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GAY BELFAST NEWS for September 2005
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New gay wedding guide unveiled (23 September 2005)
Lesbian and gay couples confused about the upcoming civil partnerships will have a new resource to turn to from today, thanks to gay charity Stonewall. The Get Hitched guide, which will be available in libraries and citizen advice bureaus, as well as online, is an attempt to reach out to same-sex couples who are keen to take advantage of the new laws when they come into force in December. Those behind the guide say they hope the pamphlet sized document will distil the information regarding civil partnerships into a single source for couples. Previously, the only official information available has been through the government, although this has been criticised by some campaigners for failing to drop its formal and confusing language. In response, the Equality Minister Meg Munn MP announced the government's own resource booklet earlier this month, which will be distributed in the gay press. Stonewall's Chief Executive Ben Summerskill says he hopes the charity's booklet will offer practical answers to the questions being raised by same-sex couples across the country. "Civil partnership is one of the biggest steps forward for gay people in a generation," Summerskill said today. "But most lesbians and gay men have never needed to know the benefits, and pitfalls, of getting hitched." The guide is being supported by Barclays, which will distribute it in its branches. "We recognise that there are around 2.5 million lesbian and gay adults in Britain, most of whom have bank accounts," says Jim Hytner, UK Marketing Director of Barclays. "We want all of them to know they can be comfortable banking with Barclays and if any gay couples want to open joint accounts, we're delighted to do that for them too." The 12-page guide will be published in both English and Welsh. Online, it will also be available in Bengali, Gujurati, Urdu, Punjabi, French, Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Spanish and Italian. Summerskill says there is still a demand for more information on the new laws, which will give lesbian and gay couples the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples. "We want to provide couples with answers to all their practical questions as they prepare for the future," he said. Discuss this article on the Gay Belfast ForumWestlife star set to marry his lover (10 September 2005)
WESTLIFE'S Mark Feehily is tying the knot and getting married to his ex pornstar and boyband lover Kevin McDaid just months after meeting the boy band singer. Mark, says they will marry at the end of the year with a special ceremony to bless their relationship. The Westlifer announced he was gay last month and revealed how he was in a serious relationship with Kevin, who sings with the boy band V. Kevin plans to ditch his short pop career to concentrate on supporting Mark. Mark is following in the footsteps of Boyzone's Stephen Gately who married his lover Andrew after coming out. The Westlife star said coming out was "the best thing I ever did, like a massive weight off my shoulders. My family and friends always knew who I was but now I don't have to hide my identity any more," said Mark. He says Kevin and himself are "really happy together and everyone was been amazing to us in the last month".Legal gay marriages are only available in a handful of countries around the world. Holland was the first country to offer a full civil marriage rights to gay couples in 2001. Belgium followed in 2003. In June, Spanish MPs voted in favour of allowing gay couples to marry and adopt children. The bill became law in July. In America, may states have passed laws defining marriage as "the union between a man and a woman". Actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of California, said he would veto a bill to legalise same-sex marriage in the state "out of respect for the will of the people". His comment has drawn heated criticism from gay rights supporters but he is the toast of conservative groups. Discuss this article on the Gay Belfast ForumPolitical Links: SDLP - Ulster Unionists - DUP - Alliance Party - Sinn Fein - Green Party
