Features
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Same-sex couples can now get family status, thanks to the new Civil Partnership Act. UNISON's national officer for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, Carola Towle, explains what this means
Progress at last
UNISON has warmly welcomed the successful passage of the Civil Partnership
Act through both Houses of Parliament, completing what has proved a very
hairy legislative journey.
It should have been a simple (albeit controversial) matter – a new
family status for same-sex couples, akin to heterosexual marriage.
But over the past months it has got diverted into a series of side issues,
including the relationship between Westminster and Stormont, the future
of inheritance tax, and the rights of cohabiting siblings. There were
many times when the whole Bill looked precarious.
UNISON’s only reservation was that, as originally drafted, the Bill
did not grant full pensions equality to civil partners.
However, after extensive lobbying by members around the country and the
personal intervention of UNISON's general secretary, Dave Prentis, with
the Chancellor Gordon Brown, the government amended the Bill to provide
full pensions equality.
Our only concern now is the future of pensions provision in general. We
have won equality for same-sex couples – but equality with very
little is itself very little.
But we celebrate the successful completion of the Act. It is a leap forward
for the rights of those couples who register.
It is also a leap forward in society’s acceptance of same sex relationships
– a leap away from the legacy of Section 28, and its stigmatising
of our lives as ‘pretend family relationships’. This impacts
directly on the workplace and on the experience of lesbian, gay and bisexual
people in employment.
Of course, not all same-sex couples will chose to register. Of course,
some heterosexual couples would prefer the option of a civil register.
But this civil partnership scheme is great progress.
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WHAT WILL THE NEW LAW MEAN? It will recognise long-term same-sex partnerships and couples registering
as civil partners will have access to a whole new package of rights
and responsibilities. |
LOTS MORE FEATURESIncluding stress in the workplace, getting out of debt and the pensions crisis more... |
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