Date set for elderly Tasmanian lesbian couple’s urgent NZ wedding
Image: Sandra Yates and Lee Bransden. (Photo: Heath Holden; Supplied)
A WEDDING date has been confirmed for the elderly Tasmanian couple en route to New Zealand after a successful crowdfunding campaign for their urgent trip before one of them succumbs to terminal illness.
Lee Bransden and Sandra Yates’s desire to have legal recognition for their relationship as soon as possible, as Lee is terminally ill with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with doctors giving her weeks to live, made headlines recently.
In response, Australian Marriage Equality (AME) launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist the Devenport couple, both pensioners, to fulfill their wish together is to be legally married.
The campaign smashed the initial target of $6500 and raised $10,795 in about a week after the campaign was launched.
Lee and Sandra will now marry at Mitai Maori village in Rotorua this Saturday (May 16).
They will depart Devonport tomorrow and return on Tuesday after a short honeymoon.
“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,” Sandra said.
“We are just so grateful that we will be legally bound together before we are finally parted.”
It is all both Bill Shorten’s and Tony Abbott’s fault that these two people are banned from getting married within Australia!
COME ON AUSTRALIA – TIME FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY NOW!
Vote 1 Greens!
Both Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten can go to buggery!
Vote 1 Sex Party!
Congradulation its great. Love you too from Montreal long live bravo.
As a Kiwi, I’m glad we could help, but as a human being I am so angry they weren’t able to do this at home. It’s shameful that a woman with a terminal illness was forced to make an international journey to enjoy a basic freedom.
Congratulations! Thats my birthday, I’ll be thinking of you both. Xoxo
It was a pleasure to help these lovely ladies enjoy your wedding day.Such a shame tou need to leave australia to do it. Xxxooo
Congratulations and kind wishes to you ladies. My partner and I married in Auckland last year….the Kiwis were so welcoming, we had a marvellous time.