query: when did civil partnerships become legal in the uk

pos: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom Civil partnership in the United Kingdom Civil partnerships in the United Kingdom are a form of civil union granted under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, allowing same-sex couples to obtain essentially the same rights and responsibilities as civil marriage. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner's children, as well as responsibility for reasonable maintenance of one's partner and their children, tenancy rights, full life insurance recognition, next of kin

pos: LGBT rights in the United Kingdom was labelled as the UK's "last anti-gay law". It went into effect immediately after royal assent. There was no legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Britain until 2005, following the legalisation of civil partnerships under the passage of the "Civil Partnership Act" on 18 November 2004. Civil partnerships are a separate union which give most (but not all) of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage, but there are recognition issues in other countries and with the use of courtesy titles. Civil partnerships can take place on any approved premise in the UK and in approved religious venues in England

pos: LGBT rights in Scotland Though the pardons are purely symbolic, the law also allows for anyone with a historical conviction for same-sex sexual activity, now legal, to apply for a formal "disregard". If an application for a disregard is accepted by the relevant Minister, this prevents the information from being included in disclosure checks and treats the offence as having not occurred. Civil partnerships have been a right of same-sex couples in Scotland to access since 2005, when the UK Parliament passed the "Civil Partnership Act 2004". The Act gives same-sex couples most (but not all) of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage.

pos: Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland is not legally recognised, with same-sex marriages performed outside Northern Ireland recognised as civil partnerships within its borders. The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted on the matter five times since 2012, and although it was passed by a slim majority on the fifth attempt, it has been consistently vetoed by the Democratic Unionist Party using the petition of concern. Civil partnerships have been available to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland since 2005, when the UK Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The Act gives same-sex couples most, but not

pos: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom of women were failing significantly more overall than between men considering the ONS claim that more men were entering partnerships before 2007 and the numbers had evened out since. The end of 2011 also saw a total of 53,417 civil partnerships between 106,834 people, meaning estimates by the 2004 Labour government of between 11,000 and 22,000 people entering partnerships by 2010 were less than a fifth of the actual amount. 25.5% of civil partnerships for the UK were granted just in London, followed by Brighton and Hove and statistically the average age for a civil partnership was 40 for men

pos: LGBT rights in the United Kingdom 2004" allowed the creation of civil partnerships between same-sex couples, but a married couple that includes a transgender partner cannot simply re-register their new status. They must first have their marriage dissolved, gain legal recognition of the new gender and then register for a civil partnership. This is like any divorce with the associated paperwork and costs. With the legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales, existing marriages will continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. However, civil partnerships continue where only both parties change their gender simultaneously and

pos: Federal Marriage Amendment (CWA) were concerned about the wording of the 2004 Federal Marriage Amendment. CWA did not support the language in the amendment because the second sentence is open to differing interpretations, and its drafters acknowledged that it was specifically worded so state legislators could create civil unions and domestic partnerships, because the CWA opposes any legal recognition of same-sex couples. CWA preferred the Institution of Marriage Amendment crafted by Home School Legal Defense Association President Michael Farris. That amendment, which has not been introduced by any member of Congress, states: Proponents of the FMA initially argued that if it were not

pos: Civil union on Registered Partnerships (87/1996) was abolished. Registered partnerships () had been the principal legal unions for same-sex partners since the law was passed in 1996. Liechtenstein (2011) In 2001, the Netherlands passed a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, in addition to its 1998 "registered partnership" law (civil union) for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. In 2004, Senator Maria Szyszkowska proposed a bill which would legalize same-sex civil unions in Poland. The project was approved by the Senat but was never voted upon by the Sejm, as Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz (then the Marshal of the Sejm) didn't bring it for the

pos: LGBT rights in Northern Ireland Voice's Jim Allister, whose private member's motion to remove historical pardons from the Legislative Consent Motion failed on a voice vote. Civil partnerships have been available to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland since 2005, when the UK Parliament passed the Civil Partnership Act 2004. The Act gives same-sex couples most, but not all, of the same rights and responsibilities as civil marriage. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner's

pos: Same-sex marriage in Scotland Civil partnerships have been a right of same-sex couples in Scotland to access since 2005, when the UK Parliament passed the "Civil Partnership Act 2004". The Act gives same-sex couples most (but not all) of the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage. Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner's children, as well as responsibility for reasonable maintenance of one's partner and their children, tenancy rights, full life insurance recognition,

pos: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom and Magistrates' Court Act 1978 also apply to civil partnerships. Tax exemptions available to spouses under s.18 of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 are available to civil partners under the Civil Partnership Act 2004. In Scotland the centuries-old system of minimum legal rights to a deceased estate for a widowed spouse were expressly extended to civil partners by section 131 of Act. In any dispute between civil partners as to title or possession of property, either partner may apply to the Court, which can then make any order in relation to the property, including an order to sell such property.

neg: Civil union and the non-use of the word "marriage", civil partnerships grant most of the same legal rights as marriage and generally operate under the same constrictions (one difference being that marriage requires dissolution by divorce while a civil union does not). It is not legal to be in both a civil partnership and a marriage at the same time. Nevertheless, some of those in favour of legal same-sex marriage object that civil partnerships fall short of granting equality. Both same-sex marriages and civil unions of other nations will be automatically considered civil partnerships under UK law providing they came within Section

neg: Same-sex marriage Since 2005, same-sex couples have been allowed to enter into civil partnerships, a separate union providing the legal consequences of marriage. In 2006, the High Court rejected a legal bid by a British lesbian couple who had married in Canada to have their union recognised as a marriage in the UK rather than a civil partnership. In September 2011, the Coalition Government announced its intention to introduce same-sex civil marriage in England and Wales by the May 2015 general election. However, unlike the Scottish Government's consultation, the UK Government's consultation for England and Wales did not include provision for religious

neg: LGBT community of Brighton and Hove the city's population aged 16 or over is thought to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. The 2001 census revealed that Brighton and Hove had the highest proportion of same-sex households in the UK at 1.29%: 2,544 persons said that they lived with a person of the same sex. The 2011 census did not measure same-sex households specifically but showed that Brighton and Hove had the highest number of civil partnerships in the UK, at 2,346 individuals or 3.1% of all legal relationships within the unitary authority area. The city also had the largest number of civil partnership registrations outside London

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom partnerships enable these Christian virtues to be recognised socially and legally in a proper framework." The Anglican Church was also among the institutions that supports keeping civil partnerships as a legal option. In 2018, the Church said "We believe that Civil Partnerships still have a place, including for some Christian LGBTI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex] couples who see them as a way of gaining legal recognition of their relationship." The Church has not authorised a formal blessing for civil partnerships and does not legally perform civil partnerships. However, the Chancellor of the Diocese of London explained, "There is

neg: Homosexuality and Quakerism – a public act of worship something very like the traditional Quaker wedding, but without legal significance. British Quakers also supported the 2005 introduction of the legal status of same-sex civil partnerships in the UK, and were taken to their 2009 support of same-sex marriage with the idea that "marriage is the Lord's work and we are but witnesses". The Quakers supported the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which legalised same-sex marriages in the UK. Quakers in the United States of America are divided on the issue of homosexuality, with some (mostly Friends affiliated with programmed meetings) not approving

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom where both same- and opposite-sex couples can choose between civil partnership or marriage, having done so at the same time as the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the territory; opposite-sex civil partnerships performed on the Isle of Man are not recognised in the UK. As of February 2018, the United Kingdom Government and Scottish Government are reviewing civil partnerships, with a view to either opening them up to opposite-sex couples or scrapping them entirely. The main UK campaign group organised specifically to call upon the government to extent civil partnerships to all couples, regardless of sex or sexual orientation is

neg: LGBT rights in the European Union Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. In Denmark and Sweden civil unions were legal from 1989 and 1995 to 2012 and 2009, respectively. In Germany, registered life partnerships were legal between 2001 and 2017. However existing civil unions/registered life partnerships are still recognised in all of these countries. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia have constitutionally defined marriage as being between a man and a woman. European Union law (the Citizens’ Rights Directive 2004/38/EC) requires those member states that legalised same-sex partnerships to recognise each other's partnerships for

neg: LGBT rights in Queensland legal guardianship, health services may not have accepted the other parent authorising procedures for the child. If the biological parent died, his or her partner would not have been considered the next of kin. These issues were remedied when Queensland allowed same-sex adoption legislation in 2016. Queensland first allowed civil partnerships with the option of an official ceremony, commonly known as civil unions, for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples from February 2012 under the Bligh Labor Government. Subsequent changes by the Newman LNP Government watered down civil partnerships, replacing them with "registered relationships" and eliminating official ceremonies from June 2012

neg: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland of Kuopio appointed an openly transgender pastor to an office in the church. After same-sex marriage became legal in 2014, Archbishop Kari Mäkinen announced his support for gay marriage. In 2016, the Synod did not authorize a rite for same-sex marriage, but did, as before, allow pastors "to pray with and for all couples who have entered into a civil [same-sex] marriage". Therefore, while the bishops did not agree to performing same-sex marriages, "the bishops have taken the position that it is possible to hold prayer services to bless same-sex couples." As with civil partnerships, the church teaches that "same-sex

neg: Same-sex marriage in Guernsey Same-sex marriage in Guernsey The legal status of same-sex unions differs within the Bailiwick of Guernsey, a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom. Same-sex marriage became legal in the jurisdiction of Guernsey on 2 May 2017, and in Alderney on 14 June 2018. Sark does not recognise same-sex unions. In Guernsey, civil partnerships performed in the United Kingdom and other relationships treated as such by UK law have been recognised for succession purposes in inheritance and other matters respecting interests in property since 2 April 2012, after approval of a bill allowing such recognition by the States of Guernsey on

neg: Civil marriage abroad from other countries - but does not allow same-sex marriages to be performed within their borders. Northern Ireland recognises same-sex civil partnerships but not same-sex marriages, and treats foreign same-sex marriages (including those from the rest of the UK) as civil partnerships. In 22 countries worldwide and in several jurisdictions within Mexico, a same-sex couple can be legally partnered in a civil union, domestic partnership or registered partnership. Couples in these unions or partnerships are afforded rights and obligations similar to, but not identical to, those of a married couple. Civil marriage A civil marriage is a marriage performed,

neg: Rainforest Foundation UK and resource rights through community-led mapping, as well as through legal and advocacy training. In order to pursue its mission, RFUK works in cooperation with local organizations, indigenous groups, and traditional populations of the rainforest. It also seeks to “campaign to influence national and international laws to protect rainforests and their inhabitants”. The organization has adopted an approach that emphasizes the strengthening of civil society as an important goal in the countries in which it is active. On this basis, it has prioritized building long-term partnerships with local and national organizations that share its key objectives. The Rainforest Foundation UK

neg: Civil union March 9, 2010. Domestic Partnerships in the District of Columbia (1992 law implemented, 2002 law came into effect – expanded over time to 2009) Hawaii legalized civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples on January 1, 2012. Same-sex marriage became legal on December 2, 2013. On December 1, 2010, the Illinois state senate passed, in a 32-24-1 vote, SB1716 the "Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act" just one day after the Illinois House of Representatives did the same in a 61-52-2 vote. On January 31, 2011, Illinois state Governor Pat Quinn signed SB1716 into law, establishing civil unions

neg: Mayor of London paved the way for the introduction by the United Kingdom Parliament of civil partnerships. Unlike civil partnerships, the London Partnerships Register was open to heterosexual couples who favour a public commitment other than marriage. As Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone was also a supporter of the London Olympics in 2012, and is known to encourage sport in London; especially when sport can be combined with helping charities like The London Marathon and British 10K charity races. However, Livingstone, in a Mayoral election debate on the BBC's "Question Time" in April 2008 did state that the primary reason he supported the

neg: Civil partnership in South Africa Civil partnership in South Africa Civil partnerships were introduced in South Africa by the Civil Union Act, 2006, which also legalised same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships can be formed by opposite-sex couples and by same-sex couples, and have the same rights, responsibilities and legal consequences as marriages. The parties to a civil partnership must be 18 or older and not already married or in a civil partnership. The prohibited degrees of affinity and consanguinuity that apply to a marriage under the Marriage Act also apply under the Civil Union Act; thus a person may not form a civil partnership with his

neg: Same-sex marriage in Vermont the first half of 2001, the Vermont House of Representatives passed several bills to undo the civil union legislation. One replaced civil unions with "reciprocal partnerships" that any two persons could form, which could include blood relatives. None had a chance of passing the Senate or winning Dean's signature. At the same time, the "Burlington Free Press" and the "Rutland Herald" began printing announcements of civil unions just as they did wedding notices. The question of the legal status of same-sex relationships was attracting increasing attention in other states. On election day 2000, Nevada and Nebraska passed measures amending their

neg: Demography of Wales though since 2001 this group has decreased by 37,000 (over 5%). In contrast, single people (i.e. those who have never married or been part of a same sex partnership), have increased by 190,000 (6%) in the ten-year period. Civil partnerships, which were given legal status in 2005, appear for the first time in the census results. The number of widows, widowers and surviving partners is 20,000 lower than in 2001. The final groups, relating to separation and divorce / legal dissolution of civil partnerships, have both seen an increase in both numerical and relative terms since 2001. Table key Demography

neg: Sexual orientation and the military of the United Kingdom Military immediately recognised civil partnerships and granted married gay couples exactly the same rights to allowances and housing as straight couples. The Ministry of Defence stated "We're pleased personnel registered in a same sex relationship now have equal rights to married couples." Spouses in civil partnerships are entitled to spousal benefits (including life insurance benefits, pensions, employment benefits), immigration equality, and similar recognition as opposite-sex military spouses for tax purposes. Civil partners are also allowed accommodation in military housing, security clearance and allowances. Since March 2014, UK military same-sex couples can get married (as well as UK civilians), under the

neg: General partnership a separate legal personality, but permit partnerships the rights to sue and be sued, to hold property, and to postpone a creditor's lawsuit against the partners until he or she has exhausted all remedies against the partnership assets. In December 2002 the Netherlands proposed to replace their general partnership, which does not have legal personality, with a public partnership which allows the partners to opt for legal personality. Japanese law provides for Civil Code , which have no legal personality, and Commercial Code which have full corporate personhood but otherwise function similarly to partnerships. In Bangladesh, the relevant law for

neg: South African family law estate to anyone in his will. There is considerable debate over the future status of domestic partnerships in South Africa, particularly among feminists. The South African Law Reform Commission published a Discussion Paper on the subject in March 2006. The Civil Union Act requires registration and has a same-sex focus. The Domestic Partnerships Bill, providing for the legal recognition of domestic partnerships and the enforcement of their legal consequences, was tabled on 14 January 2008. Its preamble observes that, under the Constitution, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to its equal protection and benefit. The Bill

neg: DCI Global Partnerships DCI Global Partnerships DCI Global Partnerships is a community of friends, partners, projects and supporters that began in England, in 1985. DCI Global Partnerships is the name given to the community of people working with these projects, while the legal side is run by UK charity DCI Trust. The name DCI originates from the Greek words "Doulos Christo Iesous" meaning "Servant of Jesus Christ", taken from Romans chapter 1, verse 1. DCI Global Partnerships are responsible for several projects including the charity DCI Trust, Schools of Mission, the Christian World News Pages and a Banking for the Poorest project. DCI

neg: Same-sex unions in the United States Same-sex unions in the United States Same-sex unions in the United States are available in various forms in all states and territories, except American Samoa. All states have legal same-sex marriage, while others have the options of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or reciprocal beneficiary relationships. The federal government only recognizes marriage and no other legal union for same-sex couples. Hawaii was the first state to recognize limited legal same-sex unions, doing so in 1997 in the form of reciprocal beneficiary partnerships. The legal issues surrounding same-sex marriage in the United States are complicated by the nation's federal system of government.

neg: Public opinion of same-sex marriage in the United States them to form civil unions, and 29% would grant them no legal recognition. A December 2008 poll revealed that 32% of respondents supported the concept of civil unions, 31% would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples, and 30% opposed any legal recognition for gay and lesbian partnerships. Prior to this poll, Gallup conducted a poll on the issue through May 2006. The poll found that opposition to same-sex marriage had fallen slightly, as other polls found a sharper dip. In the poll, when asked if marriages between homosexuals should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights

neg: Same-sex marriage in New Jersey "[does] not approach the broad array of rights and obligations afforded to married couples." For example, as Lambda Legal states, the law "required health and pension benefits [only] for state employees—it was voluntary for other employers—and did not require family leave to care for an ill partner." The domestic partnership statute remains in place even though New Jersey subsequently enacted a civil union statute. Couples in an existing domestic partnership are not required to enter a civil union. However, new domestic partnerships are available only to couples in which both partners are 62 and over, whether same-sex or different-sex. On

neg: Thomas Joynt Cemetery. Thomas Joynt Thomas Ingham Joynt (December 1830 – 5 September 1907) was a senior member of the New Zealand legal profession from Christchurch. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to Canterbury with his wife and child in 1856. He had commenced legal training in Dublin and was admitted to the bar in 1863 in Christchurch; at the same time, he set up his own legal firm. Over the years, he formed various partnerships with other solicitors. Joynt became known as a defence lawyer and had many high-profile cases, but he was equally successful in civil cases. In 1907, when the

neg: Thomas Joynt Thomas Joynt Thomas Ingham Joynt (December 1830 – 5 September 1907) was a senior member of the New Zealand legal profession from Christchurch. Born in Ireland, he emigrated to Canterbury with his wife and child in 1856. He had commenced legal training in Dublin and was admitted to the bar in 1863 in Christchurch; at the same time, he set up his own legal firm. Over the years, he formed various partnerships with other solicitors. Joynt became known as a defence lawyer and had many high-profile cases, but he was equally successful in civil cases. In 1907, when the first

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom dissolving the mutual civil partnership. In February 2018, the United Kingdom and Scottish governments began reviewing civil partnerships, with a view to either opening them up to opposite-sex couples or scrapping them entirely. In June 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that allowing only same-sex couples to enter a civil partnership is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The UK Government has since pledged to allow opposite-sex couples in England and Wales to enter into civil partnerships, though no timeline for the passage of legislation has been set. A civil partnership is a relationship between two people of the

neg: Same-sex marriage in Australia 2012" is of no effect and civil unions continue to take place in the ACT. Queensland Civil partnerships, commonly referred to as civil unions, have been legal in Queensland since April 2016. The state Parliament passed the "Discrimination Law Amendment Act" in December 2002, which created non-discriminatory definitions of "de facto partner" with respect to 42 pieces of legislation. This gave same-sex couples the same rights as "de facto couples" in most instances. On 30 November 2011, the Queensland Parliament passed a bill allowing civil partnerships in the state. The legislation passed by a vote of 47 to 40, with

neg: Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland the same-sex partnerships issue. This has included coverage of reports on the issue, legal cases taken by Irish same-sex couples, surrogate parenthood, adoption, extra-legal same-sex unions, blessings and the foreign partnerships of Irish politicians. There was extensive coverage of the 2005 introduction of civil partnerships by the British Government, which applies to Northern Ireland. Irish legislators began to comment publicly from 2003, some tentatively suggesting legislation, and some referring to Catholic teachings. Among the general public, reaction was favourable, with a 2005 online poll showing most respondents seeing some recognition as inevitable and acceptable. More rigorous public polls taken during

neg: United Kingdom partnership law United Kingdom partnership law United Kingdom partnership law concerns the way that partnerships are formed or governed within the United Kingdom. Depending upon where the partnership was formed, English law or Scots law may apply in addition to statutes that create a framework across the UK. Under Scots Law a partnership is a distinct legal entity and can borrow money from a bank in the name of the partnership, while English law only allows borrowing in the names of individual partners. Partnerships are a form of business association, which arises automatically when people carry on business with a view to

neg: Christian Concern Islamism, religious freedom, the sex trade, social issues and issues relating to sexual orientation. They are opposed to liberalising trends in the Church of England (CofE). In 2014, the CofE responded in support of civil partnerships to a government survey and Christian Concern's Andrea Williams opposed the Church's decision. In 2018, Christian Concern criticised the Anglican Church for supporting civil partnerships; arguing against civil unions, Christian Concern said "Legal recognition of same-sex relationships should not have been given in the first place and should not be allowed for priests in any case. The government should not listen to the alarmed

neg: Same-sex marriage in Massachusetts called VoteOnMarriage.org organized the petition drive. Its backers included Governor Romney, former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn, former SJC justice Joseph Nolan, and Gilbert Thompson, president of the board of the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston. The language of their amendment was: Unlike amendments in other states, the amendment did not explicitly forbid other forms of legal relationships for same-sex couples, such as civil unions or domestic partnerships. It did not attempt to invalidate same-sex marriages licensed since "Goodridge". Attorney General Reilly certified the language and format of petitions as valid on September 7, 2005. Advocates of same-sex marriage objected

neg: LGBT rights in Jersey blood service reopened with procedures brought up to UK standards, implying a 3 month deferral period. LGBT rights in Jersey Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the British Crown dependency of Jersey have evolved significantly since the early 1990s. Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 1990. Since then, LGBT people have been given many more rights equal to that of heterosexuals, such as an equal age of consent (2006), the right to change legal gender for transgender people (2010), the right to enter into civil partnerships (2012), the right to adopt children (2012) and very broad anti-discrimination and

neg: Same-sex unions in the United States countries, but "civil union" was first applied in Vermont. The Supreme Court's invalidation of DOMA Section 3 in 2013 heightened the difference between marriage and civil unions; while marriage provides federal benefits, civil unions do not. Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in their jurisdiction Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware, ceased to offer civil unions. Civil unions are still legal in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Colorado; civil unions are also still legal in six municipalities of Arizona. Domestic partnerships are any of a variety of relationships recognized by employers or state or local government. The benefits

neg: Domestic partnership in Oregon in line with Washington state's recognition of same-sex relationships and California's recognition of same-sex relationships, as opposed to the civil union legislation created in Vermont, New Jersey, and New Hampshire. However, unlike the registries in California and Washington state, domestic partnerships in Oregon are not available to opposite-sex couples. Oregon's legislation has no ceremony requirement. All marriage and civil union legislation require a ceremony, whether religious or civil, to be considered valid. In Oregon couples are required only to register their domestic partnerships through the submission of a paper form. Additionally, the Oregon statute states that "the legal recognition of

neg: LGBT rights in Scotland has yet to decide whether or not to open civil partnerships to mixed-sex couples, the Government has elected to introduce: Since November 2015, civil partnerships originating elsewhere in the United Kingdom other than Scotland (including Northern Ireland) can be converted to a marriage without the couple being forced to dissolve the civil partnership. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Scotland since 16 December 2014, with the first same-sex marriages occurring on 31 December 2014. The law provides that religious organizations and individual celebrants are under no obligation to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples, though religious organizations are permitted to

neg: Transgender rights in the United Kingdom marriage in England and Wales, existing marriages will continue where one or both parties change their legal gender and both parties wish to remain married. However, civil partnerships continue where only both parties change their gender simultaneously and wish to remain in their civil partnership. This restriction remains as effectively it would legalise a small category of opposite-sex civil partnerships. The legislation also does not restore any of the marriages of transgender people that were forcibly annulled as a precondition for them securing a GRC and states that a GRC will not be issued unless the spouse of the transgender

neg: Same-sex marriage this had taken place. On 4 February 2014, the Scottish Parliament overwhelmingly passed legislation legalising same-sex marriage. The bill received royal assent as the "Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014" on 12 March 2014. The law took effect on 16 December 2014, with the first same-sex weddings occurring for those converting their civil partnerships into marriage. The Northern Ireland Executive has stated that it does not intend to introduce legislation allowing for same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. Same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions are treated as civil partnerships. Of the fourteen British Overseas Territories, same-sex marriage has been legal in

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom a ruling from the European Court of Human Rights against similar provisions for marriage). Any party who is already in a marriage or a civil partnership is ineligible to register. Where permitted, civil partnerships may be registered at British embassies or consulates-general. As of October 2009, the British Embassy in France listed twenty eight as being authorised to hold civil partnerships. For such registrations, at least one partner must be a British citizen. Overseas couples wishing to register their partnership in the UK, must reside in the country for seven days prior to application for the partnership, and wait a

neg: LGBT rights in Hong Kong Hong Kong residents are also a British National (Overseas). By virtue of the passage of "Civil Partnership (Registration Abroad and Certificates) Order 2005" in the UK, all British nationals, including British Nationals (Overseas), are allowed to register civil partnerships with a limited number of British consulates or embassies abroad. Thus, LGBT Hong Kong couples, with either one of the couple having a British national status, enjoy the right to register civil partnerships with British consulates in 22 countries. Arranging a civil partnership registration with a British consulate will generally take at least a month and must be done in person

neg: Church of England encourage people to explore those kinds of images. They're wholly Biblical." The Church of England has been discussing same-sex marriages and LGBT clergy. "The Church of England does not allow gay weddings, but its priests are allowed to be in a civil partnership." The church holds that marriage is a union of one man with one woman. However, the church teaches "Same-sex relationships often embody genuine mutuality and fidelity." The church also officially supports civil partnerships; "We believe that Civil Partnerships still have a place, including for some Christian LGBTI couples who see them as a way of gaining legal

neg: Civil union October 2007, during a parliamentary debate in Dáil Éireann on an opposition Bill to introduce civil unions, the government of the Republic of Ireland announced that it will be introducing its own legislation to create civil unions in March 2008. This was delayed but was released in June 2008. The Civil Partnership Bill, 2009 is expected to become law by October 2010 at the latest. On Thursday, 1 July 2010, the lower house of the Irish Parliament Dáil Éireann passed the bill on Civil Partnerships unanimously. This bill allows civil partnerships of same-sex couples, and establishes an extensive package of

neg: Frederick Peters a joint legal practice in Victoria. Peters and Tupper arrived in Victoria on November 11, 1897. By July 1898 they had opened two partnerships, Tupper, Peters and Potts in Victoria and Tupper, Peters and Gilmour in Vancouver. In 1911 Frederick Peters left his legal practice and moved north to become City Solicitor for the City of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. He arrived in the north coast town on May 17, 1911, when it was barely one year old (having been incorporated in March 1910). Peters' legal and political experience were important as he helped the community make the transition from

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom is consistent with the standards for the clergy...The House of Bishops considers it would be a matter of social injustice to exclude from ministry those who are faithful to the teaching of the Church, and who decide to register a civil partnership." In 2010, the General Synod extended pension and employee rights to clergy who have entered in a same-sex civil partnership. In 2013, the church ruled that priests in civil partnerships could become bishops. Speaking on its support for partnerships, the church has communicated that "The Church of England recognises that same-sex relationships often embody fidelity and mutuality. Civil

neg: Church in Wales June Osborne, was appointed to be bishop of Llandaff becoming the second woman bishop in the Welsh church. Beginning in the 1980s, the Church in Wales embarked on an increasingly open stand on various issues including economic justice, the ordination of women and inclusion of homosexual people. In some areas, such as human sexuality, the church establishment has faced resistance from congregations. In 2005, the church allowed gay priests to enter into civil partnerships. "In the wake of civil partnerships, the Welsh Bishops sought legal advice, and told gay partnered clergy that they were welcome, as well as gay ordination

neg: Gowling WLG Gowling WLG Gowling WLG is a multinational law firm formed by the merger of Canada-based Gowlings and UK-based Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co in February 2016, in the first multinational law firm merger co-led by a Canadian firm. Gowling WLG International Limited is an English company limited by guarantee, in which the two limited liability partnerships of Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP and Gowling WLG (UK) LLP are members. Legal services are provided by the two partnerships, which are financially separate. The structure is similar to the Swiss Verein structure used by several other major international law firms. Gowling WLG offers

neg: Limited partnership are not legally separate entities: the partners are jointly and severally liable and any lawsuits filed are filed against the partners by name. There has been discussion over whether limited partnerships operating under English law should be made separate legal entities in the same way as limited liability partnerships are. The Law Commission report on partnership law LC283 suggested that creation of separate legal personality should be left as an option for the partners to decide upon when a partnership is formed. There were concerns that automatically making partnerships separate legal entities would restrict their ability to trade in some

neg: Kevin Sharkey In October 2016 Kevin Sharkey was ordered by a Circuit Civil Court to pay €5,000 in damages and legal fees of another €10,000 over highly defamatory Twitter comments. In late 2005, Kevin Sharkey announced his intention to take the Irish State to the European Court of Human Rights in order to force the recognition of same-sex partnerships, specifically civil partnerships. Sharkey cited personal reasons for this, decrying the fact that if he were to marry his long-term male partner Ade Antigha in Spain (where the two were living at the time), the marriage would not be recognised by Irish law.

neg: Same-sex marriage in Jersey Same-sex marriage in Jersey Same-sex marriage became legal in Jersey، a Crown dependency of the United Kingdom, on 1 July 2018. The States of Jersey passed a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry on 1 February 2018, which received royal assent on 23 May 2018. Jersey also allows civil partnerships for same-sex couples. The bill for legalisation was signed by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 December 2011 and registered in the royal court on 6 January 2012. The law took effect on 2 April 2012. In August 2009, it was announced by the Chief Minister that a civil partnerships bill

neg: Recognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania Recognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania Lithuania does not recognise same-sex marriages or civil partnerships. A bill to grant unmarried couples (including same-sex couples) some limited rights is pending in the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas). On 25 March 2015, 9 members of the Seimas (Parliament) from the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Movement introduced a partnership bill. Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party Algirdas Butkevičius expressed his opposition to the bill. On 6 May 2015, the Committee on Legal Affairs announced that they could find no constitutional barriers to same-sex civil partnerships in the Baltic State. The

neg: LGBT rights in Northern Ireland Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1982 and the age of consent was equalised for all forms of sexual activity in 2001. Civil partnerships have been available for same-sex couples since 2005. Same-sex marriage has been voted on five times by the Northern Ireland Assembly, and although it was passed by a slim majority on the fifth attempt, it has been consistently vetoed by the Democratic Unionist Party using the petition of concern. Same-sex marriages performed outside Northern Ireland are recognised as civil partnerships within its borders. Same-sex couples were granted full adoption rights in 2013. Northern Ireland's homosexuality

neg: Same-sex marriage in South Africa Justice Kate O'Regan dissented, arguing that these words should be read in immediately. On 24 August 2006, the Cabinet approved the "Civil Union Bill" for submission to Parliament. The bill as initially introduced would only have allowed civil partnerships which would be open only to same-sex couples and have the same legal consequences as marriage. It also included provisions to recognise domestic partnerships between unmarried partners, both same-sex and opposite-sex. The state law advisers, who screen laws for constitutionality and form, declined to certify the bill, suggesting that it failed to follow the guidelines laid down by the Constitutional Court.

neg: 2005 Swiss referendums 5 to 10% of the population were homosexual however the government did not expect a large number of people to register their partnerships. Registered partnerships had already been introduced in the cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Zurich. Parliament approved the introduction of the registered partnerships but conservatives gathered the necessary number of signatures to force a referendum. The government's opinion was that Switzerland needed registered partnerships as the current situation gave "insufficient legal protection" for such same-sex relationships. Opponents including the Swiss People's Party, Evangelical People's Party and some church groups opposed the introduction of the partnerships as they

neg: LGBT rights in Guernsey LGBT rights in Guernsey Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the British Crown dependency of Guernsey have improved significantly in the past decades. Same-sex sexual activity for both men and women is legal in Guernsey. Same-sex marriage has been legal since 2 May 2017 in Guernsey, and since 14 June 2018 in its dependency, Alderney. However, same-sex marriage is not legal in its other dependency, Sark. Guernsey is the only part of the British Isles to have never enacted civil partnership legislation, though civil partnerships performed in the United Kingdom were recognised for succession purposes. Since April 2017,

neg: LGBT rights in São Tomé and Príncipe marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. There is no legal protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. São Tomé and Príncipe signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 31 October 1995. A 2016 poll found that 46% of Sāo Toméans would like or not mind having an LGBT neighbor. LGBT rights in São Tomé and Príncipe Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in São Tomé and Príncipe face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in São Tomé and Príncipe. The nation is one

neg: LGBT rights in Jersey 2018. The first couple married shortly thereafter, on 9 July. Both joint and stepchild adoption have been legal since 2012, when the civil partnership law came into effect. Additionally, lesbian couples can access artificial insemination. On 23 June 2015, the States of Jersey agreed to bring about changes in their adoption laws, called the "Adoption (Amendment No. 7) (Jersey) Law 2015", to grant unmarried couples full adoption rights. Previously, only married couples and couples in civil partnerships were allowed to apply to adopt children. The law came into effect on 16 October 2015. On 2 June 2015, Jersey passed the

neg: Intersex UK able to change gender shown on identification documents and thus do not have the right to marriage or civil partnerships, however this does not affect all intersex people. The organisation also undertakes media work to promote human rights. Intersex UK Intersex UK is an organisation by and for intersex people (those born with differences of sex development or variations of sex anatomy) in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Intersex UK works to protect the bodily autonomy and civil rights of intersex children, adolescents, and their families through government lobbying and educational outreach. Intersex UK's mission is to end unnecessary surgeries

neg: Marriage Act 2015 other. Authorised solemnisers of marriage from religious groups are allowed to refuse to officiate at same-sex ceremonies. The Gender Recognition Act 2015 as originally enacted required a transgender person to be unmarried to recognise a change of legal sex; the Marriage Act removed this restriction. The act provided that applications for civil partnership pending when it came into force could be converted into applications for marriage. It was under this provision that the first same-sex marriages took place. Beginning six months after the act came into force, new civil partnerships ceased to be available. The minister's explanation was: The act

neg: ChildHope UK to education and health care. ChildHope UK was formed in 1989 with the support of UNICEF, Save The Children (Sweden) and other NGOs to address the growing number of children living on the streets around the world. When it was formed the charity's focus was on the region of Eastern Europe and in South Africa. It setup working partnerships with local organisations and created projects designed to provide for the basic needs of street children; food, shelter, healthcare and education. By 2003 civil organisations and charities within Eastern Europe required less support from ChildHope as access to direct funding from

neg: Edward Lord Board's longest serving member until standing down in July 2013 and was the LGA's lead member for equality and social inclusion. In 2005, Lord was appointed as chair of the Public Private Partnerships Programme (4ps), the LGA's in house adviser on the private finance initiative. In 2009 they led the merger with Partnerships UK plc to become Local Partnerships LLP, which is jointly owned by the LGA and HM Treasury and acts as the commercial and efficiency taskforce for councils and other local public bodies in England and Wales. Lord retired as chair of Local Partnerships in November 2012, but

neg: Keith O'Brien the Scottish Parliament that homosexuals were "captives of sexual aberrations", comparing homosexuals to prisoners in Saughton jail; and later referred to homosexuality as a "moral degradation". But O'Brien did rebuke Bishop Joseph Devine in 2005 who had suggested that homosexuals should not be allowed to teach in Catholic schools commenting, "I don't have a problem with the personal life of a person as long as they are not flaunting their sexuality." In January 2006 he criticised Westminster MPs over the introduction of civil partnerships in the UK, and Holyrood members over the liberalisation of divorce laws in Scotland, In July

neg: Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd Fitzpatrick v Sterling Housing Association Ltd was a 1999 legal case heard by the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords regarding the meaning of the word 'family' with regards to the Rent Act 1977. The Lords found that a gay couple living together could be seen as a family for the purposes of housing law, and that a family relationship did not require either a blood relationship (as between parent and child) or marriage (at the time, neither marriage nor civil partnerships were available for same-sex couples). Under the Rent Act (and later

neg: Partnerships UK TTF initially consisted of a policy arm staffed by five civil servants, and a projects section employing eight private sector executives led by Adrian Montague, formally co-head of Global Project Finance at investment bank Dresdner Kleinwort. In 1999 the policy arm of TTF was moved to the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), but it was subsequently moved back to the Treasury. The projects section of the TTF was part-privatised and became Partnerships UK (PUK) in 2000. The Treasury retained a 49% 'golden share' in PUK managed by the Shareholder Executive, while the majority stake in the company was owned by

neg: United Nations Office for Partnerships and launched in April 2006, with the United Nations Office for Partnerships/UNFIP providing administrative support and resource-sharing. Since then, the grant-making body has become clearly defined as a fund for civil society organizations. It is the only United Nations entity that has the word “democracy” in its name, the only United Nations body with the primary purpose of supporting democracy through empowering civil society and one of the youngest entities in the United Nations system. The large majority of project funds go to local civil society organizations in countries in both the transition and consolidation phases of democratization. By supporting

neg: Scottish limited partnership $1 billion heist of major Moldovan banks. SLPs sharply increased in popularity between 2016 and 2017, with a 430% increase in registrations in that time. They are reportedly popular vehicles for money laundering for criminals from the former Soviet bloc. Due to possessing distinct legal personalities, SLPs have been used as investment vehicles in Lloyd's of London since 1997. Unlike other UK limited partnerships, SLPs have "legal personalities", which allow them to hold assets and enter into contracts in their own right. The owners of SLPs were not disclosed in company filings. Transparency International UK policy director Duncan Hames has

neg: Jerry W. Cooper the Lottery Oversight Committee, and the Joint Pensions and Insurance Committee. When surveyed by "The Tennessean", Cooper said that he thinks the state constitution should be changed so that it would specify that abortions are not guaranteed, but that abortion should be permitted by the constitution when incest, rape, or the mother's life are involved. He also does not support civil unions and domestic partnerships being legal in Tennessee. According to Project Vote Smart, he has voted to raise cigarette taxes and for allowing handguns to be carried in state parks. In April 2006, Cooper was accused by a federal

neg: Vantis the offices to BDO Stoy Hayward. Numerica was one of the first consolidators, led by former firm Levy Gee; at a time when audit work was restricted to partnerships, it was the first publicly listed company to employ staff part-time who also did audit work for an associated partnership. Numerica had been the UK member of the global accountancy network HLB International since 2002, so Vantis succeeded as the UK member of the network. As of 2010 Vantis was ranked the 13th largest accountancy firm in the UK by "Accountancy Age". However, by February 2010 its work as liquidator of

neg: Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom 2009. According to the 2010 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, 61% of Scotland's population supported same-sex marriage, 19% did not, and 18% neither agreed nor disagreed. In a similar poll in 2002, 42% of Scotland's population supported same-sex marriage. In 2006, 53% of Scots backed same-sex marriage. In July 2011, a representative survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion showed that 43% of Britons believed same-sex couples in Britain should be legally allowed to marry, 34% thought same-sex couples should only be allowed to form civil partnerships only, and 15% would grant no legal recognition to same-sex couples. A poll published

neg: Domestic partnership a contractual form of civil union between two adults bringing additional rights and responsibilities, but less so than marriage. Hungary has domestic partnerships, whereas most other nations in Europe recognize some form of civil unions, also called a registered partnership, or civil partnership for same-sex partners, which afford rights similar to marriage to LGBT couples. Croatia also had domestic partnerships until June 2014 when Croatian parliament passed a law allowing civil partnerships for same-sex couples giving them all rights except adoption rights. In Hungary, since 1995 domestic partnership in the form of unregistered cohabitation offers a limited set of rights

neg: Blairism when Blair announced his intention to resign within one year and especially since May 2007 when he said he would resign as Prime Minister on 27 June 2007. Some have even speculated that if the Blairite coalition is to be seen as essentially one of pro-market anti-Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats could even be it's ultimate inheritors. In a 1999 article, the news magazine "The Economist" stated: Blair's tenure is known for an expansion of LGBT rights, such as the introduction of legal civil partnerships. Blair himself has told the LGBT organisation Stonewall that "what has happened is that the culture

neg: Sexual stigma workplace and in society. Mays and Cochran surveyed homosexuals in the workplace. Homosexuals are four times more likely to lose employment and earn 11-27% less than heterosexual men with similar qualifications. The legal issue of same sex unions may be attributed to sexual stigmatization. Marriage gives legal recognition of partnership and rights to resources and protections. Survey data indicates that large numbers of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans want to marry if given opportunity and many have done so, including those registered in domestic partnership or civil unions. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are huge advancements but are undermining to

neg: Lawyers in Poland several ways of admission to the bar. As to advocates and legal advisors, the following options are available: An examination for admission to bar training for advocates and legal advisors is a written test, 100 out of 150 points guarantee admission. The examination covers: 1) criminal law and criminal procedure; 2) infraction law and infraction court proceedings; 3) financial criminal law and financial criminal proceedings; 4) civil law and civil procedure; 5) family law; 6) public business law; 7) commercial companies and partnerships law; 8) labour law and social security regulations; 9) administrative law and administrative procedure; 10) administrative court

neg: Leeds Leeds, employing over 6,700 people. According to The UK Legal 500, "Leeds has a sophisticated and highly competitive legal market, second only to London." Specialist legal expertise to be found in Leeds includes corporate finance, corporate restructuring and insolvency, global project financing, trade and investment, commercial litigation, competition, construction, Private Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships, tax, derivatives, IT, employment, pensions, intellectual property, sport and entertainment. The establishment of an Administrative Court in Leeds in April 2009 reinforced Leeds' position as one of the UK's key legal centres. The court previously sat only in London. Leeds is the UK's third-largest

neg: Dermot Ahern this country when, as has happened in the USA, homosexuals will seek the right to adopt children? We should think seriously about this possibility". Following his appointment as Minister responsible for equality, Ahern refused to be drawn on the matter and did not give an answer as to whether he still held these opinions. Ahern was responsible for introducing legislation recognising civil partnerships for same-sex couples. He declared the legislation (Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010), which passed into law in July 2010, as "one of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation to

neg: Rebecca West born Cicely Isabel Fairfield in 1892 in London, UK, and grew up in a home full of intellectual stimulation, political debate, lively company, books and music. Her mother, Isabella, a Scotswoman, was an accomplished pianist but did not pursue a musical career after her marriage to Charles Fairfield. The Anglo-Irish Charles had been a Confederate stretcher-bearer at the siege of Richmond in the U.S. Civil War, and had returned to the UK to become a journalist of considerable reputation but financial incompetence. He deserted his family when Cicely was eight years old. He never rejoined them, and died impoverished and

neg: Limited partnership the limited partnership and organizing the managers as limited partners. This practice granted a general partner de facto limited liability under the partnership structure. In the United Kingdom, limited partnerships are governed by the Limited Partnerships Act 1907. The UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (now the Department for Business Innovation and Skills) consulted in 2008 on proposals to modify and merge the Act with the Partnership Act 1890, but the proposals did not go ahead, and the 1907 Act remains the governing Act. English law and Scottish law are distinct on partnerships. In English law, limited partnerships

neg: New Haven Legal Assistance Association New Haven Legal Assistance Association New Haven Legal Assistance Association, Inc. (LAA) is a nonprofit organization incorporated with funding from the Ford Foundation on April 7, 1964 to "secure justice for and to protect the rights of those residents of New Haven County unable to engage legal counsel." LAA provides free legal services in the fields of child and family law, benefits, employment, health, elder, disabilities, consumer, housing, and civil rights to eligible individuals and families in the greater New Haven area. It maintains partnerships with Yale and Quinnipiac Law Schools. In 1964, the year of the LAA’s founding, the

neg: Civil partnership in South Africa Home Affairs, and then they will be exempted from doing so. The legal consequences of a civil partnership are identical to those of a marriage under the Marriage Act, except for such changes as are required by the context. Any reference to marriage in any law, including the common law, is deemed to include civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act; similarly, any reference to husband, wife or spouse in any law is deemed to include a civil partner. The law of divorce for civil partnerships is the same as that for marriage. The Civil Union Act makes

neg: New York Legal Assistance Group New York Legal Assistance Group The New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is a non-profit organization that provides free civil legal services to low-income New Yorkers. Its services include direct representation, case consultation, advocacy, community education, training, financial counseling, and impact litigation. NYLAG is able to provide services to undocumented immigrants, and individuals and families who earn above the government-designated poverty threshold because the agency does not accept Federal Legal Services Corporation funding. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, NYLAG had a budget of $26 million, supplemented by partnerships with law firms and volunteers that donated over 100,000

neg: County magistrate at the entrance to the compound. The magistrate administered both judicial and administrative law. Scholars in the West once felt that the magistrate did not often become involved in civil disputes and that citizens were reluctant to bring them to the local courts, but research has shown that in fact local society was extremely litigious and that the local government was involved in all types of disputes. Legal systems in some parts of the world distinguish civil, criminal, and administrative law, but under the Chinese legal system, the magistrate administered both judicial and administrative law.The magistrate was not allowed arbitrary

neg: Same-sex marriage only for same-sex couples, a person must dissolve his/her civil partnership before obtaining a gender recognition certificate, and the same was formerly true for marriages in England and Wales, and still is in other territories. Such people are then free to enter or re-enter civil partnerships or marriages in accordance with their newly recognized gender identity. In Austria, a similar provision requiring transsexual people to divorce before having their legal sex marker corrected was found to be unconstitutional in 2006. In Quebec, prior to the legalization of same-sex marriage, only unmarried people could apply for legal change of gender. With

neg: Civil Partnership Act 2004 Ann Widdecombe, Bob Spink and Peter Lilley. Those who voted in favour included David Cameron, George Osborne and party leader Michael Howard. Around 30 Conservative MPs did not participate in any of the votes. An amendment tabled by Conservative MP Edward Leigh proposed to extend the property and pension rights afforded by civil partnerships to siblings who had lived together for more than 12 years. This was opposed by many backers of the bill, such as frontbench Conservative MP Alan Duncan, who considered it a wrecking amendment. Leigh himself was an opponent of the Civil Partnerships bill, and voted against

neg: Wedding Scotland. Humanist wedding ceremonies are carried out in a variety of countries like the U.S., Canada and recently Brazil, having legal status in only a few of these countries. Humanist celebrants are able to perform valid civil marriages and civil partnerships in the Republic of Ireland. Secular weddings are becoming more popular in Ireland due to a declining influence of the Catholic Church. A civil wedding is a ceremony presided over by a local civil authority, such as an elected or appointed judge, Justice of the peace or the mayor of a locality. Civil wedding ceremonies may use references to

neg: LGBT rights in Thailand areas such as Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya. In September 2011, the government's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Sexual Diversity Network, an NGO, proposed draft legislation on same-sex marriage and sought the Thai government's support for the law. Instead, in December 2012, the government formed a committee to draft legislation providing legal recognition for same-sex couples in the form of civil partnerships. On 8 February 2013, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department and the Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice, and Human Rights held a first public hearing on the civil partnership bill, drafted by the committee's chairman, Police

neg: Same-sex marriage in Scotland Same-sex marriage in Scotland Same-sex marriage became legal in Scotland on 16 December 2014. As family law is not reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the Scottish Parliament has legislative competence to make changes to the law on marriage. A same-sex marriage law was approved by the Scottish Parliament in February 2014 and received royal assent on 12 March 2014. It came into effect on 16 December 2014 with many civil partners converting their relationships into marriages, while the first same-sex marriage ceremonies occurred on 31 December 2014. Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been legal since 2005.

neg: LGBT rights in Scotland assent on 12 March 2014. It came into effect on 16 December 2014 with many civil partners converting their relationships into marriages, while the first same-sex marriage ceremonies occurred on 31 December 2014. Civil partnerships for same-sex couples have been legal since 2005. Same-sex couples have also been granted joint and step adoption since 2009 and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity has been banned since 2010. The historical legal situation for male homosexuality was severe: "The common law crime of sodomy does not involve the establishment of the absence of consent on the part of

neg: Civil partnership in the United Kingdom no prohibition on prayers’ being said in church or there being a 'service'". The Church of England Archbishop's Council confirmed that: 18,059 couples entered into a civil partnership between December 2005 and the end of December 2006, with a further 8,728 taking place in 2007, 7,169 in 2008, 6,281 in 2009, 6,385 in 2010, and 6,795 in 2011 (up 6.4%). Divorces/dissolutions for partnerships were between women 64.6% of the time in 2011, which, when compared to the 50.7% take up of civil partnerships for men over the same year and a 51.2% rate for women in 2010, suggests the partnerships

neg: Partnership taxation 2005 as not having a 'separate and distinct' legal personality from its members. As a result, partners are assessed to either UK corporation tax or UK income tax on their share of the profits and losses of the partnership Following the case of Memec plc v CIR [70 TC 77], HM Revenue and Customs has issued guidance as to how interests of UK tax residents in foreign partnerships should be treated for UK tax purposes. Partnership taxation in Hong Kong is the taxation of the profits or losses generated by partnership business entities. First, these profits or losses of the

neg: LGBT rights in Anguilla exist for LGBT people in Anguilla's local laws. LGBT rights in Anguilla Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Anguilla face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activities have been legal in Anguilla since 2001. The legalisation of homosexuality was the result of an order of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and affected the laws in four other overseas territories of the United Kingdom. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Anguilla and it is one of the few U.K. overseas territories not to have legislated for civil partnerships. Non-legal ceremonies of same-sex couples have

neg: LGBT rights in Anguilla LGBT rights in Anguilla Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Anguilla face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activities have been legal in Anguilla since 2001. The legalisation of homosexuality was the result of an order of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and affected the laws in four other overseas territories of the United Kingdom. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Anguilla and it is one of the few U.K. overseas territories not to have legislated for civil partnerships. Non-legal ceremonies of same-sex couples have occurred on the island. No known legislative protections