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Australian ambassador to France proposes after marriage equality passes Australian ambassador to France proposes after marriage equality passes
(35 minutes later)
He said: “Oui!” Australia’s ambassador to France wasted little time Thursday after the passage of same-sex marriage laws through federal parliament, popping the question to his longtime partner just hours later in a video posted on social media.
Australia’s ambassador to France has proposed to his partner in the wake of the passage of same-sex marriage laws through federal parliament. “HE SAID YES!” Brendan Berne wrote along with a video of his proposal.
Brendan Berne posted a video on the embassy’s Facebook page of his proposal to his partner of 11 years, Thomas. Today was a great day for Australia and for me. HE SAID YES! #MarriageEquality pic.twitter.com/liaXiw0FYh
“Now, as Australia has just approved marriage equality it is my turn ... to ratify my relationship,” he said in French. “As ambassador to France, this is a great day for my country Australia which has passed marriage for all. But also for me personally,” Berne wrote.
The video shows Berne walking through a Paris apartment to see Thomas, who appears to be caught by surprise. In the video, Berne stands outside his partner Thomas Marti’s Paris office in the Australian embassy with the Eiffel Tower in the background, saying: “Now it’s my turn to confirm my relationship with my partner of 11 years, Thomas.”
“Deep breath,” Berne says. “Thomas we’ve been together for 11 years ... would you give me the pleasure of marrying me?” And Thomas said yes. Berne, 47, then heads into 37-year-old Marti’s office, turning briefly to the camera to say “deep breath” before taking the plunge.
Berne was appointed ambassador to France by the foreign minister, Julie Bishop in July, replacing Stephen Brady who was also in a same-sex relationship. Admitting to being “a little nervous” and speaking in heavily accented French, Berne says: “I’d like to ask you a question. Would you please marry me?”
Aside to the camera: “I hope I got the question right.”
In response Marti gets up from his swivel chair for a long embrace with his new fiance.
Marti is a Swiss-Australian who works for Australia’s foreign affairs and trade ministry, according to the embassy.
The couple met on a tram in Amsterdam and speak French at home, embassy spokesman Romain Parlier told AFP.
Berne posted the video less than four hours after the same-sex marriage bill sailed through parliament in Canberra.