The Civil partnership act became law on the 5th December 2005 and the first ever couple to have civil ceremony (just hours after the law was passed) were Matthew Roche and Christopher Cramp. The couple were granted special permission to have their ceremony before the normal 15 day waiting period as Mr Roche was terminally ill, tragically Mr Roche died the next day.

The first civil partneship ceremonies for Gay couples in the UK took place in Belfast on Monday December 19th 2005. The historic couple were Shannon Sickles and Grainne Close who exchanged vows at Belfast City Hall. The first civil ceremonies for same sex couples in Scotland took place on Tuesday 20th December and the first civil ceremonies in England and Wales took place on Wednesday 21st December.

Since the 5th December 2005 couples have been legally able to register their intention to form a civil partnership with their local council, this means that same sex couples can have their relationships recognised under British Law for the very first time. This also provides registered Lesbian and Gay couples with many of the legal rights/entitlements already afforded to heterosexual married couples. Unlike conventional marriages the civil partnership doesnt need to be held in public.

Although the UK Civil Partnership status isnt the same thing as Gay Marriage, anyone who registers a civil partnership will share same rights as a married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits. Only the Netherlands and Belgium have thus far legislated to allow Gay Marriage.

Denmark first introduced the Civil Partnership status in 1989 and have since been followed by the fllowing countries who all now have some form of civil partnership registration,

 Belgium, Canada (Quebec & Nova-Scotia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, USA (Vermont & Connecticut).