Gay Couple Shares Photos Taken Three Decades Apart & We're Emotional

Twitter can be a tough place, to say the least, but it can occasionally uplift some of the sweetest stories ever.

For example, Tasmanian man ​​Peter Robinson, 70, recently decided to mark his 35th anniversary with partner Murray Buchanan, 64, by posting a photo of them when they were a young couple, alongside a photo of them today with the caption: “35 Years ago I met this amazing man. Love him even more today.” The tweet quickly went viral. 

Their love story and its longevity really touched people's hearts. “We met at a nightclub on a Friday night. I was introduced to him by his ex-partner,” Robinson recounted to Queerty. The nightclub in question was Connections in Perth, Western Australia — and, like Robins and Buchanan’s relationship, it’s still going strong today. 

At the time of the original photo, same-sex relationships weren’t legal in Tasmania. “It wasn’t until 1997 that Tasmania passed legislation to recognize same-sex relationships. The federal government passed protections in 1999,” explained Robinson. The couple met shortly before the AIDS epidemic hit Australia and the two became involved in the gay rights movement. “We were fairly active in the early days for recognition and acceptance. I think the main opposition to equality was the AIDS epidemic. We spent several years working for the AIDS council as volunteers and carers,” Robinson.

While the men aren’t married, they did celebrate the passing of equality legislation in 2000 by registering their relationship as significant others, as marriage wasn’t an available option in 2017 in Australia. “The registration gives us the same rights as a married couple and doesn’t bring religion into it,” explained Robinson. “We did not see a reason for it. Murray did propose in 2000 on an overseas trip.”

While their love story is a beautiful one, Robison was still surprised by how many people connected to it. He was overwhelmed by the response to the Tweet, he told Queerty. 

Many people on social media praised Robinson and Buchanan’s love story, while others expressed a longing for a love like theirs. 

The responses that really impacted Robinson were those that led him to realize how many people are still unable to live openly in same-sex relationships. 

“So many LGBTQI people do not have the same opportunities that we had. There is still so much discrimination and violence against LGBTQI. There appears to be a resurgence in violence against our community. Thus we still get involved in protesting,” he said. 

For those who wondered how to make love last so long, Robinson said it's all about giving each other space to be themselves. “We basically have two rules: 1. Never go to bed on an argument. 2. And resolve an argument before leaving each other for work, etc. Always part with a kiss. It may be the last one you ever have. Sounds silly and simple,” he said, “but it has worked for us.