Hitch In UK Gay Unions Law

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/08/080405ukUnions.htm

It doesn't come into effect until December but already Britain's new law allowing civil unions for same-sex couples is in trouble.

The law creates a civil partner registry. Gay and lesbian couples will have inheritance rights to their partners' estates, hospital visitation rights, and the right to receive the spouses share of their partner's pension.

But, registering the partnerships falls to local governments and several are refusing. On top of that a growing number of local registrars are refusing to conduct the ceremonies - taking advantage of a clause in the law that allows for "conscientious objectors".


bigots--gotta love them

[damntexdem]

1. It's better than it is here.

Here, conservatives try to get gay-marriage-performing local officials arrested.

[BattyDem]

2. "A clause in the law that allows for conscientious objectors"

Well, it was pretty stupid to put that clause in the law in the first place. It's one thing to allow churches, temples, etc. to refuse to perform gay marriages ... but to allow local government officials to object to a civil law is ridiculous! Would those same officials be allowed to object to interfaith marriages? Or interracial marriages? Perhaps they don't like the idea of a woman marrying a younger man or they don't believe that two people who are too old to conceive children should be allowed to marry. Can they object in those cases as well? :eyes:

[mitchtv]

3. time for Tax protests

legal rights denied?