FOR ACT Government minister Andrew Barr and his partner Anthony Toms, the timing of their civil partnership celebration at the National Library yesterday evening, in front of about 100 guests, could not have been more perfect.
Not because the ACT Legislative Assembly passed on Wednesday new laws giving same-sex couples the right to legally binding ceremonies.
Rather, Friday marked 10 years since Mr Barr and Mr Toms met at Canberra's first SpringOut gay and lesbian festival, which was also MrToms's first visit to Canberra.
Wearing matching ties and black suits, the couple marked a new chapter in their relationship yesterday with a reception at the National Library's Bookplate Restaurant followed by dinner at Tosolini's in Civic.
In a candid interview with the Sunday Canberra Times before the event, Mr Barr, 36, said they had been planning yesterday's festivities for months and were more than happy to proceed with a less than romantic civil partnership registration on Thursday at the Fyshwick headquarters of the ACT Births, Deaths and Marriages Unit under the old provisions, followed by a 24-hour wait for their certificate. ''We'd set this date some time ago. Obviously the considerations [this week] were fairly relevant, but not to us, and I think the thought of changing plans would have horrified people,'' Mr Barr said.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
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