Hearts swell in overflowing gallery for long-awaited day Sketch PT3M14S http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/action/externalEmbeddedPlayer?id=d-2vyqb 620 349 October 23, 2013 - 6:00AM "I have waited 58 years for this day," declared Lyn Grigg. Julie Maynard and Frances Bodel (centre) celebrate the passage of the same-sex bill in the ACT's parliament. A former academic who now works for the ACT government, Dr Grigg had flexed off for the day, telling her boss, "I'm going to go and get the same rights as everybody else." Right next door, in the chamber of the ACT Assembly - Dr Grigg, like 150 others, couldn't squeeze into the chamber and had to be accommodated in an adjoining hall - the crowded public gallery burst into song. The ACT Assembly is the smallest parliament in the land, a band of 17 serving a population of only 370,000 - but it had just decided to legalise marriage between same-sex partners, the first state or territory in Australia to do so. Commonwealth Attorney-General George Brandis, a wedding attendee of some note himself, has vowed to take the upstart ACT to the High Court to argue that the territory had no right to be reinventing the man-woman wedding band. None of the elated folk milling about in the ACT Assembly appeared to care too much about Senator Brandis' threat. "This is just such a historic day," said Hagen Marsh-Brown. Indeed, Fairfax Media couldn't find anyone quite ready to bolt to the marriage registry. "Marriage?" said Katie Nemes. Yes, possibly, but the main thing is I now have the right to make the decision. I have waited for a very long time for this day - 11 years of my relationship, at least. Ms Nemes's partner, Lyn Farrand, said she was in two minds about formalising the relationship. All eight Labor MLAs and the single ACT Greens member had agreed to vote together, leaving the Liberal-led Opposition defeated. Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson was the single voice who bothered to argue against the legislation, garnering himself the occasional hiss from a stony gallery. The territory's government, he said, had scrambled to pull together amendments to try to shore up its legislation, but it was still likely to be deemed unconstitutional. "I acknowledge and respect the views of my gay and lesbian friends," he hastened to say, but he feared disappointment for those who took vows only to find themselves left high and dry by the High Court. He wanted the assembly to hold off enacting the new legislation until the Commonwealth's High Court challenge made things clear. But Chief Minister Katy Gallagher said she expected the new law would be operating by the end of the year and disagreed it was a matter for Commonwealth jurisdiction, or that marriage was limited to a religious sacrament. It was about equality. Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr, who is gay, was overcome as he spoke of the reforms being positive for children and families; how the sacrifice, pain and struggle of many had found a voice and champion in the ACT Assembly. And so it was done, and a choir of voices rose from the public throng. And I don't know if I'm being foolish/Don't know if I'm being wise/But it's something that I must believe in/And it's there when I look in your eyes ...