Advocates say consular marriage gives them hope all same-sex couples will soon be able to marry.
The first same-sex marriage in an Australian UK consulate will take place this afternoon at 3pm in Sydney and will be followed by a media conference involving the newly-married couple.
The marrying couple, Peter Fraser and Gordon Stevenson, are Australians with dual citizenship who have been together for 19 years.
Their marriage will be the first marriage of a same-sex couples ever in Sydney and the first marriage of a same-sex couples in any UK consulate anywhere in the world.
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said, “It is a hopeful sign that the Australian Government has allowed Australians to marry in UK consulates.”
“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?” “The next step for marriage equality is for the Coalition to allow a free vote on the issue.”
“Today’s ceremony is a reminder to Coalition MPs that the issue is not going away and the sky doesn’t fall in when same-sex couples marry.”
Peter and Gordon’s marriage will not be recognised under Australian law. A Senate committee is currently looking at a bill that would allow the recognition of overseas same-sex marriages and is also examining the impact of marriage equality overseas. After Peter and Gordon emerge from the consulate at 3.30pm they will be available for interviews.
The consulate is at level 16, 1 Macquarie Place. Media arrangement for the marriage ceremony itself have already been made. Due to limited space no additional media representation is available at the ceremony.
For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.
Author: Rodney Croome
Publication: AME Media Release
Date: 27 June 2014