I'm sure we confused a lot of people about our status. Lee and I didn't get to tell my dad about the engagement before he found my blog entry. My mistake for not withholding my excitement, anyway. Heh. And when I announced it to my girlfriends via email, they weren't too sure what was going on, despite being excited about everything anyhow. Then there was Lee's mum who noticed the ring, but thought it was just incidental to our relationship declaration.

The relationship declaration program is not a legal binding union. Rather, it's a program only recognized in the City of Sydney where they register us formally as a couple in a committed relationship.

The Relationship Register is a means of recognising the relationship of both same-sex and mixed-sex couples. Although registration does not confer legal rights in the way a marriage does, it allows couples to make a written declaration that they are mutually committed to sharing their lives together. Couples also have the option of holding a ceremony to celebrate their declaration.