Same-sex marriage bill first reading – full video

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Same-sex marriage bill first reading – full video

3News NZ

Louisa Wall: "Today is the time to open the institution of marriage to all those eligible"

Louisa Wall: "Today is the time to open the institution of marriage to all those eligible"

By 3 News online staff

Last night saw Labour MP Louisa Wall’s same-sex marriage bill pass its first reading in Parliament, with two thirds of MPs voting in favour.

Ms Wall received a rousing applause after her speech to a near-full House, where she said her bill is underpinned by love and fairness of opportunity.

The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, if it becomes law, will allow two people to marry regardless of sexual orientation and gender.

It will also allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

Ms Wall said marriage predates both Government and Christianity and has changed dramatically over time.

“Same-sex marriage between men was not uncommon in the days of the Roman emperor Nero and the Catholic Church originally saw marriage as tainted but they adopted and adapted it,” she said.

Marriage is a Government institution irrespective of religious affiliation, she said, and should be about all citizens being equal under the law.

She also put to bed some allegations that her bill would force churches to marry people they didn’t want to.

“This does not require any person or church to carry out a marriage if it does not fit within the beliefs of the celebrant or the religious interpretation a church has.”

“Today is the time to open the institution of marriage to all those eligible,” said Ms Wall.

The bill has been sent to a select committee before it is returned to the House for its second reading.

3 News

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Comments

14/02/2013 11:40:45 p.m.

Onlyanjana patel wrote:

Veri nice

4/11/2012 9:20:58 a.m.

Dani suhendi wrote:

Like

5/09/2012 6:19:42 p.m.

frank wrote:

Gary are you sure there is a clue there.I have glanced at it,but i do not dislike the church enough to see something that is not there.I am sure you will tell me. good on you for the interest

5/09/2012 1:27:21 p.m.

Gary wrote:

FRANK - Roman Catholic Church! Clue is in the name if you can spot it! Think hard it is a tricky one!

4/09/2012 2:25:35 p.m.

Craig wrote:

Frank, have you ever heard of the Roman Emperor Constantine? You should have, he was the one who introduced Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. And you're right- what happened to Christians under Nero and Diocletian particularly was pretty horrible too. About as ghastly as what happened to Christians in Darfur and the rest of South Sudan...or Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, for that matter, during the Balkan Wars of the nineties. I unreservedly condemn the brutal violation of human rights and civil liberties that accompanied ethnic cleansing and religious persecution in both contexts.


However, so was what happened to pagans and even dissident Christians after Constantine christianised the empire.

2/09/2012 4:21:43 p.m.

frank wrote:

I see we have many budding historians who read history and interpet it to suit their own agenda,gay people are always made to look like the victims,what about the christians they might deserve a mention, not much fun getting thrown to the lions or do the gays think that was ok. Now about the catholic church which is a warm.accepting.forgiving . and giving church these attributes sometimes gets it into some trouble.people take advantage of its good nature, and the manic media are waiting for this to happen. The gay people are always banging on about the church but they know full well who are causing the problem, just think about it ''A ROSE IS A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME''

31/08/2012 2:49:53 p.m.

Craig Young wrote:

Lesley, the Roman Empire fell because it was overstretched, militarily weak because it was reliant on mercenaries, and with an inadequate taxation base to administer its territories, not as a 'result' of 'decadence' as you imply. By the fifth century, Christianity was the state religion and lesbians and gay men were subjected to persecution as a result.

31/08/2012 11:09:48 a.m.

Lesley wrote:

David, it was Christ's teaching -Christianity that helped to bring about the fall of the Roman Empire. Yes the Catholic Church emerged. However the Catholic Church is very different these days - the reason why the The Reformation happened. Louisa should not have referred to Nero. He is not a good example to refer to.

30/08/2012 9:57:49 p.m.

Evie wrote:

This makes me proud to be a New Zealander.

30/08/2012 6:11:55 p.m.

Lala wrote:

I only have one question to Luisa..If a man and a man wants to get marry in a church..What would the Minister annouse them of?? I may now introduce to you Mr and ? what?..certainly not Mr and Mrs..or husband and wife..or are you gonna force these Ministers to do it for da sake of your bill?..you amazingly crazy as far as I know..I feel you're doing this to recieve Glory but you're certainly not making any thing better for the Gay Community..