It may not be legal, but an Australian Jewish couple are having their gay marriage without the politics.

Together for 9 years, 47-year-old Scott Whitmont, and 38-year-old Christopher Whitmont-Stein are saying ‘I do’ in a traditional Jewish wedding ceremony. Three progressive rabbis have agreed to hold the ceremony despite opposition from orthodox members of the Sydney Jewish community.

Writing a letter to his congregation about the couple’s controversial ceremony, Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins of Emanuel Synagogue Woollahra says “contemporary knowledge from biology, psychology and other fields has led to a far deeper understanding of human sexuality…gay or lesbian relationships are not ‘deviant’, but part of human behaviour.”

And while there might be ideological clashes in the community about the planned wedding, the couple are staying out of it. “When you’re planning a wedding, you don’t think about the political side of it. Maybe it will start something… same-sex unions should be recognised … because we don’t have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples” Whitmont-Stein told The Australian.

Taking his partner’s surname a few years ago, it seems this is a union Christopher Whitmont-Stein isn’t taking lightly. He’s also taken time off work to organise the ceremony for his partner, himself and their 75 guests.

Same-sex unions, as with many faiths, is a topic under discussion. While conservative elements of the Jewish community are against same-sex marriage, some see the ceremonies as embracing scripture that teaches the importance of monogamy between all couples, gay or straight.