South Australian Premier apologises to gay widow after state compounded honeymoon tragedy

IT WON’T bring David back but an intervention by a state premier could mean no one else has to be told their marriage didn’t exist when their partner dies.

Marco and David Bulmer Rizzi (David on left)

A BRITISH man who died while on honeymoon in Adelaide will have his death certificate reissued to recognise his marriage after the South Australian authorities added to his partner’s grief by initially refusing to accept the couple were legally wed.

However, with a change in the law needed before the certificate can be amended, it could be a lengthy wait for the late man’s widow.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill phoned Marco Bulmer-Rizzi last night to apologise for his experience following the death of his husband David Bulmer-Rizzi on the weekend.

The couple, from Sunderland in north east England, were on honeymoon in Australia after marrying last year under British laws which allow same-sex couples to wed.

But tragedy struck last weekend when David, who was 32, fell down the stairs in the Adelaide house they were staying in, eventually succumbing to severe head injuries.

When Marco, 38, filled in the paperwork following David’s death he was told his marriage would not be recorded because South Australia, unlike the eastern states, did not recognise overseas same-sex marriages.

Instead the death certificate read, ‘never married’.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill phoned widow Marco Bulmer-Rizzi to apologise for how he is treated. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

As a result, every decision Marco wanted to make, from whether David should be cremated to what coffin to use, had to be rubber-stamped by his late husband’s father back in the UK.

Talking to news.com.au yesterday, Marco said. “Literally within an hour [of David’s death], I had no choice but to deny that we ever married. It made me feel humiliated and lonely. I felt like it was 20 years ago when you couldn’t come out for fear of being treated differently.”

‘MAKE THIS WRONG RIGHT’

After an outpouring of support for the grieving widow, Mr Weatherill phoned Marco last night.

“He apologised to me. We spoke for a while about David and he wanted to know what went wrong and I also wanted him to know what went right, such as the amazing treatment by the hospital team,” Marco said in a Facebook post.

“[Mr Weatherill] told me he spent a good part of his day looking at how to make this wrong right. He reassured me that in the next few month’s legislation would be passed in South Australia to make sure this does not happen again.

“Most importantly, he told me that as soon as that happens I will be able to have a new death certificate for David,” said Marco.

David Bulmer-Rizzi (left) and his husband Marco Bulmer-Rizzi after their wedding ceremony in Greece last year. David died this weekend in Adelaide on the couple’s honeymoon. Source: Facebook

Mr Weatherill confirmed the remarks and said Marco’s experience was an “example of how senseless discrimination of sexual orientation can cause pain and hurt.”

He said the state Labor Government had introduced an initial Bill to Parliament last year to begin the removal of discrimination from state legislation.

“We will introduce a further raft of legislation to the Parliament this year that will grapple with the more complex issues such as this,” he said yesterday.

‘ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL’

South Australian Greens senator and marriage equality spokesman Robert Simms said it had taken far too long for South Australia to look at amending its laws with Tasmania recognising overseas same-sex unions since 2010.

“It’s very disappointing, particularly when you consider South Australia led the way when it came to the decriminalisation of homosexuality but now the state Labor government is asleep at the wheel,” he told news.com.au

Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome, said more same-sex couples than ever before were marrying overseas.

“I urge the Federal Government to follow South Australia’s lead and ensure there is no discrimination against same-sex couples married overseas, be they travellers like Marco and David or Australian residents.”

David Bulmer-Rizzi on the Greek island of Santorini after his wedding ceremony. Source: FacebookSource: Supplied

“It’s time the Federal Government stopped delaying and responded to the fact that thousands of its citizens are in legitimate but unrecognised marriages.”

LOVE

Marco, who is due to fly back to the UK with David’s ashes in the next few days, said he had been overwhelmed by the support he’d received while in Australia.

“I have been touched by so many stories, so many comments, and so many unexpected acts of kindness.

“David would have loved the fact he was trending in twitter, the interviews, the human rights fight,” said Marco.

“But above all David would have loved to hold me tonight and when I go to bed, I will, instead have to hold his scarf, which smells like him still [although] I am scared it won’t soon.”

As well as South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory are yet to make significant moves to recognising overseas same-sex marriages.