Two Wellington men will this weekend make history as the first couple to have a civil union in Parliament's legislative council chambers. Piri Norris, 24, and Justin Elder, 28, will join hands on Saturday. After seeing each other around law school, they started chatting at Les Mills and Elder finally worked up the courage to ask Norris out. “We then went on a date and the rest is history,” Norris says. Politics run in the veins of the couple, with Elder working as an Executive Assistant to National MP Sandra Goudie, while Norris is finishing his law degree and works part-time for the Ministry of Social Development. Norris says the legislative council chambers at Parliament are a stunning landmark venue of important national significance, and as his partner works at Parliament he was allowed to apply to the Speaker to use the Chamber for their civil union. Adding to the occasion will be the fact former Mayor Kerry Prendergast, who officiated at the first civil union in New Zealand, will act as celebrant, while a number of MPs will attend. After the ceremony the couple is planning on relocating to Melbourne, where frustratingly their union will not be recognised. “It is a bit bewildering to be honest, in the 21st Century,” Norris says. “It seems that Australia has been left behind against the rest of the world in terms of recognition of same-sex relationships. Particularly given the fact there is widespread popular support for recognition of same sex marriage,” he continues. “Same sex marriage is a matter of equality, and why should loving couples who are the same gender not have the same recognition as their straight brothers and sisters.” Norris says there is no rational reason to deny same-sex couples the same basic civil rights as straight couples. “Those who express opposition to equality base their views on ignorance and prejudice.” He says if New Zealand had full gay marriage rights, the couple would have a wedding. “Although we are happy that our relationship will have legal recognition, it is slightly demeaning that we don't have a choice.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 16th November 2011 - 1:53pm