This week, the House of Representatives will be discussing Liberal Senator Dean Smith's same-sex marriage bill, which, if passed, will no doubt see an enormous number of same-sex marriages and weddings happening in the coming months.
Smith's bill also erases the ban on recognition of same-sex marriages that have been officiated overseas - and if the bill passes, the removal of this ban will apply retrospectively.
This means that the many Australian same-sex couples who have chosen to marry overseas will automatically be recognised as married here in Australia from the moment the bill is signed into law.
The Equality Campaign estimates that thousands of Australian couples have chosen to head to another country to tie the knot, as they were unable to do so in the country they call home. Fairfax reports that there are currently 1,778 same-sex couples on the list of registered domestic relationships (although not all of them may have married overseas).
Marriage Equality Director for GetUp! Sally Rugg says that couples who have been married overseas won't have to do anything to ensure their marriage will be fully recognised in Australia, if Smith's same-sex marriage bill is legalised - it will be completely automated.
"To think marriage equality will come into affect as early this week for couples who married overseas is absolutely wonderful," Rugg tells SBS. "These couples won't have to wait any longer to have their love and commitment recognised as equal under the law. We are so close, and I can only imagine how joyful the moment will be for these couples especially."
Earlier this year, 78er and former co-host of ABC's Good News Week Julie McCrossin told SBS about getting married to her partner of 22 years, Melissa Gibson, in New York City.
"We married in New York, and our two adult children came, Luke and Amelia," McCrossin explained. "They loved that we got married! Melissa's former partner supported this event, [and] one of my brothers came - it was a really, really happy thing. It's meant a lot to us."
Another same-sex couple, Craig and Chris, told SBS they chose to head to Canada two years ago to tie the knot in a small ceremony after being together for 24 years. "We purchased the marriage licence, found a celebrant, and had the best private ceremony with four of our friends," said Craig.
Other couples told SBS that they had considered travelling overseas to marry, but with progressive conversations about the legalisation of same-sex marriage becoming more common, they either held personal commitment ceremonies instead or simply decided to wait for Australian law to change.
"It kind of felt like there was no point in doing it until we could do it here -but I did think it would be quicker than this," said John, who has been with his partner, Chris, for 23 years.
The LGBTQI community and its allies have been celebrating the news that couples married overseas will automatically be recognised:
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook / DIY Rainbow
