New Zealand joins same sex marriage

[goldenfinger]

http://www.theage.com.au/world/new-zealand-passes-gay-marriage-bill-20130417-2i0l4.html

New Zealand has just joined the growing number of countries allowing same sex marriage,,,,Australia still dragging it feet.

[DuckiesDarling]

Awesome... been watching the debate and just grinning now. Go Kiwis.

[darkeyes]

..and all being well, France should be next in 6 days...:). Bit of a rocky ole road tho...http://www.france24.com/en/20130418-france-gay-marriage-vote-ayrault-protest-calm

[Long Duck Dong]

with NZ, we now recognize peoples rights to civil union and marriage and they will be equal in legal standing and there is no intention of merging the two together... as there is too much support for the *religious * and * non religious * unions.....

[chook]

What a disaster..........now you'll have millions of very jealous sheep to condend with :eek2:

Cheers Chook :yikes2:

[tenni]

I heard those NZ sheep can be quite seductive...lol

Congrats to the bisexuals in NZ who wish to marry a same gender person!!! Congrats to gays & lesbians in NZ.

Welcome to the countries of marriage equality!

[innaminka]

NZ has led the world on so many social reforms - and is a leader here.
Pity the dinosaurs in Oz are crippled by fear of the Church and the social cripples north of the Tweed.

Sadly there is as much chance of it happening in the next (at least 6) years under an Abbot Govt as pigs flying.

In many respects Oz is becoming a sad little reactionary country.

[Tanzanite]

NZ Rocks!

[Gleekybaby]

Hell yes we did!!!!!! Go Us KIWIS!!!!!!!!

VioletPetal Is VERRRRY happy!!!!!! (have her on facebook)

Such exciting news!!!!!

[zigzig]

Happy for some change in the world map, because still many countries are far more conservative about this.

[darkeyes]

with NZ, we now recognize peoples rights to civil union and marriage and they will be equal in legal standing and there is no intention of merging the two together... as there is too much support for the *religious * and * non religious * unions.....
This means wot precisely, Duckie?

[Long Duck Dong]

its something we have debated in the past, fran

What are the legal requirements for all marriage ceremonies?
The legal requirements are that:
The marriage must be performed by a Marriage Celebrant or Registrar of Marriages at the place specified on the marriage licence;
The marriage must be performed in the presence of at least two witnesses; and
During the ceremony, and before at least two witnesses, each party must say the words "I AB take you CD, to be my legal wife/husband" or words to similar effect.
Both parties and witnesses sign the registration form.


it was a compromise with the religious people that a marriage ceremony retained the link to the religious aspect of marriage ( IE husband and wife )

civil union do not have that restriction and in fact, marriage is a religious understanding, union was the original understanding...... which is why many people choose a civil union over marriage....

many groups, faith and beliefs in nz have been unable to enjoy or embrace or their own understanding of their joining, due to the restrictions of the marriage law....and as such, have been forced to compromise in order to have their union legally recognized,.... now they do not have to.....

freedom and right of choice mean different things to different people..... and for some people, a union is not the taking of another to be their partner as a form of finding another worthy but a giving of themselves freely, to another and becoming theirs in the same way they do the same with you.....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCDEiaoEP2U