Straight British Couple Wants Civil Partnership

Tom Freeman and Katherine Doyle want a civil partnership, the type of legal union only available to same-sex couples in Britain, and if they succeed, activists hope that means marriage equality will be available to same-sex couples in turn.

According to the Associated Press, Freeman and Doyle, both 26, plan to take their argument to court after being rejected by their local town hall in London.

"On Tuesday, after having their application to form a civil partnership rejected by officials at their local town hall in Islington, north London, they said they will go to court to win the right," reported the AP. "They are being backed by gay rights activists, who hope a ruling that allows straight couples the right to a civil partnership would mean, in turn, that gay couples have the right to wed."

Introduced in 2005, civil partnerships in Britain provide same-sex couples the same rights as marriage under a different name, and some legal experts think there is a strong case that both types of unions should be open to all couples.