Fewer British gays entering civil unions

LONDON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Fewer gay couples in Britain are taking advantage of civil partnership laws, and more are splitting up, the Office of National Statistics reports.

While 8,728 couples entered civil unions in 2007, only 7,169 did so in 2008, down 18 percent, The Independent reported. The number of unions dissolved increased from 42 to 180 during the same period.

Stonewall, a gay rights group, said the drop in civil unions was to be expected, once longtime couples got a chance for legal recognition. Civil partnerships were introduced in 2005.

"These figures show true equality," a spokesperson for the group said. "They highlight the fact there there is no difference between the success rates between hetero and homosexual couples, like some sections of the media try and claim. It shows that gay people are exercising their rights to both enter and disband a civil partnership."

Peter Tatchell, a longtime gay rights advocate, said he believes some couples are now hesitating to enter civil unions because they believe anything short of marriage is not really equal.