UK TG Marriage Is Legal
Contributed By Emily Alford
On May 30 the Coventry (Evening) Evening Telegraph gave front-page
coverage to the wedding of Julie Yvonne Henton and Glennys Parkin. The
banner headline read "The Bride wore a flowing white silk wedding gown and
veil, pearls and drop earrings. And so did the groom." Gay marriage has
no more legal standing in Britain than in the United States, but this
wedding was fully legal. It took place not in a gay-oriented church but
in the Hinckley (Leicestershire) Registry Office.
The reason is that Julie is a post-surgery transsexual, and under British
law her formal status is still male. The consequence is that she can
contract a British marriage to a born-woman. Pub landlady Mary
McAlinden, who hosted the couple's reception, commented that "They were
just like any other couple and it was just like any other wedding day.
They both seemed very happy and everybody had a good time." Both have
children from previous relationships and the couple are planning on
having a family of their own.
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