The woman behind Marriage Equality in NZ - Women's Agenda

The woman behind Marriage Equality in NZ

New Zealand has become the 13th country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage, largely thanks to thr former representative netballer and rugby union player who submitted the Marriage Amendment Bill to a private members ballot in May 2012 – Labour party MP Louisa Wall.

The bill, which was voted 77 to 44 last night, makes New Zealand the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to embrace marriage equality. Wall declared its passage a “human rights” victory.

“Two-thirds of parliament have endorsed marriage equality,” she said. “It shows that we are building on our human rights as a country.”

The legislation, which will amend the definition of the 1955 Marriage Act, caused a storm of debate for over a year before crossing the final hurdle in a parliamentary vote yesterday. It’s particularly significant for transgender people who had to divorce when they changed gender. Under the amendments, they will no longer have to.

In first reading parliament MP’s voted 80-40 in favour of the amendment. Despite a highly emotional selection process and significant protests from religious communities, it only lost four votes of support at the second reading.

Wall said despite scaremongering – with some suggesting that the words “bride” and “groom” would be removed from the Amendment – the debate had been mostly respectful.

The legislation was supported by leaders of all parties except New Zealand Firsts’ Winston Peters. His party voted against the bill at the first reading because the party wanted a public referendum to be held. The proposal was ruled out at the second reading, with the bill decided by a conscience vote, not across party lines.

Wall described her joy in seeing the bill pass through, saying that New Zealand was now part of a global community openly discussing marriage equality.

“The US President has declared his support unequivocally. The Queen has recently signed a Commonwealth Charter that explicitly opposes all form of discrimination which she describes as emphasising inclusiveness. The UK, led by their Prime Minister, has introduced legislation” she said.

After the bill passed Wall gave a speech likening the amendment to the Treaty of Waitangi, which established Maori ownership of their land, saying that both bills affected marginalised minority groups and it was important that the community learn from history, citing examples of marriage being used as a form of oppression.

“Marriage equality is only one issue. There’s still a lot of work to be done to address discrimination against our LGBTI communities. Closer to home many of our Pacific neighbours still criminalise homosexuality. So too in countries of our new migrant communities. We need to understand these heritage identities and how they contribute to this debate”.

Speaking in support of Wall, MP Maurice Williamson said: “A huge amount of the opposition was from moderates, from people who were concerned, who were seriously worried what this might do to the fabric of our society. I respect their concern. I respect their worry. They were worried about what it might do to their families, and so on.

Let me repeat to them now: All we are doing with this bill is allowing two people who love each other to have that love recognized by way of marriage.”

For those hoping to see changes to Australian laws as a result of our neighbour, Prime Minister Gillard maintained last night she was “unmoved” and would not be pressured to amend her views on same-sex marriage.

Responding to a question about New Zealand’s legalisation, Gillard said she remains “firmly opposed” to marriage equality.

With the first same-sex New Zealand marriages expected to begin in August, Australian Marriage Equality spokesman Rodney Croome told reporters the bill will encourage same-sex couples living in Australia to cross the Tasman and get married. New Zealand marriage laws have no residency laws.

“Now that marriage equality is only three hours away there will be a flood of couples flying to New Zealand” he said.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young told Fairfax reporters the change in New Zealand was ”a great step forward”.

”It’s time for the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to stop holding up marriage equality here in Australia,” she said.

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