December partnerships for U.K. gays
Tue Feb 22,10:13 PM ET Community - Planet Out Ben Townley, Gay.com UK SUMMARY: The first civil partnerships in the United Kingdom will take place before Christmas 2005, with the government announcing an official implementation date of December 5. The first civil partnerships in the United Kingdom will take place before Christmas 2005, according to Gay.com U.K., with the government announcing an official implementation date of December 5. Announced today to the delight of same-sex couples looking to take advantage of the new legislation, the Civil Partnership Act will take effect on the 5th, allowing for ceremonies to take place on December 21. The gap between the two dates allows for the 15-day waiting period required. The act is the first piece of legislation that allows same-sex couples legal recognition and similar rights to married heterosexual couples. Women and Equality minister Jacqui Smith said she was aware that many couples were "eager" to hear the official date. "I know how much this legislation means to a great many same-sex couples across the country who are eager to finally get legal recognition for their relationships," she said on Tuesday. "This legislation is going to make a real difference to these couples, and it demonstrates the government's commitment to equality and social justice," she added. Additionally, Ms Smith said the new laws would have a direct impact on British society and the place of lesbian and gay people within it. "I hope this act will help create a more equal society," she said, adding that "it opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied it for too long." The act will allow same-sex couples to have their relationship recognized at an official ceremony similar to a civil marriage. Already, register officers in major cities -- including Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham and boroughs within London -- have started to take expressions of interest from couples looking to have an early union. The bill introducing civil partnership was passed in the Houses of Parliament last year, but the government said it would need a year to allow for implementation strategies. At one point, many couples feared the new laws would be delayed until early 2006. The gay rights group Stonewall celebrated the announcement today. "We're delighted that the government has announced a date for implementation of these new laws," the charity's Alan Wardle told Gay.com U.K. "For many lesbians and gay men, Christmas will come early this year." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RSS feeds from select queer and non-queer blogs: http://bloglines.com/public/nitinkarani -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project. http://us.click.yahoo.com/4F6XtA/_WnJAA/E2hLAA/WfTolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Group Site: http://www.gaybombay.info ========================== NEW CLASSIFIEDS SECTION SEEKING FRIENDS? VISIT www.gaybombay.info click on classified section and type your message in the post section once the link opens This message was posted to the gay_bombay Yahoo! Group. Responses to messages (by clicking "Reply") will also be posted on the eGroup and sent to all members. If you'd like to respond privately to the author of any message then please compose and send a new email message to the author's email address. For Parties and events go to: http://calendar.yahoo.com/YYY,04497/srt,0/gaybombaygroup/?v=42&POS= Post:- gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com Subscribe:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Digest Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] No Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Individual Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Contact Us:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives are at http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay%40yahoogroups.com/maillist.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
