On this day: December 19
"A Christmas Carol" is first published, the NHL plays its first games, Apollo 17 splashes down, and the U.S. House impeaches President Bill Clinton, all on this day.
2005: Under the guidelines of the United Kingdom's newly enacted Civil Partnership Act, Grainne Close and Shannon Sickels become the first women in the United Kingdom joined in a civil partnership ceremony, at the Belfast City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The new law gave gay couples the same property and inheritance rights as married heterosexuals and entitles them to the same pension, immigration and tax benefits.
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