Thousands of Kiwi Same-Sex couples have started walking down the aisle across New Zealand.
They will soon be joined by a growing number of Australian couples, who will travel to Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown to be afforded a human right they don’t get at home.
This is nothing new, Australian same-sex couples have been travelling overseas to get married ever since the first country legalised it.
Kerryn Phelps and Jackie Stricker-Phelps were one of the first foreign couples to marry under New York States Marriage Equality laws, and my husband and I were the first foreign couple to get married in Buenos Aires.
The last census said at least 1300 Aussie same-sex couples have married overseas already.
This should send a clear message undecided politicians “the gays are going to get married, get over it”.
The unfortunate part is that we have to leave the country we love to marry the person we love.
This is a very hard decision for a couple to make, and one that many wrestle with.
In my case, we were ready to get married, indeed thousands of other same-sex couples are ready to get married, and New Zealand is now saying “Kia Ora, and come on down”.
The current situation in Australia is disrespectful to both Australia’s gay community, and to the laws of countries like New Zealand, France, and the United Kingdom.
Married Australian couples are recognised as married in those countries, but Australia does not afford the same respect to even our closest neighbours if they happen to marry a same-sex couple.
This was almost fixed by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, with a bill that would have recognised foreign same-sex marriages, but was voted down by some Labor, Liberal, and National senators who just don’t get it.
As someone who got married overseas, this is a costly exercise, and one that is not a financially viable option for all same-sex couples.
It’s more costly to the Australian economy, Australian Marriage Equality estimates that over $50 Million dollars is headed to New Zealand, which could have otherwise gone to struggling small businesses in catering, hospitality, floristry, photography, and retail.
The financial benefit to New Zealand was not even a factor in the debate over there, and is now simply seen as the icing on the wedding cake. Embracing marriage equality made kiwis proud.
During the vote in New Zealand Parliament I sat amongst families, farmers, couples, and clergy all weeping with joy as the legislation passed.
Seeing all sides of politics come together in New Zealand to make this happen gave me confidence we can get this done here too.
This election there are more Liberal and Labor candidates that support marriage equality contesting the election than ever before, and the resolve of the Greens to make marriage equality happen grows every day.
The next step is supporters need to use this election to vote for love, and those elected will need to work together for Australia to share in the pride that comes with treating all citizens equally.
Alex Greenwich is the NSW MP for Sydney
Author: Alex Greenwich
Publication: The Daily Telegraph
Date: 20 August 2013