GEORGE MICHAEL - GEORGE MICHAEL: 'I'D ONLY MARRY FOR LEGAL REASONS'

LATEST: GEORGE MICHAEL has hit out at reports he is planning to marry his partner KENNY GOSS, insisting the pair would only consider a same-sex union for legal purposes.

The pair were alleged to be following the lead set by SIR ELTON JOHN, who will 'marry' DAVID FURNISH on 21 December (05), the first day gay civil partnerships are possible after they became made legal today (05DEC05).

But Michael insists he has concerns about marrying.

He says, "We haven't entered into a civil partnership, but that's something we might do in the future. I have a different opinion to Elton's. All I want is the legal protection Kenny and I both deserve.

"Marriage is such a difficult institution at the best of times and absolutely necessary if you want to have a family, but if we were to get married, we would be aping an institution that is not built for us."