Lyndia Topp, seen here with Donna, says marriage should not be based on gender.
Photo / Norrie Montgomery
On the 9th of March 2013, my partner of seven years and I got married in our garden. Friends and family came from miles around and locals joined us for a barn dance in the local hall.
There were 200 guests to witness this joyous occasion and we had a fantastic day and merriment continued on into the early hours of the morning.
But in the eyes of the law this day was illegal. Why? Because it was two women who chose to tie the knot.
I have been an entertainer is this country for nearly 35 years and, along with my sister Jools, we have performed all over the world as the Topp Twins.
We have had an incredible career and the most amazing support from the New Zealand public. We have also been at the forefront of protest in this country – ie the Springbok tour, homosexual law reform, gay and lesbian rights and Maori land issues. Now I stand up and say marriage is a commitment between two people who love each other and should not be based on gender as some people seem to think.
Our wedding day started out with light drizzle and everyone involved had fingers crossed that it would clear up by 3pm. Someone must have been looking after us that day. At 2.30 the rain stopped and the clouds floated away to reveal blue skies, perfect conditions for a wedding.
Donna and I had sent the invitation about two months before, and everyone had accepted. Ken and Lynn, Donna’s parents, and Jean and Peter, my mum and dad, were all there to see their daughters get hitched. Donna’s two boys – Oliver, 20, and Cameron, 18, walked their mother down the aisle, or in this case across the lawn, to the wedding party.
The moment I saw Donna I had the biggest grin on my face. This was our day to celebrate our love and commitment to each other and it seemed everyone there felt it as well. As I looked out on the faces of our friends and family I could see that our happiness had brought smiles to there faces as well and a huge cheer rang out as Donna stepped in beside me to take our vows.
My sister Jools and my three best friends stood to my left and Donna’s best friend and three flower girls stood to her right. My brother Bruce did the wedding flowers and, along with his partner Richard and two of our fabulous gay friends, decorated the local hall for the reception and barn dance to follow.
The local Mayfield Lions Club did the catering, two local dairy farmers were on security and the local church committee had held a special meeting and all had agreed we could get married in the little wooden church if it had kept raining.
Our friends family and local community danced the night away in the country hall and everyone had a ball.
This was just another great kiwi wedding, a day when two people in love tell the world that they are prepared to devote themselves to each other.
For all those New Zealanders who support this bill I thank you with all my heart, for those who don’t I ask you to consider the happiness of two people in love to have the same rights as every other New Zealand.
PS: Party at my place when the bill passes.
Author: Lyndia Topp
Publication: NZ Herald
Publication Date: April 17 2013