Source: ABC News (Australia), The Age
Canberra -- It wasn't a marriage, or even a civil union, but Kevin Boreham and Edwin Ho became "partners for life" on the shores of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin Monday.

Mr Boreham, a university lecturer, and Mr Ho, a public servant, were the first same-sex couple to hold a commitment ceremony under new civil partnership laws for the the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

A small gathering of friends witnessed the historic event on Monday afternoon within view of federal parliament.

It was the first ceremony of its kind to be held in the wake of the ACT Government passing laws to recognize same-sex partnerships.

The ACT government last month abandoned plans to recognize same-sex relationships through civil union ceremonies after the federal Labor government said it would veto the move.

Instead, the territory's Legislative Assembly passed the civil partnership laws which allow for commitment ceremonies. The laws allow same sex couples to take part in a civil ceremony, but the ceremony itself is not legally binding.

Boreham and Ho -- who have been together for 25 years -- read out promises of commitment to each other and exchanged rings.

Danielle Krajina from the office of regulatory services officiated.

"We are here today to see Edwin ... and Kevin ... celebrate their commitment to each other, by entering into the civil partnership in accordance with the Civil Partnership Act 2008," Krajina said at the ceremony's outset.

"Effectively, the couple have signed a stat dec (statutory declaration)," Krajina told reporters after the low-key ceremony.

Marriage ceremonies and a commitment ceremonies were quite different, she said.

"This is a process of registration. I've just registered, effectively, the civil partnership," Ms Krajina said.

"Marriage is performed under a completely separate piece of legislation. This is just a registration process."

She said the number of same-sex couples that would choose to take part in such a ceremony was unknown.

"It's exciting for the staff to be involved in something like this and we've been working on and off on the partnership process for a good two years now, so it's nice to see that its finally come to fruition," she said.

Full article: ACT marks first gay civil ceremony | ABC News (Australia)
First same-sex couple ceremony in ACT | The Age (AAP)