Reply #8: British gay couples register for first civil partnerships

[Thom Little]

Three couples hoping to make history by being the first to form civil partnerships have registered their intention to 'marry' as new laws came into force.

.......

Gay lobby groups welcomed the Civil Partnerships Act, which gives same-sex couples the right to register their union. It also entitles them to social security and pension benefits, parental responsibility for a partner's children and the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax.

Andy Forrest, communications officer for gay rights organisation Stonewall, said: "We are thrilled. The Act is very much what we wanted.

"It's not just about rights, it's also about people caring and being financially responsible for a partner."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=4UQUECWXGVQATQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2005/12/05/ucivil.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/12/05/ixportaltop.html