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Kylie's marriage proposal

A Broome man who proposed to his long-term boyfriend at the Kylie Minogue concert at Burswood on Wednesday night has thrown down the gauntlet to politicians opposing same-sex marriage, challenging them to a public debate.

Benjamin McHardy, a Christian, said he had wanted to marry partner Scott Goodhill for several years – the pair have been together for nine.

"Personally, I think politicians should focus on running our country and not running our love – they've got bigger things to do," he said.

"I would love to sit down with Mr Abbott and pull him up on this, but I think he'd run a mile.

"No politician would sit there in a public forum with someone like myself and take that issue on – they wouldn't do it and good luck if they tried, because I don't lose arguments."

Mr McHardy said he hoped to get married in Broome amongst family and friends: "But there's a small issue with that – we're not allowed to get married in our country," he said.

"We are best friends – we're the same as everyone else. We're just a normal couple who are now fiancees."

He said marriage wasn't such a big thing to Mr Goodhill, but he was keen to formalise their relationship and had talked about marriage for years.

In a touching gesture, he plans to melt down a ring made from engagement and eternity rings given to him by his late father to create new pieces for each of them.

Their parents and friends were all supportive of the marriage, Mr McHardy said.

"I just want to belong to someone – my mum and dad were married for more than 30 years and you want to replicate that," he said.

"I think most people want to find their life partner and have that recognised and be married...that's the just way it is."

He described those who opposed same-sex marriage as "shallow and out of touch".

"I would challenge any politician, anyone, who says mine and Scott's is not a marriage because we are man and man," he said.

"You have a look at some of the hoo-has that go on with politicians... they should really not be the people to judge a person’s relationship."

He said initially, he had not wanted the proposal to become a political issue, as it was personal matter. However, they were staggered by the amount of media coverage the onstage proposal had received.

"We had no idea it would get so much attention," he said.

"It certainly wasn't a political thing but now it is, we don't mind representing the gay community – and not just the gay community, the 60 per cent or more of the Australian public who support gay marriage.

"If we need to be poster boys for that, well so be it. People need to realise we need change and I guarantee you that my relationship is better than the 70 odd per cent that get divorced in this country."