New Zealand legalises same-sex marriage

[joeybee12]

New Zealand parliament has voted in favour of allowing same-sex marriage, prompting cheers, applause and the singing of a traditional Maori celebratory song from the public gallery.

Seventy-seven of 121 members voted in favour of amending the 1955 Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to wed, making New Zealand the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.

"Two-thirds of parliament have endorsed marriage equality," said Louisa Wall, a gay opposition Labour party MP who campaigned in favour of the bill. "It shows that we are building on our human rights as a country."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/17/new-zealand-legalises-same-sex-marriage

[William769]

1. Recommended.

[joeybee12]

2. Not really even controvesial there...sure the usual nutjobs against it...

But the vote wasn't even close...

[Dan Ken]

3. So many other countries' legislatures are able to do this for their people

America's Congress, although there are some members moving in the right direction, is far from a 2/3 majority in favor in either chamber, Senate or House.

[BillStein]

4. My favorite part of the story

From Slate:

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson promised the sky would not cave in today. ‘‘I give a promise to those people who are opposed to this bill right now... the sun will still rise tomorrow, your teenage daughter will still argue back with you as if she knows everything, your mortgage will not grow, you will not have skin disease or rashes or toads in your bed. So don’t make this into a big deal, this is fantastic for the people if affects but for most of us life will go on.’’

[joeybee12]

5. Hee-hee...+1

[mitchtv]

6. New Zealand, Uruguay

things are moving fast, Next comes France. great news