Nearly 100 same-sex couples have been married in Queensland since marriage equality became legal last month.
Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said a total of 96 same-sex marriages – almost 20 per week – had been performed across Queensland, and more were scheduled in the coming months.
“Australians voted strongly in favour of marriage equality and I’m pleased that people are jumping at the chance to freely declare their love for each other,” D’Ath said.
“It’s wonderful to hear that there have also been 45 Notices of Intended Marriage lodged to have a same-sex ceremony at the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages between now and December.
“Love is love, regardless of gender, and it is wonderful to see so many happy couples being able to have their union officially recognised by marriage.”
According to data published last week, more than 370 same-sex marriages had been registered across Australia in the month since same-sex weddings began.
The marriage equality legislation came into effect on December 9 but couples had to give a month’s notice of their intention to marry.
Queensland couple Craig Burns and Luke Sullivan registered immediately and tied the knot just across the state border at midnight on January 9.
On January 12, two Gold Coast men became the first same-sex couple to be married at Queensland’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
The couple tied the knot in front of more than 20 friends and family in one of the registry’s two ceremony rooms in Brisbane.
The Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry last month unveiled a commemorative marriage certificate design that featured two entwined gold rings with rainbows inside that are now available to Queenslanders celebrating their nuptials.
