Reverend Uesifili Unasa The Auckland Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel is throwing out claims opposition to marriage equality is overwhelming among the city’s Pacific community. It follows Labour MP for Mangere, Su'a William Sio stating the bill could cost Labour the next election, stating there is widespread opposition within his electorate, and some ministers in Pacific churches are preaching against the bill and against Labour. However, the Chair of the Auckland Pacific Peoples Advisory Panel, Reverend Uesifili Unasa, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat programme that opposition to gay marriage is not necessarily as strong or widespread in the Pacific community as some might think. "The Pacific community is no different from any community where views on issues such as this has to do with values and morals and I guess a tradition of living in certain ways, will be divided over such an issue," he said. "My understanding of where the church is at is that there are some very strong conservative and traditional views against gay marriages, but I also believe that there is a very strong standpoint and position supporting the gay marriage issue." Reverend Unasa says he's worried about the "toxic nature" of the conversation in the public arena and wants to see a more moderate debate about the issue. "We believe we can have a civil and respectful and honourable conversation," he said. "The difficulty at the moment is that we are having a debate that's misinformed, sensationalised and represented by the loudest voices, which tend to be at the extremes of the debate.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 17th August 2012 - 11:45am