INDY500
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
No civil union for straight pair.
Heterosexual couple have been refused permission to register for a civil partnership.
Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle said they want to challenge "discriminatory" UK laws which restrict civil partnerships to same-sex couples.
They plan legal action after their application was denied at Islington Register Office, north London.
A spokesman for Islington Council said the pair's request was refused because "the council must follow the law".
UK law permits only heterosexual couples to marry; same-sex couples can form civil partnerships.
Mr Freeman and Miss Doyle, both 25, from Islington, have been in a relationship for four years.
Their bid was supported by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Mr Tatchell said: "The ban on heterosexual civil partnerships is heterophobic. It is disciminatory and offensive."
He added: "I applaud their challenge to this unjust legislation."
Actual news item or parody?