When the law changed to legalise same sex marriage I was finally prompted to do something about fulfilling a long held goal, to be a civil celebrant. My wonderful friends, Danny and Damien, had announced their engagement and I set myself the goal to complete the training and register as a celebrant so that I could be the one to pronounce them a married couple.

To be able to officiate such a ceremony filled me with pride: pride that Australia had finally come on board with a large part of the rest of the world ( although way behind the very Catholic Ireland where I’d have thought marriage equality may have been a indefinite no), and pride that I was able to be a celebrant and that my first wedding ceremony celebrated not only a whole lot of love but marriage equality as well.

What a step ahead that vote for love was, allowing any two people who love each other to marry legally. It must have been so frustrating and even infuriating for same sex couples to see family members and friends allowed to marry, while they remained excluded from the same right and privilege.

It’s an incredible privilege to be a celebrant, to officiate at a wedding, to celebrate people’s love for each and to formalise and legalise their commitment. At present, it’s an even greater privilege to be able to do this for any couple. With time, the notion that there might be a difference in the ways in which couples are referred to should be a thing of the past and such differentiation should become relegated to the history books.

In the meantime, I remain proud to say that I am still thrilled to conduct same sex marriages: I celebrate them, I honour them and respect them, in exactly the same ways that I honour and respect any other marriage.

So, bring it on! And in Magda’s words in her role as a celebrant in Neighbours, let’s say “A-man” or “A-woman” to that.

With love …