Antarctica hosted its first gay wedding when a same-sex couple working onboard the polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough got married on Sunday.
Eric Bourne and Stephen Carpenter work as stewards on the polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough. Photo: British Antarctic Survey/ Rich Turner.Eric and Stephen work as stewards on the research ship and have been together for 20 years.
The wedding was attended by around 120 guests comprised of the ship’s crew and the team at Rothera. Captain Will Whatley, Master of RRS Sir David Attenborough, told the BBC that it was an “honour” to officiate the wedding ceremony.Captain Will Whatley, Master of RRS Sir David Attenborough, officiated the first gay wedding in the British Antarctic Territory.
Photo: British Antarctic Survey/ Rich Turner.Before leaving for Antarctica, the couple had got their wedding rings engraved with ’67 34′ S 68 08′ W’ – the geographical coordinates of their wedding ceremony.Around 120 guests, comprising of the ship’s crew and Rothera research team members attended Eric Bourne and Stephen Carpenter’s wedding.