I feel proud to be an Australian citizen; proud of my partner, my family, my friends, my fellow citizens, my community, and all those who voted yes. I celebrate diversity and free speech as a basic human right for all.
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The 61.6 per cent yes vote represented more votes than either major political party has ever achieved to win a general election. This yes vote brought the same elation to me as South Africa's first all-race election in 1994.
The right to love is not a same-sex privilege. It is the right of every human being. I am reminded of my favourite sonnet, published in 1850, in which Elizabeth Barrett Browning expressed her love for Robert Browning:
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
Our right to love is a freedom we can gift ourselves; a journey of courage. Freedom requires courage to stand up for what we believe in, regardless of private or public opinion.
My wish is for all of us to love who we choose, and for the government to follow the will of the people to legislate for marriage equality. Willowtree Sculpture Garden, in our celebration of this possibility, will offer a free wedding to the first same-sex couple hoping to marry when the marriage equality bill has been passed.
