The Civil Partnership Act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Civil Partnership Act - Essay Example The Act is therefore a landmark legislation in elevating the legal status of same sex relationships to that close to heterosexual marriages. However, while it is undeniable that the Act is a step in the right direction, it is doubtful whether it can actually achieve the objective it was set out to fulfil - to eliminate the discrimination and injustice suffered by same sex relationships within society. Prior to the Civil Partnership Act 2004, same sex relationships in the United Kingdom simply do not have the legal status given to marriages. The Family Law Act 1996 under s 62 §1, for example, limits the definition of cohabitants to â€Å"a man or a woman living together as husband and wife.† The Local Government Act 1988 also provides a similar definition in defining same sex relationships as â€Å"pretended family relationships† under section 28, indicating a lack of recognition both from a legal and social point of view. As a result, same sex relationships have been discriminated