Divorce
without blame
A woman who was unable to
divorce her husband on the
grounds of adultery because
he had affairs with men wants
the law changed.
She is part of a support group with other
spouses in a similar position. She doesn’t
think there is any shame in being gay,
but believes it’s important that people
are able to be who they are and not lie
to themselves and other people. She
feels it’s time the law grew up about
what sexual intimacy means in the 21st
Century.
There is only one ground for divorce in
England and Wales and that has to be
proved on either the basis of: adultery,
unreasonable behaviour, desertion,
having lived apart for more than two
years (if both spouses agree to divorce)
or having lived apart for more than five
years.
Adultery is defined in law as “voluntary
sexual intercourse between a man and
a woman who are not married to each
other but one or both of whom is or are
married”.
Same-sex couples can either marry
or opt for a civil partnership. If the
relationship breaks down in civil
partnerships there is no basis to end
the partnership due to adultery. Adultery
can be grounds for divorce in same-sex
marriage but the infidelity must be with
someone of the opposite sex.
This therefore results in a