Australia’s First Gay Married Couples May See Unions Invalidated

[xchrom]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-08/australia-s-first-gay-married-couples-may-see-unions-invalidated.html

Ivan Hinton married his partner of 11 years on a sunny afternoon in Canberra yesterday, surrounded by friends and family. Their marriage may not last past this week.

Hinton, 38, and Chris Teoh, 34, were among the first to wed after the Australian Capital Territory legalized same-sex unions yesterday. The territory’s gay marriage law, the first in Australia, is under attack by Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s administration and may be ruled unconstitutional in a High Court judgment due Dec. 12.

“For the moment, we’re enjoying being in a truly inclusive society, being surrounded by people, by Canberrans, who respect our relationship and acknowledge our hopes and dreams,” Hinton, who is also deputy director of lobby group Australian Marriage Equality, said by telephone from Canberra today. “There’s anxiety about whether this law is going to survive. But we sincerely hope that by Friday, we’re still married.”

Hinton and Teoh were among 20 gay couples from across the country to wed this weekend in the territory, site of the national capital Canberra, according to AME. At least 47 same-sex weddings were scheduled before the High Court’s decision, the group said.

[Old Union Guy]

1. One more thing about the Australian "gay marriage" law ...

Being "gay married" is still a separate legal category.

This is no mere nitpick. It negatively impacts the legal right of transgendered people to get married.