5.05pm: The Civil Union Bill has passed its second reading 66 votes to 55. There were no abstentions. The House heard strong speeches in favour of the Bill from Moana Mackey, Lianne Dalziel, Tim Barnett, Georgina Beyer, Nandor Tanzcos and Associate Justice Minister David Benson-Pope, the minister in charge of the bill. Mackey suggested gays were unfairly blamed for everything wrong in society, from the ridiculous to the sublime. She cited an email her office received today blaming gays for global warming. Illogical speeches from Don Brash and Stephen Franks spoke of how they had no problem with same-sex couples being legally recognised, followed by statements of how they would still be voting against the bill. Franks speech suggested that his vote against civil unions was a punishment for gays and lesbians who would seek to implement hate speech laws. He said until there was tolerance on both sides, he couldn't support a bill which would infringe on peoples right to "peacefully" oppose homosexuality. He did not explain how the Civil Union Bill did this.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd December 2004 - 12:00pm