same-sex couples

Question 1

Legal changes:

Answer 1

-male homosexual acts decriminalised in 1967.
-age of content equalised in 2000.
-civil partnership act 2004.
-equal marriage act 2013.

Question 2

How has changing attitudes effected same-sex couples?

Answer 2

Male sexual acts were decriminalised in 1967. Opinion polls also show more tolerance to homosexuality.

Question 3

How has stigma effected same-sex couples?

Answer 3

Greater support of ‘quasi marriage’. Homosexuals create a personalised family based on kinship, that offers the same security as heterosexual families.

Question 4

How has social policy effected same-sex couples?

Answer 4

Has become more accepting for all couples. Since 2004, the civil partnership act allowed same sex couples to marry.

Question 5

How has legal factors effected same-sex couples?

Answer 5

Previously, same-sex couples had to negotiate three commitment more than a married couple.

Question 6

What is a ‘quasi marriage’?

Answer 6

A legal category that specifically disassociates itself from the legal. concept of marriage but which has the same, or largely similar effect as a marriage.