'Gay weddings' first for Belfast

[DrTeeth]

I don't think we have enough gay threads in FYM.

'Gay Weddings' first for Belfast

The first set of civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples in the UK are being held in Northern Ireland.

Two women, Shannon Sickles and Grainne Close, exchanged vows at Belfast City Hall, followed by a gay couple and another lesbian couple.

The new Civil Partnership Act provides same-sex couples with similar legal rights to married couples.

The first ceremonies in Scotland will take place on Tuesday, and in England and Wales on Wednesday.

Speaking before the ceremony, Ms Close said they were "in a very privileged position".

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

"We could not be here without the hard work of many queer activists and individuals from the queer community and we feel very privileged and blessed to be here doing this."

"This is for all the people who went before us and this is for protection," her partner Ms Sickles added.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Cool. Congratulations to the happy couples, here's to many great years together .

Angela

 

[AcrobatMan]

I dont really believe in the institution of marriage. -heterosexual unions or homosexual unions.

but if that makes them happy...good for them

Having said that probably I will marry a *girl* someday.

 

[Irvine511]

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Elton John is getting married on Wednesday

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

WINDSOR (Reuters) - British pop star Elton John tied the knot with long-term partner David Furnish on Wednesday, joining hundreds of gay couples across England taking advantage of a new law to formalize their relationships.

After a short civil ceremony, the celebrity couple emerged into the sunlight and greeted hundreds of cheering well wishers and the world's press, who had brought the streets of the royal town of Windsor to a standstill.

"Thank you," a beaming John mouthed to the crowds, as he stood arm-in-arm with Canadian-born Furnish.

Two young women rushed up to the couple and presented them with a wedding cake outside the Guildhall, the same building where heir-to-the-throne Britain's Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles earlier in the year.

The normally flamboyant pair surprised some pundits by wearing traditional black morning suits. The civil partnership ceremony was a small, private affair, attended by a handful of friends and with the couple's parents acting as witnesses.

John will host up to 700 guests at a lavish evening party on his nearby estate, including former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and singer George Michael...

.........But there were no signs of disapproval in Windsor on Wednesday, only a giant cartoon held up by one well-wisher depicting Queen Elizabeth, whose castle overlooks the town, saying: "I thought I was the only queen in the village."

"It's fantastic," Richard Kendall said after John and Furnish had been whisked away in a limousine escorted by police outriders.

"I've been here since seven o'clock this morning, I'm a bit of an Elton John fan and it's combined with a truly historical moment."

Film producer Furnish, 43, who has been with John for around 12 years, welcomed the new law.

"It is one of the defining issues of our times. And I applaud Britain for embracing the diversity of our society," he said in a recent interview with gay lifestyle magazine Attitude.

 

[verte76]

Cool, very cool. Congrats to the many happy couples.

 

[A_Wanderer]

Has the world imploded under the weight of sin yet?

 

[VertigoGal]

congrats to gay couples within the UK

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Congrats to Elton and David as well . May they have a long and happy life together.

Angela

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

Nice rock

 

[verte76]

Ooh, yes, love the ring. This is not a bad development for the jewelry business.

 

[Irvine511]

Ooh, yes, love the ring. This is not a bad development for the jewelry business.

and can you imagine the $$$ to be made by gay divorce lawyers!?!?!?