Since 2004 same-sex partnerships have been able to form civil
partnerships, giving them the same rights and responsibilities
as a civil marriage. While the civil partnership has established
equity in matters of inheritance tax, pensions and social
security, ensuring that same sex couples are not discriminated
against socially is a matter of good manners. - Sexual
preference is a private matter, so never explicitly ask someone
if he or she is gay. - Same sex couples can help iron out any
ambiguities by making introductions, to 'my partner'. - Never
make anyone's sexuality a matter of comment in a social context
- it's discriminatory, in bad taste, and may cause offence.
Civil Partnership Ceremonies Pragmatism should be the order of
the day. Important changes in societal attitudes can take a long
while to become fully established. Accept that, for some people,
civil partnerships are challenging and contentious, and try your
best to negotiate these If you have been invited to celebrate a
civil partnership, you s