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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/09/two-consenting-adults-couples-across-australia-make-marriage-equality-real
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| 'Two consenting adults': couples across Australia make marriage equality real | 'Two consenting adults': couples across Australia make marriage equality real |
| (6 months later) | |
| Usually at a wedding, the biggest cheer follows the kiss. At the long-awaited wedding of Ron van Houwelingen and Antony McManus, the thunderous applause came somewhat earlier. | Usually at a wedding, the biggest cheer follows the kiss. At the long-awaited wedding of Ron van Houwelingen and Antony McManus, the thunderous applause came somewhat earlier. |
| “Marriage as we know it in Australia – are you ready for this?” celebrant Coral Teague asked, standing beside the couple on the stage at the David Williamson Theatre at Melbourne Polytechnic in Prahran, where they met as students in 1987. | “Marriage as we know it in Australia – are you ready for this?” celebrant Coral Teague asked, standing beside the couple on the stage at the David Williamson Theatre at Melbourne Polytechnic in Prahran, where they met as students in 1987. |
| Teague paused before saying the words Van Houwelingen and McManus fought for 30 years to enact. | Teague paused before saying the words Van Houwelingen and McManus fought for 30 years to enact. |
| Finally! Gay couples' weddings officially mark dawning of marriage equality | Finally! Gay couples' weddings officially mark dawning of marriage equality |
| “Two. Consenting. Adults.” | “Two. Consenting. Adults.” |
| Until 7 December, the Australian Marriage Act had specified that marriage was between a man and a woman. | Until 7 December, the Australian Marriage Act had specified that marriage was between a man and a woman. |
| The auditorium cheered. Many of the guests had campaigned alongside Van Houwelingen and McManus in Equal Love Victoria or have roots stretching further back, to the start of the Aids epidemic, when one grand lady hosted annual Christmas dinners for men whose partners had gone and whose families didn’t want them. | The auditorium cheered. Many of the guests had campaigned alongside Van Houwelingen and McManus in Equal Love Victoria or have roots stretching further back, to the start of the Aids epidemic, when one grand lady hosted annual Christmas dinners for men whose partners had gone and whose families didn’t want them. |
| The ceremony on Tuesday was more than just a wedding, more than a celebration of love. It was a triumphant victory party, a sincere thank you to the 61.6% of Australians who voted yes in the postal survey on marriage equality, and a raised middle finger to the politicians who made that vote necessary. | The ceremony on Tuesday was more than just a wedding, more than a celebration of love. It was a triumphant victory party, a sincere thank you to the 61.6% of Australians who voted yes in the postal survey on marriage equality, and a raised middle finger to the politicians who made that vote necessary. |
| “Ron, together we fought for this,” McManus said in his vows. “And, darling man, we won.” | “Ron, together we fought for this,” McManus said in his vows. “And, darling man, we won.” |
| Australia's first same-sex marriages take place under special dispensation | Australia's first same-sex marriages take place under special dispensation |
| It was the 17th time the couple of 30 years had tied the knot but the first legal ceremony. | It was the 17th time the couple of 30 years had tied the knot but the first legal ceremony. |
| “I don’t know how many times I have actually illegally married people, but these two I have married a lot,” Teague said. | “I don’t know how many times I have actually illegally married people, but these two I have married a lot,” Teague said. |
| They held it at the earliest possible opportunity: 9 January was the first day that same-sex couples could marry, unless they had special circumstances to waive the 30-day waiting period to apply for a marriage licence. Ten-year-old Evie MacDonald, who is one of the faces of the Safe Schools campaign, was the ring bearer. A cast of musical friends, including Katie Underwood, dedicated songs to the couple. | They held it at the earliest possible opportunity: 9 January was the first day that same-sex couples could marry, unless they had special circumstances to waive the 30-day waiting period to apply for a marriage licence. Ten-year-old Evie MacDonald, who is one of the faces of the Safe Schools campaign, was the ring bearer. A cast of musical friends, including Katie Underwood, dedicated songs to the couple. |
| With rainbow flags waving from the seats and the marriage certificate freshly signed, Van Houwelingen turned to the audience. | With rainbow flags waving from the seats and the marriage certificate freshly signed, Van Houwelingen turned to the audience. |
| “Hey,” he said, “have you met my husband?” | “Hey,” he said, “have you met my husband?” |
| It was a day crowded with nuptials. | It was a day crowded with nuptials. |
| Commonwealth Games relay runner Craig Burns married Luke Sullivan at 12.01am at Tweed Heads, timing their ceremony so that the official, legally binding words were said once the date had ticked over. | Commonwealth Games relay runner Craig Burns married Luke Sullivan at 12.01am at Tweed Heads, timing their ceremony so that the official, legally binding words were said once the date had ticked over. |
| In Melbourne, Teegan Daly and Mahatia Minniecon did the same thing. | In Melbourne, Teegan Daly and Mahatia Minniecon did the same thing. |
| Three hours later, when midnight struck in Perth, Western Australia, Kelly and Sam Pilgrim-Byrne were married at 12.01am on the steps of state parliament with 10-year-old daughter Charlotte looking on. | Three hours later, when midnight struck in Perth, Western Australia, Kelly and Sam Pilgrim-Byrne were married at 12.01am on the steps of state parliament with 10-year-old daughter Charlotte looking on. |
| Gillian Brady and Lisa Goldsmith, together for eight years, were married at the same time at Perth gay bar The Court. | Gillian Brady and Lisa Goldsmith, together for eight years, were married at the same time at Perth gay bar The Court. |
| Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne told the ABC after the ceremony that, despite being together for 24 years, the couple had never planned their wedding day. | Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne told the ABC after the ceremony that, despite being together for 24 years, the couple had never planned their wedding day. |
| “It was never anything we considered because it was never anything that was available to us,” she said. “So we never had those dream about what would our wedding look like … we never, ever considered it, because we never thought it would happen in our lifetime.” | “It was never anything we considered because it was never anything that was available to us,” she said. “So we never had those dream about what would our wedding look like … we never, ever considered it, because we never thought it would happen in our lifetime.” |
| In Tasmania, Roz Kitschke and Lainey Carmichael were married in a 5.30am ceremony in the gardens of their Franklin home. Long-time marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome was there. | In Tasmania, Roz Kitschke and Lainey Carmichael were married in a 5.30am ceremony in the gardens of their Franklin home. Long-time marriage equality advocate Rodney Croome was there. |
| “The joy and happiness at this morning’s wedding was proof, should it still be needed, that love is love,” Croome said. | “The joy and happiness at this morning’s wedding was proof, should it still be needed, that love is love,” Croome said. |
| Australia's first same-sex weddings – in pictures | Australia's first same-sex weddings – in pictures |
| At the more civilised hour of 8am, Rebecca Hickson married her partner of nine years, Sarah Turnbull, in Newcastle. It was the second wedding for the couple; Hickson told AAP they had their “big hoo-ha ceremony” three years ago, and were reaffirming those vows. | At the more civilised hour of 8am, Rebecca Hickson married her partner of nine years, Sarah Turnbull, in Newcastle. It was the second wedding for the couple; Hickson told AAP they had their “big hoo-ha ceremony” three years ago, and were reaffirming those vows. |
| At the Van Houwelingen and McManus wedding, cabaret artist Mama Alto, singing Etta James, put it best: “Equal love at last.” | At the Van Houwelingen and McManus wedding, cabaret artist Mama Alto, singing Etta James, put it best: “Equal love at last.” |
| Marriage equality | Marriage equality |
| Equal marriage | |
| Same-sex marriage postal survey | Same-sex marriage postal survey |
| Sexuality | Sexuality |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| LGBT rights | LGBT rights |
| Law (Australia) | Law (Australia) |
| news | news |
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