Spain Recognizes UK Civil Partnerships

Spain's government has decided to recognize same-sex civil partnerships from the United Kingdom.

Spain allows same-sex couples to marry but the UK limits them to civil partnerships, which nonetheless carry the same rights as marriage within the UK.

This is a big breakthrough in securing overseas recognition and rights for British lesbian and gay civil partners,” said leading British gay activist Peter Tatchell. “Up to now, civil partnerships are mostly
unrecognized abroad. Up to now, the Spanish government has dismissed civil partnerships as a uniquely British institution, with no international validity.”

The change in policy followed a prolonged fight by Paul and Martin Ward, British civil partners who now live in Spain.

“We have had long, protracted battle with Denise Holt, the UK Ambassador to Spain; Michael Holloway, the UK consul general in Madrid; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and the foreign secretary, David Miliband MP,” the couple said in a statement. “We have made a little bit of history by
becoming the first UK same-sex couple resident in Spain to have their civil partnership acknowledged in law and in the observations section of our passports.”