Nov 10
27
The perversion of equality
National Post – November 26, 2010
Couple seek legal option to replace Mr. and Mrs.
We are ‘equals’
A heterosexual British couple is challenging the law on civil partnerships after an application was turned down. At present, only gay couples are eligible. Ian Goggin, 21, and Kristin Skarsholt, 22, who are Quakers and live in Bristol, western England, said they wanted the security and stability of a legal commitment without having to get married, the BBC reported. They are among eight couples – four heterosexual, four gay – taking their case to the courts, arguing the law is discriminatory.
“The registrar did offer us a marriage, but that’s not what we want,” Mr. Goggin said. “She was really helpful and extremely nice, but she couldn’t offer us a civil partnership under [Chapter 1] Section 3 of the Civil Partnerships Act 2004. “They formally rejected us and helpfully gave us a letter of rejection, which we can take to our legal advisor and mount a campaign against the law.” The campaign is organized by the gay rights group Out-Rage! and co-ordinated by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Mr. Goggin was born in Ireland and Ms. Skarsholt in Norway. They first met at a Quaker event and now both live in Bristol. After making the application, the couple said they were prepared to see their battle for equal rights through the courts. “Being a wife does not resonate with me. To ‘husband’ in the dictionary is to manage or control and that is not reflected in our relationship,” Ms. Skarsholt, a graduate in peace studies and conflict resolution, told the Bristol Evening News. “We see and love each others as equals.