Straight Couple Protest Against Straight Marriage
Heterosexual couple Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle have given notice of their intention to form a civil partnership, in protest against the discriminatory split between marriage and civil partnerships:
Under UK law, same-sex couples are banned from civil marriage and heterosexual couples are banned from civil partnerships (called civil unions in the US).f
Freeman said:”We think the ‘separate but equal’ system which segregates couples according to their sexuality is not equal at all. All loving couples should have access to the same institutions, regardless of sexuality. There should be parity of respect and rights”.
Doyle added: “Just as gay couples should be able to have a civil marriage, civil partnerships should be available to straight couples who don’t like the institution of marriage.”
It’s an unlikely protest, but one which pricelessly shows the discrimination at the heart of civil partnerships. Whilst they were a step in the right direction almost half a decade ago, it really is time the inequality of marriage was properly highlighted and addressed in the UK. When western European nations are forging ahead and making marriage universally available, the UK is still *ahem* wedded to a conservative model of marriage, which as this story shows doesn’t even suit all heterosexual people anymore. And as the couple goes on to say:
Freeman said: “Ideally we’d have the option of a civil partnership or a marriage, regardless of whether we were straight or gay. Effectively marriage and civil partnerships are exactly the same – it’s a duplicate law. The effects and legal processes are identical. The rights and obligations are identical. Civil partnerships are equality in all but name – so why not just have equality?
“The answer is there are conservative people who feel offended by having gay people in their precious institution. It’s quite an insulting compromise.”
Doyle added: “Marriage is patriarchal. The whole idea of dressing up in a big white dress and being given away by your father and taking your husband’s name is a bit old fashioned.”
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I heard a phone in show with these guys on LBC and whilst I agreed with their stance…boy were they terrible orators. It’s so much nicer to read their argument in print than actually hear them trying to defend themselves on the radio. Such a shame really.
Thinking about it, I haven’t checked what the registry office’s response was on the day. Presumably they were turned away – I’ll have a look now.