Straight couple take civil partnership bid to UK court

A heterosexual couple who want to enter a civil partnership — created for gay couples — took a legal challenge to England's High Court on Tuesday, arguing they were being denied equality. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • "We wish to form a civil partnership because that captures the essence of our relationship and values."
  • More than 30,000 people have signed a petition backing their case. Some countries including France and the Netherlands allow heterosexual couples as well as same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.
  • Their lawyer claimed that without a civil partnership, the couple would be either forced into a marriage against their consciences or go without the legal privileges they need to bring up their child.

LONDON

A heterosexual couple who want to enter a civil partnership — created for gay couples — took a legal challenge to England's High Court on Tuesday, arguing they were being denied equality.

Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld, academics who live in London, say the civil partnerships only being available to same-sex couples is incompatible with equality law.

Civil partnerships, which confer essentially the same rights and responsibilities as civil marriage, came into force in England in 2005.

Though full same-sex civil marriage was eventually introduced in 2014, civil partnerships remain available to gay couples.

"The UK government is barring us, and many thousands of opposite-sex couples like us, from the choice of forming a civil partnership," said Steinfeld, 34.

FORCED MARRIAGE

"We wish to form a civil partnership because that captures the essence of our relationship and values."

She said civil partnerships were modern and without the "historical baggage, gendered provisions and social expectations" of marriage.

Keidan, 39, said the couple had campaigned for same-sex marriage.

"We believe that opening civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples would complete the circle of full relationship equality," he said.

More than 30,000 people have signed a petition backing their case.

Some countries including France and the Netherlands allow heterosexual couples as well as same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.

The action is being heard before a judge at the High Court in London.

Their lawyer claimed that without a civil partnership, the couple would be either forced into a marriage against their consciences or go without the legal privileges they need to bring up their child.

Dan Squires, lawyer for the education secretary — who has responsibility for equalities — informed the court that the government had decided to wait "to see how extending marriage to same-sex couples impacts upon civil partnerships before reaching a final decision" on their future.

It would be "costly and complex" to extend them when "they may be abolished or phased out in a few years".

He said there was no clear indication how civil partnerships were being affected by same-sex marriage and "no consensus" as to their future.

The hearing, expected to take two days, continues Wednesday.