The passage of British law giving civil partnership rights to gay couples sends an important and timely signal to New Zealand MPs considering our own Civil Union Bill, says Labour MP Russell Fairbrother. "The great show of confidence by British parliamentarians in this legislation is a clear signal that the proposed legislation in this country is right in step with international norms," Mr Fairbrother said in a statement, noting the increasing number of western democracies (including France, Germany, Hungary and Denmark) that recognise same-sex relationships. Herald columnist Colin James noted yesterday that the recent swathe of gay marriage bans in the United States did not translate to similar feeling in New Zealand. "Though there is a large and vocal opposition, and many liberals are uncertain, it is a reasonable guess that a binding referendum at election time would allow civil unions," he wrote. Former Labour Party president Maryan Street, one of the thousand who signed the Civil Union Bill support ad in the Sunday Star-Times last week, says the issue is one of human rights and choice. "It doesn't degrade marriage – it simply recognizes the same legal status and obligations for other couples without altering one jot the rights and recognition of married heterosexuals," she told GayNZ.com. Britain's House of Lords last week passed the Civil Partnership Bill by 251 votes to 136.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 24th November 2004 - 12:00pm