Heterosexual couple argue they are being discriminated against in civil partnership ban row

A heterosexual couple who want to enter into a civil partnership rather than marry have urged a judge to rule that they are being discriminated against. Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who are both academics and live in Hammersmith, west London, argue that the Government's position on civil partnerships is "incompatible with equality law". Dr Steinfeld, 34, and Mr Keidan, 39, who have been in a committed relationship since November 2010 and have an eight-month-old baby, want to secure legal recognition of that relationship through a civil partnership.
But the Civil Partnership Act 2004 stipulates that only same-sex couples are eligible. Their QC Karon Monaghan told Mrs Justice Andrews at a hearing in London on Tuesday: "The claimants submit that the prohibition on access to a civil partnership by opposite-sex couples is directly discriminatory on grounds of sexual orientation since same-sex couples may enter into a civil partnership or a marriage, but opposite-sex couples may only enter into a marriage."

She said the case raised "important matters" for "many couples".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/12109196/Heterosexual-couple-argue-they-are-being-discriminated-against-in-civil-partnership-ban-row.html

Oh FFS! Just get married already!
Why don't they want to marry then? That's the question.

Awkward aerosols, good for the judge, tellem to go away or summut similar.

Unless they do away with civil partnerships, then heterosexuals should have the right to a civil partnership as well, as that is equality.

Didge wrote:Unless they do away with civil partnerships, then heterosexuals should have the right to a civil partnership as well, as that is equality.

I agree with you in principle as you're right, of course, but aren't they just being bloody awkward??
Why can't they just get married?!

eddie wrote:

Didge wrote:Unless they do away with civil partnerships, then heterosexuals should have the right to a civil partnership as well, as that is equality.

I agree with you in principle as you're right, of course, but aren't they just being bloody awkward??
Why can't they just get married?!

Very possible this is being played out in some way to be obtuse in some way because of homosexuals being allowed to marry.
That is why they should either do away with civil partnerships, which will effect non-Brits in these relationships, or they amend the law to bring equality to stop this being used as a carrot to get at homosexuality rights

Didge wrote:Unless they do away with civil partnerships, then heterosexuals should have the right to a civil partnership as well, as that is equality.

They can get married like decent people do.

Stormee wrote:

Didge wrote:Unless they do away with civil partnerships, then heterosexuals should have the right to a civil partnership as well, as that is equality.

They can get married like decent people do.

So you are saying couples who are unmarried are not decent then?

They are being discriminated against, so why shouldn't they complain? Other people complain if they're discriminated against.

Raggamuffin wrote:They are being discriminated against, so why shouldn't they complain? Other people complain if they're discriminated against.

Which is why I said it should be made law, to bring equality

Think of the children

Didge wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:They are being discriminated against, so why shouldn't they complain? Other people complain if they're discriminated against.

Which is why I said it should be made law, to bring equality

Does it strike anybody else that it sounds like the exclusion of heterosexual couples was an accident? This was before gay marriage was legal, right? So the law might have been passed as some sort of compromise measure, i.e.:

"We don't deem you gays quite equal to us yet, so you don't enjoy the right we have to get married, but we'll throw you a bone and let you call your commitments anything but marriages."

And then gay marriage was passed and everyone forgot about the civil partnerships law, thinking the main struggle was won?

As for why they'd want a civil partnership rather than a marriage, who knows -- maybe they, like many people, find the institution of marriage patriarchal.

Didge wrote:

eddie wrote:

I agree with you in principle as you're right, of course, but aren't they just being bloody awkward??
Why can't they just get married?!

Very possible this is being played out in some way to be obtuse in some way because of homosexuals being allowed to marry.
That is why they should either do away with civil partnerships, which will effect non-Brits in these relationships, or they amend the law to bring equality to stop this being used as a carrot to get at homosexuality rights

I guess ben did not read this post????

Didge wrote:

Didge wrote:

eddie wrote:

I agree with you in principle as you're right, of course, but aren't they just being bloody awkward??
Why can't they just get married?!

Very possible this is being played out in some way to be obtuse in some way because of homosexuals being allowed to marry.
That is why they should either do away with civil partnerships, which will effect non-Brits in these relationships, or they amend the law to bring equality to stop this being used as a carrot to get at homosexuality rights

I guess ben did not read this post????

I did read it, I just wanted to post my own theory. I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission first, sir.

Ben_Reilly wrote:

Didge wrote:


I guess ben did not read this post????

I did read it, I just wanted to post my own theory. I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission first, sir.

It shows you did not read my views did you?

eddie wrote:Oh FFS! Just get married already!
Why don't they want to marry then? That's the question.

I am just going to point out HOW Discimnatory the UK is

Lol even in SA anyone is allowed a civil union
mind you most don't bother since if you live together for 6 months you are defacto couple (same legal status) anyway