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Today I was at the protest/rally/mass “non legal” wedding ceremony held by Equal Love (fighting for marriage equality for same sex couples). It was an honour to walk from Fed Square to the steps of the registry office here in Melbourne, in protest of the legalised discrimination that is in place…today…in 2009! Does this concern anyone else? Seriously…it is 2009…and somedays I feel like we are still in the dark ages. But I am not going to harp on about this…instead I want to say what a moving ceremony that took place. Over 65 couples committed themselves to one another and exchanged rings on the steps of the registry office. Of course the wedding photographer in me wants to state that i photographed over 65 couples getting married today….with over 4000 guests (so there 
). I did cry…not ashamed to admit it (but some of my wedding couples already know I have a tendency to do that at moving ceremonies).
I just want you all to take a moment. Consider how lucky we are to be able to choose to get married…no complications (except maybe seating charts!) to have a family. Think about whether or not giving these same basic civil rights to same sex couples would actually affect you.
Now onto an awesomely colourful, beautiful and peaceful day. Some of the highlights for me – Katie Underwood singing “True Colours” – when she got to “shining through” the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds, Samantha on stage with her foster Dads…she was beaming and obviously is well cared for and adored, The 4yo son of a speaker from Rainbow families – hitting his mum in the head with a balloon & dancing on stage and as we were half way up collins street an older lady stopped to cheer us on.
Robbie, Dan & their daughter Samantha
The youngest woman ever elected to the Federal Parliament, and is the youngest member of the current Parliament – Sarah Hanson-Young (who introduced the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill)
Passer by, supporting the protest!
4000 protesters/witnesses!
The Nymphs (who performed during the service)
As a wedding photographer, of course I focused on the details such as the cake!
The amazing celebrant, David, from Gay Ceremonies
some of the beautiful couples….who I wish a lifetime of happiness to.
Ok well that is it for me, for now…I will leave you with a collection of some of the awesome signs that people made for today
j.
12 Comments
Oh, you did such a fantastic job capturing this day. I’m a sucker for a ceremony and just got tearing seeing these wonderful moments. I’m incredibly frustrated by the limitations placed on what is ‘right’ for same sex couples by our government. Hopefully this lobbying will inspire Rudd to take a course of action that is not influenced by his religious beliefs.
a. you’re awesome!
b. the photo’s rock!
c. here’s hoping the govt get’s their sh$t together, huh?
Awesome photos Jess of a really wonderful event. I really hope some change comes about from it.
awww…what a gorgeous day. So many happy faces.
hey you! FABULOUS photos, brought a tear to my eye.
I linked to you here: http://pinsandthimbles.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/equal-love-and-tulle-love/
beautiful!
I found this post through Pins and Thimbles, and I’m so glad I did. As I commented there, we’re struggling with the same issue in the US. Your photos are beautiful, and I get so emotional when it comes to weddings. I’m crying now because of the love and joy that are so obvious on the faces of the men and women (or to be more accurate, the men and men and women and women) who participated in the ceremony. How can people see photos like these and not recognize the RIGHTNESS of equal marriage?
Divine, wonderful, beautiful, amazing. You’ve captured everything the day so obviously was. You are a very special person and photographer.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you so much for this moving post and the wonderful pictures. I was not familiar with your work before today, when your facebook fan page showed up on my sidebar, but I love what I see so far! As a US wedding and portrait photographer who is also gay – posts like this from fellow photographers mean a great deal to me.
It is so poignant to photograph a beautiful ceremony, as I did this weekend, and be moved to tears, while at the same time never being able to fully leave behind the knowledge that I am not deemed worthy of this privilege.
Thank you for these words especially… I wish more people would ask themselves that very question
Consider how lucky we are to be able to choose to get married…no complications (except maybe seating charts!) to have a family. Think about whether or not giving these same basic civil rights to same sex couples would actually affect you.
Blessings
Jeanette
Hey Jess – awesome photos and a worthy cause. You pictures really show how important this choice is for everyone. Well done for capturing it so beautifully!
M
You took a lovely photo of some friends of mine, which linked back here. Thanks for your beautiful photos of the day, they’re quite moving.
Love the photos captured the day perfectly.
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[...] Jessie was there to commemorate the day for over 65 (!!) couples. Do have a look at her beautiful photographs. Some of them are just heartbreakingly lovely. Please go have a look. If you’re not [...]