New Zealand poised to lead Asia-Pacific on gay marriage
Parliamentary vote today expected to approve a law hailed as a milestone for equality
New Zealand is poised to become the first Asia-Pacific nation to legalise same-sex marriage in a parliamentary vote that gay rights advocates yesterday hailed as a milestone for equality.
A bill that amends the 1955 Marriage Act to describe marriage as a union of two people regardless of their sex, sexuality or how they choose to identify their gender will have its third and final reading in parliament late today.
The proposal is set to pass convincingly after receiving widespread support during two previous debates - including backing from Prime Minister John Key - with the most recent vote last month running at 77 votes for and 43 against.
Legalise Love Wellington co-ordinator Joseph Habgood said there was a festive mood in the gay community, with nightclubs in the capital planning to screen the vote live and host parties marking the occasion. "This will make a huge difference," he said. "Not only for couples who want to get married but also for young people who are struggling with their sexuality. This is parliament sending a message saying 'You matter, you are equal'."
Should the proposal pass, New Zealand will become the 13th nation globally and the first in the Asia-Pacific region to allow same-sex marriages, according to Human Rights Watch.
Australia rejected a similar proposal in September and the issue has prompted heated debate in the US since President Barack Obama made support for same-sex unions a prominent part of his second-term agenda.
Britain and France appear set to adopt gay marriage in coming months after rancorous scenes in Westminster and protests in Paris by supporters and opponents.
The lawmaker behind the New Zealand reform is Louisa Wall, a gay member of the centre-left Labour Party who argues the institution of marriage needs to be updated to be more inclusive.
"For me, if two people love each other and marry and commit to each other for the rest of their lives, it should be something we all celebrate," she said after submitting the bill last year.
But there has been opposition to the move, including from the conservative Family First group, which accuses politicians of undermining traditional male-female marriage.
New Zealand decriminalised homosexuality in 1986 and since 2005 has allowed same-sex civil unions, which enjoy the same rights and obligations as a marriage involving opposite-sex couples.
"It was only a short time ago that we were fighting not to be treated as criminals but we've been heartened by the high levels of support we've received [for gay marriage]," Habgood said. "It's a sign that the world really is changing."
The countries that already allow same-sex marriage are The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Uruguay.
