"On a Special Day" Australian LGBTQ+ Minister Marries Same-Sex Partner

Penny Wong (55), Australia's first Asian LGBTQ+ foreign minister, married her partner of 20 years, Sophie Alluasi.

According to foreign media and Yonhap News on the 17th (local time), Minister Wong held the wedding ceremony the day before at a winery in Adelaide, Australia. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and several ministers attended the wedding, and their two daughters, Alexandra (11) and Hannah (8), who were conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), served as bridesmaids.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) posted a wedding anniversary photo on her Instagram on the 17th, announcing that she had married her long-time partner Sophie Allouache (left).
[Photo by Penny Wong Instagram capture]

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Minister Wong posted a photo on her Instagram with Alluasi wearing a wedding dress, writing, "I am happy that many family and friends joined us on this special day."

Minister Wong was born in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, and moved to Australia at the age of five. She began her political career after working as a lawyer and being elected as a South Australian senator in 2002.

As an Asian, a woman, and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she has stood out as a politician in Australia, where white nationalism is deeply rooted. In 2007, she was appointed Minister for Climate Change, becoming Australia's first Asian minister, and served as Treasurer from 2010 to 2013.

When the Labor Party returned to power in 2022, she became Australia's first Asian foreign minister, and recently achieved the record of being the longest-serving female cabinet minister in Australia.

In 2009, she was named one of the "50 Most Beautiful Women Politicians in the World," and has been recognized as the most trusted politician in Australia in various polls, also being mentioned as a potential future prime minister of Australia.

The Australian Parliament passed the same-sex marriage legalization bill in December 2017. At that time, only 4 out of 150 members voted against it.

Australia recognized same-sex marriage starting January 2018, becoming the 26th country in the world to allow it. Minister Wong, who was a senator at the time, played a leading role in the legalization of same-sex marriage.

In the case of South Korea, a survey conducted by Gallup Korea in June last year showed that 40% of the entire population and over 52% of those under 19 supported the legalization of same-sex marriage. Fifteen years ago, the approval rate was 20%, but support has steadily increased since 2017.

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