It seems barbaric to us now that there would be laws failing to recognise same-sex marriage.
Unfortunately, this is the case in Australia, and in South Australia, they go as far as to refuse to accept foreign same-sex marriages.
An English man has called the UK government to ask for assistance in a heart-breaking and tragic incident that occurred on his honeymoon.
Marco Bulmer-Rizzi was on honeymoon with his new husband David Bulmer-Rizzi. On Saturday David fell and fatally cracked his skull.
Marco was told the death certificate would state “never married” and he would not be recognised as next of kin. All arrangements for his husband’s funeral had to be made by David’s father, Nigel Bulmer, who flew to Australia on hearing of the accident.
Speaking to Buzzfeed Marco recalls:
“I went to bed and David was to follow me shortly. He was just reading his Kindle. I woke up 45 minutes later and heard this awful noise and I turned on the light and he was lying at the bottom of the stairs in a blood bath.”
“There were four paramedics on the scene for about an hour trying to attend to him. They put him in an induced coma to avoid further injury. Then they took him to the hospital where I was warned it was critical and that if I needed to phone family that wanted to fly to Australia it was probably appropriate.”
When he passed away, the pain was only made greater by the ignorance of Australian law.
Marco (right) and David
“When the funeral director came that’s when I was told that because Australia doesn’t recognise same-sex marriage, it [the death certificate] will say ‘never married’,” said Marco. “I asked at that point whether it was possible to say nothing [about his marital status], and I was told, ‘No, that’s not one of the drop down options on the computer.’”
“I couldn’t refuse. There was nothing I could have done. They wouldn’t say married. They wouldn’t leave it blank. They would only say, ‘never married’. This was confirmed by email because we complained afterwards.”
“I was completely overlooked,” he continued. “I wasn’t the next of kin. Every single question I was asked – whether or not I wanted David cremated, whether or not I wanted David to have a service, or be washed, even the cost of the coffin they were to use – after I gave my answer David’s father was consulted. He was also specifically asked, ‘Do you want to look this over before it’s signed?’ It was outright discrimination. If I didn’t get on with my in-laws I don’t know that I would have any rights.”
Marco has reached out to David Cameron, the Foreign Office and MP’s, urging them to intervene.
“I understand they can’t change Australian law,” he said, “but I’m not asking them to. I’m asking my own country to stand by its own laws. If the British government is aware that other countries do not recognise same-sex marriage they should try to defend what their law says.”
