David Hodson on International Family Law: "I, Spouse A, do take you as my lawful wedded Spouse B"

With the government launching a consultation today on how to introduce same-sex marriage into England and Wales sidestepping the real question of whether it should be introduced at all one of the very many cultural changes would be the new way of describing those who are married. Once the legislation is introduced and unless there will be any other statutory provision it would of course be discriminatory to refer thereafter to husband and wife because this would relate to a sexual orientation. The term partner is only reluctantly used by some who cohabit being especially confusing when one or both are also in professional partnerships. So what officially and unofficially should we call those who are married if "husband and wife" will be taboo?

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