Tasmanian couple Lee Bransden and Sandra Yates will marry in Rotorua this Saturday, in a special ceremony made possible by donations from all over the world. Bransden has a terminal illness and the couple want to get married, but can’t at home under Australian law. A GoFundMe campaign has allowed them to tie the knot in New Zealand instead. The pensioners will marry at the Mitai Maori village in Rotorua, then have a short honeymoon. Yates has thanked everyone who has donated and supported Bransden’s dying wish. "Lee and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kind words of the hundreds of people who have allowed our final wish as a couple to come true,” Yates says. "We are just so grateful that we will be legally bound together before we are finally parted." Yates has also thanked the many generous people in Rotorua who are helping with their arrangements. Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome says he is happy the couple are able to legally marry despite the Australian Government's prohibition. "I hope their marriage reminds Australia's politicians just how backward and harsh our laws currently are."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 11th May 2015 - 2:24pm