Open civil partnerships to all
Donation protected
The option of a civil partnership is not open to us, nor to millions of other opposite-sex couples in the UK. Why?
Because the Civil Partnership Act 2004 states: ‘Two people are not eligible to register as civil partners of each other if … they are not of the same sex.’
This is direct discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation.
Now, same-sex couples can choose whether to have a civil partnership or marriage – a choice that should be celebrated as major social progress.
There are over 3 million long-term, opposite-sex cohabiting couples in the UK. Preventing these couples from accessing civil partnerships denies them protections under the law: no rights to ownership of each other’s property, no rights to inherit the other’s estate, and no rights to tax benefits provided to married couples. This lack of protection has a negative effect on families and family life, especially these couples’ estimated 2 million dependent children.
Many of these cohabiting couples want to express their love and formalise their relationships within a modern social institution. Opening civil partnerships to all would be fair, popular and good for families.
Our Story: We are one such couple. We want a civil partnership to celebrate our commitment and strengthen the security of our family. When we sought to give ‘notice of intention’ to form a civil partnership in October 2014, we were refused by the Registrars. Not taking this lying down, we launched a legal case against the UK government. It will be heard in the Supreme Court on 14th and 15th May 2018.
Now we need your help.
1. Please contribute to our legal effort: http://www.gofundme.com/civilpartnerships
2. Please contribute to our campaign effort:
https://www.gofundme.com/ECPcampaigns
3. Please sign and share our petition to ask the Minister for Women and Equalities to open civil partnerships to all: http://www.change.org/civilpartnershipsforall
Thank you for your support.
Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld
#equalcivilpartnerships
@charleskeidan & @beccasteinfeld
Because the Civil Partnership Act 2004 states: ‘Two people are not eligible to register as civil partners of each other if … they are not of the same sex.’
This is direct discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation.
Now, same-sex couples can choose whether to have a civil partnership or marriage – a choice that should be celebrated as major social progress.
There are over 3 million long-term, opposite-sex cohabiting couples in the UK. Preventing these couples from accessing civil partnerships denies them protections under the law: no rights to ownership of each other’s property, no rights to inherit the other’s estate, and no rights to tax benefits provided to married couples. This lack of protection has a negative effect on families and family life, especially these couples’ estimated 2 million dependent children.
Many of these cohabiting couples want to express their love and formalise their relationships within a modern social institution. Opening civil partnerships to all would be fair, popular and good for families.
Our Story: We are one such couple. We want a civil partnership to celebrate our commitment and strengthen the security of our family. When we sought to give ‘notice of intention’ to form a civil partnership in October 2014, we were refused by the Registrars. Not taking this lying down, we launched a legal case against the UK government. It will be heard in the Supreme Court on 14th and 15th May 2018.
Now we need your help.
1. Please contribute to our legal effort: http://www.gofundme.com/civilpartnerships
2. Please contribute to our campaign effort:
https://www.gofundme.com/ECPcampaigns
3. Please sign and share our petition to ask the Minister for Women and Equalities to open civil partnerships to all: http://www.change.org/civilpartnershipsforall
Thank you for your support.
Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld
#equalcivilpartnerships
@charleskeidan & @beccasteinfeld
Organizer
Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld
Organizer
