Gay marriage

I'm gay. Can I marry my partner and will we have the same rights as straight couples?

Thanks to the Civil Partnership Act (2004), it's now possible for couples of the same sex to enter into a civil partnership.

Although it's common to talk about this as 'gay marriage', there are a small number of differences between civil partnership and marriage. For example, opposite-sex couples can opt for either a religious or civil marriage ceremony, but civil partnership is an exclusively civil procedure.

However, in general, once your marriage is registered, your rights and responsibilities will be very similar to those applicable to married heterosexual partners.

Good answer? Bad info? Want to tell us what you think? We'd really like to hear what you've got to say about this answer so please click here to take the survey. Your feedback is confidential and as anonymous as you like.

Question answered by CAB

You might have missed...

Post Pals party

Vicky applies to her local newspaper to help fund the Post Pals annual party.

Modern witchcraft

Anna has been a witch for the last six years and explains what witchcraft really is.

Pointless protests

Daisy is fed up with people taking part in protests with
no meaning.