Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice
Revise the law on adultery as a cause for divorce to cover same-sex conduct
Closed
361 signatures
What the petition asks
I want Section 1(6) of MCA 1973 to be updated to reflect LGBT marriages and lifestyles, so that conduct between the respondent and a person of the same sex may constitute adultery. Currently in divorce law, only conduct between the respondent and a person of the opposite sex qualifies.
In 2020 where LGBT partnerships and marriages are accepted under the law as per the Marriage Act 2013, the law should also provide for LGBT extra-marital affairs. Currently, married couples are unable to sue for divorce on the grounds of adultery if their partner has engaged in sexual conduct with a member of the same sex. This does not provide LGBT equality in the eyes of the law.
Timeline
| 26 Oct 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 26 Apr 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
361
Status
Closed
Department
Ministry of Justice
Opened
26 Oct 2020
Closed
26 Apr 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.