Peter Tatchell, human rights spokesperson for the Green Party and coordinator of the Equal Love campaign (1), today chaired a conference to outline the legal basis of a challenge to marriage law in the European Court of Human Rights.
Eight British couples are today filing an application to the Court, in an attempt to overturn the existing bans on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships.
Peter Tachell said:
"The 21 December is the fifth anniversary of the first civil partnership ceremonies in England. This was a breakthrough moment in legal equality and social acceptance for same-sex couples,"
"Now it is time to go one step further by overturning the ban on gay civil marriages"
He continued:
"Everyone should have a choice, either a civil marriage or a civil partnership, whichever they prefer. The current laws deny couples choice and discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation. This what we are challenging in the European Court of Human Rights ,"
"Over the last two months, four same-sex couples were refused marriage licenses at register offices in Greenwich, Northampton and Petersfield. During the same period, four heterosexual couples were turned away when they applied for civil partnerships in Islington, Camden, Bristol and Aldershot,"
"In a democratic society, we should all be equal before the law" added Mr Tatchell.