An anti-gay marriage group says allowing same-sex couples to tie the knot
would open the door for polygamy and adult incest.
Heated debate over the topic began when Labour MP Louisa Wall's marriage
equality bill was pulled from parliament's ballot last week.
On Sunday, Family First and other groups against the bill started an online
petition on a website to "support the definition of marriage being maintained as
one man one woman" and oppose any attempt to redefine this.
The site has been through some teething problems with reports that it had
crashed. It was also reported the US band Train had objected to its song 'Marry
Me' being used on the site.
Family First national director Bob McCoskrie has since released a statement
saying if same-sex couples are allowed to marry it could be argued that those
seeking polygamous, polyamorous and incestuous adult unions are also being
discriminated against.
Polyamory is having more than one sexual relationship at a time with the
knowledge and consent of everyone involved.
"If we are going to have a debate about same-sex marriage and liberalising
adoption laws, it is essential that the politicians acknowledge just how far
this is going to go, and what relationships will continue to be discriminated
against," Mr McCoskrie said.
He is calling on political parties to state where they stand on polygamy and
polyamory.
Prime Minister John Key told RadioLive he would use a conscience vote to vote
in favour of the bill.
Asked whether his conscience would change in the bill's third reading, he
said: "No".
He then added: "We first need to go and have the debates, I haven't spent a
lot of time thinking about it. I'm going to give myself a little bit of
room."
NZN