The government has no plans to introduce civil partnerships for heterosexual couples according to Minister for Woman and Equalities Maria Miller .
Speaking to a parliamentary subcommittee on human rights, the 49 year-old MP for Basingstoke said:
“We don’t feel there is either a necessity or a requirement to open up civil partnerships to heterosexual couples because there is no deficit there – there is no lack of an ability to be able to formalise a relationship in a legal way. It is already there for heterosexual couples. It’s called marriage.”
Further changes to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill would cause delay its introduction and could prove expensive, she added.
The bill is now approaching its third reading in parliament.
According to a report in The Guardian, Miller was asked her response to people who thought marriage oppressed women.
“I am not sure why marriage would oppress women any more than it would oppress men. Having been married for 23 years, I don’t feel oppressed myself, but I can understand that people will have different views.”
In December gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell claimed that same sex marriage legislation would leave heterosexual couples with fewer rights.
I agree with Peter. Bill should be amended or scrapped. Preferably amended, otherwise it gives homosexuals more rights then heterosexuals.
So, the bill is disliked me as being anti heterosexuals (I am left leaning) and disliked by many tories as being pro homosexuals (by many right leaning), does that leave anyone who likes it?
I suppose that is politics and compromise, no-one gets what they want, deep sigh.
Bill as it stands should be scrapped.
Let’s have a proper equality bill for marriage – either enabling marriage for both gays and straights or marriage only for gays and straights.
Current Bill is poor legislation and divisive as it is anti heterosexual.
I would rather they abandoned it (as someone with many gay and bi friends) then implement it. Although prefererably would be Peter T’s amendment.
More on this nonsense here : https://www.newstatesman.com/2013/05/maria-miller-has-opposed-civil-partnerships-heterosexuals-why
I cannot see how her position makes any sense at all.
This is a ridiculous decision, if gay marriage is to be introduced then fair enough but civil partnership must be given to all.
I want my work benefits to go to my Dad so I want to marry him – why not ?