Queen to Announce British Gay Partnership Plan

LONDON, November 11, 2003 (CWNews.com/LifeSiteNews.com) – The Queen of England will announce a new plan next week that would grant same-sex couples the same rights as married couples.  Written by Prime Minister Tony Blair, the speech lays down the Government’s plans for legislation to be implemented over the coming months.  The Queen will reveal the proposed legislation, which will allow homosexual couples to sign an official document at a register office in front of the registrar and two witnesses.  A family law expert told the Sunday Times: “The State is recognizing and sanctioning same-sex relationships as deserving equal treatment.” He added, “The reform would in effect be virtually the same as marriage.”  The Government predicts that the annual costs of gay partnerships to private sector employers could be up to 20 million pounds per year. And the total annual costs to the Government would be around 75 million in 2010, when the civil registration scheme is expected to begin, and up to 240 million in 2050. Those figures include state pension, public service pension, and dissolution costs.  Partnership registration would be available to those aged 16 and over, although people aged 16 and 17 would have to obtain written consent from a parent or guardian. There would also be limitations mirroring the incest laws for marriage.