Gay marriage by Christmas after Australia vote
Couple in their 80s among thousands now planning their wedding after 61pc back historic equality call
A COUPLE believed to be Australia’s oldest same-sex partners – two men aged 89 and 85 – say they plan to marry after a half-century together following the country’s emphatic vote to legalise same-sex marriage. As Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister, told same-sex couples that they could start planning their weddings, John Challis, 89, and Arthur Cheeseman, 85, said the historic vote “gives us a new dignity”.
In a voluntary plebiscite, Australians voted “yes” to legalising same-sex marriage by 61.6 per cent to 38.4 per cent – paving the way for parliament to allow same-sex weddings before Christmas.
At their home in Sydney, the couple said they plan to marry next year – either at a nearby register office, or at home with a civil celebrant, with a cup of coffee but “not with any fuss”. They met in 1967 at an art gallery event after they left at the same time and “just happened to smile at each other”.
Mr Cheeseman, a retired pharmacist, said of the vote: “It gives us a new dignity, a new status, a new place in society. We’re the same as everyone else.”
The announcement of the result was greeted by cheers, hugs and crying at rainbow-coloured celebration rallies across the country.
The news quickly spread abroad and was warmly welcomed by a range of celebrities, including Boy George, Stephen Fry and Miley Cyrus. “Love is love, always was love, always will be love,” tweeted Kylie Minogue.
Penny Wong, a Labor MP who was Australia’s first openly gay cabinet minister, sobbed as the results were announced, saying: “I’m relieved. Thank you, Australia.” The vote, which had a turnout of 79.5 per cent, was conducted by post and was non-binding.
It was effectively an opinion poll – costing £60million – but was agreed to by Mr Turnbull in a bid to placate conservative members of his ruling coalition who oppose same-sex marriage. Following the vote, Mr Turnbull promised to allow a free vote of MPS before Christmas. The proposed legislation is supported by a majority of MPS and is expected to pass.
“Australians have shown they are committed to a fair go,” Mr Turnbull said. “They’ve said yes to commitment. They’ve said yes to marriage equality. And they’ve said yes to love. And they’ve said to the parliament ‘get on with it, get this done’.”
There are believed to be 50,000 same-sex couples in Australia: the coming weddings are expected to deliver a £300million boost to the economy.