Wed 13 Aug 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A radio station’s competition for two straight male friends to win a trip to the Rugby World Cup by marrying each other is being described as “disrespectful”, “homophobic” and “making a mockery of marriage”. “We know kiwi guys love their footy, but how far could we push them?” The Edge says in the promotion material for the competition: “We've done stranger weddings, naked weddings, same sex weddings but this is the first one that we know will end in divorce.” The Edge describes a man marrying another man as the “ultimate commitment”. The 'Love You Man' competition has been announced during radio survey, a time when stations are desperate to bring attention to their brand. Glbti New Zealanders have been quick to pan the competition on The Edge’s Facebook page, and GayNZ.com’s. Christchurch woman Hayley S Jarvis says she has listened to The Edge for a number of years, but finds the competition “utterly disrespectful to same sex couples who have fought for years to gain the right to marry the love of their life”. She adds “This competition devalues the same sex marriage and is disrespectful of the long and hard fought battle that has only recently been won. Conservative people said when the marriage amendment bill was being looked into that having same sex couples marry would make a mockery of marriage, I believe you are doing this here and it's extremely disrespectful.” Claire Southern agrees, stating “This competition is disrespectful to same sex couples. We have waited for many years to have the same basic human right to marry that heterosexual couples have had forever.” Brooke Milne adds “Not cool at all disrespectful to same sex marriage I'm really not happy you make my blood boil guys.” Kyaw Kyaw Aung says “This is very unacceptable and homophobic!!!” Stuart Hayward says “Well I'm glad we spent years working tirelessly for marriage equality for it to be used as a gimmick in this penultimate personification of 'nohomo' ... not cool.” There are also questions about the legality of entering into marriage vows with the intention of breaking them. As Doreen Shields points out “So it costs $211.50 to apply for a divorce and you have to have lived apart for two years. Then there is the issue of relationship property, next of kin rights..... anyone signing up for this is indeed making a mockery of marriage and they deserve all the trouble they are letting themselves in for.” What do you think? You can weigh in on our Facebook page here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 13th August 2014 - 9:00am