Joyous dawn for same- sex couples
SAME- SEX couples will today begin submitting their “intended marriage” forms which include new categories of “partner” and gender “x” after the GovernorGeneral signed- off the newly passed marriage laws.
Sir Peter Cosgrove gave the laws royal assent yesterday, while the new forms which give a month’s notice of a couple’s intended marriage went online.
“It is now part of Australian law,” an elated Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said after he and Attorney- General George Brandis visited the Governor- General.
The new Attorney- General’s Department “notice of intended marriage” form replaces the old one today, with the first same- sex weddings expected to follow a month later on January 9.
The form has a new heading Party 1 and Party 2 replacing Bridegroom and Bride, with a “Description of party” section offering three options: “groom”, “bride” and “partner”.
As well, there are three boxes for gender: “male”, “female” and “x” – which is described as “indeterminate, intersex or unspecified”.
One of those quick to make the most of the law change is Australia’s Ambassador to France, Brendan Berne, who posted a video on the embassy’s Facebook page of his proposal to his partner of 11 years, Thomas.
“Now, as Australia has just approved marriage equality it is my turn ... to ratify my relationship,” he said in French.
Mr Turnbull described the enacting of the laws as a “big Australian hug for all same- sex couples”.
Mr Brandis said the “explosion” of joy in Parliament on Thursday when the laws passed was “something that was unforgettable”.