In ‘sweetest things ever’ news, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have exchanged a heartfelt set of tributes to celebrate nine years of marriage. The talk show host posted a gorgeous photo of the pair taken on their big day on Instagram, writing, ‘@PortiadeRossi and I got married 9 years ago today. Being her wife is the greatest thing I am.” If you’re not hysterically crying in the foetal position right now, congratulations, you’re a stronger person than this writer.
Portia later replied with a beautiful pic of her and her wife cuddling over dinner, captioning the image with, ‘We’ve been together so long that not only do we look like kids in this picture, but it was taken with a camera! Happy 9th, Thing.’
The brides married back in 2008, with the pair wearing custom designed Zac Posen outfits during the intimate backyard affair. The duo have been dating since 2004, with Portia filing a petition in 2010 to legally change her surname to DeGeneres.
Same-sex marriage is a heated debate in Australia at the moment, with political squabbling and postal plebiscites overshadowing heart-warming moments like the one DeGeneres and de Rossi just shared. Despite the controversy, the wedding industry appears to be firmly behind the ‘yes’ vote, but perhaps not for the reason you’d think.
The Sunshine Coast Daily recently reported that 3% of Australia’s population identify as ‘non-heterosexual’ (according to a 2014 report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics), with the possible new legislation allowing the wedding industry to tap into a previously unexplored industry.
“We believe in love in the wedding industry, and to discrimate against people loving each other, that’s not what we’re about,” says Jess Lawrence, Owner of The Wedding Planners Whitsundays, to Whitsunday Times. “From our experience with commitment ceremonies, couples just want to be like everybody else, as they should be.”
The Townsville Bulletin recently reported the local economies could see a ‘gay-led recovery’ if the Federal Government legalises same-sex marriage. The article reported that business operators on Magnetic Island host up to 300 weddings a year worth up to $10 million, with New Park Suit Hire and Menswear Owner Ron McGinty telling the Bulletin there would be a significant boost in trade.
“We are already busy but we would probably be even busier,” later commenting that business would “go through the roof”.
The Bulletin also spoke to White House Bridal Boutique operator Deni McClure, who told them, “It would definitely be good for the economy in Australia…I’m sure all the wedding dress shops – unless they had strong opposition morally or religiously – would be saying ‘bring it on’.”
Magnetic Island marriage celebrant Bernadette Smith, who provides services for up to 80 weddings a year, told the Townsville Bulletin that she’s looking forward to the change if it’s made. “People who provide all of the services will benefit. Sydney calls it the pink dollar and I think people underestimate the pink dollar.”
Despite these suppliers willingness for the law to be passed, a piece of legislation exempting wedding planners, florists and other businesses that supply wedding services was put forward to protect people from litigation if they refuse to offer services to gay couples. So far the government has expressed little interest in backing the proposal, which was taken to the senate on August 15th.
So how about you Fairies (isn’t that some irony for you!) – what’s your say on gay marriage and the wedding industry?
Images courtesy of Ellen DeGeneres/Instagram, Portia de Rossi/Instagram, Modern Family 20th Century Fox
Article written by Alison Donnellan
