*Same-sex couples in mass Australian wedding ceremony*

November 18, 2007 04:46pm
Article from: AAP

FIFTEEN gay and lesbian couples declared their love for one another
today in a mass ceremony in Adelaide, drawing attention to Australia's
"backward" same-sex marriage laws.

The ceremony, entitled Loved Up, was held as part of the state's gay and
lesbian cultural festival, Feast.

The 12 female couples and three male couples declared their love before
hundreds of family and friends who gathered on the city's Montefiore Hill.

The hour-long ceremony was performed by three celebrants.

Event organiser and participant, Daniel Clarke said it was a personal
and political event for the participants.

"What we wanted to do as a festival was celebrate diverse love and put
it out to the wider public so it can be recognised as equal to straight
marriage,'' Mr Clarke, the Feast Festival's artistic director, said.

"Of course it's political, but it's a very personal day and it's going
to be a very, very moving day.''

Mr Clarke and his partner Nick Pelomis tied the knot last year in the
UK, which allows same-sex partners to form civil partnerships, giving
them the same rights as marriage.

"It's just backward that it hasn't happened here yet,'' Mr Clarke said.

The couple chose to renew their vows today because very few family and
friends were able to celebrate with them in the UK.