http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm
Gay couples to get joint rights Gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales are to be given similar legal rights as husbands and wives under a new Civil Partnership Bill.
The measure, being unveiled on Wednesday, will give legal recognition to gay couples for the first time.
The plans, announced in last year's Queen's Speech, follow a long campaign for equality for same sex partners.
Tory leader Michael Howard has indicated that he will give his MPs a free vote on the issue.
'Gay summit'
The bill is expected to give same-sex couples pension and property entitlements if they register their commitment in a civil ceremony.
It is also likely to deal with the payment of income related benefits, parental responsibility for children and exemption from testifying against each other in court.
EU COUNTRIES THAT RECOGNISE SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS: Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Netherlands Portugal Spain SwedenBut the plans have already faced criticism for failing to offer similar rights to unmarried heterosexual couples.
Earlier this week, the Tories held a "gay summit", marking a shift for a party which only recently dropped support for a law banning councils from promoting homosexuality.
Mr Howard indicated that he would give MPs a free vote on the issue, but several are expected to vote against such partnerships when the Bill is debated in the Commons.
Schemes which recognise committed homosexual relationships have already been set up in nine EU countries.
Consultation
And in June last year, Canada's largest province Ontario ruled that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry there.
Under the plans, gay couples will not be entitled to a "marriage" ceremony, but will be able to sign an official document at a register office in front of the registrar and two witnesses.
The proposals went out for consultation last year.
The consultation paper did not use the term "gay marriage", but the Civil Partnership Registration Scheme seemed to have been designed to be as close to a marriage contract as possible.
Gay couples would not have to live together for a certain length of time to be eligible for the rights and if the partnership breaks up, there would be a "formal, court-based process" for dissolving it.
Under the plans set out in the consultation paper, gay couples in the UK will have: Visiting rights in hospitals An ability to gain parental responsibility for each other's children Recognition for immigration purposes Joint state pension benefits Obligation to support each other financially Ability to claim compensation for fatal accidents or criminal injuries Recognition under inheritance and intestacy rules The right to register their partner's death and continue tenancy of a property Exemption from inheritance tax on a partner's home Exemption from testifying against each other in court
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/3584285.stm
Published: 2004/03/30 21:02:46 GMT
© BBC MMIV
Gay couples to get joint rights Gay and lesbian couples in England and Wales are to be given similar legal rights as husbands and wives under a new Civil Partnership Bill. I'm sure most will be pleased to hear this.
-
Ignored One.