Australia's first gay marriages were celebrated Saturday in the national capital Canberra, despite the prospect of a High Court decision ruling against the unions later this week.
Stephen Dawson, a member of the Western Australian parliament, was the first to get married with a midnight wedding on the lawns of the Federal Parliament, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"This is about us professing our love for each other and reminding each other after 10 years that we still love each other and at least for the moment our relationship will be legally recognised as a marriage," he said after marrying partner Dennis Liddelow.
The Australian Capital Territory passed legislation in October which made it the only jurisdiction in the country to permit gay marriage, and more than 20 couples were set to wed there Saturday, the earliest opportunity to do so.
Gay marriage has recently been a high-profile political issue in Australia, home to one of the world's largest annual gay and lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney.
Stephen Dawson, a member of the Western Australian parliament, was the first to get married with a midnight wedding on the lawns of the Federal Parliament, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"This is about us professing our love for each other and reminding each other after 10 years that we still love each other and at least for the moment our relationship will be legally recognised as a marriage," he said after marrying partner Dennis Liddelow.
The Australian Capital Territory passed legislation in October which made it the only jurisdiction in the country to permit gay marriage, and more than 20 couples were set to wed there Saturday, the earliest opportunity to do so.
Gay marriage has recently been a high-profile political issue in Australia, home to one of the world's largest annual gay and lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations in Sydney.
