Hone Harawira Mana leader Hone Harawira is reportedly coming under pressure from his party to support gay marriage, despite previously expressing discomfort about it, saying he was "morally very conservative". Harawira has so far refused to say whether he will vote in favour of gay marriage if a member's bill to allow it comes up before Parliament. However, the issue has sparked debate among his wider party membership and Harawira could be asked to put aside his own views and support it, the New Zealand Herald reports. The Mana Party has glbt members and supporters, and Harawira's own Executive Assistant is Jevan Goulter, a gay man who is known all too well in the gay community. Last year, when asked about the issue at Otago University, he did not answer directly but explained: "I might be politically radical but morally I'm very conservative." Yesterday, he told media he would not give his position until the Mana Party decided on its formal policy. "At that point, we will make a decision as to what my views are going to be in the House. And I'll be comfortable with it at that point because Mana is bigger than me." Read more here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 21st June 2012 - 1:00pm