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Article: Couples say 'I don't' to civil unions
- Article from:
- Sunday Star-Times
- Article date:
- February 26, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2006 Sunday Star-Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Under-employed celebrants opt out MARRIAGE CELEBRANTS are opting
out of conducting civil unions because barely one couple a day has
elected to have the alternative ceremony since its introduction
almost a year ago.
Only 362 couples have chosen civil unions, compared with 15,683
marriages, since the Civil Union Act - which allows same-sex and
heterosexual couples to gain legal standing on a par with marriage -
became law last April.
Only 62 heterosexual, 145 gay and 153 lesbian couples have had
civil unions.
Internal Affairs figures show the majority of civil unions are