When was gay marriage legalized in nz
New Zealand becomes 13th country to legalize gay marriage
WELLINGTON, Recent Zealand -- Recent Zealand's parliament voted in favor of allowing same-sex marriage on Wednesday, prompting cheers, applause and the singing of a traditional Maori celebratory song from the public gallery.
It becomes the 13th country to legalize same-sex marriages, after Uruguay passed its own law last week. Australia last year rejected a similar proposal.
Countries where such marriages are legal include Canada, Spain and Sweden, in addition to some states in the United States. France is complete to legalizing lgbtq+ marriages amid increasingly vocal opposition.
Seventy-seven of 121 members of New Zealand’s parliament voted in favor of amending the current 1955 Marriage Act to enable same-sex couples to marry, making Unused Zealand the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.
"Two-thirds of parliament have endorsed marriage equality," Louisa Wall, the openly gay opposition Labor Party MP who promoted the bill, told reporters after the vote. "It shows that we are building on our human rights as a country."
The bill was widely expected to overtake, given similar aid for the transform in a preliminary
New Zealand Lawmakers Burst Into Song as They Legalize Gay Marriage
New Zealand became the 13th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage today after their parliament easily approved an amendment to their 1955 marriage laws. The country is the first in the Asia-Pacific region to allow gays and lesbians to walk down the aisle.
The new statute will take effect this August, but same-sex marriage supporters—including those in Parliament—wasted little time beginning the celebration once it became clear that the bill was going to go by. MPs and observers broke into applause and cheers, and then someone started singing, “Pokarekare Ana,” a very popular Maori love ballad. Most of the others in the room unified in. Watch for yourself (the singing starts at about the 1:15 mark):
The bill, which defines marriage as a union between two people, was sponsored by Louisa Wall of the country’s Labour party. In her speech—one of many to draw a standing ovation—Wall, who is gay, said that “nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill.” The measure had the support of multiple political parties in the country, including Prime Minister John Key, who is center-ri
More than 2000 same-sex couples have wed in the three years since it was made legal on this day in 2013.
Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler were among the first same-sex couples to wed after the bill passed in 2013. Photo: RNZ
The bill legalising same-sex marriage passed its final reading in Parliament in April, 2013, and came into effect on 19 August, 2013.
It said people can marry, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Statistic New Zealand figures show 2118 gay couples have married since the legislation changed.
Almost 970 of those couples possess travelled from abroad to marry here.
Labour Party MP Louisa Wall, who sponsored the Marriage Amendment Bill, said it was satisfying to know a piece of legislation that really mattered was making a difference.
"All of the difficult work that went into the bill has been worth it for us as a country, it shows others we trust in fundamental human rights, that we are all born free and equal.
"I get mums come up to me and narrate me about their children who have been competent to come out as gay because the bill started a public conversation," Ms Wall said.
She said she underestimated the number of overseas couple
New Zealand legalises gay marriage
"Nothing could create me more haughty to be a New Zealander than passing this bill," she added.
Drag creator Jake Andrew said he learned of the news at a club in Hamilton.
"We cheered, yelled, cried and sang - it was just amazing," he told the BBC.
"I am so happy, not only because I can now marry the person I cherish, but because Modern Zealand has moved a step further towards gay and lesbian people becoming completely equal with the rest of our society."
Tania Bermudez and Sonja Fry, a same-sex couple, said the bill was about human rights.
"It means that we can actually call each other wife," Ms Fry said.
However, Conservative Party leader Colin Craig said there were many people who disagreed with the bill.
"We're seeing the politicians make a decision tonight that the people of this country wouldn't make," he said.
Bob McCoskrie, founder of the lobby team Family First, said the bill undermined the traditional principle of marriage.
"Historically and culturally, marriage is about gentleman and a lady, and it shouldn't be touched," he said.
NZ legalizes same-sex marriage
Thirty-one same-sex marriages were expected to take place throughout New Zealand as the law took effect on Monday.
The country's parliament amended the Marriage Behave back in April.
The New Zealand activist community Campaign For Marriage Equality hailed the introduction of the new law, saying it ended a historical injustice.
"A massive congratulations to the happy couples tying the knot today. Marriage equality has finally arrived in New Zealand," spokesman Conrad Reyners said.
New Zealand legalises same-sex marriage
Enquiries about holding lgbtq+ weddings in New Zealand have come in from around the world, including Russia, the United States, Hong Kong, Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, Guyana and Burma.
Among the first to be married was an Australian couple who wed even though their marriage will not be legally recognized at home. Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler won a Tourism Recent Zealand competition to grab part in the ceremony.
McCarthy said he hoped the day would come when his marriage would be legally valid in Australia, and said the ceremony had shown that homosexual married couples were "not freaks [and] that there's nothing to f