10 Nov 05

from: Outrage!
Faced with angry protesters from OutRage! Kent, Tory-controlled Medway Council voted at its executive cabinet meeting on Tuesday   November to allow civil partnership registration ceremonies.


Medway had, since the bill received Royal Assent in Nov 2004, refused to allow ceremonies and refused to even discuss the ban.

It was the last council in the country to hold out against allowing lesbian and gay couples to have civil partnership ceremonies as part of the registration process.

However after a threat of legal action from a local OutRage! activist, Ian Farmer, Medway Council was forced to hold a recorded vote last Thursday (3 November).

"All the Lib Dem and Labour councillors voted for same-sex partnership ceremonies, but the Tory councillors voted against and the entire cabinet (all Tories) abstained," said Mr Farmer, a long-standing gay rights campaigner and organiser of OutRage! Kent.

"This impasse forced an executive meeting on Tuesday 8 November, where the cabinet relented and voted to allow civil partnership ceremonies," said Mr Farmer.

In a submission to the Council, Mr Farmer had argued that Medway council was discriminating against him and other same-sex couples by not allowing the ceremonies.

In response to Mr Farmer's threat of legal action, the Chief Executive of Medway Council wrote to the cabinet: "Registration with Ceremony is recommended so as to remove the possibility of a legal challenge."

Mr Farmer says: "They knew they were in clear breach of the ECHR and the Human Rights Act. When I asked them - in a formal council question and answer session - on what grounds are they going to defend this in the high court, they refused to answer. The council was obviously terrified of legal action and knew they had no lawful grounds for the ban."

Farmer is claiming victory in the campaign to win LGBT equality in the Tory heartland of Kent: "Thanks to two days of widespread local TV, radio and press coverage of the issue, and the lively OutRage! demo at Medway Council, lesbian and gay people have won an important victory against a die-hard homophobic council. Another aspect of discrimination has been overcome," he said.

"Despite this victory I will never give a single penny of my money to Medway Council for a gay partnership ceremony. They only relented because of the fear of legal action, not because they actually believe in equality. I will be taking my celebration to a more gay-friendly council that embraces LGBT people as equals," added Mr Farmer.

Mr Farmer urged others to do the same and boycott Medway Council for good.

Further information: Ian Farmer, OutRage! Kent - 07779 298259 and 01634 893844

For Medway protest photo contact: Brett Lock, OutRage!, 0770 843 5917.

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In Further News

Further victory for equality in the House of Lords!

We are delighted to be able to let you know that the government this afternoon bowed to pressure and agreed to accept Stonewall's amendments to the Equality Bill. Consequently, it will become illegal to discriminate against lesbians and gay men in the provision of goods and services - from NHS care to hotels and insurance.

It's fantastic news and we wanted you to be the first to share it.

Stonewall have lobbied very hard indeed for this during the last six months and were repeatedly told that they would not succeed - so seasonal celebrations really have come early for us this year! Alongside arrival of civil partnership on December 5, this change will have a huge impact on the lives of lesbian and gay people in Britain in a wide range of areas. The necessary regulations are likely to be introduced within the next year.

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