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New Zealand to vote on gay marriage

The country’s lawmakers will vote on whether to allow marriage between two people regardless of sex, gender identity or orientation.

Updated at 2.50pm

NEW ZEALAND MPS are to vote on a bill that would legalise gay marriage.

The New Zealand Herald reports that the bill, which is aimed at legalising same-sex marriage, was submitted by Labour MP Louisa Wall.

If passed, the bill would alter the country’s 1955 Marriage Act. Voting is expected to take place within the next two months.

The definition of marriage under the act would change to become a union of two people, regardless of each of their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, ABC News reports.

Civil unions are available to same-sex couples in New Zealand.

Scotland is also pressing ahead with plans to legalise same-sex marriage. It has drafted legislation which would legalise same-sex marriage in churches and civil ceremonies.

Read: Scotland to press ahead with plans to legalise same-sex marriage>

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18 Comments
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    Mute UrbexJunkie
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:08 AM

    I hope they vote yes. Everyone has the right to be happy.

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    Mute Kate Brennan Harding
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:36 AM

    ok, can we please start just calling it marriage .. its not called straight marriage is it? It’s about equality not a different type of equality!!!!

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    Mute Jim Brady
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:48 AM

    Oxford dictionary definition of marriage:
    noun
    1) the formal union of a man and a woman, typically as recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife:
    “she has three children from a previous marriage”
    [mass noun] the state of being married:
    “women want equality in marriage”
    (in some jurisdictions) a union between partners of the same sex.
    2) a combination or mixture of elements:
    “her music is a marriage of funk, jazz, and hip hop”

    19
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    Mute Jim Brady
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:48 AM

    Oxford dictionary definition of marriage:
    noun
    1) the formal union of a man and a woman, typically as recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife:
    “she has three children from a previous marriage”
    [mass noun] the state of being married:
    “women want equality in marriage”
    (in some jurisdictions) a union between partners of the same sex.
    2) a combination or mixture of elements:
    “her music is a marriage of funk, jazz, and hip hop”

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    Mute Jim Brady
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:57 AM

    The reason not everybody calls it marriage is perhaps due to the defining attributes of the word implying a man and a woman, rather than a question of equality.
    E.g if a lesbian couple bring up a child, does the child have a “daddy”? Should we redefinine the word “father” to include women?
    And If civil partnerships were deemed equal in the eyes of the law, what’s the problem?

    Oxford dictionary definition of marriage:
    noun
    1) the formal union of a man and a woman, typically as recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife:
    “she has three children from a previous marriage”
    [mass noun] the state of being married:
    “women want equality in marriage”
    (in some jurisdictions) a union between partners of the same sex.
    2) a combination or mixture of elements:
    “her music is a marriage of funk, jazz, and hip hop”

    10
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    Mute Chris Dunphy
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:57 AM

    Happily, dictionaries evolve along with language. Even the definiation that Jim posted (thaks!) includes reference to same sex marriage, which ought to please the pedants out there. Well done, Scotland; best of luck, New Zealand.

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    Mute Chris Dunphy
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    Jul 26th 2012, 11:06 AM

    @Jim: civil partnerships are NOT deemed equal in the eys of the law. There are more than 160 legal differences, chief among them being an outrageous neglect of the rights of the children to access to both their parents. I know two same-sex couple with kids: one set of kids call both parents by their names (but can clearly articulate the parenting roles); the other kid calls her biological father Da and her adoptive father Pop. The issue of language in these scenarios should not be an impediment to access to civil marriage.

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    Mute Pierce2020
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    Jul 26th 2012, 11:15 AM

    Jim, the meaning of words change over time, that’s why they keep producing new ones. If you don’t believe me have a look at one from 50 years ago, it probably contains words that would get you banned from this website.

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    Mute Nick Beard
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    Jul 26th 2012, 1:47 PM

    Jim, if the dictionary provides an example of it being between two people of the same sex, it’s a bit ridiculous to state that should just be ignored to make your point.

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    Mute Kate Brennan Harding
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    Jul 26th 2012, 11:13 AM

    your points Jim smack a little of trying to be too clever for your own good. Marriage by old definitions does not exist in this day and age, if full equality is implemented in to this country or any other country then it should be defined as simply marriage.. not gay marriage. Marriage is a union between two people regardless of gender or sexuality.. and as for your point on re defining the word father to include women that is only going to confuse any debate and frankly is non sensical! .. “defining attributes of the word marriage” – who defines it?? since when does the word marriage have any gender attached to it??

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    Mute Ryan Allen
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    Jul 26th 2012, 7:22 PM

    Sorry to be pedantic, but the article would quite rightly raise some “wtf’s” if it read:

    “NEW ZEALAND MPS are to vote on a bill that would legalise marriage.”

    #justsaying #don’tbitemyheadoff

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    Mute Kate Brennan Harding
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    Jul 29th 2012, 1:54 AM

    yes i get that, but it could say ‘ NEW ZEALAND TO INTRODUCE MARRIAGE EQUALITY”!!

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    Mute True Blue
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:05 AM

    Let’s hope they make the right choice. Let’s hope they vote no.

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    Mute Tony Stanley
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    Jul 26th 2012, 12:32 PM

    Come on Troll Blue, I mean True Blue! Give us your name and stop hiding behind anonymity you coward!

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    Mute kingstown
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    Jul 26th 2012, 12:24 PM

    If they vote No Lucinda can emigrate there

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    Mute Conor Buggy
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    Jul 26th 2012, 1:33 PM

    Ah good auld Lady Crettin would be better in Iran, their attitudes to homosexuality are right up her street!

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    Mute Mark fox
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    Jul 26th 2012, 6:58 PM

    And if they vote yes, ye can all move there.

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    Mute Jim Brady
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    Jul 26th 2012, 10:10 AM

    I propose that Ireland adopt a compromise policy towards this issue of national urgency, and introduce Gay marriage on a phased transitional basis.
    Between 2012 and 2015, civil partnership should slowly and gradually merge into marriage, through a series of civil martenrships, (martners referring to themselves as parried), before civil marriage, and then uncivil marriage (currently the hetrosexual norm)
    This could be phased in on a county by county basis, starting with Leitrim

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