20 years on: UK's first same-sex civil partnerships

"It was officially a civil partnership, but for us it felt like a wedding. That day meant everything," recalls Chris Cramp. At 57, Chris was part of the first same-sex couple to formalize their relationship through a civil partnership in the UK, 20 years ago. He and his terminally ill partner, Matthew Roche, received special approval to hold their ceremony on the very day the law came into effect. Tragically, Matthew passed away the following day.

Chris, from Southwick in West Sussex, reflected, "It was incredibly important to him too, to have the legal recognition." He added, "Losing a partner is always painful, but time brings some healing. The wound remains, but life goes on."

The Civil Partnership Act 2004, effective from 5 December 2005, granted same-sex couples legal recognition, offering rights and responsibilities akin to those of marriage. Chris and Matthew's ceremony took place at St Barnabas House Hospice in Worthing, West Sussex, just hours after the legislation became law, as Matthew was receiving care for lung cancer at the hospice.

Chris and Matthew first met in a Brighton nightclub in 1994, initially forming a close friendship before becoming partners. Today, Chris has a new partner, Damian, and the couple plans to commemorate the 20-year anniversary by visiting Matthews gravesite, laying flowers, and looking at their wedding photos, followed by a simple evening treat.

Looking back, the BBC reported that on 5 December 2005, three same-sex couples arrived early at Brighton Town Hall to be among the first in the UK to register civil partnerships. After the mandatory 15-day waiting period, Debbie and Elaine Gaston, Gino Meriano and Mike Ullett, and Roger Lewis and Keith Willmott-Goodall officially became some of the first couples to formalize their unions in the country on 21 December.

Analysis: 20 Years of Civil Partnerships in the UK

The 20th anniversary of the UK's Civil Partnership Act 2004 highlights a pivotal moment in the journey toward LGBTQ+ rights and recognition. For Chris Cramp and Matthew Roche, it was a day filled with meaning. Despite the heartbreaking loss of Matthew just a day after their ceremony, their commitment and the legal recognition they received signaled a profound shift in British society. It was not just a symbolic moment but one that provided tangible rights and responsibilities, offering same-sex couples legal protections similar to marriage.

Reflecting on the evolution since then, it's clear that the Civil Partnership Act was an essential step in ensuring equality. While the Act did not offer full marriage rights, it provided same-sex couples with legal recognition, setting the stage for future reforms. The personal stories of couples like Chris and Matthew bring attention to the importance of this legislation. Despite its limitations at the time, the recognition allowed them to formalize their relationship under the law, a significant achievement given the context of the 2000s.

As same-sex marriage became legal in the UK in 2014, the significance of civil partnerships shifted. For many, it remains an essential part of their story. Chris, now with his partner Damian, plans to mark the anniversary of his late partner Matthew's passing, underscoring the lasting impact the law has had on their lives. Today, civil partnerships continue to offer a meaningful alternative for couples who do not wish to marry, even as marriage equality becomes more widely accepted.

Looking back at the experiences of the first couples who formalized their unions, it is evident that the Civil Partnership Act 2004 marked a milestone in the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The journey from recognition to marriage equality reflects a broader societal transformation, underscoring how far the UK has come in a relatively short period. For Chris, the pain of loss remains, but the progress in legal recognition offers a sense of validation and hope for the future.

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• UK's first same sex civil partnerships 20 years on