UK Government Opens Civil Partnerships for Straight Couples

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that civil partnerships will be opened up to straight couples for the first time, reports London’s Evening Standard.

Civil partnerships were originally introduced by Tony Blair in 2004 as an alternative for same-sex couples wishing to be married. The system was somewhat awkwardly left in place after the legalisation of equal marriage in 2013, even after the number of same-sex couples choosing to have a civil partnership plummeted in favour of marriage.

In the UK, civil partnerships and marriages are nearly identical, the only main difference being that marriages are more likely to be recognised overseas.

“This change in the law helps protect the interests of opposite-sex couples who want to commit, want to formalise their relationship but don’t necessarily want to get married,” explained the Prime Minister.

“As Home Secretary, I was proud to sponsor the legislation that created equal marriage. Now, by extending civil partnerships, we are making sure that all couples, be they same-sex or opposite-sex, are given the same choices in life.”

“There are all sorts of reasons why people may choose not to marry,” said Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt. “By giving couples this option we hope to give them and their families more certainty and security… (it’s) an important step forward for equality.”

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