Same-sex marriages take place in ACT ahead of High Court ruling, with MP Stephen Dawson first to tie knot

More than a dozen couples have made history as the first gay and lesbian couples to legally marry in Australia.

Forty-six couples have registered in order to be able to wed this weekend ahead of a decision on Thursday on whether the ACT's same-sex marriage law is valid.

Western Australian Upper House MP Stephen Dawson was the first to tie the knot with a midnight ceremony on the lawns of Federal Parliament.

He says he has wanted to call his partner Dennis Liddelow his husband for a long time.

"I'm pleased that I've been able to say it tonight and I hope to be able to say it next weekend. I hope that the High Court sees fit to allow these laws to stay.

"This is about us professing our love for each other and reminding each other after 10 years that we still love each other and at least for the moment our relationship will be legally recognised as a marriage."

He says the couple exchanged vows on the lawn of the Federal Parliament in order to make a statement.
( ABC News link here :  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-07/first-australian-same-sex-marriages-take-place-in-act/5142176

"For symbolic reasons, I guess. Everybody knows that parliaments make laws in this country [and] this place has been slow in making laws, particularly on the issue of same-sex marriage."

Old Parliament House and numerous lakeside venues are heavily booked for ceremonies.

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says she is encouraged by the number of people willing to get married while the law stands.

"Despite the uncertainty [it] shows how important this is."

Ms Gallagher says she will have no regrets if the High Court decides to dismiss the ACT's same-sex marriage laws.

"In terms of where we go from here, the world has changed, the landscape has changed. It won't be when or if same-sex couples can get married, it's they were married and this momentum will continue to build and I have no doubt it's changed the debate."

Rodney Croome from Australian Marriage Equality has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to let his MPs decide whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalised at a federal level.