List of consultation questions:
Question 1: Do you agree or disagree with enabling all couples, regardless of their gender to have a civil marriage ceremony?
Newcastle City Council (NCC) welcomes the Government’s intention to extend the legal form of marriage to same-sex couples and agrees with the Government proposals to enable all couples, regardless of their gender to have a civil marriage ceremony. The Council endorses the availability of marriage in a registry office and approved premises.
Question 2: Please explain the reasons for your answer. Please respond within 1,225 characters (approx 200 words).
NCC believes that the proposal will help to provide further legal protection and extend rights to LGBT people.
We believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect and are entitled to equality of marriage. The distinction between marriage and civil partnership helps to maintain a perception amongst some individuals or organisations that relationships between same-sex couples are not as stable or valid as those between heterosexual couples. This can help to foster prejudice and allow ignorance to persist, which evidence shows can be reflected in behaviours such as homophobic rhetoric, bullying and hate crime.
The proposal will also help remove some of the current inequalities faced by people under going gender reassignment. Recognition of same sex marriage would overcome the requirement under the Gender Recognition Act for trans people to annul existing marriages or civil partnerships before they can gain legal recognition of their new gender.
Question 3: If you identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual would you wish to have a civil marriage ceremony?
NCC has consulted with our LGBT staff group and members of the wider community. The feedback we have received indicates that there are many same-sex couples who would wish to have civil marriages.
Question 4: If you represent a group of individuals who identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual would those you represent wish to have a civil marriage ceremony?
See above
Question 5: The Government does not propose to open up religious marriage to same-sex couples. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
Disagree. We would support religious marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples being available, where religious organisations have chosen to conduct them.
There are already religious organisations which wish to celebrate marriage between two people of the same sex. It is important that the decision making processes of individual faith groups should be respected. Faith groups who wish to celebrate marriages should be able to do so without obstruction from other groups. Equally, it is important that faith groups who would not opt to celebrate such marriages should not be subject to unreasonable pressure as a result of that decision.
Question 6: Do you agree or disagree with keeping the option of civil partnerships once civil marriage is available to same-sex couples?
NCC agrees that there should be an option to retain civil partnerships. In 2005 when civil partnerships were introduced, the option of civil marriage was not available. Since then, statistics show that over 100,000 people have entered into civil partnerships. The Council feels that for those couples who already have a civil partnership and do not want to convert this to a civil marriage then the option of a civil partnership should be retained.
Many couples may prefer to enter in a civil partnership rather than civil marriage, as this status better reflectsthe nature of their relationship. As such, it is important that choice remains available.
In addition to this, some countries have registered partnerships for same sex couples but not marriage and would recognise civil partnerships but not same sex marriage. Retaining civil partnerships would benefit some couples who have connections with a country e.g. France where there are significant issues around ownership rights to property that depend on formal partnership status.
Question 7: If you identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual and were considering making a legal commitment to your partner would you prefer to have a civil partnership or a civil marriage?
We believe that same sex couples should be able to choose whether they enter into a civil marriage or a civil partnership. Extensive evidence and consultation by groups such as Stonewall indicate that there is a strong desire for many same sex couples to enter into a civil marriage; equally there aremany couples who would wish to see civil partnerships retained.
We believe it will be for couples to decide what option is best for them. What is important is that that choice is made available.
Question 8: The Government is not considering opening up civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
We disagree with this proposal. We support the option of civil partnerships being available to all couples, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. All couples should be entitled to choose what status, either through civil partnership or civil marriage better reflects the nature of their relationship.
True equality requires the option of a civil partnership to be open to opposite sex couples.
Question 9: If you are in a civil partnership would you wish to take advantage of this policy and convert your civil partnership into a marriage?
National consultation evidence suggests that there are a small number of people who will want to convert their existing civil partnerships to a marriage. As marriage has not previously been available to same sex couples it is difficult to estimate the number of couples who do.
Question 10: Do you agree or disagree that there should be a time limit on the ability to convert a civil partnership into a marriage
Disagree. The Council feels that there should be no arbitrary time limit on this.
Question 11: Do you agree or disagree that there should be the choice to have a civil ceremony on conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage?
Agree. Some couples who have already entered into a civil partnership will not want an additional public ceremony on conversion of their CP to a marriage. However there will also be couples who do wish to have this as an option. Newcastle City Council believes that this choice should be made available.
Question 12: If you are a married transsexual person would you want to take advantage of this policy and remain in your marriage while obtaining a full Gender Recognition Certificate?
As an organisation we are not in position to respond this.
Question 13: If you are the spouse of a transsexual person, would you want to takeadvantage of this policy and remain in your marriage whilst your spouse obtained a full Gender Recognition Certificate?
As an organisation we are not in position to respond this.
Question 14: Do you have any comments on the assumptions or issues outlined in this chapter on consequential impacts? Please respond within 1,225 characters (approx 200 words).
Question 15: Are you aware of any costs or benefits? that exist to either the public or private sector, or individuals that we have not accounted for? Please respond within 1,225 characters (approx 200 words).
We are not aware of any additional costs to the public sector other than those already outlined in the Governments Impact Assessment. We agree that there may be a small administration cost associated with implementing the proposed changes. However, we recognise and welcome the economic opportunities that the extension of marriage to same-sex couples to local businesses and services could potentially bring.
Question 16: Do you have any other comments on the proposals within this consultation? Please respond within 1,225 characters (approx 200 words).