Reference the story about Andy Shaw and Gary Nappier.

As a gay man who has been living with my partner for 16 years, I feel that some form of national, not local, civil registration to give gay couples legal standing with regard to property, inheritance next of kin rights etc is a good and long overdue idea.

If the couple in question feel they must have a ceremony why not a commitment ceremony, as my partner Andy and I had four years ago? The term marriage traditionally implies the joining of a man and a woman.

Surely it is not beyond the wit of the gay community to come up with our own ceremonies and terms rather than borrow from others.

K Hobbs

(Swindonian by birth, now working in India)

Bangalore