commiecrusader
1st March 2007, 13:27
I go to university of Kent and this story is the front page of our university newspaper at the moment. I just thought this was crazy.
Gay outrage at ChristChurch bigotry - civil partnerships banned in Christ Church properties
Christ church university will refuse to permit gay couples to enter into civil partnerships on their campus.
The Civil Partnership Act was introduced in 2004 to enable homosexual couples the same legal rights as married couples. However, Christ Church University recently hit the national news when it emerged that they have decided not to allow the ceremonies to be performed in either of the two premises they own which are licensed to conduct civil marriages.
Founded by the Anglican Church with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its Chancellor, Christ Church University has always been controlled by the Church of England. This move demonstrated to its students just how much influence this can have on their university lives.
Rob Thorburn, Chrust Church Student Union president, was unhappy about the decision being made 'without consultation with the students or the Student Union'. He was annoyed that time had been spent on constructing an equal opportunities policy which had not been adhered to, saying that 'any organisation, especially a university, needs to base their decisions and rulings on the policy they have made.'
Thorburn felt the decision had instead been based on the beliefs and opinions of a few people within the university. He also commented that, with the widespread press coverage, gay students would inevitably be discouraged from applying to the university.
Although Christ Church Students' Union is yet to take a formal stance on the issue, a petition has been circulated and signed by numerous Christ Chuch students, including many from their LBGT society. The union is set to make an official decision within the next few days.
Here at the University of Kent, Kent union President Mike Haw believes not allowing civil partnerships to take place on Christ Chuch's property is 'fundamentally wrong'. He said 'it goes against all the equal opportunity policies tha they have;. Kent Union has passed a motion to condemn Christ Church's decision and plan to write a letter of support to the Student Union.
Kent LBGT executive, Max Ward said that Christ Church were effectively 'alienating themselves from a liberal community'. He commented ' they should not be ashamed of love, they should be ashamed of hate. They should be ashamed of themselves'.
Christ Church's Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Wright, stated 'During 2006 I decided, in consultation with the Chairman of the Governing Body, to follow the church's position and welcome the concept of civil partnership but not regard it as equivalent to marriage. Civil partnership ceremonies have therefore not been held on the university's premises.'
Canterbury Christ Church is one of 11 higher education istitutions closely aligned with the Church of England. These include the University of Gloucestershire, which also has a license to conduct marriages on campus, but Gloucestershire's director of student services, Paul Drake, says his university has 'no plans to turn down any request for a civil partnership or ceremony from its staff or students'
It is probable that legal legislation will soon require premises offering civil marriages to also offer civil partnership ceremonies. Christ Church University will hold a debate on 27th March in order to make a decision whether to allow homosexual civil partnerships on their premises, or cease to provide civil marriage ceremonies to heterosexual couples. Ward commented that such a move would 'send a negative message not only to gay students, but to all of society.'
A march was held in Canterbury city centre on Saturday 17th February to protest against 'homophobia in organised religion.'. Demonstrator, Ray Duff, described Christ Church's decision as 'basically outrageous' and called for Christ Church to end the ban immediately. He said that he felt his MP, Julian Brazier, who is said to be supportive of Christ Church's decision, did not support their call for equality. Duff called him 'one of the biggest homophobes in Kent,' but said that he did not feel that Canterbury as a city had a problem with homophobia.
He did, however, accuse Christ Church of operating the ban covertly, saying this is why the decision was made in 2006 but has only just come to light. Chris Weller, a part-time student at the university, was at the demonstration and said he was 'very angry' at Christ Church.
'They're willing to take your money but they're not willing to give you full human rights. I feel that they've got to do a u-turn on this and start accepting everyone for who they are'.
Julian Brazier was contacted for his right of reply to this article but he had not yet replied at the time of going to print.
I couldn't believe it when I found out about this, I can't believe such a move would have been made. This is ignorance of the highest order.
Gay outrage at ChristChurch bigotry - civil partnerships banned in Christ Church properties
Christ church university will refuse to permit gay couples to enter into civil partnerships on their campus.
The Civil Partnership Act was introduced in 2004 to enable homosexual couples the same legal rights as married couples. However, Christ Church University recently hit the national news when it emerged that they have decided not to allow the ceremonies to be performed in either of the two premises they own which are licensed to conduct civil marriages.
Founded by the Anglican Church with the Archbishop of Canterbury as its Chancellor, Christ Church University has always been controlled by the Church of England. This move demonstrated to its students just how much influence this can have on their university lives.
Rob Thorburn, Chrust Church Student Union president, was unhappy about the decision being made 'without consultation with the students or the Student Union'. He was annoyed that time had been spent on constructing an equal opportunities policy which had not been adhered to, saying that 'any organisation, especially a university, needs to base their decisions and rulings on the policy they have made.'
Thorburn felt the decision had instead been based on the beliefs and opinions of a few people within the university. He also commented that, with the widespread press coverage, gay students would inevitably be discouraged from applying to the university.
Although Christ Church Students' Union is yet to take a formal stance on the issue, a petition has been circulated and signed by numerous Christ Chuch students, including many from their LBGT society. The union is set to make an official decision within the next few days.
Here at the University of Kent, Kent union President Mike Haw believes not allowing civil partnerships to take place on Christ Chuch's property is 'fundamentally wrong'. He said 'it goes against all the equal opportunity policies tha they have;. Kent Union has passed a motion to condemn Christ Church's decision and plan to write a letter of support to the Student Union.
Kent LBGT executive, Max Ward said that Christ Church were effectively 'alienating themselves from a liberal community'. He commented ' they should not be ashamed of love, they should be ashamed of hate. They should be ashamed of themselves'.
Christ Church's Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Wright, stated 'During 2006 I decided, in consultation with the Chairman of the Governing Body, to follow the church's position and welcome the concept of civil partnership but not regard it as equivalent to marriage. Civil partnership ceremonies have therefore not been held on the university's premises.'
Canterbury Christ Church is one of 11 higher education istitutions closely aligned with the Church of England. These include the University of Gloucestershire, which also has a license to conduct marriages on campus, but Gloucestershire's director of student services, Paul Drake, says his university has 'no plans to turn down any request for a civil partnership or ceremony from its staff or students'
It is probable that legal legislation will soon require premises offering civil marriages to also offer civil partnership ceremonies. Christ Church University will hold a debate on 27th March in order to make a decision whether to allow homosexual civil partnerships on their premises, or cease to provide civil marriage ceremonies to heterosexual couples. Ward commented that such a move would 'send a negative message not only to gay students, but to all of society.'
A march was held in Canterbury city centre on Saturday 17th February to protest against 'homophobia in organised religion.'. Demonstrator, Ray Duff, described Christ Church's decision as 'basically outrageous' and called for Christ Church to end the ban immediately. He said that he felt his MP, Julian Brazier, who is said to be supportive of Christ Church's decision, did not support their call for equality. Duff called him 'one of the biggest homophobes in Kent,' but said that he did not feel that Canterbury as a city had a problem with homophobia.
He did, however, accuse Christ Church of operating the ban covertly, saying this is why the decision was made in 2006 but has only just come to light. Chris Weller, a part-time student at the university, was at the demonstration and said he was 'very angry' at Christ Church.
'They're willing to take your money but they're not willing to give you full human rights. I feel that they've got to do a u-turn on this and start accepting everyone for who they are'.
Julian Brazier was contacted for his right of reply to this article but he had not yet replied at the time of going to print.
I couldn't believe it when I found out about this, I can't believe such a move would have been made. This is ignorance of the highest order.