Elton Gets His David

On the exact day that civil partnerships between gay couples become legal in Britain, pop star Elton John will marry his longtime partner David Furnish.

The couple's big day was expected to be a star-studded occasion attended by their celebrity friends, but they have decided to keep the ceremony low-key, although they will follow it up with an evening reception.

"The ceremony itself will be very private. It’ll be a very small family affair," Elton John told in an interview withBritish gay lifestyle magazine "Attitude" this week.

"But from a social standpoint, I think it’s hugely significant. It is a major, major change. It is one of the defining issues of our times. And I applaud Britain for embracing the diversity of our society," his partner, David Furnish, continued.

Elton and Mr Furnish, a Canadian-born film-maker, have been together for 12 years. They will tie the knot on December 21, becoming one of the first same-sex couples to marry after the new Civil Partnership Act, which permits gay couples to register their partnership, entitling them to the same pension and inheritance rights as married couples

The new legislation, which comes into effect next month, will give same-sex couples many of the same rights as heterosexual married couples.

The government has deliberately avoided the word marriage to avoid upsetting religious sensibilities, although the partnerships give couples similar entitlements over tax, pensions and other benefits to those who are married.

Partners will even be able to dissolve the agreement in a form of divorce.