Michael Bancroft A leading gay civil union celebrant has clarified questions about the correct terminology for two people who enter into a civil union. Last weekend's Herald on Sunday referred to Anika Moa's pregnant partner as her "wife", in a story about the couple expecting twin babies, sparking debate about the proper terminology. While some in the glbt community colloquially refer to their civil union partner as their husband or wife, the terms used for a civil union are not quite the same as for marriage. Celebrant Michael Bancroft says the clearest difference is found in the one change between a Marriage Certificate and a Civil Union Certificate: "The former invites the parties to sign as bride and groom whereas in a civil union they are just listed as 'the parties'," he says. Suggestions for wording for civil union ceremonies are: partners, lifelong partners, civil union partners. "In the various information that I have had over the last few years celebrants are reminded that a civil union is not a Marriage and that the ceremony should not be referred to as a marriage, which in law it is not," Bancroft says. "However it should be noted that the official document of Births, Deaths and Marriages Registrar does not mention any terminology as such." He says the terms "husband" and "wife" have historically pertained to the state and ceremony of marriage. "I can only say that anecdotally many civil couples have referred to their ceremony as their wedding and even sent invitations to such and referred to themselves as husband and wife. "It is also noted that one is registered as a civil union celebrant or a marriage celebrant and they are not interchangeable. I am only registered as a civil union celebrant and cannot officiate at wedding ceremonies." Bancroft says personally he has only pronounced couples as lifelong partners or similar, never as husband/husband/wife/wife, "and actually with all the couples I have officiated for I have never even been asked by them to be called husband/wife." Another point he raises is that if a civil union ends, it must be dissolved before a couple can enter into either another civil union or a marriage, a process which takes about two years. "I heard recently of an already civil unioned guy in his early 20s who has split up and is now engaged again and getting ready to have another civil union and wasn't even aware that is not legally possible until the previous civil union is dissolved," Bancroft says, adding that "it seems more education is still needed!"
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 9th February 2011 - 3:44pm