This morning’s Observer reports that gay marriages will be legalized within Britain shortly:
The first laws giving gay people the right to ‘marry’ are to be unveiled this week in one of the most significant changes to Britain’s social make-up since the passing of equal opportunities legislation in the 1960s.
Attempting to show it still has a radical edge, the Government will say that all couples who sign up to a committed relationship should have the same rights, regardless of sexual orientation.
‘It is about equality,’ said a Whitehall source. ‘It is not about special favours - they will have the right to commit to one another and the responsibilities that brings.’
Under the Civil Partnerships Bill to be published on Wednesday, same-sex couples will be able to sign a register held by the register office in a procedure similar to a marriage. Although the Government will insist it is not officially a ‘marriage’ but rather a contract between two people, the fact that couples will have to announce their intentions beforehand in a similar way to the reading of the banns before a wedding reveals its true effect.
Couples will have rights to pensions similar to married couples, will not have to pay inheritance tax on property passed between them when one dies and will have access to hospital records similar to that allowed for a spouse.
Progress marches on.
It’s funny that my beloved govt. wants the kudos of saying that they’re fighting for equality, yet still insist that it’s not a real marriage, but a contract.
Is it just me, or does that sound like a desperate attempt to please all sides?
I don’t know if it is desperate; perhaps just half-hearted…