Straight couple campaign to have civil partnership

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Straight couple campaign to have civil partnership

By Jack Sommers
December 15, 2010

A COUPLE who were denied a civil partnership because they are straight are now planning a legal challenge to the rejection.

Tim Garrett and Lucy Hilken, who live outside Farnham, went to Aldershot Registration Office on December?14 and, as expected, were told they could not be granted a civil partnership.

They are one of eight couples, supported by veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who?believe that the current legislation?violates the Human Rights Act.

Mr Tatchell argued that?the law discriminated unfairly by denying civil partnerships for?heterosexuals and marriages for gay couples.

Mr Garrett said he hoped their case would "force the government’s hand" into changing the law.

He added that he and Ms Hilken would never get married and would only accept a civil partnership.

The pair, who are both 31-year-old teachers, have been together 11 years.

Mr Garrett said he and his partner?disliked the "religious and patriarchal nature" of traditional marriage.

For more on this story, see this week's News & Mail, out on Friday, December 17.

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