Gay Sunrise

Local News, By hazyinseptember, 22nd June, 2009

Channel Seven’s TV show Sunrise featured a special show last week, ‘Season Of Love’, in which couples renewed their marriage vows, and for those who were not, or could not, be married, a televised commitment ceremony was held.

On the sunny bank of the Brisbane River Sunrise hosts, Mel and Kotchie, looked on as Greg Evans from 80s dating show Perfect Match committed twelve couples, of whom four were gay and lesbian.

Rebecca and her partner Tarern, one if the couples involved, said they would rather have had a wedding than a commitment ceremony. “I think [marriage] should just be for everyone,” said Rebecca.

Ann-Marre and partner Annette, flew up from Melbourne for the ceremony. “We have wanted to get committed for two years now,” said Ann-Marre. “We wanted to get married, but this is best we can do for now,” added Annette.

Gay and lesbian couples in Australia currently have no official recognition of their relationships, falling behind countries like England, Canada and some American states.

Statistics recently reported in The West Australian indicate that 59% of people in Western Australia believe that gay couples should be allowed to marry.

In 2004 the Howard government outlawed gay marriage by defining marriage as between a man and a woman, meaning same-sex marriages conducted overseas are also not recognised.

Check out the televised commitment ceremony on the Sunrise website here.

You can also see some interviews with three of the couples here.