New Zealand Likely the Next for Marriage Equality

[JockBoy87]

Talk has been stirring for months, but today, progress on legislating marriage equality in New Zealand got a solid bump. Parliament voted 80-40 on the first of three readings.


The author of a bill, lesbian MP Louisa Wall, credits Obama's announcement in May this year. Journalists from AP also take note of the correlation. The Prime Minister John Key announced that he "was not opposed" to marriage equality shortly thereafter.


The most shocking news about the bill comes from ACT minister John Banks, a former vicious opponent of LGBT rights. Gaystarnews reports that he has bowed to pressure from the youth wing of his party. In 1993, Banks said "‘The problem with this homosexual business we've now made legal in his country … is that so many of these creeps have now boldly crept out of the wardrobe.’"


New Zealand has an estimated 4.4 million people and would be the 12th nationwide country to provide marriage rights for LGBT couples, in addition to three that allow it locally (US, Mexico, Brazil). The move places New Zealand with France, Colombia, and Scotland as countries likely to pass marriage equality by 2013.

[mitchymo]

The UK won't be too far behind them either. This John Banks and his reference to gays as 'creeps' shows that its not just that US that have to suffer with these hateful morons.

[Telstra]

.
I saw on the news,
a pro family bitch from USA came to Australia to preach about how bad is same sex marriage is to the Liberal party. She should be black listed as a hate group.

[TX-Beau]

The UK won't be too far behind them either. This John Banks and his reference to gays as 'creeps' shows that its not just that US that have to suffer with these hateful morons.

Oh but our hateful morons are so much better at it than everyone else's.

It's that American Exceptional-ism again.



(jingoism? what jingoism?)

[Rolyo85]

Don't forget Tasmania!

[JockBoy87]

Don't forget Tasmania!

In the realm of state and local government, yes Tasmania is definitely one, among a number of states and municipalities we are looking at in 2013. The U.S. is always broiling with debate over which state is next, especially at the polls this November. Next year, perhaps it will be Illinois, Delaware, Hawaii, or Rhode Island. There may also be some more Mexican states, in addition to Mexico City, and Quintana Roo where Cozumel and Cancun are located. Brazil has been racking up a good number of cities where judges will convert civil unions into marriages. Hopefully, this will create some sort of critical mass where it is de facto across the country.

[bankside]

That moves NZ up my list of possible tourist destinations.

[scream4ever]

Uruguay is expected to pass it by year's end. France will likely have it by the end of the year as well, since the legislation will be introduced in October and faces no major obstruction. Luxembourg is expected to pass it next year as well since the bill has finally left the judiciary committee.

Regardless, the next year is going to be a big one for marriage equality worldwide!!!

[JockBoy87]

I wasn't expecting Uruguay to actually post a vote this year. I'm sure it will be a sleeper hit though. Same with Luxembourg. I'm crossing my fingers for France this year, but October markup is kinda soon for a vote. We'll see. Thanks for your input scream, as always.

[scream4ever]

In Uruguay the bill has already been introduced and it's been confirmed that it'll be voted on by the end of the year.

Also, despite what you think I strongly suspect that California will resume same sex marriage in the coming weeks as it's unlikely the Supreme Court will hear the case.

[rareboy]

YAY New Zealand.

Welcome to the fold.

[JockBoy87]

In Uruguay the bill has already been introduced and it's been confirmed that it'll be voted on by the end of the year.

Also, despite what you think I strongly suspect that California will resume same sex marriage in the coming weeks as it's unlikely the Supreme Court will hear the case.

Where did you see that

[scream4ever]

Civil unions in Uruguay - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[JockBoy87]

^^^ I don't see any mention of a vote by the end of this year

[Rolyo85]

In the realm of state and local government, yes Tasmania is definitely one, among a number of states and municipalities we are looking at in 2013. The U.S. is always broiling with debate over which state is next, especially at the polls this November. Next year, perhaps it will be Illinois, Delaware, Hawaii, or Rhode Island. There may also be some more Mexican states, in addition to Mexico City, and Quintana Roo where Cozumel and Cancun are located. Brazil has been racking up a good number of cities where judges will convert civil unions into marriages. Hopefully, this will create some sort of critical mass where it is de facto across the country.

If Illinois is next, AND if DOMA falls, that would make me a very happy boy

[JockBoy87]

If Illinois is next, AND if DOMA falls, that would make me a very happy boy

It is my opinion that a storm of support is brewing and Greg Harris's bill will pass swift and hard like it did in Washington, blindsiding anti-gay lobbyists. Nobody can guarantee next year, but it will be after Obama's re-election bid. Democrats have now smothered the opposition in their party who's who, when just five years ago it was considered a nuisance and few supporters spoke more than halfheartedly. In addition, there were two lawsuits filed in May to watch, but as you know those take years to resolve.

Political enthusiasm is building so unbelievably fast now, I foresee all 20 states where LGBT lobby groups have significant power will have marriage equality within 10 years. The hardest of those to nab will be Nevada, Oregon, Wisconsin and Colorado, which have constitutional amendments. For evidence I point to the former forefront of gay rights priorities, anti-discrimination law. Just about the same model happened with anti-discrimination law between 1999 and 2010 that we are staring to see with marriage equality between 2009 and now and hopefully will continue through 2020. For the record, Maine was a pain in the ass to get back in the day too, our community having lost twice getting job protections there at the ballot box.

[scream4ever]

^^^ I don't see any mention of a vote by the end of this year

It says the bill will be debated by the end of the year.

[White Eagle]

.
I saw on the news,
a pro family bitch from USA came to Australia to preach about how bad is same sex marriage is to the Liberal party. She should be black listed as a hate group.

She should be banned from "Down Under".

[JockBoy87]

She should be banned from "Down Under".

I wonder which one it is. Maggie, Phyllis, or maybe someone from CWA.

[White Eagle]

Uruguay is expected to pass it by year's end. France will likely have it by the end of the year as well, since the legislation will be introduced in October and faces no major obstruction. Luxembourg is expected to pass it next year as well since the bill has finally left the judiciary committee.

Regardless, the next year is going to be a big one for marriage equality worldwide!!!

But probably not Iraq or Iran and the like! But welcome the rest of the world.

[JockBoy87]

But probably not Iraq or Iran and the like! But welcome the rest of the world.

Iran? Oy Jebus. There will be an Israeli President of Iran before gay rights.

[JockBoy87]

Second reading is tentatively set for March 20.

Final reading in May.

Religious right also caught trying to rig an opinion poll...

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/p...age-poll160113

[Scealle]

This is awesome! Yay New Zealand

[T-Rexx]

The author of a bill, lesbian MP Louisa Wall, credits Obama's announcement in May this year. Journalists from AP also take note of the correlation. The Prime Minister John Key announced that he "was not opposed" to marriage equality shortly thereafter.

This is why Obama's refusal to back gay marriage for most of this first term angered me so much. President's opinions matter a great deal to the whole world. I think they matter far more than they should, but matter they do.

President GWB did so much damage to gay rights with his campaign of hatred. Obama has done much to reverse that, but he could have done more.

[JockBoy87]

This is why Obama's refusal to back gay marriage for most of this first term angered me so much. President's opinions matter a great deal to the whole world. I think they matter far more than they should, but matter they do.

I agree, sooner the better, however it is a milestone that Obama announced support in his first term at all before reelection. Very few Republicans do so in office, and even fewer on the campaign trail (Dede Scozzafava comes to mind).

Obama's announcement couldn't come at a more crucial time. I agree, the US president hold enormous influence around the world. Playing a MMOG iphone game marketed primarily to South Africa, everyone was congratulating me on Obama's election, those who knew I was American anyway. The world is truly in love with the president, though I could not say who is president of South Africa. The movement for marriage equality has gotten off the ground and being debated seriously by G12 economies such as the UK, France, Australia, and Brazil, which is the 6th largest economy in the world. If those countries are added, a majority of the G12 economies will allow same sex marriage. That's a significant symbol for the global movement.

President GWB did so much damage to gay rights with his campaign of hatred. Obama has done much to reverse that, but he could have done more.

Bush probably retarded growth in LGBT rights in the US, but we'll never know by how much. At least we know with the wind in his back, and a healthy Republican Congress, he could not get an amendment to ban gay marriage passed to the states.

[T-Rexx]

Bush probably retarded growth in LGBT rights in the US, but we'll never know by how much. At least we know with the wind in his back, and a healthy Republican Congress, he could not get an amendment to ban gay marriage passed to the states.

He got 30 states to pass constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage in their states.

I'd say that's pretty damned destructive to human rights.

[JockBoy87]

He got 30 states to pass constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage in their states.

I'd say that's pretty damned destructive to human rights.

As much disdain as I hold for Bush, I'm not sure the 31 states with amendments were all his doing.

There are 31 amendments that restrict marriage rights, Hawaii's amendment gives authority to the legislature to change the law.

Of the 31 amendments, only four were not during Bush's presidency, and only three were not in the first decade of the 21st century. During the 2004 election, 11 states had them on the ballot. Bush's advisers pushed the amendments particularly hard in the swing states Ohio and Michigan, so there are at least two that Bush's campaign/administration had a hand in.

The rest were a product of the same religious right political machine that operates today, organized churches that operate in every city and town in America, the Family Research Council led by Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family led formerly by James Dobson, and others.



...Relating to my previous post, I found this neat little quote from a Japanese newspaper.

But when President Barack Obama gingerly put his head above the election year parapet to announce he was in favor of same-sex marriage, it lit a spark of hope on the other side of the Pacific in conservative Japan.

"Seeing the U.S. president expressing his support for same-sex couples was like being told it was OK to be who we are," said Higashi, 27. "Everyone now knows Obama supports same-sex marriage. The impact is so big, it's incomparable."

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120801f1.html

[JockBoy87]

The review committee returned a favorable report with a few amendments.

http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyre...ageAmendme.pdf

The 2nd vote will occur on March 13, with a final vote by May.



...Whether the title of this thread is still current is a matter of debate. Uruguay, France, Colombia, and England are all competing to be the next country by Summer.

[JockBoy87]

Second reading passed 77-44, a loss of three votes, but still a great show of support!

It will still be several weeks probably until final passage in the unicameral parliament.

http://news.yahoo.com/zealand-gay-ma...105522774.html

[JockBoy87]

Committee of the Whole will examine the bill on March 27.

A third and final reading will come as soon as April 17.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10871107

[bankside]

I think you mean Committee of the Whole (House) but that was funny...

[bankside]

I'm impressed with the quality of speaking in the NZ Parliament - I think Canada is slipping in the ranks in terms of calibre of debate.

[Ninja108]

Other countries showing us that once again,the U.S. is behind the eight ball.

[bankside]

Other countries showing us that once again,the U.S. is behind the eight ball.

I would've said that (and did) back when Bush Junior was re-elected.


But the US is making reasonably good progress now.

[JockBoy87]

Other countries showing us that once again,the U.S. is behind the eight ball.

I think they help the US greatly.

One of the concerns Anthony Kennedy had was a lack of international history behind marriage equality.

Fortunately, there are a lot of international events going on, and not in small countries either. The spotlight turns on France next week Thursday, when the Senat will debate the Assemblee bill. Then Uruguay is likely to hold a Senate vote soon after.

[Rolyo85]

I get a little bothered when people keep saying "other countries are so far ahead than the US". It's quite a bit easier to be ahead of the US with 10-20-30 million people spread out in a huge territory. The US is absolutely unique in terms of size and diversity in the first world.

[T-Rexx]

As much disdain as I hold for Bush, I'm not sure the 31 states with amendments were all his doing.

Nope. They were all his doing.

GWB started the movement to get states to pass anti-gay laws, and his party wrote all of that legislation. Before GWB initiated the hatred campaign, no one had even considered that a need existed to protect civilization from homosexuality with laws. The war in Iraq was beginning to wear thin around the time of the 2004 election, GWB had already generated the most massive fiscal deficit in history, and Republicans needed a scapegoat to distract attention from their incompetence at governing. A campaign of anti-gay bigotry was ideal for them, since it appealed to their religious fundamentalist base.

Of the 31 amendments, only four were not during Bush's presidency, and only three were not in the first decade of the 21st century. During the 2004 election, 11 states had them on the ballot. Bush's advisers pushed the amendments particularly hard in the swing states Ohio and Michigan, so there are at least two that Bush's campaign/administration had a hand in.

While it is true that the Bush campaign pushed anti-gay hatred particularly hard in Ohio and Michigan, virtually none of the anti-gay amendments in any of the states would even have been proposed without the guidance of the White House. This was a national Republican crusade, initiated by the president and taken up by the Republican Party across America.

Here in Ohio, we had Ken Blackwell during the 2004 campaign comparing gays unfavorably to farm animals. Blackwell would never have made such provocative statements without the realization that his party and the president were backing him at every step. Indeed, such statements were made with the realization that they might be noticed in Washington, and might be worth a minor appointment in a new Bush administration.

The same is true in every state where anti-gay laws have been passed.

The rest were a product of the same religious right political machine that operates today, organized churches that operate in every city and town in America, the Family Research Council led by Tony Perkins, Focus on the Family led formerly by James Dobson, and others.

I do not believe it is possible to distinguish between Christian fundamentalism in America and Republicanism. They are the same movement.

...Relating to my previous post, I found this neat little quote from a Japanese newspaper.

But when President Barack Obama gingerly put his head above the election year parapet to announce he was in favor of same-sex marriage, it lit a spark of hope on the other side of the Pacific in conservative Japan.

"Seeing the U.S. president expressing his support for same-sex couples was like being told it was OK to be who we are," said Higashi, 27. "Everyone now knows Obama supports same-sex marriage. The impact is so big, it's incomparable."

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120801f1.html

This is why I have been so upset by Obama's recent homophobia. He could have done so much good by supporting gay rights from the beginning of his 2008 campaign. Instead, he chose not to speak out against evil. He chose not to do that which he surely knew was right. Rather than help guide the country to enlightenment, he followed behind those courageous souls who did the job without him.

Obama might have been remembered as one of the greatest presidents in American history. Now, he will be remembered as mostly good.

[T-Rexx]

Before GWB initiated the hatred campaign, no one had even considered that a need existed to protect civilization from homosexuality with laws.

That should read "no one had even considered that a need existed to protect civilization from gay marriage with laws." Obviously, anti-gay legislation has been around for more than a century.

My apologies for the error.

[JockBoy87]

GWB started the movement to get states to pass anti-gay laws, and his party wrote all of that legislation. Before GWB initiated the hatred campaign, no one had even considered that a need existed to protect civilization from homosexuality with laws.

The first defense of marriage statute was passed in Maryland in 1973, and the first amendments passed in Alaska and Hawaii in 1998. After Massachusetts instituted marriage equality, that is when the religious right panicked and started the 2004 campaign.

[Ninja108]

The first defense of marriage statute was passed in Maryland in 1973, and the first amendments passed in Alaska and Hawaii in 1998. After Massachusetts instituted marriage equality, that is when the religious right panicked and started the 2004 campaign.

Indeed..and one of the people who decided on that train of though was Ken Melhlman. I still have complete and utter contempt for someone who was willing to create damage that will take years or decades to undo to a community he was a part of. If you want to be a self-loather,that's one thing but to do what he did against us,nope.
Until all the anti-gay marriage amendments he helped push are gone,I'll still have disdain for him..and will even afterwards.
Ken Blackwell...can hardly wait to see when the gay marriage ban is repealed in Ohio. I hope he chokes on his hate.

[JockBoy87]

Third hearing debate can be viewed here: http://www.parliament.nz/LiveBroadcast/house_en-384.asx

Final passage is imminent . . .

[JockBoy87]

The bill has passed on third reading 77-44!


New Zealand makes 13


Other achievements:

The first in Oceania.
The third on the Pacific rim after Washington and British Columbia.
The third in the British Commonwealth after Canada and South Africa.

[Ninja108]

And we still wait here....shows you once again the U.S. is beyond many other modern countries when it comes to human rights.

[rareboy]

I am so proud of New Zealand today and am pleased to welcome them to our family of nations that recognize and respect same sex relationships.

[andysayshi]

Great news for New Zealanders!

Unfortunately, their closest neighbour Australia has no hope of such a law for years to come. The current atheist "progressive" Prime Minister is inexplicably against gay marriage. When her toxically unpopular government is inevitably voted out in September, she will be replaced by a staunchly conservative Catholic man who will fight tooth and nail to keep the homos and the law as far apart as possible.

[Rolyo85]

The bill has passed on third reading 77-44!


New Zealand makes 13


Other achievements:

The first in Oceania.
The third on the Pacific rim after Washington and British Columbia.
The third in the British Commonwealth after Canada and South Africa.

Awesome news! Congrats

[Rolyo85]

Haha, awesome speech!

[JockBoy87]

Unfortunately, their closest neighbour Australia has no hope of such a law for years to come. The current atheist "progressive" Prime Minister is inexplicably against gay marriage. When her toxically unpopular government is inevitably voted out in September, she will be replaced by a staunchly conservative Catholic man who will fight tooth and nail to keep the homos and the law as far apart as possible.

I agree.

The Australian Christian Lobby is too powerful in both major parties. It's obvious to me that Gillard's opinion against gay marriage is anything but genuine; her personal profile just screams radical progressive.

Australia also needs a conscience vote from every party, or no party, but not the in-betwen that lead to the most recent failure. The only good that came out events surrounding that vote was the change to ALP's platform to include marriage equality. It showed that the LGBT community had at least some political power, but not enough to overthrow the ACL's grip on Ms. PM.

The only glimmer of hope is that the Greens will make marriage equality an election issue, and hopefully that will move things politically.

As you can see, majority opinion actually means quite little. It is 62% support in Australia. You would think that's all that matters. Wrong. It could be 90%, such as the support for gun reform in the United States, and we likely won't get it because of the loud and influential 10%. It also took the overthrow of the right wing government to get marriage equality in Denmark, which happened just last year, despite being the first partnership country in 1989. Passage there happened many years after a majority of Danish turned in favor of marriage equality.

What matters is your voice. Australian gays have to make it a priority. You can't sit back and assume someone else is doing the work. Your emails and your phone calls will contribute to the necessary political pressure, which applied consistently, will get you the freedom to marry.

[Ninja108]

Really is a shame that both Australia and the U.S. are in the grip of Christians who think they have a right to impose their beliefs on everyone else.

[Just_Believe18]

Listen to the people rejoice in song to equality! Truly a beautiful moment in our history.