[Xaccers]

Bugger, I thought this thread was about Britney so I've ignored it, now I'm kicking myself.

Anyway, homosexual organisations in this country who are asking for equal rights for homosexual relationships as married releationships do not, I repeat do not, want marriage for homosexuals.
They acknowledge that marriage is something special and within the realm of hetrosexuals.
What homosexuals want is a legally acknowledged union which gives them the legal rights which married partners enjoy, such as next of kin, and inheritance rights.

While this sensible discussion was going on, some other hetrosexual people (mainly women for an understandable reason) wanted there to be automatic legal rights for hetrosexual couples who have been together for a certain period of time. This was to protect the woman, should she be dating a guy for 10 years, then have him kick her out. She would have no rights over his property etc (remember, law doesn't recognise common law wives)
This is the bit I found strange, in that hetrosexuals have the ability already to claim legal rights via registry office weddings.