Honeymoon over for gay couples after Australia overturns fledgling same-sex marriage law
SYDNEY — The honeymoon was short-lived for Australia's gay couples who married in the past five days after the High Court overturned new same-sex marriage laws on Thursday, invalidating wedding ceremonies performed since Saturday.
"This is devastating for those couples who married this week and for their families," Australian Marriage Equality National Director Rodney Croome said in a statement.
Around 20 gay couples had tied the knot since December 7, when Australia's first same-sex marriage laws came into force in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The first ceremonies were celebrated a minute after midnight (8 a.m. ET Friday).
"I don't want to be unmarried this afternoon," Ivan Hinton, who married his partner Chris Teoh in the national capital Canberra, told Australian media outside the High Court.
more...