Buying a House: the pitfalls
for unmarried same-sex couples

Tomorrow, global organisations across the world are celebrating Global Pride, and I wanted to write to say how much it means to us at Kingsley Napley to celebrate Pride and to support our LGBTQ colleagues. 

On sitting down to write this blog, I was a little embarrassed. When you actually take the time to think about drafting legal documents in a way that is gender neutral, it seems to me that the question isn’t why do this, but why not?

In 2012 we formed an LGBTQ* & Allies network at Kingsley Napley (KN).  I’m ashamed to say that the impetus to form this network came not from within, but from Scott, a new joiner who upon his arrival was surprised, and critical (rightly so) to find that no such network existed at KN.   

The UK spouse visa has been the subject of frequent criticism and has rarely been out of the news since the rules surrounding it were completely changed in 2012. This is predominantly as a result of the stringent and often exclusionary financial requirements imposed. However, when you take a look at the basic relationship requirements imposed by this route, it is exclusionary in an unexpectedly discriminatory way.

This Sunday marks International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.  On this day, over 130 countries around the world draw attention to the various forms of discrimination and violence that the LGBTQ community continue to experience. It serves as a reminder each year of the work which is still needed to achieve LGBTQ equality.  David Sleight, a Partner and ally, at Kingsley Napley shares his experience below.

Now is a more important time than ever to be a visible ally to LGBTQ people in the workplace.  Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation continues to take place, often with disastrous ramifications for individuals and businesses. 

The current government lockdown is making everyone aware of their living arrangements.  Relationships are being put under new pressures and the current emotional and financial impact of the virus may be causing additional stresses in a relationship. It is a sensible time to make sure you understand how you own your property and the implications of such ownership.

There are countless instances of LGBT+ individuals being stigmatised and discriminated against throughout history, including in criminal law. In particular, a number of sexual acts between men have historically been criminalised. This homophobic legislation was compounded by an insidious approach to investigations, which targeted men who were believed to be gay, leading to a large number of men being criminalised, with all of the consequences that a conviction brings, for behaviour that should never have been illegal in the first place.

On the eve of the new decade, 31 December 2019, the first mixed-sex couples officially entered into civil partnerships, granting them the same legal protections as in marriage.

When you cast your mind back to last summer, you may have hazy memories of enjoying an aperol spritz during the heat wave, listening to Lewis Capaldi on every radio station, or your attempts to desperately avoid buying plastic bottles and single use cups.

Recent social progress in LGBT+ issues in the UK is a cause for celebration but it is not the end of the story.  Heteronormative stereotypes persist and can be harmful.  

Legal recognition of relationships has dramatically changed in the UK and across most western countries. With an urge for equality and to recognise same-sex relationships, the government first introduced civil partnerships for same-sex couples in 2005 and subsequently same sex-couples could legally marry from 2014.

In 2011, research commissioned by the well-known charity Stonewall concluded that people over 55 who were in a same sex relationship were less likely to see biological family members on a regular basis.  Over half of the people surveyed felt that their sexual orientation had, or would have, a negative effect on getting older and would make life more complicated.

We are marking each day in the week leading up to London Pride with a blog highlighting LGBTQ+ issues from home and abroad.

This time last year I wrote about why language matters and how as an LGBTQ ally it was my duty to speak up.  What I’ve been thinking about this year in the run up to Pride 2019 is how much the ability to speak openly and freely is itself an important privilege.

We are marking each day in the week leading up to London Pride with a blog highlighting LGBTQ+ issues from home and abroad.

The ban on gay and bisexual men giving blood was introduced in 1985, in response to the HIV and AIDs crisis impacting on the gay community. At the same time, techniques for testing for HIV were not as advanced as they are now, so it was felt it was simply too risky for gay and bisexual men to give blood. Despite there being significant advancements in HIV testing, unfortunately there are still limitations with gay and bisexual men giving blood.

Whilst Pride month is a time to celebrate, not everyone feels able to do so. There are people across the world, including in the UK, going through conversion therapy also known as reparative treatment.

We are marking each day in the week leading up to London Pride with a blog highlighting LGBTQ+ issues from home and abroad.

On this day, over 130 countries around the world draw attention to the various forms of discrimination and violence that the LGBTQ community continue to experience. It serves as a reminder each year of the work which is still needed to achieve LGBTQ equality.