Mandurah couple Ian Van Biezen, 40, and Sasha Dion, 42, are one of many couples now considering the option. The men have been together for 10 years after meeting at the Court Hotel in 2003.
THERE could be a mass exodus of West Australian couples heading for New Zealand to tie the knot now that gay marriage has been legalised in the country.
Mandurah couple Ian Van Biezen, 40, and Sasha Dion, 42, are one of many couples now considering the option.
The men have been together for 10 years after meeting at the Court Hotel in 2003.
Mr Van Biezen said if it was not for laws preventing them from getting married, they would be husband and husband by now.
After the ceremony, which was carried out by a close friend who is also a celebrant, the pair received a certificate but this piece of paper does not mean the same as a marriage certificate.
Mr Van Biezen said the fact that he could not marry his partner in his own country was frustrating.
“Things like tax laws and Centrelink recognise us but not marriage,” he said.
Mr Van Biezen said it was a sad fact that his partner might not have the same rights over access to his will, if he died before his partner.
He and Mr Dion had hoped to one day get married in Australia when it becomes legal to do so and had previously discussed getting married in another country while it is not legal in Australia.
He said tying the knot in New Zealand could be an option for the couple.
Mr Van Biezen pointed out that getting married in New Zealand would still only be symbolic in the eyes of the Australian government as Australia does not have any sort of bipartisan agreements to recognise same sex marriages that take place in other countries.
He also said he hoped New Zealand’s action on the issue might encourage the Australian government to move forward with allowing gay marriage.
Our Kiwi neighbours could also see more gay and lesbian tourists heading to their shores for holidays in general following the change in legislation in favour of gay people according to Mr Van Biezen.
“People will see New Zealand as a culturally aware destination, a place where gay people can feel comfortable to travel to,” he said.
Mr Van Biezen said his friends and family were in support of gay marriage.
“At the end of the day, religion and state need to be separate, it’s got nothing to do with religion, it’s the way two people feel about each other and comes down to love,” he said.
“What we do at home is no one’s business, like what others do at home is none of our business.”
Mr Van Biezen said while it was unlikely that anyone who had very strong religious views against gay marriage would change their opinions, he asked those who were undecided about the matter to consider one thing.
“What would you do if your child was gay?”
Author: Aleisha Orr
Publication: Mandurah Mail
Publication date: May 7 2013