By Anna Tomforde Dec 21, 2005, 17:35 GMT
London - British pop star Sir Elton John and his filmmaker partner David Furnish made history Wednesday by legalizing their long-term homosexual relationship in a 'civil partnership' ceremony - and sealing it with a kiss.
British music star Sir Elton John (L) and partner David Furnish, a Canadian film maker, leave the Guildhall Windsor, in Berkshire, west of London, after their civil wedding ceremony, Wednesday, 21 December 2005. Under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 gay marriages can take place in England giving homosexuals similar rights to heterosexual married couples. EPA/DANIEL HAMBURY
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who during his monthly news conference found himself competing for airtime with live TV coverage of the celebrity event, was the first to congratulate the couple.
'I wish Elton and David well. This is a modern, progressive step forward for our country, and that's why we did it,' said Blair in reference to a new law on the recognition of same-sex unions as 'civil partnerships.'
Sir Elton, 58, and Furnish, a 43-year-old Canadian, were the highest-profile among nearly 700 gay and lesbian couples who exchanged vows on Wednesday - the first day such unions became legal in England and Wales.
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, ceremonies kicked off earlier this week.
By holding the ceremony on the first day it was legally possible in England - and in full view of the world's press - Sir Elton and Furnish said they wanted to give 'hope' to homesexuals around the world still suffering legal and social discrimination.
The couple, cheered by up to 600 well-wishers, emerged arm-in-arm from the Guildhall in Windsor, near London, showing off their 31- carat diamond rings and blowing kisses to fans.
'It was a very emotional service,' said video artist Sam Taylor- Wood, who was present as a witness at the register office ceremony. Everyone clapped and, of course, they kissed at the end.'
The ceremony was given a royal touch by taking place in the same room, and conducted by the same registrar who officiated at the marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in April.
Like royals, Sir Elton and Furnish, in dark suits, arrived for the event in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce.
The couple met in 1993 when Furnish made the film 'No Tantrums and Tiaras' about the British popstar. 'This is for life,' Sir Elton said at the time.
The parents of both partners were present at the ceremony. 'It was one of the happiest days of my life,' said Furnish's father, Jack. His mother, Gladys, added: 'I'm very proud.'
After a private family lunch, the couple were planning to celebrate their union at a star-studded wedding party where guests included Victoria Beckham, Joan Collins, Elizabeth Hurley, George Michael, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger and Donatella Versace on Wednesday evening.
Instead of gifts, guests were asked to make generous donations to Sir Elton's Aids charity.
Since the law came into force on December 5, thousands of gay and lesbian couples have registered their partnerships, which will grant them similar rights as heterosexual couples in areas such as employment, pensions, and inheritance, but are not regarded as 'marriages'.
By the end of this year, 1,200 ceremonies are expected to be held throughout the country. The government expects that more than 5,000 couples will be 'partnered' in the first year.
Among the couples who tied the knot Wednesday were Dave Cook and James Wright, who exchanged their vows 135 metres above London in a capsule of the 'London Eye' ferris wheel, illuminated in pink lights for the occasion.
British Airways, which operates the wheel, said it had six bookings this month and expected another 30 in 2006. 'We are one of the most stylish, romantic and contemporary venues', said spokesman Tom Howard-Vyse.
In Newcastle upon Tyne, in northern England, openly gay vicar Christopher Wardale, 59, defied the church authorities by exchanging vows with his partner of 21 years, a 58 year-old university lecturer.
Peter Tatchell, of gay campaign group 'Outrage'! said Wednesday: 'Elton and David's big day is also a big day for the whole gay and lesbian community.'
The event would help raise international awareness about gay partnership rights, said Tatchell, adding: 'Partnership rights are a distant dream for lesbian and gay couples living in violently homophobic countries like Jamaica, Algeria, Sudan, Saudi-Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Uganda and Namibia.'
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