BRITAIN: The register office in Britain's self-styled gay capital opened at 7.30am yesterday for the city's first three same-sex couples to register their intention to form a civil partnership.
The Rev Debbie and Elaine Gaston (the latter changed her name by deed poll), Gino Meriano and Mike Ullett, and Roger Lewis and Keith Willmott-Goodall arrived half an hour early for their appointments at Brighton Town Hall and simultaneously registered their intentions.
The couples hope to make legal history and be the first to form civil partnerships when they take part in a joint ceremony in the city at 8am on December 21st, after a mandatory 15-day waiting period has passed. (Couples who registered in Northern Ireland, yesterday, however, will get in a day ahead).
Registrar Debra Reynolds said: "They were very emotional, very excited, quite overwhelmed. We have all been talking about this for months and now it's finally here, it's almost like a dream."
The Rev Debbie Gaston (46), who is a minister at Brighton Metropolitan Community Church, has been with her partner, 53-year-old teacher Elaine Gaston, for 16 years. "It was wonderful," she said of the registration. "It was very emotional, very special. We were aware that it was history in the making and we were overwhelmed by it all. It's been a long time coming. I believe it's God that has opened up this door for the civil partnerships to happen."
She said one day she hoped that same-sex marriages would be accepted by the church.
She added: "Because God is very, very essential to our lives, we are going to have a Christian blessing at the start of our reception."
Managing director Mr Meriano (42), has been with marketing manager partner Mr Ullett (45), for seven years.
"We are not bothered about the word marriage, we are bothered about the legality," he said.