Australian lawmaker Tim Wilson proposes to his partner in parliament in Canberra, moments after a bill paving the way for same-sex marriage was introduced. Image: Australian Parliament via Seven 黑料社/AFP
A gay Australian lawmaker popped the question to his partner in parliament on Monday, with the first ever proposal in the chamber coming shortly after a bill paving the way for same-sex marriage was introduced.
Tim Wilson, who has reportedly been engaged to Ryan Bolger for nine years, fought back tears as he thanked his fiance for enduring a marriage debate that 鈥渉as been the soundtrack to our relationship鈥�.
鈥淚n my first speech I defined our bond by the ring that sits on both of our left hands 鈥� that they are the answer to the questions we cannot ask,鈥� the 37-year-old lawmaker from the ruling conservative party said.
鈥淪o there is only one thing left to do: Ryan Patrick Bolger will you marry me?鈥�
Bolger, who was sitting in the public gallery, quickly responded 鈥測es鈥� as the floor erupted in applause.
鈥淭hat was a 鈥榶es鈥�, a resounding 鈥榶es鈥�,鈥� house speaker Rob Mitchell noted for the record. 鈥淐ongratulations, well done mate.鈥�
The Australian House of Representatives official twitter account confirmed later that after reviewing past records, Wilson鈥檚 proposal was likely the first ever in that chamber of Parliament.
鈥淯pdate: We鈥檝e dug through Hansard and @timwilsoncomau appears to be the first ever Member to propose on the floor of the House,鈥� it tweeted.
Wilson earlier emotionally recalled the uneasiness he experienced with some friends when he and Bolger were first engaged.
鈥淢any simply didn鈥檛 know how to react. Many SMS went unresponded. In conversations some people politely changed the topic, or fell silent entirely,鈥� he said.
His partner had pushed him to have an engagement party.
鈥淥n informing one person of our news, they responded: Why bother?
鈥淎t the time I fell silent and I have never had an answer to that question. But the Australian people have now answered that for me.鈥�
鈥楬istoric moment of inclusion鈥�
The same-sex marriage bill being debated is expected to comfortably pass through the House of Representatives before Christmas after the upper house Senate last week overwhelmingly voted in its favour.
After more than a decade of debate, Australians emphatically endorsed gay marriage in a recent nationwide postal vote, with some 62 percent of the 12.7 million who took part voting 鈥測es鈥� last month.
鈥淭his is a historic moment of inclusion, of recognition, of respect,鈥� Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said shortly after the bill was introduced for debate in the lower house Monday.
鈥淭his is a day to be especially proud that all of our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours, our brothers, our sisters, can marry the people they love.鈥�
Former conservative prime minister Tony Abbott, a leading voice in the 鈥榥o鈥� campaign, said he would now back the bill.
鈥淚 certainly don鈥檛 pretend to be an overnight convert to support same-sex marriage but I am pledged to respect and to facilitate the verdict of the Australian people,鈥� he said.
鈥淪ame-sex marriage should now be recognised. It will now be recognised.鈥�
Abbott moved an amendment he said protected discrimination against anyone over their 鈥渃onscientious view about the nature of marriage鈥�, before saying he planned to attend his gay sister鈥檚 wedding next year.
鈥淚 am looking forward to attending the marriage of my sister, Christine, to her partner Virginia some time early in the new year.鈥� AB
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