About Protect Families

Families are a basic part of society.  But they’re not identical cookie-cutter stereotypes.  Every family is unique, and every family is equally deserving of respect and protection.

Some people want to impose their views of how things should be – one man, one woman, their children, end of story.

We know families are far more diverse and far more complex than that.

Changing the law so that loving, committed couples can get married is one step towards making New Zealand an even better place for families, an even better place for children.

Don’t let other people tell you what family is.  Don’t let other people make assumptions about why you got married, why you had kids, why you didn’t have kids.  Protect your family by protecting other people’s families.

We made it!

Louisa Wall’s bill passed its first reading last night, 80 votes to 40.

This means that whatever happens, we can now have a real debate about the issue of marriage equality and protecting the families who already exist in New Zealand.

Toby Manhire’s doing a longblog of continuing coverage on the issue – check it out for future updates!

We’re signing off!

First reading tomorrow!

Keep your fingers crossed for a vote in favour of protecting families, not old-fashioned institutions!

Slim majority backs gay marriage bill – NZ Herald

Current numbers at MarriageEquality.co.nz – 61 in favour!

Update for Monday 27 August

Catholic Bishops over-reach on marriage equality – Kevin Hague

It’s not a surprise that the NZ Catholic Bishops have chosen to oppose Louisa Wall’s Bill for marriage equality. After all, they opposed Homosexual Law Reform, they opposed human rights protection on the grounds of sexual orientation and they opposed Civil Unions. I’m beginning to sense a theme.

Gay marriage debate heats up – NewstalkZB

It’s not all good news, but we think it’s clear the tide is turning!

A sample email sent to MPs calls gays and lesbians “sexual deviants and dropouts” who don’t have the capacity to be normal, and who gave the world HIV and AIDS.

It also asks how many sportspeople are gay.

Ironically, the Bill’s sponsor Louisa Wall represented New Zealand in netball and rugby.

Marriage rights battle heating up – NZ Herald

Another family who deserve to be protected!

Monique and Mahara have been together eight years, wear rings demonstrating their commitment and say they are engaged, though they never followed through on a Civil Union.

They are glad they didn’t now because if Labour MP Louisa Wall’s bill to legalise same-sex marriage passes, they would rather get married.

Marriage itself is not the drawcard, the women say, but they would like the right to get married because this would mean they were being treated the same as everyone else.

Yet another “opinion” on same-sex marriage – Kiwiana (inked)

Garth George has also apparently never met a homosexual who is light-hearted and carefree. I think I can safely say that I would not be particularly light-hearted or carefree if I were forced to have a conversation with Garth George, as it’s surprisingly difficult to remain light-hearted and carefree when talking with someone who sees you as a lesser human being for no other reason than the fact that you sometimes like to sleep with women.

Update for Wednesday 22 August

A big story on the marriage equality front has been a letter from Catholic Bishops arguing against the bill.  But don’t worry about the headlines of those stories – the reporters make it clear at the end that this isn’t a universal belief among Christian clergy.

Bishops condemn gay marriage in letter – TVNZ

Fifty clergy and laity from Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Quaker denominations lashed out at the bishops and called on them to reconsider their position on the Marriage Amendment Bill.

Bishops damn gay marriage in letter – Dominion Post

Anglican vicar the Rev Glynn Cardy, of Auckland, said the bishops’ letter was an attack on gay, bisexual and transsexual people.

It contained misinformation and “questionable teaching” from scripture, including an interpretation of the Adam and Eve myth that implied marriage was between one man and one woman.

Marriage equality campaign escalates – Voxy – also see Legalise Love’s press release

LegaliseLove and marriage equality groups within Wellington are currently working together to facilitate and organise a rally on August 29.

Marriage equality stories:  Hannah and Toni – Stuff

It’s natural for me to say I’m married because it’s the cultural construct my life has been founded in. I was brought up by married parents, was a bridesmaid for my sister’s wedding and went to my brother’s wedding. So why does the law not recognise that they also came to my wedding?

This promised set of stories about marriage equality looks like it could be a really good way of making people see that this isn’t about “redefining” marriage. It’s about recognising the people who are already in relationships and families which aren’t reflected in our laws.

Rally planned for day of marriage bill reading – GayNZ.com

The first reading of Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill is pencilled in for Wednesday 29 August, with a march and rally being planned in Wellington which will culminate in what’s hoped to be a “packed” public gallery at Parliament.

Update for Friday 17 August

Marriage equality – idea whose time has come – Kevin Hague MP, frogblog

I fully appreciate that there are some people who hold religious views about homosexuality that are negative, but it is important to understand that marriage is, in fact, two different things. On the one hand it is a religious sacrament, and I recognise that, arising from this, some churches may object to marrying same-sex couples for doctrinal reasons. The intention behind the Bill is absolutely to continue to allow such churches to decide whom they will and will not marry. However, marriage is also a civil institution, and this civil institution must be based on the principles of law, rationality and natural justice. New Zealand is not a state where law is or should be determined by religious doctrine.

Marriage poll breakdown offers insight – GayNZ.com

Kiwiblog’s David Farrar, who is also a statistician, points out that under 35s are 76 per cent in favour, while 66 per cent of people aged 35 to 54 are in favour.

Internationally:  Gay dads of 12 among fathers of the year – GayNZ.com

Two gay Arizona men who have legally adopted the 12 children they’d been fostering have been honoured among Esquire magazine’s fathers of the year.

This is what we’re fighting for!  Protecting families, not a tradition which, when it’s backed up by the law, hurts people – and could have prevented these two guys from being the fantastic dads they are.

Rally for marriage equality!

The first reading of Louisa Wall’s bill will be on Friday, 29 August.

If you’re in Wellington, meet in Civic Square at noon to show your support!

More details on Facebook.

Update for Monday 13 August

“I do” to gay marriage – Waikato Times

More Waikato people support gay marriage than oppose it, according to a new poll, but Christian factions and homophobia present challenges to the campaign for marriage equality.

Looking at marriage views – Wairarapa Times-Age

[John Hayes] said he has been researching both marriage and civil unions, and has begun canvassing the opinions of people in the electorate. “I intend to represent what is the majority community opinion … it’s more liberal than anticipated.”

Support dents conservative claims, group says – GayNZ.com

The Queer Avengers say popular support for marriage equality undermines the claims of its opponents, and is urging the issue to be treated as a matter of principle.

The real threat to marriage – Tapu Misa, NZ Herald

I hate to break it to Conservative Party leader Colin Craig, but the biggest threat to so-called traditional marriage isn’t gay marriage. It’s love, actually. And economics.

Wall digs in heels over same-sex marriage – NZ Herald

“My biggest challenge is trying to communicate what my bill will actually do and to ensure that the Pacific community who are religious in nature to understand that they can continue to hold the belief that they do about marriage.”

Update for Friday 10 August

Anything goes in modern Kiwi family unit – Stuff

“People who say you’ve got to conform to strict parameters and then you qualify as a family, I always find it of considerable impertinence. Who do they think they are, telling me I’m not part of a family?”

Chauvel urges colleague: “Tell the whole truth” – GayNZ

Chauvel says for every conservative Pacific Island person in New Zealand, there are many more younger people who don’t see what the fuss is about when it comes to marriage equality.

Political leadership and #marriageequality – Just Left

Political parties and movements that are progressive secure change by changing people’s minds about issues. They do not ride with the grain of current opinion in those issues where change is demanded: they challenge it, they confront and cajole and persuade, and change people’s minds.

Queenstown push for gay marriage capital – Mountain Scene

Wedding businesses believe the resort can cash in on ‘pink dollar’ wedding tourism if New Zealand’s law is changed.

NZ newspapers in favour of marriage equality

From what we’ve seen (mainly on Twitter), plenty of traditional, mainstream newspapers have published editorials supporting marriage equality and Louisa Wall’s bill.  They include:

• The Dominion Post
• The Manawatu Standard
• The Marlborough Express
• The Northern Advocate
• The Southland Times
• The Taranaki Daily News
• The Timaru Herald

As well as Stuff, probably the most mainstream of online NZ news sources.

Not to mention opinion pieces:

• Duncan Garner on 3News
• Richard Boock on Stuff
• Rodney Hide in the NZ Herald
• Stephen Rainbow in the NZ Herald

If you’ve seen any more, drop us a line at protectfamiliesnz @ gmail dot com!

Update for Tuesday 7 August

Editorial: change the law to end discrimination – Dominion Post

Marriage should be the union between two people. Whether they are both men or both women should be no business of the state.

Kiwis support marriage equality – No Right Turn

Women are more likely to support equality than men, and the young and godless are much more likely to support it than the old or god-bothered. But even then, support amongst the over-55s and those who identify themselves as religious is still 50-50.

Obviously things are quietening down after the first rush of blood to the head!  But we expect things to kick off again at first reading … and then hopefully at second and third!

We’re still at 59 MPs in favour on Marriage Equality’s count – and if the NZ First MPs abstain that should mean we’re over the line!  Why not drop one of those undecided MPs an email right now?

Hamilton people:  There’s a planning event happening in your neighbourhood tomorrow! See Facebook for details.