Two British women
married in Canada are now asking Britain to recognize
their marriage, which the U.K. government has deemed a
"civil partnership" under the country's new law. Sue
Wilkinson, 49, and Celia Kitzinger, 52, allege in
their case before Britain's high court that their
human rights are being violated because their union is seen
as something less than marriage, the Associated Press reports.
"Our experience of marriage is that it's a lot
more than just a word," Kitzinger said to the AP
before a court hearing Tuesday. "We're not going to
gain any more protections or rights, as far as we
know. Since that's the case, why this fierce opposition? Our
government's reaction is that they think it's more
than just a word; otherwise, they wouldn't oppose us."
Since December, same-sex couples in
Britain have been able to enter into civil
partnerships, which give them most of the same legal
and financial rights as married straight couples. But
that does not go far enough for Wilkinson and
Kitzinger, who were married in Vancouver in August 2003.
"We already have a marriage," Wilkinson told the
AP. "And being told that 'you don't have a marriage,
you have a civil partnership' is pretty hurtful."
British legal experts are unsure whether the
women will prevail in court. Patricia Hollings, a
family-law specialist, told the AP that she expected
the high court "will not find their claim persuasive"
because it will see civil partnerships as conceptually
the same as marriage.
However, she added, if the women can show they
have been directly affected by the distinction between
civil partnerships and marriage, then they may have a
case. A ruling is expected in July. (The Advocate)
