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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.