Same sex marriage statistics high in the Northern Territory

TERRITORY lesbians are more likely to be married than those in almost every other state in the country

TERRITORY lesbians are more likely to be married than those in almost every other state in the nation. Jodi and Keryn Cowan-Beech are just two of the women who’ve tied the knot. Picture: LISA HATZ PHOTOGRAPHY

TERRITORY lesbians are more likely to be married than those in almost every other state in the nation.

According to data obtained by The Australian, 4 per cent of Territory weddings were between two women, while 2.8 per cent were between two men in the nine months since same-sex marriages were legalised by the Federal Parliament.

Only the ACT has a higher percentage of same-sex weddings than the NT, at 7.7 per cent.

Women account for more than 56 per cent of the 4500 same-sex couples across the country who have tied the knot.

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Alice Springs couple Keryn and Jodi Cowen-Beech were the first same-sex pair to be married at Uluru, in May this year. They were not surprised by the NT statistics.

“Alice is apparently the lesbian capital of Australia so I’m not in the least bit surprised at those numbers,” Keryn said.

Nationally, 4.8 per cent of marriages in the last nine months were between same-sex couples but Keryn said she thought that figure would rise.

“Some will go for the big fancypants weddings and they take time to organise and book and whatever else,” she said.

“We decided to elope because it was easier and it was what we both wanted.”

The couple are enjoying married life but say there are no “best bits”. “It doesn’t have a best bit, it’s just that belonging-ness,” Keryn said.