PM backs gay marriage

Email
Print

PM backs gay marriage

3News NZ

John Key at the Big Gay Out

John Key at the Big Gay Out

By 3 News online staff

Prime Minister John Key has delighted gay marriage supporters this morning by announcing he will be voting in favour of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

Mr Key says as the proposed bill won't undermine his own marriage.

The private members' bill, introduced by Labour MP Louisa Wall, will have its first reading in the near future. MPs will vote on it according to conscience, and will not be bound by party lines.

"You go through all the merits of the argument and look at what people put up, but my view is that if two gay people want to get married I can't see why it would undermine my marriage with Bronagh," Mr Key told RadioLIVE.

"There will be plenty of people in our caucus who will be deeply opposed - particularly the very religious ones, and I can understand that.

"I think it's quite healthy that New Zealand has the debate, I suspect it won't be what it was when you looked at homosexual law reform in the '70s - I don't think it will be that dramatic."

A petition to keep the law as it is launched over the weekend, and has attracted 488 signatures so far, though not all of them appear to be genuine.

The site, protectmarriage.org.nz, has also come under fire from rock band Train, after their song 'Marry Me' was used without their permission, reports the New Zealand Herald.

Mr Key voted against the civil union bill in 2004, saying he was just representing the views of his electorate.

3 News

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

6/08/2012 8:32:21 p.m.

Julie wrote:

Sanity prevails, if the relationship is based on love and respect by both parties for each other, why would you not sanction it? Delighted to hear NZ can open its mind and its heart! (sadly I live in Australia, where medieval principles prevail). Go John Key!

6/08/2012 11:33:48 a.m.

Craig Young wrote:

My my, Mr Craig's misbegotten microparty is still only polling within the margin of error...

3/08/2012 5:16:36 p.m.

Matty wrote:

@ David. I wasn't claiming all 'god fearing' people are morons, just the hating ones who commented on this board..

3/08/2012 4:11:19 p.m.

David wrote:

So Matty, what about the God fearing hating morons? I suppose you hate them too? Exterminate liberalism.

2/08/2012 5:14:49 p.m.

Matty wrote:

Good on you John, you're a smart man. Anyone with half a brain can see that homosexuals deserve the same rights, and that they didn't get to choose their sexual preference. Any of the hating, "God-fearing" commenting morons below could have just as easily been born attracted to their own sex. I know I only have to think of how much I love my Girlfriend, and if I loved another man that much I'd want to marry them...

31/07/2012 7:41:20 p.m.

Jane wrote:

Key say!s his marriage will not suffer.Maybe it is too late too turn the clock back,in the way he acts up to the gays.

30/07/2012 8:08:32 p.m.

Humans wrote:

im happy he is being mature and going a head with this and what nonsense are people talking about, the only nonsense i see is people nagging on and saying negative stuff, everyone deserves the same rights and last time i checked, gays and that are human beings and they have just as much right as you other mans do. and why is it such a big things for religious groups, why go to church to learn about loving other people and preaching the bible yet they can't do it outside? and if marriage was from the Christianity and god and all the modern religious groups, what gives atheist the right to get married? i think people have gotta look at them self and stop being judgmental and being so concerned with this same-sex marriage thing, and stop using the excuse trying to protect your culture and identity, there all excuses. all i see is pure hate and closed minded people who arnt really awake. Wake up people! there everywhere and they are people with feelings. put yourself in their shoes and see how hard it is. i know because this because my son is gay and i fully support him and even if he wants to get married. i'm a proud father. no matter what.

30/07/2012 3:34:56 p.m.

Good Man wrote:

If Key votes for this bill, I will lose all respect for him and vote strategically against him in the next election. Marriage is a sacred thing to me and my family and you are attacking my identity and culture by even proposing this law. You may say, "I don't care." So perhaps it's time to fight fire with fire.

30/07/2012 2:31:28 p.m.

Chris wrote:

This is outrageous, I am sick of all of this homosexual crap all over the news, public television and even in the schooling system. Homophobe, I don't care if you call me that, standing up against this nonsense is far more important than worrying about name calling.

30/07/2012 1:55:21 p.m.

Gary wrote:

This is just part of a western democratic society. If it is not illegal then why should they not have the same rights?? Marraige is a contract between two people that wish to share each others lives living together with unconditional love, this gives them rights set out by the governemnt to help them achieve this. To stand against this you stand against democracy unless you push to change the law that makes it illegal to be gay! I would say it goes against nature but then we are constantly evolving and changing that is natures way. And God created everything, all Christians know that, so he therfore created homosexuallity too. If it is so hated by God then why create it in the first place??