Civil Partnership
With the help of our supporters, Stonewall successfully campaigned for same-sex partnership rights and the Civil Partnership Act was passed on 18 November 2004. Lesbians, gay men and bisexual people have loving, stable relationships just like anyone else. At last, the Civil Partnership Act makes it possible for those couples to enjoy the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples.
Before civil partnership, same-sex couples could be in relationships for their whole lives but had no pension rights, often had their homes threatened or lost to inheritance tax and had no status as next of kin in the event of the death of one partner.
The Civil Partnership Act came into effect on 5th December 2005 and as there is a 15 day notification period, the first partnerships were formed on 21st December 2005. Heterosexual couples have always had the choice to secure legal recognition for their relationships through either religious or civil marriage. Now lesbian and gay couples also have the opportunity to secure legal status for their relationships.
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| Civil partnership registration underlines the inherent value of committed same-sex relationships. It supports stable families and shows that we really respect the diversity of the society we live in. It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied it too long.
Jacqui Smith MP, Minister for Equality, June 2003
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Click on the links below to find out more about:
How civil partnerships affect:
Click here for information on domestic violence
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Related links |  |
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Partnership campaign Find out more about Stonewall's campaign for same-sex partnership rights in the UK. |
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