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Gay couple look ahead to big day

‘It’s not the same as getting married but we’ll have a bridesmaid’

Kenneth Gray, left, with his partner Tim Robinson

THEY may not be the first to benefit from new civil partnership laws but BBC producer and director Tim Robinson, 42, and solicitor Kenneth Gray are already making plans for an Easter wedding.
The couple, who have bought a house in Camden Town, have been together for nearly five years.
They have already set the date, booked the venue and are finalising the details of their special day.
Mr Gray, 44, said: “When the new law was announced it seemed like the natural thing to do.
“We knew the laws would change and that we’d get married when they did.”
The wedding is planned for Easter so Mr Gray’s family can travel from Spain.
He said: “It’s not the same as getting married but at the same time you want to celebrate in the same way.
“It’s all being dictated by what people want to do. I’ve got a seven-year-old niece who’s dreamed of being a bridesmaid so we are having a bridesmaid.
“I have a friend who wants to bake us a cake – we hadn’t even thought of that. We’re being reactive instead of proactive.”
The ceremony is likely to be a tasteful, private occasion.
Mr Gray said: “I want to get away from the idea of it being a purely gay event, to get away from that gay extravaganza.
“I want it to be a celebration of my relationship with my boyfriend. I’m not in denial about being gay – it’s just a private thing for me and my family.”
But he is wary of the commercialisation of gay weddings. He said: “Lots of companies are springing up organising gay weddings and I don’t want to be part of it. I’m slightly iffy about the whole marriage industry.”
He’s not convinced the law has gone far enough, adding: “Legally, marriage and civil partnerships are identical. There’s a little bit of discrimination in not calling it a marriage but I’m not going to lose sleep over it.”

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