During a debate about Australia’s bill to legalise gay marriage, Liberal MP Tim Wilson took the opportunity to ask his boyfriend, who was watching from the balcony above, to marry him.
Towards the end of an impassioned speech in the House of Representatives, Wilson, addressing his longtime partner said: “This debate has been the soundtrack to our relationship. We both know this issue isn’t the reason we got involved in politics — give us tax reform any day."
“In my first speech I defined our bond by the ring that sits on both of our left hands. They are the answer to the questions we cannot ask.”
Wilson held back tears as he looked up to the public gallery, where Ryan Bolger was sitting, and said: “There's only one thing left to do: Ryan Patrick Bolger, will you marry me?”
Smiling back from the gallery, Bolger said “Yes,” his answer met with rapturous applause. Bolger shared his delight on social media, though he said he was taken aback by the proposal.
Wilson became the first ever member to propose marriage from the floor of the house.
The former Australian human rights commissioner delivered his speech as lawmakers prepare to legalise same sex marriage following a national vote in which nearly 62 percent of citizens voted in favour of legalisation. The debate on the bill is expected to wrap up by Wednesday or Thursday and pass easily.
He’s not the first politician to use public debate in a marriage proposal. Ireland’s present Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone proposed on live TV to her partner Ann Louise Gilligan when the country voted to legalise same sex marriage in 2015. Gilligan tragically passed away earlier this year.