FINALLY!!!!!
Australia has caught up to the rest of the world. Yes, it is true the bill was passed today. So, what does that mean for same sex couples who wish to be legally married in Australia. Well, technically it means same-sex marriage will be legal in Australia as of January 9th, 2018.
To quote Anthony Burke from the AFCC:
What happens next?
“As indicated by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP, the bill will be delivered to the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC for final assent and then marriage equality for all couples will become effective from Saturday, 9 December 2017.”
What does this mean for you as a same-sex couple?
The notice of intended marriage will still need to be filled in with your celebrant, 30 days prior to your wedding ceremony. So technically, no same-sex marriages will take place until at least after January 9th, 2018.
If you want to be one of the first marriages in Australia, you will need to fill in the Notice of Intended Marriage on Saturday the 9th of December, 2017 in order to be married on the 9th of January, 2018.
If you don’t have a time frame for your wedding, basically the Notice of intended marriage has to be filled in with a celebrant 30 days prior to your wedding and no longer than 18 months before your wedding date.
What else does this mean?
It means equality for all, and I am simply overjoyed.