Meet the first same-sex Australian couple to get legally married
What's the story
The first homosexual couple to get married in Australia after it legalized same-sex weddings last December, could stay married only for 48 days. Jo Grant died of cancer on January 30, within seven weeks of marrying Jill Kindt. The two had been together for eight years, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Read on to know more about their historic wedding.
The ceremony
No waiting period for gay weddings of the terminally ill
They had an intimate wedding amid their friends and family, organized in their garden on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on December 15, six days after same-sex marriages were legalized in Australia following a majority of citizens voting in favor of it. Jo and Jill had got an exemption from the official waiting period much like other homosexuals with terminally ill partners.
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Queensland officials helped the couple get married without delay
According to Jill, officials went to "extraordinary lengths" to ensure she got married without hiccups and as soon as possible. As a result, her wedding ceremony was conducted within 24 hours after her marriage got approved. Moreover, officials from Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages travelled about 100km to personally deliver paperwork to the duo.
Information
The duo had a commitment ceremony in 2013
Jo, who suffered from a "rare cancer", was under palliative care. Though she and Jill had had a commitment ceremony five years ago, they got legally married only in December 2017 after Australia's landmark judgement.