THEGAYUK FEB/MARCH
2014
FEATURE
promoted procreation as the
main reason for straight
marriage. But as more children
survived childhood, families got
bigger and there was a need to
use some form of contraception.
In the 1930s the Protestant
Church accepted contraception,
viewing it as necessary and not a
sin or something God would be
unhappy with. But the Roman
Catholic Church has remained
against any form of
contraception, as they continue
to see the procreation of children
as a fundamental aspect of
straight marriage.
2005: Civil
Partnerships
In 2005 the first gay civil
partnerships took place, a year
after The Civil Partnership
Act came into law.
It allowed gay people to have
legally recognised relationships,
which granted them the same
rights, protections and benefits of
a married straight couple. This
included legal rights, such as
being one another’s Next of Kin;
rights related to their partner’s
children and the benefits
including those of taxation
reductions.
In terms of the actual act, the gay
couple could have a civil
partnership ceremony that could
consist of anything they wanted
(within the law). This could be
vows, the exchange of rings, their
choice in music, etc.
The Civil Partnership Act
included a legal process for those
gay people who may want to end
their civil partnership. It is called
‘dissolution’ and works on
similar legal principles to
divorce.
complete equality as it excluded
straight people from being able to
be civil partners.
2014: Gay
Marriage
This year The Marriage (Same
Sex Couples) Act has been passed
in England and Wales. The first
gay marriages are expected in
March 2014.
Stonewall said of The Marriage
(Same Sex Couples) Act:
‘This is an historic moment for
lesbian, gay and bisexual people,
their families and their friends.
This Act will mean that, for the
first time, children growing up to
be gay in England and Wales will
have full equality in law. We can
now proudly claim to be a beacon
to the world for gay equality.’
In ancient history marriage had
nothing to do with religion, but
helped tribes to live and thrive
together. Then Christian
institutions (both Roman
Catholic & Protestant Churches)
influenced the definition and
meaning of marriage. In the last
century the state has got involved
for marriage, allowing marriage
to be more flexible and much
more inclusive.
Marriage as a concept has
evolved to meet the needs and
desires of society. Currently there
is some debate as to what role the
churches and state play within
marriage. It is likely that over the
next century the Churches will
continue to reside over the
spiritual aspect of marriage,
whereas the state will continue to
be involved with the legal and
administrative side of marriage. ∎
Antony Simpson, Writer of this article would
like to acknowledge the following sources
that supported putting together this article
based on fact:
BBC - Ten key moments in the history of
marriage
bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17351133
Office for National Statistics – Civil
Partnerships Five Years On
ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/...rd/.../ard-pt145-civilpartnerships.pdf
Office for National Statistics - Video
Summary: What does the Census tell us
about religion in 2011?
ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/
detailed-characteristics-for-local-authoritiesin-england-and-wales/video-summaryreligion.html
Peter Tatchell – A setback for equality
petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/partnerships/
Straight-civil-partnerships-defeated.htm
This was the first time that the
state in the UK legally re