I believe in gay marriage

[mashman]

If that were the case, and they don't feel the need to distinguish themselves, then why be bothered about it in the first place? A rose by another other name....

Why did women want a vote? Why did black people not want to be slaves anymore? Perhaps irrespective of gender and the gender of our partners some people grow up wanting to be married because they believe in the institution and are fed up with being told that they can't because they're different. If they have the "equality" of not being distinguished by people such as yourself, then they will get their wish of not being distinguished anymore.

[oldrider]

Interesting point actually...now there are just more people to get divorced...never actually considered that.

When universities just keep on churning out graduates year in year out and in a small relatively stable population, growing the business requires thinking outside the box!

Kinda makes you wonder, could there have been some other undisclosed shadowy driving force in behind the success of this bill?

Probably not of course but all I mean is it does make one ponder, who really benefits!

[Brett]

Why did women want a vote? Why did black people not want to be slaves anymore? Perhaps irrespective of gender and the gender of our partners some people grow up wanting to be married because they believe in the institution and are fed up with being told that they can't because they're different. If they have the "equality" of not being distinguished by people such as yourself, then they will get their wish of not being distinguished anymore.

It's all rather moot anyhow, it has passed, they CAN get married and your thoughts or mine are pretty irrelevant. I hope that this brings the gay community the happiness that they believe it will, and that their commitments to one another last better than many heterosexual relationships do. I certainly wont be joining the bigot train that seems to be carrying the majority of those who opposed the bill because fundamentally, I think that many of them just show unloving attitude and even those who are Christian should FIRST be living by one of the greatest commandments (which many seem to have forgotten) which is to love one another, showing empathy and compassion. I'm never going to agree with it, because of my position on marriage, but that is my problem to deal with and if any of my gay friends were to invite me to their wedding (I don't know many...so chances are slim), I would certainly go along and share in their day with them and wish them all the very best. I'll leave my input in this discussion here I think.

[mashman]

It's all rather moot anyhow, it has passed, they CAN get married and your thoughts or mine are pretty irrelevant. I hope that this brings the gay community the happiness that they believe it will, and that their commitments to one another last better than many heterosexual relationships do. I certainly wont be joining the bigot train that seems to be carrying the majority of those who opposed the bill because fundamentally, I think that many of them just show unloving attitude and even those who are Christian should FIRST be living by one of the greatest commandments (which many seem to have forgotten) which is to love one another, showing empathy and compassion. I'm never going to agree with it, because of my position on marriage, but that is my problem to deal with and if any of my gay friends were to invite me to their wedding (I don't know many...so chances are slim), I would certainly go along and share in their day with them and wish them all the very best. I'll leave my input in this discussion here I think.

Fair enough. It's a shame that there has to be something recognised as a gay community instead of a simple community. I'm not surprised that you won't change your mind. Black people are still despised by some people, women are still lesser human beings in some people's eyes, the poor are still seen as lazy by many and many other "prejudices" that are taught and encouraged will persists beyond you an I having walked the face of this spinning rock. With any luck the next "taboo" to be accepted will be the one that deals with the poor, preferably by kickin the financial system into touch

[Madness]

Thats a fucken mature statement......

That's a fucking mature statement.

Your opinion is the only right one...

Is that another statement or a question? My opinion is as right to me as yours is to you, that's why they're called opinions.

Grow up

You tell me to grow up and then go on to post the following;

you can all do whatever the fuck you want..........

You can all call it whatever you want.....

But if you want to call it marriage you need one of each....

If not its just gay.

Bit like showing with a Honda at a Harley meeting

Classic. Nice to see you support the change though

[The Reibz]

Just wondering, now that gays can get married and shit, can I ride with a male pillion and not be considered a homo?

[Brett]

Fair enough. It's a shame that there has to be something recognised as a gay community instead of a simple community. I'm not surprised that you won't change your mind. Black people are still despised by some people, women are still lesser human beings in some people's eyes, the poor are still seen as lazy by many and many other "prejudices" that are taught and encouraged will persists beyond you an I having walked the face of this spinning rock. With any luck the next "taboo" to be accepted will be the one that deals with the poor, preferably by kickin the financial system into touch

Social cultures/behaviour can be very slow to adapt when they are strongly entrenched. For good or bad, depending on your perspective, homosexuality has been taboo for a very long time. It will take at least a full generation before this changes in any marked way IMO. (if it changes much more than it already has. NZ is quite a lot more liberal than many many other nations and is a small player in the culture of the west). FWIW...this is one of the larger cruxes I have had to go over internally. On one hand, I am extremely strong on people having their human rights protected (I come from a country that was torn apart by racial prejudice and have developed a deep seeded distaste for bigotry, racism, exploitation and oppression of human rights in general) but on the other hand, I, like anyone else, have values that I feel need to be protected. Of course this is extremely subjective, but so is yours and anyone else's views on the matter. The issue comes in that I really want to whole-heartedly support what is seen by many as a massive leap forward in acknowledging human rights of a minority group, but on another level I also just don't agree with it. Hence my standing on it that while I don't agree with it, I am not going to let it be a fuel for hurt in a world where there is already ample fuel for the fire. Anyway, I said I was bowing out of this convo...

[Jantar]

Just wondering, now that gays can get married and shit, can I ride with a male pillion and not be considered a homo?

Yes, as long as you aren't on a Honda.

[HenryDorsetCase]

My issue with the marriage equality bill has nothing to do with my religion etc. but has more to do with my objection of the use of the word "marriage" when describing two same sex individuals together in a marriage type union. Let me explain, it would be incorrect of me to describe myself as being in a homosexual relationship with my wife because, quite simply it cannot be that way. She is F, I am M. To me, by its very definition, marriage is the union between a male and a female. There should be another name for the union between a man/man or woman/woman that has equal grounding in law etc. so that homosexual people have an equally appropriate title for their relationship as marriage, but also allows for a clear distinction from heterosexual "marriage" - not because their relationship is "cheaper" or anything, but simply because it is not the same as mine. Liken it to a diesel vs a petrol motor...they are both equally useful at different things, but they are never going to be the same.

so you want to discriminate. Fine, I get it. Luckily you dont have the opportunity anymore.

[The Reibz]

Yes, as long as you aren't on a Honda.

Fuckin safe...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Funny thing is there was this thing called a Civil Union which pretty much covered your wants in regards to labels. The only difference between your heterosexual marriage and the future gay marriages we're lilely to see soon are the different dangly bits, or lack thereof, in the trouser department. It's a shame you have an issue with it, hopefully you'll grow out of it in time.

the key one actually was the adoption

[Jantar]

There was a time in New Zealand when homsexuality was illegal.
Then in the late 1950s and early 1960s it was still illegal, but condoned as long as it was kept private.
Next it was made legal, but with some restrictions like marriage.
10 years ago A marriage like state called civil unions was legalised, and now full marriage is legal.

Its time to leave the country before homosexuality becomes compulsory for everyone.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Well you can bet your bottom dollar that the law society has and they are looking forward to all those hard earned pink dollars choking up their vaults!

individual lawyers perhaps, the lor society won't be.

Oh yeah, just thinking this through, in fact there will be less money for lawyers now that same sex couples can marry. It ticks a lot of boxes in terms of looking after assets, status of children, PRA stuff and estate planning.

DAMN IT PUT THE LOR BACK THE WAY IT WAS SO I CAN AFFORD A NEW BENZ AND MY ITALIAN HOLIDAY.

[HenryDorsetCase]

When universities just keep on churning out graduates year in year out and in a small relatively stable population, growing the business requires thinking outside the box!

Kinda makes you wonder, could there have been some other undisclosed shadowy driving force in behind the success of this bill?

Probably not of course but all I mean is it does make one ponder, who really benefits!

People who yesterday couldnt marry someone and now can?

[Katman]

Its time to leave the country before homosexuality becomes compulsory for everyone.

I don't see anyone stopping you.