Lesbian couple kicks off same-sex 'marriages' in Britain

Dec 19, 2005, 18:43 GMT

London/Belfast - A lesbian couple from Belfast in Northern Ireland Monday kicked off what is expected to be an avalanche of same-sex 'marriages' under new civil partnership laws in the United Kingdom.

Cheered by supporters and heckled by protestors, Shannon Sickles, 27, and 32-year-old Grainne Close emerged blissfully happy from a registrar ceremony at Belfast City Hall, declaring: 'We are delighted.'

The law on civil partnerships, which gives gays and lesbians a similar legal and tax status as heterosexual couples, came into force on December 5.

After a waiting period of two weeks, the first ceremonies became legally possible in Northern Ireland on Monday. Scotland will follow suit on Tuesday and on Wednesday, more than 700 couples are due to hold ceremonies in England and Wales.

Altogether, 1,200 same-sex couples have so far applied to be 'married' under the new act, according to government figures.

The government expects more than 10,000 such ceremonies over the next few years.

On Wednesday, all eyes will be on the Guildhall at Windsor, outside London, where rock superstar Elton John is planning to wed his long-term partner, David Furnish.

The civil ceremony will be conducted by the same woman registrar who married Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles there on April 9 this year.

John and Furnish are planning to have a 'pink wedding bash' afterwards at John's villa near Windsor, preceded by a 'hen night' at a celebrity nightclub in London's Soho district.

Most of the ceremonies, which have led to the creation of an entirely new market for 'pink products', are to take place in the southern sea spa of Brighton, known as Britain's 'gay capital'.

Showing off their rings to waiting reporters, Sickles and Close, both with short haircuts and in trouser suits, said they were happy their union was now legalized.

'Here's to many more,' said Sickles, cheered on by supporters. Two more ceremonies were held at Belfast City Hall Monday, with another 20 booked in over the next few days.

'For us, this is about making a choice to have our civil rights acknowledged, and respected and protected as any human being,' said Close.

Around two hours later, Christopher Flanagan and Henry Kane emerged from Belfast City Hall after having sealed their relationship.

About 40 protesters holding up banners declaring 'Homosexuality is Sin' gathered outside the building to voice their displeasure at the unions, but their opposition was drowned by the cheers of supporters.

The Reverend David McIlveen, of the Free Presbyterian Church - said he was 'very much opposed' to the 'marriage in all but name' of gay couples.