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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No civil union for straight pair | No civil union for straight pair |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A heterosexual couple have been refused permission to register for a civil partnership. | A heterosexual couple have been refused permission to register for a civil partnership. |
| Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle said they want to challenge "discriminatory" UK laws which restrict civil partnerships to same-sex couples. | Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle said they want to challenge "discriminatory" UK laws which restrict civil partnerships to same-sex couples. |
| They plan legal action after their application was denied at Islington Register Office, north London. | They plan legal action after their application was denied at Islington Register Office, north London. |
| A spokesman for Islington Council said the pair's request was refused because "the council must follow the law". | A spokesman for Islington Council said the pair's request was refused because "the council must follow the law". |
| UK law permits only heterosexual couples to marry; same-sex couples can form civil partnerships. | |
| We think gay people should be able to have a standard marriage and straight people should be able to have a civil partnership Tom Freeman | We think gay people should be able to have a standard marriage and straight people should be able to have a civil partnership Tom Freeman |
| Couples in a civil partnership have the right to the same legal treatment across a range of matters as a married couple - including inheritance, pension, life assurance and maintenance rights. | Couples in a civil partnership have the right to the same legal treatment across a range of matters as a married couple - including inheritance, pension, life assurance and maintenance rights. |
| However civil partnerships can only be conducted by registrars, not members of the clergy, and the partnership cannot legally be called a "marriage". | However civil partnerships can only be conducted by registrars, not members of the clergy, and the partnership cannot legally be called a "marriage". |
| Mr Freeman and Miss Doyle, both 25, from Islington, have been in a relationship for four years. | Mr Freeman and Miss Doyle, both 25, from Islington, have been in a relationship for four years. |
| Mr Freeman said: "It would be lovely to formalise our relationship but we are completely turned off by the whole institution of marriage because it discriminates against gay people." | Mr Freeman said: "It would be lovely to formalise our relationship but we are completely turned off by the whole institution of marriage because it discriminates against gay people." |
| He added: "We think gay people should be able to have a standard marriage and straight people should be able to have a civil partnership." | He added: "We think gay people should be able to have a standard marriage and straight people should be able to have a civil partnership." |
| Miss Doyle said: "We want a choice and all other couples should also have a choice, irrespective of their sexuality." | Miss Doyle said: "We want a choice and all other couples should also have a choice, irrespective of their sexuality." |
| Their bid was supported by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. | Their bid was supported by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. |
| Mr Tatchell said: "The ban on heterosexual civil partnerships is heterophobic. It is disciminatory and offensive." | Mr Tatchell said: "The ban on heterosexual civil partnerships is heterophobic. It is disciminatory and offensive." |
| He added: "I applaud their challenge to this unjust legislation." | He added: "I applaud their challenge to this unjust legislation." |
| An Islington Council spokesman said: "The law dictates that a civil partnership is only for couples of the same sex. | An Islington Council spokesman said: "The law dictates that a civil partnership is only for couples of the same sex. |
| "The council must follow the law, of course, and so we have not been able to accept Mr Freeman and Ms Doyle's application for a civil partnership." | "The council must follow the law, of course, and so we have not been able to accept Mr Freeman and Ms Doyle's application for a civil partnership." |