Civil partnership ban to be lifted
Religious buildings to be allowed to host same-sex civil partnerships from 5 December
The ban on same-sex civil partnerships taking place in religious buildings will be lifted in England and Wales on 5 December. The change in the law will not at this stage extend to allowing same-sex couples to use the word ‘marriage’. Quaker Meetings are therefore expected to host a civil partnership – for legal recognition – followed by a Quaker Meeting for Worship for Marriage. Friends have been calling for the change to be implemented since parliament voted in favour of it as part of the Equality Act in April 2010. The act emphasises that the provision is voluntary and that no faith group will be forced to host ceremonies they do not believe in.
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