Apr 10 - GGR Insists Rodriguez and Muscat Should Be First Civil Partnership Couple
Equality Rights Group, the GGR has called on Government to honour ‘the determination and courage’ that Nadine Rodriguez and Alicia Muscat demonstrated in taking up their housing discrimination case (won late 2009) by honouring them with being the first gay couple to enter into Civil Partnership when it becomes law in Gibraltar.
‘Noone deserves this honour more than these two brave women and we can confirm they will be wanting to register their union. Despite being neither campaigners nor politicians past or present, no other couple has done so much to fight discrimination against LGB people, and consequently noone else deserves the honour more than they do. They are an important symbol for us all. In neither hiding nor backing down, Nadine and Alicia won the first significant battle for non-discrimination not only for themselves, but also for all gay couples in our country. They helped to pave the way for many people to be treated with the respect, dignity and equality owed to them by the institutions and which are inherent to all by birthright.
‘This Group had already informally raised this request some time back via the Minister for Equality, and the Executive Committee has now agreed we should make this request formally and publicly. Consequently, a communication to this effect has been sent to both the Chief Minister and the Minister for Equality.
‘Finally, we are now pleased to inform the public that Equality Rights Group last month completed its review of the draft Civil Partnership Bill. We are presently awaiting sight of several important Schedules, which form part of the Bill, so that we may be able to complete the dialogue process and enter into final talks soonest with government in readiness for public Command Stage presentation. At this point in time, we are unaware of a precise date for parliamentary approval of the Bill, but we are certain the Executive will in due course make an announcement to this end,' the statement ended.
