Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson

Celia Kitzinger
Born
OccupationUniversity professor
Known forOne half of first British lesbian couple to lobby for their marriage to be recognised by England
SpouseSue Wilkinson
Sue Wilkinson
Born
OccupationUniversity professor
Known forOne half of first British lesbian couple to lobby for their marriage to be recognised by England
SpouseCelia Kitzinger

Celia Kitzinger and Sue Wilkinson are a British lesbian couple who unsuccessfully sued to have their relationship recognised as a marriage in England. Both are university professors--Kitzinger in psychology and Wilkinson in gender studies--and they have published four books together.

After marrying in Vancouver, Canada, in 2003, the couple discovered on moving back to the UK that their relationship initially had no legal status. In 2004, the Civil Partnership Act allowed their marriage to become a civil partnership, but the couple sued for full legal recognition. In 2006, their bid was rejected by the High Court Family Division. The couple's marriage was eventually recognized on 13 March 2014, when the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 came into force.