UK Wedding News
27/06/2014
However, the same cannot be said for straight couples in a civil partnership.
The change in legislation was confirmed by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid on Thursday. Writing for Pink News, he said that it would into effect from 10 December 2014.
He added that the process would be "straightforward".
The changes come as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published the results of a consultation into the potential changes needed for those in civil partnerships.
Mr Javid said: "Freedom has always been about the right to be who you are and love who you love.
"That's why I'm pleased to announce that, from 10 December, couples in England and Wales who have entered a Civil Partnership over the past decade will be free to convert it into a marriage.
"We've made the process of conversion as straightforward as possible. Couples will simply have to attend a Register Office and sign a declaration that they both wish to convert their Civil Partnership to a marriage in front of the Superintendent Registrar. That's it."
However, while those in same-sex relationships will be able to avail of the change, straight couples will not, prompting many to criticise the changes.
On making its decision, the Government claimed: "Several important organisations thought it was too soon to consider making changes to civil partnership – this should wait until we know the impact of extending marriage to same sex couples.
"Other organisations, in contrast, put forward a case for opening up civil partnerships to opposite sex couples now, for example because civil partnership and marriage were different relationships and couples should have equal access to both."
They continued: "In time we will know how many same sex couples are marrying and how many entering a civil partnership, and how many couples are remaining in civil partnerships rather than converting them to marriages.
"At present we do not have this information, and civil partnership conversion to marriage will not be available until December 2014. Given the lack of consensus on the way forward, the Government will not be making any changes."
Peter Tatchell, a human rights campaigner, criticised the move, saying it is "betrayal" by the Government. In a statement, he said: "David Cameron has betrayed the principle of equality by refusing to allow opposite-sex couples to have a civil partnership. His government is maintaining legal discrimination against straight partners. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law. "Same-sex couples now have a legal advantage over straight couples. They have two options: civil marriage and civil partnership. In contrast, opposite-sex couples have only one option: marriage. This is unjust and unfair."
(JP/MH)
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Couples Will Be Able To Convert Civil Partnerships To Marriages
Same-sex couples in a civil partnership will be able to convert it to a civil marriage from December, it has been announced.However, the same cannot be said for straight couples in a civil partnership.
The change in legislation was confirmed by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid on Thursday. Writing for Pink News, he said that it would into effect from 10 December 2014.
He added that the process would be "straightforward".
The changes come as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published the results of a consultation into the potential changes needed for those in civil partnerships.
Mr Javid said: "Freedom has always been about the right to be who you are and love who you love.
"That's why I'm pleased to announce that, from 10 December, couples in England and Wales who have entered a Civil Partnership over the past decade will be free to convert it into a marriage.
"We've made the process of conversion as straightforward as possible. Couples will simply have to attend a Register Office and sign a declaration that they both wish to convert their Civil Partnership to a marriage in front of the Superintendent Registrar. That's it."
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However, while those in same-sex relationships will be able to avail of the change, straight couples will not, prompting many to criticise the changes.
On making its decision, the Government claimed: "Several important organisations thought it was too soon to consider making changes to civil partnership – this should wait until we know the impact of extending marriage to same sex couples.
"Other organisations, in contrast, put forward a case for opening up civil partnerships to opposite sex couples now, for example because civil partnership and marriage were different relationships and couples should have equal access to both."
They continued: "In time we will know how many same sex couples are marrying and how many entering a civil partnership, and how many couples are remaining in civil partnerships rather than converting them to marriages.
"At present we do not have this information, and civil partnership conversion to marriage will not be available until December 2014. Given the lack of consensus on the way forward, the Government will not be making any changes."
Peter Tatchell, a human rights campaigner, criticised the move, saying it is "betrayal" by the Government. In a statement, he said: "David Cameron has betrayed the principle of equality by refusing to allow opposite-sex couples to have a civil partnership. His government is maintaining legal discrimination against straight partners. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law. "Same-sex couples now have a legal advantage over straight couples. They have two options: civil marriage and civil partnership. In contrast, opposite-sex couples have only one option: marriage. This is unjust and unfair."
(JP/MH)
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