Political opponents of civil unions are the ones guilty of the "social engineering" they accuse others of, says the government. MP David Benson-Pope says recognition of exclusive and stable relationships is an important rights issue, and a foundation of democratic society. “Those who would deny others their rights, when these are entirely personal matters that affect no one else, are the ones who can be accused of trying to manipulate society to their own views,” he told GayNZ.com. The government was responding to hints from National leader Don Brash that he would make civil unions into an election issue, because a "great many people, with some justification, feel that the Government has been preoccupied with social engineering at the cost of dealing with the issues that affect most people's lives." Benson-Pope says a majority of the public supported civil unions. "There can be little sympathy for the position in which Dr Brash finds himself. He personally supported civil unions, but flip-flopped because the majority of his caucus didn't - even though it was a conscience vote. He is all over the place." Brash justified his anti-civil union vote on the basis that he felt it should have been decided by referendum. “The idea of a referendum was a ruse,” says Benson-Pope. “If Dr Brash doesn't believe that it is the role of parliament to make important decisions like this, maybe he's in the wrong job."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 28th April 2005 - 12:00pm