Marriage/Partnership equality for all

The restrictions should be scrapped regarding marriage and civil partnerships.

Same sex couples should be allowed to get married [whether in churches, registry office or any licensed venue] and heterosexual couples should be allowed to have civil partnerships.

OR scrap civil partnerships / marriage altogether and have ONE standardised, equal process for EVERYONE whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.

It could either be called 'marriage' , 'legal partnership' or 'legal union'.

Why does this idea matter?

This idea is very important to spread the message in society that same sex relationships are as valid, meaningful and human as heterosexual relationships and that any couple wishing to make a legal commitment to each other should be equal within the law.

Whilst the establishing of civil partnerships for same sex couples could be seen as progress in the law and society, it could be viewed as something of a condescending concession, i.e. 'You can have some sort of ceremony, but not marriage because you are not a 'normal' couple.' 

Similarly, heterosexual couples who wish to make a commitment to each other, but do not wish call each other 'husband' and 'wife' should be allowed to be known as legal 'partners'.