But Liberal MP Tim Wilson just made it extra special in the House of Representatives today.
Speaking on the marriage equality bill, he proposed to his fiance Ryan.
And Ryan, who was sitting in the gallery, said yes.
Tim Wilson just asked his partner to MARRY HIM IN THE CHAMBER! HE SAID YES!
— Lane Sainty (@lanesainty) December 4, 2017
If you had told me in my early twenties when I came to Canberra that a gay MP would propose to his partner in the HOR I wouldn’t have believed you. How things have changed #auspol
— PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) December 4, 2017
Wilson has previously described Ryan as his fiance in parliamentary speeches. So this proposal appears to have been a commitment renewal.
He said to Ryan: “You have had to tolerate more than most because you have had to put up with me … Trust me. 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. But in my first speech I defined our bond by the ring that sits on both of left hands,. And jthat they are the answer to the question we cannot ask…
“So there’s only one thing left to do. Ryan Patrick Bolger, will you marry me?”
When Bolger responded, “Yes”, Wilson replied: “We’ll chuck that in the memoirs and the Hansard.”
Deputy speaker Rob Mitchell made it official, before telling Wilson: “Well done mate.”
He said that when talking about his engagement to Ryan and organising an engagement party, that sometimes people would often fall silent or change the subject. One even responded: why bother?
Here is the wonderful moment Liberal MP @timwilsoncomau proposed to his partner Ryan during Australia’s parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage. Congratulations! #auspol #marriageequality pic.twitter.com/qLRAvtBtSk
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) December 4, 2017
Wilson told the house he realised he was gay when he was 12 years old, and questioned at 18 whether or not he should come out. He said he’s pretty sure now that the “scared 18-year-old kid” he was back then wouldn’t believe that he would be speaking in Parliament today.
He also said that the postal survey had “disregarded parliamentary supremacy, representative democracy, fiscal prudence and free speech.”
Tim Wilson’s proposal during his speech in the HOR 😍👏🎉. He said yes! #FirstProposalinHansard #Congratulations
— Johanna Kohler (@compelling_copy) December 4, 2017