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Government Launches Web Pages for Gay Civil Partnerships
|
LONDON, June 7 – There is no doubt that December 5 and 21 will be two dates that will go down in “gay history” in the United Kingdom. On December 5, the Civil Partnership Act 2004 will come into force and from this date same sex couples will be able to give “notice of intent” that they will be registering a civil partnership. Then from December 21, same sex couples will be able to actually register their partnerships which will be legally recognised. |
 ■ Meg Munn, MP |
While the wording of the Act itself has been know for more than six months, there are still many questions that those couples considering a civil partnership want answered as the make the big decision as to whether or not they wish to register.
So the Government has set-up a special section of its Women and Equality Unit’s website.
Meg Munn, the Deputy Minister for Women and Equality announced the web pages today. She said she was “delighted” to be the Minister with responsibility for bringing the Civil Partnership Act into force.
“It is a much needed social reform which will, for the first time, enable same-sex couples to obtain recognition for their relationships,” she said.
“In the run up to the Act coming into force, the Women and Equality Unit will be publishing regular e-bulletins on its website to highlight the arrangements being made for civil partnership. This will provide vital information including the procedures for registering.
“I am pleased to tell you that the first of these bulletins has now been published on the website,” she said.
This first page contains such items as:
■
Registering your civil partnership;
■
Changes to tax law;
■
Occupational pensions;
■
Changes to Employment regulations;
■
Secondary legislation
In addition, anyone can sign-up for email alerts of new pages about the Civil Partnership Act as and when they become available.
The Civil Partnership Act will recognize same-sex couples who have entered into a marriage or civil partnership in another country, as long as long as their overseas relationship meets the requirements set out in the Civil Partnership Act (Schedule 20). To date, the following will apply from December 5 (in Canada, territories and in USA, states):
Belgium
–
(marriage);
Canada
–
Nova Scotia (domestic partnership);
Quebec (civil union);
Denmark
– (partnerskab – registered partnership) ;
Finland
–
(rekisteröity parisuhde – registered partnership) ;
France
– (pacte civile de solidarité – civil solidarity pact);
Germany
– (Lebenspartnerschaft – life partnership);
Iceland
– (staðfesta samvist – confirmed cohabitation);
Netherlands
– (geregistreerde partnerschap – registered partnership);
Netherlands
– (marriage);
Norway
– (partnerskap – registered partnership);
Sweden
– (registrerat partnerskap – registered partnership);
United States of America
–
Vermont (civil union).
New relationships will be added to Schedule 20 as more countries or territories bring in gay marriage or civil partnership schemes. Recent developments include civil union legislation in New Zealand and Connecticut (USA).
In Spain, a government backed gay marriage bill passed through the lower house of Parliament on 21 April 2005, and now goes before the Senate. These and any other new overseas schemes will now be considered for inclusion in Schedule 20.
LINKS
Women and
Equality Unit LGBT website
Civil Partnershp Act Q&A page (direct link)
7
June 2005
