Kiwis hail passage of bill on gay marriage
Source: Agencies |
April 18, 2013, Thursday
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NEW Zealand's parliament voted in favor of allowing same-sex marriage yesterday, prompting cheers, applause and the singing of a traditional Maori celebratory song from the public gallery.
Seventy-seven of 121 members of parliament voted in favor of amending the current 1955 Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to marry, making New Zealand the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
"Two-thirds of parliament have endorsed marriage equality," Louisa Wall, the openly gay opposition Labour Party MP who promoted the bill, told reporters after the vote yesterday. "It shows that we are building on our human rights as a country."
Wall told lawmakers the change was "our road toward healing."
"In our society, the meaning of marriage is universal - it's a declaration of love and commitment to a special person," she said. "Nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill."
The bill was widely expected to pass, given similar support for the change in a preliminary vote held last month. It will likely come into effect in August.
New Zealand becomes the 13th country to legalize same-sex marriages, after Uruguay passed its own law last week. Australia last year rejected a similar proposal.
Countries where such marriages are legal include Canada, Spain and Sweden, in addition to some states in the United States.
Vocal opposition
France is close to legalizing same-sex marriages amid increasingly vocal opposition.
The bill was opposed by the Roman Catholic Church and some conservative religious, political and social groups which campaigned that it would undermine the institution of the family.
The law makes it clear that clergy can decline to preside in gay marriages if they conflict with their beliefs.
"I have a boyfriend, so it means we can get married, which is a good thing," said Timothy Atkins, a student who was among a crowd at the hearing. "It's important to be seen as equal under the law."
"For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else," said Tania Penafiel Bermudez, a bank teller who said she already considers herself married to partner Sonja Fry but now can get a certificate to prove it.
"This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife."
Seventy-seven of 121 members of parliament voted in favor of amending the current 1955 Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to marry, making New Zealand the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
"Two-thirds of parliament have endorsed marriage equality," Louisa Wall, the openly gay opposition Labour Party MP who promoted the bill, told reporters after the vote yesterday. "It shows that we are building on our human rights as a country."
Wall told lawmakers the change was "our road toward healing."
"In our society, the meaning of marriage is universal - it's a declaration of love and commitment to a special person," she said. "Nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill."
The bill was widely expected to pass, given similar support for the change in a preliminary vote held last month. It will likely come into effect in August.
New Zealand becomes the 13th country to legalize same-sex marriages, after Uruguay passed its own law last week. Australia last year rejected a similar proposal.
Countries where such marriages are legal include Canada, Spain and Sweden, in addition to some states in the United States.
Vocal opposition
France is close to legalizing same-sex marriages amid increasingly vocal opposition.
The bill was opposed by the Roman Catholic Church and some conservative religious, political and social groups which campaigned that it would undermine the institution of the family.
The law makes it clear that clergy can decline to preside in gay marriages if they conflict with their beliefs.
"I have a boyfriend, so it means we can get married, which is a good thing," said Timothy Atkins, a student who was among a crowd at the hearing. "It's important to be seen as equal under the law."
"For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else," said Tania Penafiel Bermudez, a bank teller who said she already considers herself married to partner Sonja Fry but now can get a certificate to prove it.
"This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife."
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