The changes will give next of kin rights in hospitals, pension and property rights and exempt them from inheritance tax on a partner's home.

Heterosexual unmarried couples remain excluded from all these rights and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell calls their exclusion "a grave injustice".

Do you welcome the new rights? Should all kinds of couples have the same rights?

Thank you for your e-mails. This debate is now closed. The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

Our relationship lasted longer than most of our heterosexual married friends Casserced, England

When my partner died after 14 years together I had quite a hard time sorting a few things out because, officially/legally we were nothing. Our cat had more rights than me! The ironic thing is that our relationship lasted longer than most of our heterosexual married friends (and longer than some members of the royal family too!). I do not want marriage rights as I do not believe in marriage of any kind, but I believe in equality. A couple is a couple.
Casserced, England

This is the 21st century and about time everyone had the same rights. This includes homosexual and heterosexual couples
Gay Man, UK

These proposals do not discriminate against straight couples. They can get married. Why would people who have problems with a "marriage" suddenly decide that a "registered partnership" is right for them?
Michael, London, UK

My life is completely unaffected by this, but it makes many people very happy - so I totally support it.
David Caldwell, UK

Gay couples should have rights - however it is wrong to perceive these issues in parallel with marriage. Marriage is about family, future generations but living together as a gay couple is about a relationship based purely upon friendship and sex. Drawing parallels is not appropriate, even though they should be afforded similar fundamental rights.
Andrew Hammond, UK

Marriage - which some people regard as romantic... is also a rather serious business contract Lorraine, UK

The problem is not about morals or lifestyles but centres around how to define what constitutes a 'couple' sufficiently well that it has legal authority. If you've been together for ten years? Five? 6 months? A fortnight? Living together or just seeing each other? With children? Without? Far simpler and more practical to have an adjustable/flexible civil procedure by which relationships for people of any gender can be registered as 'permanent'. Don't forget that marriage - which some people regard as romantic, irrelevant and outdated - is also a rather serious business contract that affects property rights, finances, inheritance and other important areas. Without clear definition of a 'couple' I can see the lawyers having a field day.
Lorraine, UK

I think some people are missing the point here. Gay couples will not automatically have these rights - they will only be granted if they decide to take the step to register their relationship - in the same way that a heterosexual couple may decide to take the step to get married. So what's wrong with that?
Dee, UK

Has sanity died? Just last week, there was an outcry against the appointment of Dr John and now the government are attempting to give equal rights to homosexuals! In doing this, the government are endorsing legalised homosexual intercourse. Doesn't anyone read their Bibles anymore? Romans 1:18 - 32 clearly states that homosexuality is wrong. This is a thorny issue but does no-one fear God's wrath anymore?
Susan, 16, Northern Ireland

It is heterosexuals who are killing off the institution of marriage - not gays and lesbians. Also Some Church leaders are very selective about what is seen as right and wrong in the eyes of God. Maybe they need to look at their hypocritical attitude for the fall in the number of marriages and attendances falling in the church. Also the figures on domestic abuse in heterosexual couples make horrific reading. Homosexuals participate in all aspects of the community, pay taxes, but don't have equal rights, that's not fair and it is not a just world that allows this to happen. The scriptures state that people who work on the Sabbath should be put to death, Exodus 35:2, but I don't see any laws enforcing that. Just treat the gay population equally!!
Joyce Duncan, Angus

I don't see why we don't just allow gay couples to be married Charlotte Saunders, UK

I don't see why we don't just allow gay couples to be married. I mean "registering" a relationship? It seems like a bit of a silly half-measure. I am all in favour of gay couples having the same rights, but just allow them to get married. That way gays and straights are truly equal in terms of relationship standards.
Charlotte Saunders, UK

The proposed change in the law is pointless unless it includes heterosexual unmarried couples. The Government will have to address the backlash of the growing number of heterosexual couples who choose not to marry if they do not include them in the proposed change. I for one will be on the streets protesting
Carrie Burgess, UK

Love is love, there's too much hatred in this world and we should cherish love in all its forms. Discrimination against gay relationships in terms of human rights causes more conflict and less love as well as being bigoted and out-dated thinking.
David Howe, UK

Only so long as they share the detriments and duties. When my wife was a mature student she got no subsistence grant because we were married. If we had just been living together she would have been paid a grant. In addition, de-registering should be like a divorce with sharing of property and large legal fees. Then we'll see how committed these people really are!
Roger Jackson, England

Marriages fail because of the people within them, not because the institution of marriage is itself flawed Sarah, Reading

Given that marriage vows can now be written and rewritten to include anything that the couple would like to have, what exactly is Peter Tatchell's objection to heterosexual marriages? James K. of Chester (below) misses the point - marriages fail because of the people within them, not because the institution of marriage is itself flawed. If a couple divorces, it shows that those two people were not able to live together, not that generally marriage is a bad thing. However, I do agree that this legislation is a very good thing.
Sarah, Reading, UK

We are supposed to learn from History and not repeat the mistakes of others. When we look at history and see what happens to a nation or empire that rejects the traditional family it self destructs. It appears that history is repeating itself again.
Andrew Evans, USA

Thanks goodness at least some countries are taking a step in the right direction. As long as the option is there for both Heterosexual couples and homosexual couples to have these rights without getting married (Marriage being religious has issues for many people) then I am all for it. The argument that heterosexual couples can just get married doesn't hold water.
James, USA

We needed no piece of paper or a witnessed ceremony to make our commitment to each other Mike, England

I have lived with my gay partner for 28 years. We needed no piece of paper or a witnessed ceremony to make our commitment to each other and are as happy and loving as any heterosexual partnership we know. We have had happiness and hardship, paid taxes and pensions, contributed to society and we are part of our local community. I am exasperated by your question 'Should same sex couples have the same legal rights'. When my partner was made redundant some years ago they asked how much I earned before awarding him any unemployment benefit. And anyway, giving people 'rights' takes nothing away from those who already have them - so why do people have a problem with it?
Mike, England

If these changes are made to the Law it will clearly discriminate against unmarried heterosexual couples. Our Laws are quite adequate to cope with next of kin, inheritance tax, pension and property rights. You make a living will where the individuals preferences are fully expressed. If these plans are carried through it will cause "grave injustice" to a far greater number of people who choose not to marry. The problem with people like Peter Tatchell is they talk as if the majority of the population is Gay, which we clearly are not.
Peter Brooks, Great Britain

Everyone should be treated by the state on an individual basis. How they choose to live their lives should have nothing to do with the government as long as it is not to the detriment of others.
David Moor, U.K.

Of course equal rights should be provided to all citizens. Can anyone explain why, at the outset of the 21st century, we are still even having this kind of debate?!
Howard Thomson, USA

Everybody should have the same rights Paul Hopkins, UK

In a word yes. Peter Tatchell is right. Everybody should have the same rights, irrespective of the type of relationship that they are in.
Paul Hopkins, UK

No, never. Society has a purpose which is to procreate and better itself for the good of future generations. Same sex couples voluntarily abrogate those responsibilities and should accept the penalty that goes with it.
Mark Jackson, USA

Nice to see my country of birth is catching up (if only partly) with my adopted home!
Peter Hyde, Toronto, Canada

I don't know and strangely enough I don't care. I live my life with my wife and kids and I am quite happy to let others live theirs. I am religious but not pious. Generally, I have had great relations with gay people and rather horrid relations with self defined Christians. So my sympathies are almost always with the kinder and more sympathetic people who make this life bearable.
Roger Lafontaine, Canada

Poorly thought out and wrong on so many levels Patrick, UK

The latest move by the government giving gay couples the same rights as married couples is poorly thought out and wrong on so many levels. Ever since the 1960's, this country has seen the degradation of its society to the point now where anything goes. There is no cohesiveness, no respect for others, for sacred institutions or for one's country. Why do same sex couples deserve this legal right when heterosexual couples in relationships who are not married don't have the same privilege?
Patrick, UK

I do not see anything wrong with allowing same sex couple the same rights as married couples, as long as the same responsibilities and commitments of marriage are in place. If heterosexual unmarried couples wish to receive the same rights, then they should take the commitment of marriage. I was always told that 'every right has a responsibility'. Rights cannot be just handed around to all who ask for them. I don't think that same sex couples should be allowed a church wedding though.
Liz, UK

My partner has no next-of-kin rights. Why? Sue, England

Great news; now lets keep moving forward. I'm part of a heterosexual couple and don't think that this has gone far enough. I've been married before and now divorced but living with a partner. If it's ok to treat us the same as married couples for benefits, then it's ok to treat us the same for everything. My partner has done more for me in 3 years than my family and ex-husband ever did, yet he has no next-of-kin rights. Why?
Sue, England

I fully support the proposed legislation. However, I don't see the point that Mr Tatchell is making. Surely, under the proposed system, two people in a relationship will have the choice either to live together without legal privileges, or have their relationship officially recognised, either as a "registered partnership" for homosexual couples or a marriage for heterosexual couples? To put it another way - what advantages would there be for a heterosexual couple to choose a "registered partnership" rather than marriage? If there are none, what is Mr Tatchell objecting to?
Jim Allen, Scotland

I see this as an attack on families John, UK

I really wonder why anyone should bother getting married at all if they will legally be treated as if they are married. I see this as an attack on families: the Labour Party hates the institution of marriage, and would prefer the State to be responsible for raising children. This idea if implemented will cause enormous social damage.
John, UK

Yes, they should have the same legal rights. I just don't understand why so many people are against this? What are they afraid of?
Sunjay Bhogal, London, UK

Of course they should. However it would be good to see heterosexual couples have the same privileges. Marriage is horribly outdated nowadays. With half of all marriages failing, I fail to see the point of it. It also nullifies the argument that heterosexual relationships are in any way superior to same sex relationships. Let's shake off the dark ages.
James K., Chester / UK

If co-habiting heterosexuals want the same rights as married couples, then they can get married. Gay couples currently have no such option. The current proposals seem like an ideal compromise, but I do not see why we should not allow them proper legal marriage.
Lisa T, UK

This is brilliant Nadia, UK

And about time too - we are living in the 21st century after all. A fantastic move by our government after their many mistakes of the last few months - this is brilliant. This new policy should be opened up to unmarried heterosexual couples also so that they can register their partnership too should they choose not to marry.
Nadia, UK

The point of this legislation is that everyone should have the opportunity to be recognised as a couple under law. I don't understand Peter Tatchell's concerns, since a heterosexual couple wishing to be recognised can already go through a civil ceremony.
Kathy, UK

Most of the gay blokes whom I have met and know just sleep around and aren't interested in a long term relationship. I have been with my girlfriend for over 3 years which I think is a long time; so am I going to get the same rights as a gay "couple" who have been together 6 months?
Dave, London, UK

How can anyone who claims we live in a country that supports equal rights say no? Of course gay couples should have the same rights and I can't believe it's taken this long to get them.
Andy Duffin, England

Should same sex couples have the same legal rights? Why stop with offending just gay people by asking such questions? Why not ask if black people should have the same rights as white people, or women the same rights as men?
Leonard, England

Surely if heterosexual unmarried couples want the same rights as heterosexual married couples, quite simply they should get married. If Homosexual couples choose to register themselves in a civil ceremony then I believe they should get the same rights as heterosexual married couples.
Amanda, England

For too long this country has expected gay people to pay more in taxes but get fewer rights David Husle, UK

This is a welcome move. For too long this country has expected gay people to pay more in taxes but get fewer rights than heterosexuals, simply because another minority amongst us wants to impose their religious beliefs. I only wish the government had also extended these measures to include unmarried straight couples.
David Husle, UK

May I firstly say how gracious it was for Peter Tatchell to express the unfair and divisive nature of the government's new laws? These laws will do absolutely nothing to encourage mutual respect for the heterosexual/homosexual parties concerned. One of the things God set up as part of how society works is the family unit. This, Biblically, consists of a man and woman committed to each other in a life-long and monogamous marriage. The Labour party have consistently challenged and undermined this family unit. I shall not vote labour again; I prefer to stick with the Maker's instructions, rather than the opinion of our country's leaders.
Vanessa, UK

We are all individual people with different feelings. If someone loves someone of the same sex why should that have anything to do with their legal rights? Of course everyone should have the same legal rights. I can't understand how people can even think that this is an issue!
Sarah, Harrogate, UK

It's a great stride forward Steve Payne, UK

Criticise the new Labour regime if you like (and I do, on almost everything) but in six years they've equalised the age of consent and now put forward these proposals. The proposals are flawed but it's a great stride forward and personally I'm delighted - and I'm half of an unmarried straight couple, so I've nothing to benefit from these moves apart from the delight at seeing an age-old injustice partially put right. Can anyone give a valid, cogent and consistent argument against these plans that doesn't rely on a religion that not all of us actually believe in or on sheer bigotry? I look forward to finding out.
Steve Payne, UK

While I don't want my taxes spent on criminalising their lifestyle, and recognise that what people do in their own private surroundings is a matter for their own morality, I completely fail to see why the rest of society should endorse their behaviour.
Straight Man, England

All this does is give couples equal rights, not special rights. If anything, gay couples are still being discriminated against by not being offered the "equal" right to marriage.
Marc Keelan-Bishop, England

This really does undermine marriage Richard, UK

I am supportive of legal recognition for gay couples. At present they have no way of registering a partnership and that is unjust. However I do not think it should be called marriage so that heterosexual marriage retains its identity. I am also vehemently against unmarried couples being granted equal rights as this really does undermine marriage. If heterosexual couples want legal recognition of their partnership they should just get married!
Richard, UK

My partner and I are not married since I do not believe in it due to bad family history, yet there is no way in England to have the same status as gay couples would have. This should be extended to unmarried heterosexual couples.
Anon, UK

These proposals could have been thought out better but this is still a long overdue step in the right direction. Sure, press for changes to the plans, but please don't scrap the whole idea because of one relatively minor issue.
Chris Neville-Smith, Durham, England

What an insult to the true meaning of marriage. This nation's standards are being lost.
Rowland, UK

Why not simply extend the right to marriage to same sex couples? Then everyone has the same rights and nobody need feel excluded.
Bill, UK