英：シヴィル・パートナーのレズビアン・カップル、わずか2ヶ月で「離婚」

Lesbian couple first to divorce
Press Association
Thursday May 18, 2006 8:58 AM

A couple are to become the first lesbians to divorce - just two months after tying the knot.

Liz King, 40, and 36-year-old Daphne Ligthart were among the UK's first homosexual couples to seal their union. They registered their partnership in Ashford, Kent, on February 11 under the Civil Partnership Act.

However, it emerged that the couple are splitting up and now face the prospect of dividing their joint assets.

Ms Ligthart told The Sun: "Liz told me she didn't love me anymore, that she hadn't done so for years. I was absolutely flabbergasted.

"I asked her why she had gone through the wedding and she said it was to make me happy. But it was all her idea."

The first weeks of their partnership were said to have been joyful, with the couple enjoying a romantic honeymoon to Amsterdam.

"She even asked if I would change my name by deed poll because she liked the sound of it. We seemed more in love than ever," said Ms Ligthart.

However, within a month Ms Ligthart said she became aware that Ms King was acting "different". She said: "Liz is into athletics and is a triathlete. She began spending a lot of time training with another girl at her athletics club.

"They were together every day and this girl began coming round the house when I was at work."

Ms King told the newspaper: "I have nothing to say except I feel sorry for Daphne at this time."