Cyprus Gay Weddings may be legalised, by Perfect Gay Honeymoons UK

    CHASETOWN, ENGLAND, March 06, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gay Cyprus Weddings 'Just Say I-Do!'

Danny Waine, Marketing Director of travel company Perfect Gay Honeymoons, UK.

"I'm writing in response to the announcement from the Cyprus Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Lazaros Savvides, as reported in the Cyprus Sunday Mail last weekend, that the Cypriot Government is going to examine the issue of making same-sex marriage legal in Cyprus."

Link: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/features/government-look-legalising-gay-marriage/20100228?page=1

Press Release:

Gay Weddings Abroad

Perfect Gay Honeymoons has been organising Civil Partnerships abroad for British couples across the world since the Civil Partnership Act became law in December 2005. The company supports the move from the Cyprus Interior Ministry to explore legalising gay marriage on the Island. Marketing Director Danny Waine said "From a tourism point of view this could be the most positive regulatory change that the island could make this century. The most important thing is that this proposed change has come about because of a letter written by a Cypriot Citizen, not a government being forced in to it just to generate cash."

Currently gay and lesbian couples from the UK can tie the knot in Canada, New Zealand, certain states in the US and South Africa and have their wedding legally recognised here in the UK. However due to regulations across Europe (where at least one of the partners must be a citizen of the country they are marrying in) it makes it impossible for British gay or lesbian couples to marry in Europe. The only way around it is for the couple to register their Civil Partnership here in the UK and then host a non-legal commitment ceremony overseas.

Waine explained, "We have been organising commitment ceremonies in Cyprus since the Civil Partnership Act came in to force, and are receiving increasing enquiries from gay and lesbian couples wanting to marry legally on the island. They've often been to friend's weddings in Cyprus or heard about someone that's married on the island and that's what they want too. Gay and lesbian couples don't want to marry in stereotypical gay haunts like Ibiza, Mykonos and Sitges; they dream about marrying in typical wedding destinations such as Cyprus, Mauritius and the Caribbean."

Cyprus Economic Opportunity

Cyprus could cash in on the gay wedding market from the UK, Waine said "Not only would the marriage law be a step in the right direction for equality of gay and lesbian Cypriot's, it also could open up a massive market from the UK. Providing the residency requirements for gay weddings remain the same as straight couples, Cyprus would become the only country in Europe where gay and lesbian British couples overseas could legally get married."

"I strongly urge the ministers and diplomats meeting with Dr Lazaros Savvides to support the change in the law; as well as for the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and hoteliers in Cyprus to get behind the movement. We have written to the Cypriot Government and Cyprus Tourism Organisation to offer our support to the proposed change; and we believe that hoteliers across the island would view this amendment favourably. Economically the island of Cyprus only stands to benefit, as it will lead to an inevitable increase in weddings taking place on the island, and generating more group business throughout the year."

Although it would send out a signal that Cyprus is a gay-friendly destination and welcoming to gay and lesbian couples. More importantly it will attract more couples and families to the island Waine explained that from our research we've found that from gay wedding groups that we have marry overseas, less than a quarter of the party are usually gay or bisexual. There seems to be a misconception that gay wedding parties are going to bring 30 Kylie-singing, pink wearing drag queens! This couldn't be further from the truth, you must remember that each of the gay partners have parents that aren't gay, brothers and sisters that aren't gay, and friends that aren't gay."

Messages of Support from Across the UK and Cyprus

Perfect Gay Honeymoons has received support from gay businesses across the UK and Cyprus. "This is wonderful news," said Sue Briggs-Harris, editor of Tickled Pink, Britain's first, paid-for gay wedding magazine. "A lot of straight couples choose to get married abroad these days to avoid all the stress usually associated with a wedding. Gay people are no different. No matter what the Daily Mail would have us believe."

Nicola Hill, the owner of online gay wedding directory Gay Friendly Wedding Venues added "It would be great if Cyprus legalised gay marriage. The weddings abroad section of our website gets a lot of hits. Many British gay and lesbian couples want the option of marrying abroad, especially in a warm climate, so Cyprus would be ideal."

Dr Kai Wacker, of GayCyprus.org, the gay tourism information resource, based in Limassol said "The legalisation of gay (same sex marriages) in Cyprus would be something not only the Gay Community of the Republic of Cyprus, but also Cyprus Tourism, the Cyprus Hotel and Catering Industries and many more businesses here in the Republic of Cyprus could profit from enormously. We as a company as well as openly gay individuals and couple would strongly support the legalisation of Gay or Same-Sex marriages in the Republic Of Cyprus."

Whilst the owner of one of the islands most famous gay-bars, Different Bar in Paphos, Panos Charalambous said "this is very nice news!" as it could have a big effect on the growing gay-scene on the island. It's widely acknowledged that gay couples often have double-incomes, many don't have children and they tend to spend more money in the local community when on holiday, eating in local taverna's and restaurants; which is of great benefit to the local economy.

Cyprus The Island of Love for all

Waine finished, "Over half of the enquiries we receive for gay weddings abroad are for Cyprus, and these are coming in on a daily basis, so there is certainly the demand there. We have so many gay honeymoon couples travel to Cyprus each year and they always rave about the island, the warmth of its people and standard of hotels. This is an ideal opportunity for Cyprus to bring about change for good, and to offset some of the losses it's endured during the recession. Ultimately it is the island of love, it has fantastic 5* luxury accommodations, spa and wedding facilities, and this should be open to any couple in love."

Perfect Gay Honeymoons, a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group, was launched shortly after the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act in December 2005, offering a high standard of civil partnership abroad and honeymoon services to gay and lesbian couples. Initially the company offered same-sex couples the opportunity to book luxury honeymoons and to ensure they receive all the frills a honeymoon couple deserve on their special trip away. The company has since introduced its civil partnerships and commitment ceremonies abroad programme with an ever-expanding portfolio of locations.

Top-selling Civil Partnerships Abroad and Commitment Ceremony Destinations:

- South Africa
- Italy
- Canada
- Canary Islands

Top-selling Honeymoon Destinations

- The USA
- South Africa
- Mauritius
- The Caribbean

Perfect Gay Honeymoons works with gay-friendly businesses in the UK, Europe and beyond. All of the wedding coordinators who work for Perfect Gay Honeymoons are gay-friendly and all of the hotels in the company's portfolio extends all honeymoon offers and extras to same-sex couples.

www.PerfectGayHoneymoons.co.uk

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