrimination in all its forms. While on my travels as a champion for women’s rights, I am and will be a champion for gay rights too.”

It is understood that the Prime Minister has taken a strong personal interest in the proposals, and had insisted that any change in the law take place before the next election. The government has already agreed to consult on gay marriage on at least two occasions, however the lack of progress has prompted this move.

Under the plans, same-sex couples will be able to have full marriages in register offices, as heterosexual couples can. They will however, still be barred from getting married in churches and other religious buildings – even though some denominations want to offer the services. Under changes announced earlier this year, churches and other religious buildings will soon be able to host civil partnerships for the first time – although they will not be forced to do so. Currently, any venue licensed to hold civil ceremonies can, if it refuses to allow a Civil Partnership to take place, have its licence revoked.

The chief executive of gay rights group Stonewall, Ben Summerskill, has said, “This change will make a difference to a number of gay people who are concerned at the differing status of civil partnerships and marriage. But it will not apply to churches and it seems unfair as a matter of religious freedom that if some denominations – such as the Quakers – wish to celebrate same-sex marriages, they should be barred from doing so.”

The consultation process will begin next March on whether to allow same-sex couples to get married. A change in the law would follow the consultation.

Opinion polls have shown that two-thirds of the public would support gay marriage.

Article by London Based Wedding Planner Lester Gethings

Image from Flickr by World Economic Forum

Read more Civil Partnership Advice articles

Read other Wedding Advice articles