Love on show

When Enmore couple Wayne Brown and British-born Ray Fisher formed a UK civil partnership then decided to hold a commitment ceremony in Sydney, they weren’t expecting the support of one of the city’s most iconic entertainment venues.

But after revealing their plans to friends and family the couple, who have been together for 20 years, learned the Enmore Theatre would make their big day even more memorable.

Last week, a few days before their ceremony, the inner-west music venue erected a sign announcing Brown and Fisher’s union on the marquee above its entrance on Enmore Road (see photo page 7).

We didn’t even know it was going to happen, Brown told Sydney Star Observer.

The morning it went up our phone rang hot. People were coming past on buses or calling us [saying], -˜This is fantastic, we’ve seen your names above the theatre.’ It just created this huge buzz.

Brown and Fisher planned to hold the ceremony at the restaurant they own on Enmore Road, The Razor’s Edge. But as the big day approached and guest numbers grew and grew, the Enmore Theatre offered to host the event in its foyer in what’s believed to be a first for the venue.

The owners of the Enmore Theatre said they made the offer in recognition of Brown and Fisher’s long-term contribution to the local area.

Ray and Wayne have contributed a lot to the street life of Newtown and have been around for many, many years. It’s a reciprocated gesture from the Enmore to support them, Enmore Theatre co-owner Lisa Eliades said.

The emotional ceremony took place last Sunday in front of about 100 guests.

Brown and Fisher formed a civil partnership at the British Consulate-General in Sydney last month.

If it wasn’t for the UK making it real, I don’t think this would have happened, Brown said.

Ray proposed to me [in the past] and I said no because in my mind I felt this was a heterosexual thing, not for us.

Once it was made legal in the UK, and Ray proposed again and I said yes, it became real.

In attendance at Sunday’s ceremony were both men’s families. Fisher’s travelled over from the UK for the event.

[There were] old friends from school that I hadn’t seen for many years, new friends, customers, a little old lady, Beryl, who we take dinner to every Saturday -“ she’s 83.

My father finally came around after knowing I was gay since I was 14 years old. He’s found it hard to accept but he have me a huge hug and a kiss. They were all in tears and all interacting. It was the most amazing day on so many different levels.

The day was bittersweet for the couple, who reflected on the realities of Australia’s lack of same-sex relationship recognition and the difficulties they’d experienced.

The pair met on Oxford Street in 1987 but when Fisher’s visa expired soon afterwards they were forced to leave for Britain.

It took seven years for me to get him back to Australia, Brown said this week. In Australia he’s classed as my interdependent and can immigrate here as my de facto. But that’s as far as the recognition goes, which is ridiculous.

Brown and Fisher made a point of the inequality last Sunday.

We put a slight political aspect to it at the very end, basically stating that Ray and I had our civil union at the British consulate, and that’s recognised in the UK, but as soon as we stepped out that door it wasn’t recognised, Brown said.

Despite the frustrations, there are signs Brown and Fisher’s celebration has already made an impact.

We were telling our customers beforehand [of our plans], Brown said.

One night two girls came in. I told them about the ceremony and one of the girls proposed to her girlfriend in the restaurant.

Other gay friends are also following the example.

A whole roll-on thing has happened, Brown said.