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Gay couples to say 'I do'
02/12/2005 18:18 - (SA)
London - Debbie and Elaine, Roger and Percy will be among the first same-sex couples in Britain to tie the knot under a new law that comes into force on Monday.
According to official predictions, some 22 000 people will sign so-called civil partnerships between now and 2010, giving them most of the same rights and privileges as married, heterosexual couples.
Britain is the fifth country to introduce legislation allowing gay unions, following Belgium, Canada, Spain and the Netherlands.
Given the legal requirement of publishing the banns - notices of intent to wed that provide an opportunity for objections - the first ceremonies are scheduled for December 19 in Northern Ireland, December 20 in Scotland and December 21 in England.
The southern English seaside resort of Brighton, and Westminster, in the political and tourist heart of London, both wanted to be the first in England to marry same-sex partners.
Ceremonies will be held there on December 21 at 08:00 GMT on the dot.
Both places are expecting a boost to their image and also hoping to attract the financial clout of the "pink pound".
In Brighton - Britain's self-styled "gay capital" where 40 000 of its 161 000 inhabitants are homosexual - Debbie Gaston, a reverend in the Metropolitan Community Church, will marry Elaine Cook, her companion of 16 years.
The town's local authority believes choosing a woman of the cloth will reinforce the message.
"I've had comments made on me on various fundamental Christian sites on the internet, about how I'm going to hell," Gaston recalled with a smile recently.
Loophole in the legislation
"I think that perhaps they'll have a shock when they get to heaven and they see me there as well."
Westminster has opted for another symbol with Roger Lockyer, 77, and Percy Stevens, 66, who will finally be allowed to be legally united after 40 years in love.
The new law is designed to enable gay couples to enjoy similar rights, such as parental rights, pensions, housing and bereavement, as their married, husband-and-wife counterparts.
But a loophole in the legislation allows heterosexual friends of the same sex to form a civil partnership and take advantage of the benefits as well, said Mark Giddens, tax adviser at national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young.
"Unlike a marriage, a civil partnership cannot be made void if it is not consummated," he said.
"Friends who register as civil partners could pass their estates to one another free of inheritance tax and could also benefit from a deceased partner's pension rights," Giddens said.
Howard Burns, partner at law firm Rowe Cohen, however warned that legislation could be introduced in the future to correct this side-effect.
Britain's main religions have given a cool reaction to the advent of gay marriage.
Britain's main religion, the Church of England, has refused to bless same-sex unions but advised priests to act "with sensitivity".
- AFP
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