Peter Tatchell and Sharon Ferguson Challenge Marriage Discimination

In a direct challenge to discrimination in marriage and civil partnerships, Peter Tatchell today announced that 4 same sex couples will apply to marry and 4 straight couples will apply for a civil partnership. When their applications are rejected they will take legal action for discrimination.

"We believe these bans violate the Human Rights Act and are open to challenge in the high court," said Tatchell. The Rev. Sharon Ferguson, of the Lesbian and Gay Christina Movement, who will be the first to lodge an application to marry her partner Franka Strietzel, said, "We have a double system and we shouldn't have. That isn't equality."

The first round of applications will be made on November 4th and will continue till the 14th of December.

After the recent controversy following its apparent indecision on the matter, Stonewall also announced today that it would now be campaigning for marriage equality.