Tomorrow (December 5, 2005) civil partnerships become legal in the U.K. for same-sex couples. No doubt we'll be hearing all about Elton John's and George Michael's nuptials (not to each other, of course... and will they be playing their own music at the reception, I wonder? :confused: wink ). But what's important is that the U.K. joins the growing list of countries allowing some sort of same-sex marriage, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa...

BBC's Q & A on civil partnerships.
The Guardian's gay rights feature

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Edit: to add BBC article details 'partnership right's' in other countries, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Germany, France, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and some U.S. states

[ December 04, 2005, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]

And here I've been saving myself all these years for George Michael. Oh well, so it goes. Always a bridesmaid and never a bride. Boo hoo.

There's also a good article on the current state of attitudes toward gays in pro sport in Britain in that same issue of the Guardian.

The love that still dare not speak its name in

Elton John to wed December 21st.

OK, here's a stumper. Elton John was knighted by the Queen. In Britain when a man is knighted he is knows as Sir, followed by first name. (Similarly a woman is Dame, followed by first name.) If he is married, or if he later marries, his wife is known as Lady, followed by his last name. When addressed, the man is called Sir __ and the woman is addressed as "My Lady".
So Paul McCartney and Heather Mills are officially known as Sir Paul and as Lady McCartney.
But what will Sir Elton's domestic partner be called?

Do the civil partnerships transfer titles as well? If so, wouldn't it be "Sir"? Sir Elton and Sir David? Lord John and Lord Furnish? Or Lord John and Lord Furnish-John, etc., depending upon who might amend his name?

The act does not provide for a same sex partner to assume any title. Much the same as if a titled woman married a male commoner, he doesn't share her title either.

Thanks for the clarification, swiminbuff.