A Wellington couple has expressed its disgust at being asked “who will be identified as husband, and who will be identified as wife?" by a National MP on the committee hearing submissions on the marriage equality bill. Des Smith and John Joliff are the first couple to have a civil union in New Zealand. They now want to get married, and have given a submission supporting the proposed legislation. “We neither expected nor appreciated the insulting question from Mr Bakshi as to who would play the husband and who the wife should we gain the right to marriage,” they say in a letter to the select committee. “To be frank it was offensive.” The couple also questions Bakshi’s competence to remain on the committee while it continues to debate the bill. “While he is there we hope that no other supporters of the Bill are treated by him as we were. Are there facilities for on the job training open to him?” You can read their full letter here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 26th November 2012 - 4:51pm