Sir Ian McKellen
blasts Britain's new civil-partnerships law

Sir Ian McKellen has attacked Britain's new laws allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions as absurd, saying that they discriminate against both gay and straight couples. The out actor and Lord of the Rings star insists the U.K. government last year passed a nonsensical law in a bid to avoid controversy. He maintains true equality will only be served if the same rules apply to any couple, regardless of their sexuality. "I really can't see why the government couldn't just say gay people can get married--that would have been true equality and so much simpler," McKellen said. "But that hasn't been done because they couldn't face the furor. So they've passed a law that is not available to straight people." He added: "Straight people cannot have a civil partnership--they have to get married. Extraordinary." (Sirius OutQ News)