Peter Tatchell will look on as a straight couple file an application for a civil partnership tomorrow.
Ian Goggin and Kristin Skarsholt, who have been together for two years, will apply at Bristol Register Office tomorrow morning in the name of 'heterosexual equality.'
Students Kristin, 22, and Ian, 21, expect their appeal to be rejected, but upon receiving the rejection in writing, intend to seek further legal action.
Explaining the move, Goggin said: "We want a civil partnership for two reasons. It better reflects our relationship, and we can't condone the baseless discrimination between civil marriages and civil partnerships."
They are one of four couples lending a hand to the Equal Love campaign, which seeks to equate gay and straight marriage.
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will join the couple in Bristol for the application tomorrow. "We seek heterosexual equality," he has claimed ahead of the bid. "In a democratic society, everyone should be equal before the law. There should be no legal discrimination. The twin bans on gay civil marriages and on heterosexual civil partnerships are a form of sexual apartheid. There is one law for straight couples and another law for gay partners. Two wrongs don't make a right.
"Denying heterosexual couples the right to have a civil partnership is discriminatory and offensive. We want to see it ended, so that straight couples like Ian and Kristin can have the option of a civil partnership. I salute their challenge to this unjust legislation.
Visit
www.equallove.org.uk for more information.
