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Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 05:42:17 PM EST
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Same-sex unions are now legal in Great Britain. Among those taking advantage of the new law was Elton John.

Sir Elton, 58, and the Canadian film-maker, 43, were among 700 gay couples to join in civil partnerships yesterday, the first day that same-sex unions became legal in England and Wales. The partnerships allow same-sex couples new rights in areas such as employment, pension and inheritance, although the ceremonies are still not officially classed as "marriages".

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    Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions | 10 comments (10 topical)
    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#1)
    by ras on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 06:29:39 PM EST
    A more accurate description would be: Britain Licenses Civil Partnerships.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#2)
    by scarshapedstar on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 06:32:18 PM EST
    A more accurate description would be: Britain Licenses Civil Partnerships.
    Erm, okay.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#3)
    by ras on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 07:16:05 PM EST
    SSS, The significance is that by licensing the partnerships, Britain is at the same time confirming that marriage is not a right of those involved. If it were a right, no license would be required. It is a voluntary choice by others, the society at large, acting thru their elected reps, to license or to deny license, as they see fit.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#4)
    by jimcee on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 07:27:44 PM EST
    I wish Sir Elton and his partner the best.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 08:03:59 PM EST
    This is quite an extraordinary step, considering that Britain has lived in the dark ages, right up until recently, when it comes to homosexuality. However, it is only the first of many more steps to come (one hopes), as I believe that Ras is correct in his analysis. The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Britain, ... who's next? I'd like to see a heavyweight like Germany make the list next. You can't stop the flood, though you may wish to put your finger in the dike (pun intended).

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#6)
    by MikeDitto on Wed Dec 21, 2005 at 09:42:36 PM EST
    Lavocat: Try South Africa & Spain. And there are strong civil union laws in France, Germany, and New Zealand. And same-sex couples have common law marriage rights in Portugal. Mexico might be next. Some interesting news coming from south of the border lately on the equal marriage front. So the US may be bracketed on both sides by countries with more progressive gay rights laws, and has already been eclipsed by formerly apartheid South Africa and predominantly Catholic Spain in the area of gay rights. We really need to get to work...

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#7)
    by cpinva on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 01:15:26 AM EST
    marriage is a religious concept, done by a cleric. the legal aspects are really all that count. if you don't get a marriage license, you can be married all day long in a church, and the state will not recognize it. with canada giving the ok to group sex, i think i may move there! lol

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#8)
    by Slado on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 07:12:41 AM EST
    So did England pass a marriage law or a civil union law? Or something different? I think this issue comes down to the use of words. The state should just stop issuing "marriage" licences and start issuing "civil union" licences to anyone, including gays and then let churches grant marriage licences that can then be recognized as civil licences by the state. The point is if two people want to combine assests and get certain legal rights so be it. We should draw lines based on age, relation and multiple partners but the same sex ship has sailed. A civil union is not a marriage unless it happens in a church. Because marriage by definition is related to a union blessed by whatever diety you recognize. You get married in Las Vegas by Elvis and that is a civil union. Whether you're gay or hetero and met at the blackjack table. If the church of Elton John wants to perfrom a ceremony for gays then fine. That's a religous issue that can by hashed out by the parishoners. See Episcopalians. The state should get out of the marriage buisness and then there won't be a controversy. My two cents.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#9)
    by MikeDitto on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 07:53:03 AM EST
    Slado, Britain's law is for civil partnerships, which are in every sense marriages without the use of the term. I agree. If marriage is a hot-button religious word, get rid of it for everybody and leave it to the church. The point is that there are thousands of legal rights and responsibilities granted by that piece of paper, only some of which can be approximated through legal contracts, which cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to draw up and are only marginally enforceable.

    Re: Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Dec 22, 2005 at 08:37:19 PM EST
    Michael Ditto: Thank you; I stand corrected. I thought South Africa and Spain had come through on this but I couldn't be sure. As for New Zealand and Portugal, that's news to me. It's good to know that a good chunk of the "Western World" has become duly enlightened as to human sexuality.

    Britain Legalizes Same Sex Unions | 10 comments (10 topical)