Congratulations RT!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful news.

Congratulations!!

We celebrate with you!

That is fantastic!

RT--- Congratulations to you and yours! I think this is such wonderful news and am happy for you.

TN

Congrats RT!

lovely news!

Congratulations RT!!!! I am so happy for you and your partner. I am also glad this country is finally changing and giving all citizens what they constitutionally deserve.

RT

Congrats RT!!! I hope you celebrate in style.


Saka

Congrats RT. So happy for the both of you.

Congratulations!!!

Thanks everybody. Still trying to wrap my head around it. Picture on the front page of the newspaper this morning.

Congrats!!!

((((Congrats red to you and your partner))))

congratulations RT

my country was one of the first to "allow" so called gay marriage to be equally acknowledged in the law. One MP gave a hilarious speech in parliament as an 'answer back' to the fire and brimstone brigade... Might make you laugh

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjb_voBfa9w

It became known as 'The Great Big Gay Rainbow Speech' and he even got an invite to the Ellen show, on the other side of the world from where we are lol

ElizaJ - thank you SO MUCH for sharing that. I didn't get it on your link (apparently mobile) but found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMyRXqcPkqE

Funny with a great message. Do you know who the woman on the floor is? And also, what were the supporters singing afterwards?

Hi RT - sorry about link not working but you found the longer version anyway

The woman (in the rainbow shirt) is another MP who had fought for the bill to be read and passed. She was the strongest supporter of the bill. Her name is Louisa Wall (if y Wikipedia her you will find out all about her and the Bill etc)

The song sung is called Pokarekare Ana; a Maori (indigenous New Zealander) song, all about love. The words are below. Very beautiful song, and very appropriate for the occasion "oh girl come back to me, I could die of love for you"

After all, it's what it is about isn't it - love - as opposed to 'gay marriage'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokarekare_Ana

If you googled Hayley Westenra's version it is probably my favourite.

Edited to add the vid (couldn't resist)
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=kp&v=9GXua6gD4Hc

My favourite line: 'I've written you a letter and enclosed it with my ring; so your people could see it how much I'm troubled for you'. In this context that line speaks to me saying how it doesn't matter if the love happens to be between two people of the same sex; the author wants others to know it is just the same heartbreak and 'troubled for' as the love and separation of two people of the opposite sex. Love is love, regardless of who it is between

ElizaJ - thank you. Yes, it is all about love. That's how I finally figured out it was okay. A no brainer, really. Still, lots of battles over the years. So grateful to be making headway, bit by bit.

Cross posted RT - I added the video for you

(And the 'gay onslaught' hasn't happened yet, been legal here for a year now - the sun does still shine, no one has accumulated skin rashes, hell hasn't frozen over, families haven't been torn apart or the whole country / world 'turned gay'.)

And I bet every now and again, there still appears a giant big gay rainbow over parts of the country (and world) lol!!!

Big congratulations to you RT and your partner. May you have many more happy years together. s

Thanks, Morgs. It's a treat when you pop in, and I appreciate your congrats.

Wonderful news RT!!!!!

RT I am so pleased for you!!

I watched the Big, Gay Rainbow speech when it came out and am glad it's been posted again so I could be reminded of how awesome it was.

The UK's equal marriage bill just got passed. Until now same sex couples were able to have civil partnerships, which are a different bit of legislation and unfortunately not recognised by international law, making it difficult if one person gets ill abroad for example. I'm really pleased we've finally got to a better place. Civil partnerships weren't true equality and, although there are still issues with the bill (trans folk get a rough deal in it) it is a big leap.

I'm going to be a bridesmaid at my best friend's wedding next year - they waited until the new legislation kicked in. I'm beyond excited about it

(((RT))) that's pretty awesome! congratulations to you both! progress may be slow, but it is happening!