Same sex marriages now legal

If there was no difference why would gay people still be fighting for Marriage?

As I said, some couples do not like the idea of marriage as such... a patriarchal institution historically, but would like the legal security of a civil partnership.

I naively thought civil partnership was invented as a compromise to try to please both the anti-gay marriage brigade and the gay community.
A sort of 'not marriage but nearly' to protect the financial and legal interests of individuals in long term relationships. Hetero couples could always do that quietly and without fuss in 15 minutes at a registrary office marriage and tell no-one!
I am not sure what advantage there is to a hetero couple (unless they are family members or platonic friends) in a civil partnership vs civil marriage ceremony.

The difference is in the word Marriage. Many couples do not agree with the institution of marriage, but would like to put their relationship on a legal footing

What is the difference between a register office wedding and a civil partnership? I would guess it's pretty minuscule and heterosexuals are not really missing out.

When will the press stop talking about same sex or gay marriage and just say marriage – five years, ten years…?

Good point, Atqui!

Choose even

As someone said earlier ( can't find it now) , there is still inequality in this area of the law; heterosexual couples who would like a civil partnership are not allowed one. Now that gay couples can have a marriage, does this mean the civil partnership will no longer exist or will gay couples be able to chose?

rosequartz I'm sorry about the quilt. GS is a scot born and bred but he hasn't yet grasped the arcane mysteries of kilts and sporrans!
Not sure if I'll watch the musical tonight. I do find the 'flamboyance' of some gay celebs a bit wearing so not sure what to expect. I feel that they are handing the ammunition to those who are willing to shoot. It's totally alien to the world I know!

I think EJ has just got a bit over enthusiastic because Section 9 (the bit that allows civil partnerships to be converted to marriage) won't be amended until the end of the year. EJ says they plan (not fixed then) on marrying in May...he may have to wait. Bet he won't be happy but a few more months...

Archbishop of Canterbury sure as hell isn't going to give it!

Well, it'll be from David Cameron.

Or God? [shrug]

Perhaps they'll get special dispensation from...whoever?

Perhaps the gov will put a spurt on specially for Elton and David.

That's the article I got my info from, jingl. mollie, it says the government is hoping to make an amendment to the new law by the end of the year.

(BTW I should have said 'copied and pasted' of course - can't very well cut a chunk out of the Internet, can I? )

Says the government will get round to converting the law "by the end of the year". May seems a bit hopeful.

So, does that mean the change will be before Elton's wedding? Or has it already been changed? I'm still confused because EJ and DF are featured on the news today.

looks like they jumped in before doing their research

"However, those already in civil partnerships are currently not able yet to convert to a marriage. The government said it hoped to rectify that before the end of the year. It is not known how that will affect the couple's plans."

(Cut and pasted from an article about this)

Forgive me if I'm wrong but didn't someone say that if there was an existing Civil Partnership the couple couldn't get married? If that's the case how is Elton John managing it? I thought that was why Sandi Togsvig(?) and her partner had a renewal of vows rather than a marriage... I'm confused.

I saw that clip, Katy and it made me smile

There is a good thing [perhaps] with gay marriage being permissable now in law:An end to 'Gay Pride' marches and similar? If we are all the same, there would be no need for this now, after all we don't have Hetero Pride
Marches, carnivals etc.We have two gay friends, and this makes them cringe, they really dislike these 'marches' as I'm sure a lot of other people do [gay and hetero.]

I hope you all have a lovely day, mcem.
I must admit I was a bit confused by the 'quilt', thinking that someone would be wrapped in one of those lovely American 'wedding ring' quilts, but I've got it now!

I saw a clip from Our Gay Marriage The Musical this morning. Sorry but it made me cringe - I had to hide behind a cushion. Nothing to do with the fact that they were gay, it was just so sickly sweet. They got their mums to sing about finding out their sons were gay. If they want to get married, fine. Why all this palarver?

I was pleased to see all the happy couples

Many such relationships are decades old and it's only fair that they should be on an equal footing with everyone else.

Mollie65 why sign-off Gransnet because there is a thread that you don't agree with? You can just ignore it ... there are many threads that are of no interest to me so I don't participate.

Gay marriage is here to stay, whether some people like it or not.