Adeline Cosson and Kieran Hodgson become civil partners in Douglas after Isle of Man made such unions available to all

The first opposite-sex couple in the British Isles to go through a civil partnership ceremony have celebrated their union in Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man.

Adeline Cosson, 24, and Kieran Hodgson, 22, wanted to “keep it simple” rather than have a traditional wedding. They are considering getting married at a later date.

Civil partnerships, which were introduced in 2004 for same-sex couples following lobbying by equal rights campaigners, are not available for heterosexual partners in the UK.

A London couple, Charles Keidan and Rebecca Steinfeld, are going to the court of appeal in November to argue that denying opposite-sex couples civil partnerships breaches their human rights.

But the Isle of Man, which is not part of the UK and decriminalised gay sex in the 1990s, made civil partnerships available to everybody this summer.

Hodgson, who was born on the Wirral but brought up on the Isle of Man from the age of six, and Cosson, who is from central France, are the first couple to take advantage of the new legal freedom.

The ceremony was held mid-morning on Friday at the registry office in Douglas. She wore a velvet dress; he chose a velvet jacket. “We didn’t want to call it a marriage, we wanted to call it a civil partnership,” said Cosson, who works in a cafe. “We were told we were the first ever. We are very proud to do it.



“The main thing was that we wanted to keep it simple. We are a young couple. We do want to get married one day but not now; at a later date. This gives us rights under the law.



“It helps couples move forward without having to get married right now. To create full equality on the Isle of Man, they have allowed gay couples to get married but also to start civil partnerships.”

She said she was surprised that the UK, which she had always regarded as adopting progressive policies, was denying most citizens the right to civil partnerships. “In France, everybody can get a civil partnership. A lot of people don’t want to get married. ‘Marriage’ is a big word.

“I open doors [for men sometimes]. I believe in equality,” she said. “I live in my century.”



Hodgson, who is a healthcare assistant at an Isle of Man hospital, said: “It’s a good idea.” Rather than him dropping down on one knee and proposing, they had talked about the idea, he said. “We decided together to do it. It was a short discussion.”



The couple, who live in a flat in Douglas, held a celebration party with friends and family later on Friday.



Jane Salter, the registrar who conducted the ceremony, said: “They are the first opposite-sex partners who have chosen a civil partnership. They were very happy and relaxed. It was just them and two witnesses.

“It’s the same sort of ceremony as a wedding but we use different wording. We don’t refer to the ‘bride’ and ‘groom’. They can exchange rings, but this couple didn’t. They are now civil partners for life.”

Salter said she was due to hold another civil partnership next week for a couple travelling from London to take advantage of the island’s more liberal laws. “I could become a real expert. It could be good for tourism here,” she said.



Matt Hawkins, of the Equal Civil Partnerships Campaign, said: “I’m delighted to send congratulations to Adeline and Kieran. I hope that the joy they share in their civil partnership is one that many different-sex couples across the British Isles will soon be able to experience.

“It seems remarkable that different-sex couples in Britain are now just a stone’s throw away from getting a civil partnership. Extending civil partnerships extends choice and gives couples who do not feel a marriage is right for them the chance to gain legal and financial protection for their relationship and, if they have any, their children.



“With our 70,000 supporters, politicians backing us from every party, and endorsements from fantastic organisations, we are confident that that choice and opportunity will soon be extended and Adeline and Kieran’s example followed by couples across Britain.”