Bakshi now says it's important for New Zealand to “keep up with the times”. Sikh National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has shown his evolution from the man who asked a gay couple "who will be identified as husband, and who will be identified as wife?" during marriage equality submissions. As a member of the Government Administration Select Committee, he’s spoken positively about a special piece of prosed legislation which would allow Lower Hutt woman Rowen Sullivan to have both her mothers’ names on her birth certificate. “This Bill is a reminder, Mr Speaker, that quite frequently the Government can and does have a significant positive effect on people’s lives, at a very personal level,” he said during the second reading speeches. “Thereby sir it is important that we in this House do not forget our duty to handle these cases with respect.” Bakshi spoke about how much he has learned from the Select Committee and went on to say Rowen Sullivan grew up in a family with a “good culture” and that it was important for New Zealand to “keep up with the times”. The National MP also acknowledged Sullivan’s courage and commitment to both her parents, “to get their names on her birth certificate so that she can live with the pride that she has acknowledged her parents in due course.” The rhetoric drew scattered applause, and is a far cry from his statements during submissions on marriage equality legislation, where he seriously offended gay couple Des Smith and John Jolliff by asking: "If you get married, who will be identified as husband, and who will be identified as wife?" He also expressed concern about how a married same-sex couple would have "the children". He later sought out a GayNZ.com Daily News reporter to apologise. "It was not my intention to offend anyone," he said. "I just wanted to understand, to ask questions, to clarify for myself.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 20th February 2014 - 11:02am