A same-sex marriage ceremony took place in Australia today and this time there’ll be no taking it back.
Gordon Stevenson and Peter Fraser, a dual Australian/British citizen, were the first to be married in Australia under British same-sex marriage laws when they tied the knot at the British consulate in Sydney today.
The pair married in a ceremony at 3pm, surrounded by a small group of family and friends, who travelled from around the country to witness the first-of-its-kind ceremony, conducted by British Consul General Nick McInnes.
Never letting go of each other’s hands beneath the table, the men exchanged emotional vows while overlooking Circular Quay.
The couple, who have been together for 19 years, said it was a dream come true to finally be legally married.
“We’ve always wanted to get married so we decided to do it when Britain announced they were changing the laws,” Peter told news.com.au.
“We had no idea we’d be the first.”
The newlyweds’ parents weren’t able to make the trek from the UK to watch the ceremony, but Peter said his mum and dad were thrilled that their son is finally able to be married.
“They’re over the moon,” Peter said. “They’ve always thought of Gordon as a son-in-law, so it’s nice to make it official.”
Unfortunately for the newlyweds, the nuptials are meaningless under Australian law as soon as they left the consulate.
Australian law fails to recognize marriages conducted under the laws of other countries if these marriages are between same-sex partners.
For less than a week last year, same-sex couples were able to marry in the ACT before the laws were thrown out by the High Court.
This time the marriages will stick, and Peter says opponents of marriage equality have nothing to fear from it.
“I don’t see how it affects anyone else”, he told news.com.au. “We grow up with this idea that you meet someone, fall in love and get married.
“Why should we be able to have that?
“Most of the people opposed to it probably don’t know any gay people. If they did they’d see there’s nothing to fear from it. In other countries where it’s legal it hasn’t made a bit of difference to people’s lives except the people getting married.”
The pair were greeted outside the consulate by a throng of well wishers who threw streamers as a bagpiper led the way.
Speaking after the ceremony, Peter said it was one of the best days of his life, but was also tinged with sadness.
“While I feel so proud and privileged to be the first of what I am sure will be many couples to marry here, I am also conscious that now that we’ve left the consulate and gone outside, our marriage will not be recognised under Australian law,” he said.
“I hope that soon all Australians will be able to marry the person they love.”
It’s the first time a same-sex marriage ceremony has been performed inside a consulate anywhere in the world, but more are booked in for every British consulate in every capital city in Australia.
Sarah Midgely and Shirleene Robinson will marry at the British consulate on September 7.
The couple, who have been together for seven years, say the marriage will be a chance to show their love to friends and family.
“We’ve been engaged for two years now and we really want to share that special moment. It makes us so sad that we can’t do that under Australian law.”
Same-sex couples have been able to marry in England and Wales since March, but today was the first day British citizens were able to marry at the consulate after the Abbott government indicated it had no objections to the ceremony taking place.
It is an indication of just how far the marriage equality movement has come in Australia. In 2010, then Attorney-General, Labor’s Robert Mclelland, refused to allow Portugal to solemnise same-sex marriages in its consulate when the nation adopted new marriage laws.
Australian Marriage Equality National Director Rodney Croome said today’s ceremony was a step in the right direction.
“It is hopeful that the Australian government has allowed Australians to marry in UK consulates”, he said today.
“The majority of Australians who support marriage equality will be asking, ‘If this can happen in a UK consulate then why not everywhere else in Australia?’”
Independent MP for Sydney Alex Greenwich, who married his partner in a ceremony in Argentina in 2012, said marriage equality was on the horizon, but urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to allow his MPs a conscience vote on the issue next time it faces parliament.
“We’re closer than ever before, we have more supporters of marriage equality in this parliament than we had in the last one,” he said.
“The position of the Prime Minister is becoming increasingly untenable. He’s the only Liberal party leader in this country who opposes a free vote.”