Elton John, Partner
Linked in
'Gay Wedding'
Ceremony
Bloomberg.com:UK from
the Web, December 21, 2005
London -- Elton John, the
singer and songwriter, and his partner David Furnish today formalized their
relationship by undergoing a civil ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor,
England.
John, 58, and Furnish, 43, a Canadian film-maker, were among the first gay
couples in England to take advantage of the Civil Partnership Act, a U.K. law
that gives same-sex couples similar property and inheritance rights to married
heterosexual couples.
About 687 couples were having civil ceremonies today, the first day same-sex
unions were recognized in law in England and Wales, in what the media dubbed
"gay weddings." The partnerships are not regarded as marriages under U.K.
law.
The ceremony, attended by John's mother and stepfather, Furnish's parents and a
small selection of friends, took place at the same venue Prince Charles, the
Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, used for their marriage in
April.
John, who is currently on tour, and Furnish waved to well-wishers and the media
outside the Guildhall after the ceremony. John blew kisses and mouthed
"Thank you" to fans. He put a hand on the shoulder of Furnish, his partner
of 12 years, as they took the crowd's applause.
Asked how the ceremony went, John said: "Great, thanks." Guests at
the ceremony included British video artist Sam Taylor-Wood, and Jay Joplin,
owner of the White Cube Gallery in London.
Kissed
"It was a very emotional service," Taylor-Wood told the British Broadcasting
Corp. "Everyone clapped, and of course they kissed at the end," Joplin
told the BBC.
The couple will celebrate their partnership with about 700 guests at a party
this evening that is likely to cost about 1 million pounds ($1.75 million), Sky
News said.
Guests invited to the party at John's London mansion, which is scheduled to
start at 7:30 p.m. London time, include celebrities Sharon Osbourne, Liz Hurley
and Donatella Versace, Sky said. John has asked people to donate money to
his Aids charity instead of buying presents.
To contact the reporter on this story: Aisha Phoenix in
London at aphoenix@bloomberg.net.
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