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A gay student
couple have married to highlight the growing campaign for equal
partnership rights.
Jon Cox
and Hadleigh Bayley exchanged vows in front of around 1000 people
during an open-air ceremony at the University of East Anglia,
Norwich, on Thursday March 7.
Their wedding
featured all the usual traditions with confetti and a reception
- but the marriage is not recognised by law.
Jon and
Hadleigh, who two years ago at the university, hope their wedding
will help raise the profile of the fight for better rights for
same-sex couples.
"The
marriage wasn't legally recognised and it couldn't be even if
it was in a church," said Jon Cox.
"It's
basically to raise awareness about partnership rights and the
fact that gay couples - even if they've been together 40 years
and are truly in love - they're lacking basic rights,"he
added.
After the
emotional ceremony, which took place in the Central Square,
most of the 1000 spectators signed a petition for equal partnership
rights. It was organised by the university's Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual Group.
At present
same-sex couples are unable to benefit from rules which apply
to those in heterosexual relationships.
To name
but a few, current inheritance law means that should your partner
die after a 20-year loving and sharing relationship, the survivor
cannot inherit property.
There are
fiscal disadvantages too, from married couples' tax relief,
to mortgages and insurance.
Finally,
and perhaps most heart-rendingly, partners are still not allowed
at hospital bedsides at the passing away of their partner of
20 years, simply because they are not recognised as family.
Jon says
although some of the laws and attitudes affecting same-sex couples
have changed for the better, Britain still has a way to go to
match up to those abroad.
"Britain
rates rather badly because a lot of European countries are more
forward thinking in their legislation," he said.
"Even
though some of the Mediterranean countries are more socially
macho and less tolerant in society, the law has taken positive
steps to make it more equal", he added.
For more
information contact Hadleigh (h.bayley@uea.ac.uk)
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