ChatterBank1 min ago
Congratulations
168 Answers
Thought I would post some good news after all the sad news over the last week.
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totally agree Craft. I'm not homophobic and was a guest recently at a gay couples civil ceremony. They were equally happy, no less happy than if they had had a 'marriage'. This has been discussed to death but my opinion is that 'marriage' was designed to unite 2 people of the opposite sex in holy matrimony and should remain so.
I echo what many have already said. Good for them.
Daisynonna...the differences between CPs and marriages are:
1. Financial rights
Civil partners do not have the same pension rights as married couples. If one civil partner dies, the pension share that the surviving partner receives is often lower and lasts for less time than with married couples.
The reason for this is the pension a surviving partner is entitled to is measured differently depending on whether they have been civil partnered or married.
For civil partners, public sector schemes are dated back to 1988. For private sector schemes, it need only be backdated to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
But for married couples, a surviving partner is entitled to a pension based on the number of years their spouse paid into the pension fund.
2. 'Separate is not equal'
Advocates for equal marriage speak of the emotional resonance marriage holds. Marriage represents a form of inclusion within society.
It is a way of belonging to a cultural group and buying into values seen as respectable and acceptable.
The language of marriage carries a social weight that civil partnership does not. This is a reason why civil partners often refer to their partnerships as 'marriages', rather than 'partnerships'.
Those who back equal marriage say using a different word indicates that society attaches less importance to civil partnerships.
3. Foreign travel / Living abroad
Travel restrictions apply to civil partners but not married couples.
Countries like Sweden, Argentina and Portugal, where same-sex marriage is legal, do not see civil partnerships as marriage.
This means UK civil partners living abroad do not enjoy the same rights as same-sex married couples in the 11 countries where equal marriage is legal.
In addition, the marriages of foreign gay couples who travel to the UK are not legally viewed as marriages.
4. Forced 'outing'
Official forms such as the UK census require a declaration of marital status.
This often means that civilly partnered people are forced to state their sexuality, ticking a separate box that says 'civil partnership' rather than 'marriage'.
Also in social situations, many gay people feel uncomfortable declaring their sexuality to strangers (think of all the documents we all full in which ask for marital status). With same sex marriage, that ceases to be an issue.
5. Adultery and vows
Unlike marriages, consummation is not a legal requirement of civil partnerships. Neither is adultery recognized as grounds for dissolution. These differences won't be addressed by the new equal marriage legislation as the government does not intend to re-write these areas of law.
There is also no requirement for civil partners to take any vows.
These variations mean that UK marriage law doesn't necessarily cover civil partnership, opening the door for different treatment of gay couples.
6. Gender
Gender is written into the structure of UK marriage law.
This means if a married trans person would like to get a Gender Recognition Certificate as part of living in their preferred gender, they must divorce and reapply for civil partnership.
Separate marriage and civil partnership regulations mean gender and orientation are the deciding factors in what relationships are legally recognized.
Daisynonna...the differences between CPs and marriages are:
1. Financial rights
Civil partners do not have the same pension rights as married couples. If one civil partner dies, the pension share that the surviving partner receives is often lower and lasts for less time than with married couples.
The reason for this is the pension a surviving partner is entitled to is measured differently depending on whether they have been civil partnered or married.
For civil partners, public sector schemes are dated back to 1988. For private sector schemes, it need only be backdated to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
But for married couples, a surviving partner is entitled to a pension based on the number of years their spouse paid into the pension fund.
2. 'Separate is not equal'
Advocates for equal marriage speak of the emotional resonance marriage holds. Marriage represents a form of inclusion within society.
It is a way of belonging to a cultural group and buying into values seen as respectable and acceptable.
The language of marriage carries a social weight that civil partnership does not. This is a reason why civil partners often refer to their partnerships as 'marriages', rather than 'partnerships'.
Those who back equal marriage say using a different word indicates that society attaches less importance to civil partnerships.
3. Foreign travel / Living abroad
Travel restrictions apply to civil partners but not married couples.
Countries like Sweden, Argentina and Portugal, where same-sex marriage is legal, do not see civil partnerships as marriage.
This means UK civil partners living abroad do not enjoy the same rights as same-sex married couples in the 11 countries where equal marriage is legal.
In addition, the marriages of foreign gay couples who travel to the UK are not legally viewed as marriages.
4. Forced 'outing'
Official forms such as the UK census require a declaration of marital status.
This often means that civilly partnered people are forced to state their sexuality, ticking a separate box that says 'civil partnership' rather than 'marriage'.
Also in social situations, many gay people feel uncomfortable declaring their sexuality to strangers (think of all the documents we all full in which ask for marital status). With same sex marriage, that ceases to be an issue.
5. Adultery and vows
Unlike marriages, consummation is not a legal requirement of civil partnerships. Neither is adultery recognized as grounds for dissolution. These differences won't be addressed by the new equal marriage legislation as the government does not intend to re-write these areas of law.
There is also no requirement for civil partners to take any vows.
These variations mean that UK marriage law doesn't necessarily cover civil partnership, opening the door for different treatment of gay couples.
6. Gender
Gender is written into the structure of UK marriage law.
This means if a married trans person would like to get a Gender Recognition Certificate as part of living in their preferred gender, they must divorce and reapply for civil partnership.
Separate marriage and civil partnership regulations mean gender and orientation are the deciding factors in what relationships are legally recognized.
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