Major blow to the heterosexual marriage as bill passes second reading
Heckling, applause and Macklemore quotes saw in the successful Second Reading of the Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill in Parliament on Wednesday night. The Bill passed its Second Reading with 77 in favour and 44 votes opposed. The Bill must now go through a committee stage, and a third and final reading.
Labour MP Louisa Wall submitted the Bill on May 30 last year. The Bill seeks to redefine marriage as the “union of two people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity”. The Bill also clarifies that marriage celebrants don’t have to perform non-heterosexual marriages if it goes against their beliefs.
Wedding celebrant and National MP Chris Auchinvole said that he had been “internalising a complicated situation” in his heart and head and was all for the Bill. Wall quoted Macklemore’s ‘One Love’:
“And I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to, I can’t change.”
Youth representatives from all eight parties represented in Parliament met on Parliament grounds on the March 11 to show their unanimous support for equal marriage.
“This generation will not tolerate any form of discrimination, whether by race, gender or sexual orientation”, said Māori Party kaikorero rangatahi Teaonui Mckenzie.
The Young Conservatives were the one Youth Party not to support the Equal Marriage Bill.
Conservative Party leader Colin Craig likened the difference between civil unions and existing heterosexual marriages to separate toilets for men and women.
“There are grounds to discriminate on certain things. If you said to me, ‘do I think there should be separate toilet facilities when it comes to men and women’, ‘yes I do’”, said Craig.
VUWSA gained a mandate to support the Bill after a Special General Meeting last year.
“This is an issue of civil rights and ending discrimination based solely on gender and sexuality”, said Equity Officer Matthew Ellison.
Winston Peters suggested that the Bill be voted on by the public in a referendum in the 2014 election, stating that there is “nothing worse than a politician who thinks they know best”. This call is supported by NZ First Youth.
“A referendum is the fairest, most inclusive and democratic method of achieving this. It is our hope that MPs of other parties will realise this and join our call for a referendum,” he said.
During the Second Reading, the members voted against an NZ First amendment proposing a referendum, with 83 votes against and 33 votes for.
National MP Tau Henare accused Winston Peters and his fellow National Party members of stalling and general bad behaviour in relation to the bill, saying he was “appalled” at their behaviour, accusing members of “outright not telling the truth”.
He went on to say that he disliked his colleagues’ attempts to get him to oppose the Bill and back a referendum, much to Labour’s delight.
“If I was to believe them then why aren’t we having a referendum on asset sales?” quipped Henare.
The next step is a Committee of the Whole House, where members will vote on the Bill clause by clause, and further amendments can be submitted by members for voting. After this has been completed, the Bill will go through its final reading, a date for which is uncertain.