g3 Magazine October 2009

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Anniversary
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In December 2005, the Civil Partnerships benefi ts, the chance to gain parental the ceremony itself, as you are in a
Act 2004 was passed, fi nally allowing gay responsibility for each other’s children, marriage.
people to enter into a union which and the right to go and visit your lady in Whether or not this is a big deal
afforded them legal rights. Up to this point, hospital if she still hasn’t got the hang of depends on your perception, but this
of course, the only option for couples those rollerblades you gave her for discrepancy has deterred many women
wanting to take their relationship to the Christmas. taking the plunge, even if they aren’t
next level was a commitment ceremony; Civil partnerships are often religious themselves. They argue that we
romantic, but not much good if your erroneously referred to as ‘gay marriages’. mustn’t be seen to be satisfi ed with
partner is unexpectedly whisked off this It’s an understandable slip, but there’s one anything but total equality – and this
mortal coil and the house is in her name. signifi cant thing which makes them means being allowed to have a Christian
Get CP’d, and you can expect almost different, apart from technical differences marriage ceremony.
all the same advantages as you would in a in the way the contract is drawn up. g3 decided to chat to some women
hetero marriage – plus the added bonus Although you are allowed to have a who are CP’d – or planning to become
of not having to be hitched to a man, blessing service after a civil partnership so – and see what all the fuss is about. We
woo! This means you can enjoy things ceremony, you aren’t allowed to asked them why they did it – and why
such as extra employment and pension incorporate any religious elements into they think more women aren’t doing it:
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36,
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Some people think if they love each
35, other, then it’s great because they can
both fi tness instructors have it on a piece of paper. But they
don’t think of the benefi ts beyond that.
We didn’t think it was like copying
“We had our civil partnership at straight people, but I know that some
Westminster Town Hall in March 2006. people do think like that. We’re not
religious or anything. People think that
We did it because, obviously, we love in general, they don’t have to be legally
each other. But also because of together, just because they love each
inheritance tax and such, it’s very other and want to be together. And that
important for both of us to be safer, would apply to both gay and straight
such as with the next of kin thing, for people. And sadly, one of my friends got
security. A lot of people aren’t even civil partnered, and they broke up within
aware of the legal benefi ts, and they the fi rst year. But the statistics of divorce
don’t think about what would happen if are probably no higher than that of
something happens to your partner. straight people.”
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