UK straight couple looking for gay couple to join their fight

by Rhonda J Mangus | December 13, 2009 at 03:23 pm

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Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, whose civil partnership application was rejected last month in Islington, UK, are looking for a gay couple to join their fight before the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Civil Partnerships Act 2005 bars heterosexuals from having civil partnerships.

Although the rejection of the civil partnership application was anticipated, it is thought that the ban on heterosexuals seeking civil partnerships rather than 'traditional marriage' may breach the European Convention of Human Rights Articles 8, 12, and 14.

They have been advised by gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and a prominent human rights lawyer that the best strategy is to find a gay couple who would be turned away from registering for a civil marriage.

The two couples would then approach the ECHR jointly.

Freeman and Doyle do not believe in traditional marriage but their fight has now turned into a gay rights issue.

Freeman told PinkNews.co.uk that taking the case to the European court would avoid incurring the legal costs which would arise if they fought the case through UK courts.

He said: "It's now just a people's rights thing. No one should be kept out of institutions because of their sexuality. Unless someone can tell me a good reason why, it is really divisive. It continues this 'othering' of the gay community, and the 'othering' of the straight community to gays. It's just about equality."

Freeman said he had been surprised at the support the couple have received from politicians. Their local MP, Emily Thornberry, has invited them to the House of Commons in January and has said she will raise the issue in parliament.

He emphasised that he and Doyle were looking for a gay couple who were willing to take the time to fight the case and see it through to the end.

They hope to find a couple without any complicated circumstances in order to keep the challenge legally simple.

Freeman said he had had some offers of help from couples where one or both partners was transgender, which he said could lead to complications.

If you and your partner want to join the couple in their case, contact:

Email: thomascolinfreeman@gmail.com or katherine.doyle@gmail.com

Related news stories on NowPublic Special News Coverage here and here.

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Babel-Fish

at 17:15 on December 13th, 2009

Why didn't they just go and marry in the registry office it does not have to be a religious affair.

I just can not understand the logic they don't even have to wear rings, sounds like a publicity stunt?

Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:15 on December 13th, 2009

Thanks for the question, Babel-Fish:)! Did you watch the video? The argument is valid, I think. More important, they are willing to take it to the ECHR.

Babel-Fish

at 17:48 on December 13th, 2009

Its obviously a but up job by gay rights its to get the term civil partnership to be dropped so they can be married under the civil marriage laws.

Both agreements allow the same rights by law, I personally do not want the law changed the gays have won their rights and however they wish be be seen as a normal family the relationship can never produce children the real reason that marriage was instituted in society. Marriage has a history it its a binding between a man and woman. It was to protect the woman and her children to try to ensure that the husband took on the responsibility of family and its well being.

Marriage is a culture related thing its something I value its part of the culture I came from and respected. I am all for gay rights and in Britain the state has given them just that. The church is another matter that problem should be resolved in court.

But no I can not back what these people are trying to do. It hardly a logic thing to do. When is it going to stop. Do we change the laws concerning age because men want to have child wives? Are we not restricting such rights.

There is always a place one must draw a line when it comes to rights.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 17:59 on December 13th, 2009

Thank you, Babel-Fish!

"There is always a place one must draw a line when it comes to rights."

As I have posted elsewhere:

Education aimed at promoting social change for individuals and groups within society, including lesbian and gays, needs to explicitly focus on human rights; believed in this study to be somehow lost in the moral rhetoric. Moral reasoning and homosexuality: the acceptability of arguments about lesbian and gay issues.

Babel-Fish

at 18:59 on December 13th, 2009

Your welcome, Perhaps my line is nearer a center point than most concerning gay rights but my heart is in the correct place concerning the need for them to be treated equal as all humans should be when it comes to rights.

That is the rights of heterosexuals should be considered also in this case the couple concern can achieve the same rights by having a Civil Marriage or less rights if they are against marriage as a common law husband an wife even as that the couple still have rights under laws of UK.

The USA has bigger problems on these issues as there is not so much social care and always battles concerning human rights not just gay issues but others. Because of social care gay rights rightfully achieve the aim of a civil union but if they are chasing after marriage certificates there is no logical reason really for such a pursuit.