The Guardian reports that a straight British couple who do not wish to be married were told that they could not enter into a civil partnership because they are not gay.
Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, both 25 and both public servants, found their application for civil partnership rejected by the Islington Registry Office in north London because they were straight. The law, which came into effect in 2005, only allows for civil partnerships between same-sex couples.
Undeterred, the couple are taking their issue to court. According to Freeman:
We want to secure official status for our relationship in a way that supports the call for complete equality and is free of the negative connotations of marriage.
If we cannot have a civil partnership, we will not get married.
A spokesman for Islington Council explained that they were powerless in the matter, adding “the council must follow the law.”
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