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"Take repeal calls seriously" - Robson

Wed 4 May 2005 In: New Zealand Daily News

Attempts to repeal civil unions should be taken seriously, says Progressive MP Matt Robson, although the most recent political party to raise the idea probably shouldn't be. Christian Heritage NZ, the former party of convicted child molester Graham Capill, said Friday that it would work to repeal the Civil Union Act "as soon as possible" because it gave official sanction to homosexuality. Matt Robson describes Christian Heritage as "a spent political force" that are unlikely to achieve such a repeal, but that others may try and should be taken seriously. "This is an issue of human rights and justice which flows directly from the amendment of human rights legislation a decade ago to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. There is no justification for seeking to abolish it on spurious sacramental grounds. Religious beliefs are a private matter and nothing to do with the state." A repeal of human rights legislation for GLBT citizens would send a message that they were not entitled to a place in our society, Robson says. “I have no doubt that is a message which would not be tolerated by most New Zealanders, who are justly proud to claim that this is a tolerant and liberal society. No-one should be complacent about that however.” Robson added that religious opponents of civil unions should remember that laws which once allowed for discrimination had been used against Christians in the past.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Wednesday, 4th May 2005 - 12:00pm

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