Comments on: Same-sex marriage supporters to petition Scottish Parliament

By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:32:01 +0000

Tony, even if marriage is allowed for gay couples, I still think civil partnerships should remain for those who want them. Straight couples should also be afforded access to cp's too. I don't think any religious cult should be forced to perform same-sex marriages though, who really needs it? In most of Europe, the civil ceremony is the most logical one of all. In France for instance and other EU countries, one's marriage isn't recognised unless the civil marriage has been conducted at the local town hall. Churches in those countries are merely there for solemnising such unions, nothing more, if couples so choose, unlike in the UK. France for example doesn't have state religion even though the catholic cult dominates which means the state alone validates marriages, not the church. If only we had that across the EU.

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By: Robert, ex-pat Brit

Robert, ex-pat Brit — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:20:26 +0000

Tony and Anon, totally agree. Both forms of unions should be available to straights and gays alike. Converting CPs to marriage would only require a merging of them into the Marriage Causation Act of 1973, nothing else needs to be done, just a simple merge. I think they should be retained for those of both orientations who choose not to marry though and that would be be true and full equality for all making the UK the first in the world to offer interchangeable unions, really progressive and innovative.

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By: PCG, Germany

PCG, Germany — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:50:11 +0000

These British Civil Partnerships are really weird. When the Civil Partnerships were introduced in Portugal, called "Factual Unions" (a couple just needs to prove they have been cohabiting for past 2 years), they were introduced for gays and straights.

If the Scottish Parliament approves Gay Marriages, then there will be a big blow to the Houses of the Parliament in London, since Scottish marriages are recognised accross the United Kingdom. Well I do hope the Scotts succeed. Good luck guys!

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By: ScotsBam

ScotsBam — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:12:03 +0000

Even if everyone in Scotland signed this petition, I'd be very surprised if more than a few token MSPs would support such a move. Remember who gives the SNP their pocket money!

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By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:30:20 +0000

sign the petition – http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=301

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By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:28:52 +0000

sign the petition at http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=301

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By: tony

tony — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:06:06 +0000

Civil partnership is the evivalent of civil marriage, so if gay people were given access to civil marriage then civil partnership should cease to exist.

As the law stands there is NO equality. Straight couples are able to have religious marriages and gay people are not. There are plenty of gay friendly religious institutions which would perform marriages, including the Metropolitan Community Church and many others of various faiths and denominations.

Many gay people are disillusioned with organised faiths so this issue of inequality has been overlooked, but we are not equal in the UK.

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By: Anon

Anon — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:56:03 +0000

I personally believe that there should be civil partnerships for those gay and straight couples that want them, at the same time as marriage for any gay or straight couple that may wish to get married. Religious institutions should also be able to bless/perform both civil partnerships and marriages of gay couples if they wish to do so, it should be protected under the law. The only problem it seems with civil partnerships is that they have a different name, which creates unequal status. After all, does anyone ask someone to enter a 'civil partnership' with them? No. If you were to propose, you would say marriage. Nobody says here is my civil partner, its like a business term!

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By: Simon Murphy

Simon Murphy — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:43:48 +0000

When gay marriage finally comes in Britain (whenever that will be) I assume the CP laws will be abolished. Or is it planned to extend CP laws to heterosexual couples as well? Some gay people may be happy with CP. Likewise some straight people may not wish to get married but still enjoy legal protection for their relationship. Does anyone know?

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