Partners of gay knights could gain title

Published on 02/07/2012 02:21

The partners of gay knights and peers could be given titles like those for the wives of heterosexual men under plans going before parliament.

Under the current honours system, wives of men made sirs or lords becomes ladies.

But there is no equivalent for boyfriends of gay men given titles, such as Sir Elton John’s partner David Furnish. Neither can husbands of women made dames use a prefix.

Tory MP Oliver Colville will this week unveil a bill aimed at making the system equal, amid reports the UK Government is preparing to investigate reform.

His Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill will be launched in the Commons tomorrow.

Mr Colville said: “The current system is uneven and rather outdated. If you are made a peer or a knight, your wife automatically gets the title, lady, but if you are gay or are a woman and become a dame your partner gets nothing.”