Elton fears anti-gay protests
2005-12-21 08:10
London - British pop legend Elton John is afraid anti-gay protesters could ruin the civil partnership ceremony to legally recognise his relationship with partner David Furnish, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Campaigners against homosexuality clashed with their gay rights counterparts at the first civil partnership ceremony between a lesbian couple in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Monday.
The Sun said the singer had told friends he was afraid of a repeat of scenes involving Christian fundamentalists who picketed Belfast City Hall.
As a result, security would be tight outside the Guildhall in Windsor, west of London, later on Wednesday, with the paper describing the police presence and barriers around the venue as a "ring of steel".
"We don't want a hint of trouble, even anyone trying to throw an egg," an unnamed police source was quoted as telling the daily tabloid.
John and his Canadian filmmaker partner will become among the first same-sex couples in England and Wales to exchange vows, following a compulsory 15-day waiting period from registering.
Northern Ireland and Scotland had marginally shorter waiting periods with the first ceremonies taking place on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Civil partnerships give gay couples virtually identical rights in areas such as inheritance and tax as their heterosexual counterparts.
Although dubbed "gay marriage", same-sex ceremonies are not permitted in church.