As a society, we believe that Civil Partnerships are not equality and is illegal.
This is due to:
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 16) states that:
"Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution."
This doesn't state that only heterosexual couples have the right to get married. The terming 'men and women… have the right to marry' doesn't automatically discount marriage for homosexual couples.
- As stated above, in Article 16 of the UDHR, marriage should be granted without limitation due to religion. This technically discounts any argument from religious fundamentalists that gay marriage should not be allowed due to religious text denouncing homosexuality.
- The Sexual Orientation Regulations specifically prohibits the discrimination of provision of goods and/or services to people on the basis of their sexual orientation. By having separate but 'equal' systems, i.e. Civil Partnerships and Civil Marriage, that effectively provide the same service in all but name, the government are technically breaking their own law, discriminating against gay and lesbian couples by not granting them civil marriage.
- Civil Partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. Can you imagine if the government said to black, asian, jewish, [insert minority group here], communities that they were not going to grant them civil marriage, but give them civil partnerships instead? Civil partnerships are unacceptable. We are supported in this view by the Queer Youth Network.
We are currently looking for a law student or practicing lawyer who wants to make their name by taking up our case or helping us in any other way. If you are interested, contact ku.gro.tbgldrofdarb|lacitilop#ku.gro.tbgldrofdarb|lacitilop
We are collecting signitures for a petition on this issue; Civil Partnership Petition
