Human Rights at Home and Abroad: Past, Present, and Future

denied and discriminated against. Same-sex couples only have the opportunity to be in civil partnerships
and not marriage. Brown and Kershaw make it clear that ―the legislation grants legal status to lesbian and
gay partnerships, the government made it very clear that the Act was an equality measure, and not an
introduction of same-sex marriages‖ (2008, p.127). How can the government really think that the
introduction of civil partnerships is going to make the topic of gay rights stop? The denial of same-sex
marriage proves that it is not an equality measure, but discriminations on what human rights a
homosexual is able to have. Civil partnerships work similarly to civil unions in the U.S. However, civil
unions do contain many differences. To begin, civil partnerships entitle the couple to the same treatments
and benefits given to any type of married couple. Also unlike in the United States, same-sex couples are
allowed to get a divorce just like any heterosexual couple is allowed to. In the United Kingdom civil
partnerships are recognized everywhere. This means that the couple does not have to worry about going
to a certain area of the nation and not being recognized as a legal partnership, unlike in the United States
where only certain states recognize civil unions. The Civil Partnership Act allows for the same treatment
of gay and lesbian couples the same way heterosexual couples are treated (Brown and Kershaw, 2008,
p.127). This is good news for same-sex couples because equal treatment allows them to feel comfortable
with themselves and able to love whoever they want and not have to worry about someone treating them
differently. Brown and Kershaw explain:
Whilst the civil partnership is distinct from marriage, it enables lesbian and gay couples
legal obligation, rights and responsibilities as married couples. Amongst other things, this
means that once lesbian and gay couples have registered their partnership, as ‗civil
partnerships‘ they are treated in the same way as married couples for the purpose of
benefits, pension rights, protection from domestic violence, as well as being legally able
to inherit part of their deceased partners estate and be recognized as their partner‘s next
of kin. (2008, p.127)
These statements provide same-sex couples with a sense of comfortably with their relationship and do not
have to worry about being treated any differently then heterosexual couples. Even though civil
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