There were outpourings of emotion at Parliament yesterday at the historic final reading of the Civil Union Bill, which was passed into law 65 votes to 55. Supporters in Parliament grounds had their sound system cranked up, blasting out such timeless hits as It's Raining Men, Going to the Chapel, I Want That Man, and We are the Champions. Fringe fundamentalists gathered on Parliament's lawn with a bevy of placards. One man knelt and prayed. Another burst into tears as he begged supporters of the bill to leave. Destiny Church head Brian Tamaki sat in the public gallery and watched the final debate surrounded by bodyguards. He says the civil union victory will mobilise Christians who have been too complacent. Tamaki says the new law makes acceptable what he considers to be an unnatural sexual practice, however this has already been the case since 1985 when homosexual law reform was passed.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 10th December 2004 - 12:00pm