It’s Another Victory for Gay Rights Supporters as New Zealand Approves Same Sex Marriage

Gay rights advocates around the world are rejoicing as they receive news of another victory. New Zealand joins the roster of the increasing number of countries that have legalized same-sex marriage. New Zealand is number 13 on the list, the second country this year to legalize same-sex union, after Uruguay.

The approval makes New Zealand the first country in the Asia Pacific region to legalize gay marriages.

High approval

The New Zealand bill, approved on Wednesday, received a vote of 77 versus 44, indicating that many parliamentarians believe that it is about time to redefine the new meaning of marriage – the union of two people instead of between a woman and a man.

Labor MP Louisa Wall introduced the legislation, which was fully supported by John Key, National Party Prime Minister. It was a majority vote all the way, with seven of the eight political parties in New Zealand gave their support for the bill.

Its introduction was very well received by the public, especially among the younger people, which is indicative of how well public opinion is regarded in New Zealand.

Changes

The bill will take effect four months after it was passed, so gay couples in New Zealand will have to wait until August this year to have their wedding. That is a short time to wait for a right that they have been fighting for, for several years. This new law also paves the way for gay couples to adopt children legally.

Opposition

While it had overwhelming support, there were also some opposition. The Protect Marriage group even took out a full page advertisement in the papers, proclaiming that if the bill was passed and made into law it renders marriage as an act of cultural vandalism and a thing that is already meaningless. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand also voiced their opposition to the marriage redefinition but will leave it to the ministers to have their own call, although they also issued a subtle message that should they perform same-sex marriage, there would be some challenges to be surmounted.

Other developments

With same sex marriage now legal in New Zealand, gay advocates in neighboring Australia are planning to go to New Zealand to be wed. So far, about 1,000 couples have already expressed their interest in doing just that. However, an Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Rodney Croome cautions that they might be married if they go to New Zealand, but that marriage will not be recognized once they are back in Australia.

Therefore the eyes of the gay community are focused on Australia, hoping that they would soon follow New Zealand’s example and pass a bill that will legalize same-sex marriage in the big island-continent Down Under.