Gay bishop plans civil union with partner of 18 years*

POSTED: 0005 GMT (0805 HKT), May 10, 2007

Story Highlights
• Gene Robinson's ordination by Episcopal church triggered global
controversy
• He lives in New Hampshire, which is about to legalize civil unions
• Bishop, partner plan separate religious ceremony

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (Reuters) -- The openly gay Episcopal bishop
at the center of the Anglican Church's global battle over homosexuality
said Thursday he hopes to enter into a civil union with his partner next
year.

But New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson added that he wants to hold
separate religious and legal ceremonies to set a precedent for how
marriages and civil unions are performed in the United States.

Next week, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is expected to sign a bill that
allows civil unions for same-sex couples, making his state the fourth in
the nation to do so. The law would go into effect on January 1.

"We need to separate the civil rights from the religious rites," said
Robinson, whose ordination in 2003 enraged conservative Anglicans and
threatened to break up the church.

He and his partner of more than 18 years, Mark Andrews, aim to hold two
ceremonies around the middle of next year: A non-religious one where
they become legal partners followed by a church service to give
blessings to God for their relationship.

"Religious people and religious organizations who are not yet ready to
offer the church's or the synagogue's blessings on such unions might be
supportive of full civil rights for this country's gay and lesbian
citizens," he told Reuters in an interview.

Robinson is perhaps New Hampshire's most well-known gay citizen. He was
the first openly gay man to be ordained as a bishop in the U.S.
Episcopal church, sparking deepening divisions among the world's 77
million Anglicans.

The 59-year-old divorced father of two praised New Hampshire for
allowing same-sex civil unions but suggested states should go further
and follow Massachusetts, the only U.S. state where gay marriage is legal.

"It won't be full equality until it is equal," he said.