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Original poster

Equal Civil Partnerships Campaign

42 replies

YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2017 08:31

I was wondering if people had seen this?

equalcivilpartnerships.org.uk/

Basically, it is a campaign to extend 'civil partnerships' provisions to heterosexual couples (those who do not wish to enter into marriage, for whatever reason).

I'm a supporter because I'm not a fan of traditional marriage and think that all couples should have the choice between a legal partnership and a formal marriage.

As they say on their website,

"Many people would like to have their partnerships legally recognised, but want to avoid the social expectations, pressures and traditions surrounding marriage and have the choice to enter into a more modern form of legal union.

A recent government consultation found that 20% of different-sex, unmarried people would prefer to form a civil partnership than marry or live together – current laws that prohibit this are outdated, unjust and discriminatory".

There is a petition to sign and people are also being asked to send emails of support to MP's, as per this link:

fast-plains-92257.herokuapp.com/campaigns/support-civil-partnerships-bill

I thought women here might be interested in the campaign and consider supporting it.

OP posts:
HelenDenver · 11/01/2017 09:27

Here you go, Loki:

"From a personal perspective, the legacy of marriage – that it treated women as property for centuries, excluded same-sex couples until 2014, and still leaves room only for fathers’ names on marriage certificates – means that marriage is not an option for us. We want to raise our child as equal partners and feel that a civil partnership – a modern, symmetrical institution – sets the best example for her."

lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 11/01/2017 09:25

Don't need to Helen others have already done that - have signed a couple of petitions which stem from threads on here in the last week or so.

Original poster
YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2017 09:23

What is the difference between a civil partnership and a marriage?

Go and read the links on the website and you will be enlightnened.

No they can't have a civil partnership as they can get married - sorry but I think there are more important things to be campaigning about. Mixed sex couples can get married, your post says it's about social expectations, pressure and traditions. You don't need to have that angst with a marriage if you don't want to - no one forces anyone into a big white wedding - there is nothing in a marriage contract that says you have to dress up, spend 30k and have a fight with your relatives at the reception

Biscuit

Awesome - start a thread about them and hopefully you'll get support

Exactly.

Lotta, Morris and Helen - thank you!

As well as signing do consider sending the form email to your MP. There is a link above :)

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 11/01/2017 09:21

Another big fan here, thank you for pointing it out. After many, many years, we got married for tax planning reasons but would have much, much preferred a civil partnership. Why?

trivial example, no matter what i say, my mother addresses letters to me as "Mrs" . I remember the days when a women with a good salary, still needed a man, even if he was unwaged, to sign a mortgage application for her and when rape inside marriage was not recognised. I am aware of the rule that allowed a husband to beat his wife, so long as he used a stick no thicker than his thumb. I refused to get married when it meant that my tax return would automatically be sent to my husband.

So, yes, I would like a formal way to acknowledge my relationship with my now husband, and gain the tax benefits, which is not overshadowed with unfairness.

HelenDenver · 11/01/2017 09:15

"- sorry but I think there are more important things to be campaigning about."

Awesome - start a thread about them and hopefully you'll get support!

HelenDenver · 11/01/2017 09:15

Thanks op, I will sign

lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 11/01/2017 09:14

No they can't have a civil partnership as they can get married - sorry but I think there are more important things to be campaigning about. Mixed sex couples can get married, your post says it's about social expectations, pressure and traditions. You don't need to have that angst with a marriage if you don't want to - no one forces anyone into a big white wedding - there is nothing in a marriage contract that says you have to dress up, spend 30k and have a fight with your relatives at the reception Grin

MorrisZapp · 11/01/2017 09:13

I think it's a brilliant campaign. I remember when civil partnerships were first brought in, I was like 'yay! DP and can do that!'. I was totally gobsmacked to learn that because we are opposite sex we are not allowed to.

Exactly the same options should be available to all couples.

Lottapianos · 11/01/2017 09:10

Yes I've been aware of this campaign since the beginning and am a big fan. Thanks for sharing OP. I believe a judgement on the appeal is due soon and I very much hope they are successful

tribpot · 11/01/2017 09:09

What is the difference between a civil partnership and a marriage?

Original poster
YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2017 09:07

So what's a civil partnership? We got married for financial reasons - tax planning - with marriage you get better rights with regards inheritance tax for example. Do you not get any rights with a civil partnership?

The point is that mixed sex couples cannot enter into Civil Partnerships. The campaign aims toward changing this so that they can.

Reading their page is instructive in terms of understanding their perspective and reasons for wanting this change.

OP posts:
lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 11/01/2017 08:59

So what's a civil partnership? We got married for financial reasons - tax planning - with marriage you get better rights with regards inheritance tax for example. Do you not get any rights with a civil partnership?

Original poster
YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2017 08:56

What's the difference between a civil partnership and a marriage carried out at a registry office?

It isn't just a day in a frilly dress (weeding) ... it is a legal contract with associated rights and responsibilities (marriage).

OP posts:
lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 11/01/2017 08:53

What's the difference between a civil partnership and a marriage carried out at a registry office? As far as I was concerned my marriage was simply a legal contract between myself and my husband - it wasn't an event as such.

Original poster
YetAnotherSpartacus · 11/01/2017 08:50

But you put the social expectations on yourself. We married at a registery office, two witnesses, no fuss, no photos or reception - cost about £300. Why do we need this?

Marriage as an institution and weddings as events are different things.

I'd also like to see another option being considered - end civil partnerships for same sex couples. Either have civil partnership and marriage available for all equally irrespective of gender or just have one form of legal partnership available to all.

Eh? I don't quite understand why.

OP posts:
Penfold007 · 11/01/2017 08:35

I'd also like to see another option being considered - end civil partnerships for same sex couples. Either have civil partnership and marriage available for all equally irrespective of gender or just have one form of legal partnership available to all.

lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 11/01/2017 08:34

But you put the social expectations on yourself. We married at a registery office, two witnesses, no fuss, no photos or reception - cost about £300. Why do we need this?

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