UK Gay Civil Partnerships

Same-sex Partnerships Become UK Law!

2005-12-05T07:04:00.000Z

5th December 2005 - A great day for the UK's gay and lesbian community, as from today, same-sex couples can register their intent to form a Civil Partnership. Ceremonies can take place from 21 December 2005.

This long awaited legislation gives same-sex couples almost the same rights as heterosexual married couples. However, with these important rights, come important obligations and couples should not enter a Civil Partnership, lightly.

For more information see www.civil-partnership.info.

Marriage Matters - A Review Of Civil Partnerships

2005-11-26T08:32:00.000Z

Maggie Fleming, of Isis Financial Planners, reviews Civil Partnerships in Bent magazine. Read her Civil Partnership review.

Civil Partnerships and older people

2005-11-26T08:20:00.000Z

The UK Government's Women & Equality Unit have issued advice and guidlelines on Civil Partnerships specifically aimed at older people. The advice covers:

SPECIAL ARRANGMENTS FOR REGISTERING A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

In event of a serious illness
When a person is housebound/cannot be moved
Capacity to register

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITES

Taxation
Pensions
Social security, tax credits
Tenancy rights
People in care homes
Next of kin

IF A CIVIL PARTNER DIES

Death registration
Wills
Intestacy
Family provision
Life assurance

For more information see the gayfinance Civil Partnership web pages.

Civil Partnership Ceremony

2005-10-28T14:16:00.000+01:00

In association with the "Association of Registration and Celebratory Services" (ARCS) the Women and Equality Unit, responsible for the UK's Civil Partnership Act, has published a "model" Civil Partnership Ceremony.

For more information on this Civil Partnership Ceremony, see www.civil-partnerships.info .

Civil Partnership and Council Tax

2005-10-28T14:07:00.000+01:00

The Women & Equality Unit of the UK Government has issued new guidance on how the Civil Partnership Act will affect same-sex couples for Council Tax. These rules will apply to registered Civil Partners AND unregistered same-sex couples living together as though they were Civil Partners.

For more information see http://www.civil-partnerships.info.

Civil Partnership - does it end financial discrimination of gay men?

2005-10-02T08:22:00.000+01:00

Until the advent of the Civil Partnership Act there didn't seem any hope of ending the raft of discrimination against the gay community and same-sex couples with regards to various aspects of financial arrangements.

Now, the rules on inheritance tax, capital gains tax, pensions, etc. are nearing equality with heterosexuals.

Maggie Fleming, independent financial adviser with Isis Financial Planners, has written two articles for gay magazine, Fyne Times. These articles can be accessed as follows:

September 2005 - A review of financial discrimination of gay men and lesbians
October 2005 - A look at how Civil Partnerships will help to eradicate most of the financial discrimination

Civil Partnership Publicity Campaign

2005-10-02T08:13:00.000+01:00

On 14 September 2005, the UK Government launched a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the forthcoming civil partnerships (see their civil partnership press release). Publications include a leaflet, an overview booklet and a detailed guide.

For more information, and to download all the publications, see the Isis Financial Planners Civil Partnerships web pages.

Civil Partnership advice for employers

2005-08-21T10:36:00.000+01:00

The UK Government have issued a guidance document for UK employers, outlining their responsibilities to employees, under the Civil Partnership Act.

For more information, the gayfinance.info Civil Partnership web pages.

Your help in fighting unjust Inheritance Tax rules

2005-08-21T10:02:00.000+01:00

Louis Letourneau, of Isis Financial Planners, asks for your help in fighting unjust Inheritance Tax rules, leading up to the implementation of the Civil Partnership Act in December 2005.

In his latest Gay Times, gtfinance, article, Louis looks at the situation of those people who have lost their partners, since the Civil Partnership Act was passed in November 2004, but who still have to pay, what can be, enormous Inheritance Tax bills, often resulting them having to sell their home. Heterosexual, married couples do not have to pay a penny.

For the full story see the September edition of Gay Times or the gayfinance.info website.

Pope Slams Same-Sex Partnerships as "Anarchy"

2005-06-14T20:23:00.000+01:00

News from

Gay.com reports that the 78-year-old anti-gay Pope Benedict XVI, has slammed gay unions as 'anarchy' . In his first pronouncement since his election as pope, Benedict XVI condemned same-sex unions as fake and threatening to the future of the family.

For the full story see the gay.com website at: http://uk.gay.com/headlines/8630 .

UK Government Release Guidance For Civil Partnerships

2005-06-11T08:05:00.000+01:00

The UK Government Minister, now responsible for the implementation of the Civil Partnership Act, has announced that she is to start publishing guidance, for prospective Civil Partners. Meg Munn, MP, Deputy Minister for Women and Equality announced new Civil Partnership web pages this week.

The first of these pages can be found on the Women & Equality Unit's website and is titled: "Civil Partnership implementation E-bulletin June 2005". You can even register to receive new bulletins as they are published.

This is a very welcome initiative, as so far, the publicity about Civil Partnerships has been almost non-existent and many people have no real concept of the mechanisms for registering or the exact details of the rights and obligations that registering offers.

Spanish Prime Minister defends gay marriage

2005-05-14T09:13:00.000+01:00

In the on-going saga of the Catholic Church vs. the Spanish Government, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, strongly defended his country's gay marriage legislation, reports Reuters.

Zapatero told the Spanish Parliament, "I will never understand those who proclaim love as the foundation of life, while denying so radically protection, understanding and affection to our neighbors, our friends, our relatives, our colleagues. What kind of love is this that excludes those who experience their sexuality in a different way?" he said.

The Catholic Church appear to be acting in an ever more radical manner. Spanish newspaper El Mundo, quoting sources at the Bishops' Conference, reported on 10th May that the Church would like to see King Juan Carlos demonstrate opposition to the law by abdicating temporarily to avoid having to sign it!

Catholic Church again.....

2005-05-05T07:50:00.000+01:00

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family has been spouting anti-gay venom again. Reuters reports that he "blasted Spain's law allowing gays to wed as a destruction of the marriage institution and urged Christians around the world to oppose such unions." The new Spanish legislation on gay marriage, includes the rights to adopt, which the Cardinal described as "moral violence" against children and jeopardised their personality and stability.

In an interview with Fides, the news agency of the Vatican's missionary arm, Lopez Trujillo said the Spanish law allowing gay couples to marry had "changed and falsified the very definition of marriage" and was "destroying, bit by bit, the institution of marriage". He also went on to say that gay marriage "destroys the future of children, (and) they suffer moral violence".

Catholic Church compares gay marriage to Auschwitz

2005-05-05T07:34:00.000+01:00

The Catholic Church continues to build hatred against the gay community. In a sickening statement to a Spanish telephone statement, Cardinal Ricard Maria Carles, former archbishop of Barcelona, said, "If you give obedience to the law priority over obedience to your conscience, that leads to Auschwitz". This in the context of obedience to the legalisation of same-sex marriage. This follows the Spanish parliament's ground-breaking moves to legalise gay marriage (including adoption).

The Triangulo foundation, a Spanish gay rights group, said that comparison with the Holocaust was "repugnant" and called on the church to "stop sowing hatred against victims of discrimination and against victims of the Holocaust, among whom there were many homosexuals."

Another gay rights group, Cogam, said it was "incredible that the Catholic hierarchy should reach the point where it makes a link between the parliamentarians who voted for the [gay marriage bill] and Nazism" and attacked an "unacceptable interference by a foreign state in Spanish politics."

Spanish Government Stands By Gay Marriage

2005-04-28T13:55:00.000+01:00

The UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper writes today that the Spanish Government are standing by their proposals for gay marriage, despite the Catholic Church's call for "civil disobedience" over the issue. The Telegraph reports, "Emboldened by support from a senior cardinal, centre-Right mayors have threatened to defy a law sponsored by the socialist government allowing civil marriage between gays." But the Government have told public officials that they must apply the law.

For the full story see: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/28/wspain28.xml

Pope Condemns Gay Marriage

2005-04-24T09:16:00.000+01:00

The new Pope has only taken a few days to start stamping his anti-gay stance on an already anit-gay Catholic Church. The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council on the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, denounced Spain's new "gay marriage" bill as profoundly iniquitous ("iniquity", as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is "injustice or immoral behaviour").

Very worringly, it is reported that he also went on to say that every profession linked with implementing homosexual marriages should oppose it, even if it meant losing their jobs! Pope John Paul II had also called upon catholic politicians to block or repeal laws that would give equal rights to same-sex couples in Spain, and across Europe.

Gay Marriage Approved In Spain

2005-04-24T09:05:00.000+01:00

On Friday 22 April 2005 Spain's lower house of parliament has passed a law that would give same-sex couples the right to marry and even adopt children.

The bill, which passed by a vote of 183 to 136, now moves on to the upper house.

If, as expected, the senate also approves the bill, it will make Spain the third European Union country, after the Netherlands and Belgium to legalize gay marriage. The UK's Civil Partnership Act does not give full equality to same-sex couples and the Government are keen for it NOT to be called "gay marriage".

Wills for gay men, lesbians and same-sex couples

2005-03-30T06:40:00.000+01:00

Despite the forthcoming Civil Partnerships, it is still vital that everyone makes a Will.

Gay Independent Financial Adviser Louis Letourneau provides advice on this very important issue in the April edition of Gay Times.

The gayfinance.info website carries his article on Wills for gay men, lesbians and same-sex couples.

Register Offices encourage prospective Civil Partners to register

2005-03-17T12:09:00.000Z

News from

Gay.com reports that register offices are “encouraging lesbian and gay couples to register their intent to form a civil partnership, in advance of the December introduction date.”

Despite the fact that Councils do not have full details and guidance, from central Government about how to run Civil Partnership ceremonies, and what they are and are not allowed to do, some register offices are actively encouraging gay and lesbian couples to notify them of their intentions.

The article goes on to quote Councillor Mark Watson, Croydon’s cabinet member for equalities and community partnerships, “I am very pleased that Croydon has decided to be at the forefront of places offering same sex couples the opportunity to have their future in a loving relationship formally acknowledged," he said in a statement today.

For the full text of the article visit the gay.com website at: http://uk.gay.com/headlines/7655 .

Civil Partnership Tax Rights

2005-03-17T11:11:00.000Z

The Directors of Isis Financial Planners make a Press statement on the announcement, as part of the UK's March 2005 Budget, that registered Civil Partners will be granted the same tax rights as married couples, from 5 December 2005.

Read the Isis Press Release on Tax Rights For Same-Sex Couples.

Full Tax Rights Awarded To Same-Sex Couples

2005-03-16T16:58:00.000Z

As part of the UK's March 2005 Budget, the Inland Revenue has confirmed that "civil partners will be treated the same as married couples. This will be effective from the start of the civil partnership scheme on 5 December 2005".

This is excellent news for all gay and lesbian couples who propose to take up the Civil Partnership status, and wipes away many tax inequalities, such as those of inheritance tax, etc.

You can read the full Inland Revenue briefing at http://www.gayfinance.info/gay-partnership-rights/inlandrevenue-budget2005-revbn28.pdf and we will bring you a fuller analysis of this ground-breaking news on Civil Partnerships very shortly.

Congratulations to all those who have campaigned for this!

"Race for UK's first gay wedding hots up"

2005-03-16T07:34:00.000Z

The website of Brighton & Hove City Council carries a report that Brighton intends to host the first Civil Partnership ceremony in the UK.

On its website at, http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/site01.cfm?request=c1140601 , it reports:

"Brighton & Hove City Council intends to make British history by being the first city in the country to host a same-sex wedding when it marries three couples one second after midnight on 21 December 2005.

When the law changes and the Civil Partnership Bill comes into action in December 2005, Brighton & Hove’s Register Office – which has held more same-sex commitment ceremonies than any other city – intends to beat off competition and make Brighton & Hove the flagship for gay weddings in the UK.

Councillor Simon Burgess, Deputy Chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee, said: “We pioneered the launch of the ‘Pink Wedding Waiting List’ in July last year when over 260 gay and lesbian couples signed up their intention to be wed when the law changes, and now we want to be the first city in the UK to marry a same-sex couple.

“To make sure we beat the rest of Britain to it, we will be opening our doors at midnight and holding the first three gay weddings in the country at one second past on 21 December at the Register Office in Bartholomew Square.”

Three couples, selected by the Register Office because they all requested last year to be the first to wed, have already been informed and are making preparations for their special celebration. "

Civil Partnerships start to make the news

2005-03-09T12:15:00.000Z

The UK's newspapers have been pretty quiet on Civil Partnerships so far. However, the Independent Newspaper, reported on the issues in a good overview article on 5 March.

Isis Financial Planners' Louis Letourneau contributed to the article, and he highlights the problem faced by certain unfortunate couples in the 12-month period between the Act being passed and coming into force. "I have already seen the situation where a long-standing couple have plans to register for civil partnership in December, but one partner dies in the meantime. In the case I saw, they had been together 25 years and the survivor has been left with a huge inheritance tax bill which he'll probably have to sell the house to pay," he says. Louis also stated that he believes such misfortune, in this hiatus before the Act's implementation, is a great opportunity for the Inland Revenue to show it has feelings. "I have been asking the Revenue to show compassion over the issue of inheritance tax in these rare cases, but I'm not sure how familiar it is with the concept," he says.

For the full text of the article see:

http://money.independent.co.uk/personal_finance/invest_save/story.jsp?story=616869

Registrars Resign

2005-02-27T07:35:00.000Z

French, gay magazine Têtu, (www.tetu.com) reports in its March 2005 issue, that 20 Registrars in Canada have resigned as they disagree with having to carry out Canadian civil ceremonies for same-sex couples. 12 of the Registrars were from British Columbia and 8 from Saskatchewan. The article finished, stating that "...the Registrars that resigned were replaced without delay..." - lots of liberal folks happy to take the place of the bigots.

Could we see something similar in the UK?

UK Register Offices For Civil Partnerships

2005-02-26T09:53:00.000Z

Since the UK Government announced that Civil Partnerships can start to be registered from 5 December 2005, same-sex couples around the UK have been contacting their local Register Offices to find out what Civil Partnership facilities they offer.

We would like to start to compile a list of Offices that are offering a service, and maybe more importantly, those that are resistant to this.

If you have any feedback on any contact you have had with your local Register Office, please send it to me at reg@gayfinance.info and we will start to publish a list on the http://www.civil-partnership.info/ website. Alternatively, leave a "comment" to this post.

Thanks

Dave