MP takes up 'straight' gay marriage fight
A STRAIGHT couple battling to have a "gay" civil partnership in the name of sexual equality are to have their case raised in Parliament.
Civil servants Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle, of North Road, Holloway, feel "alienated from the patriarchal traditions of marriage" - but because they are heterosexual they are banned from having a civil partnership under UK law.
The couple, who have been together almost four years, filed an application for a so-called "gay marriage" but were turned down by the registrar at Islington Town Hall, in Upper Street, on Tuesday.
Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury, said: "They have not been to see me yet but I do support them fully. I can see no reason why they can't have a civil partnership and gay people can't get married in the same way. The first opportunity I have I will be raising this in Parliament."
In what would be a landmark legal case, Mr Freeman and Ms Doyle - who have the backing of human and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell - are now planning to sue Islington Council.
Mr Freeman, 25, said: "We went down to the Town Hall with Peter Tatchell and some friends and supporters to get a written refusal. If necessary, we are ready to take our appeal all the way to the European Court of Human Rights."
Since speaking to the Gazette earlier this month the couple's campaign has attracted widespread media attention.
Mr Freeman said: "It's been very worthwhile. We've attracted a lot of interest from lawyers who obviously think we have got a case.
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