New Zealand to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

   With a vote of seventy-seven in favor and forty-four against, New Zealand is now to be considered as the first nation in the Asia-Pacific region and the thirteenth nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

   Civil unions in New Zealand have been permitted since 2005.  Yet, Wednesday’s decision amends the 1955 Marriage Act, once against same-sex marriage, and also allows same-sex couples from other countries to marry in New Zealand.  With the policymakers that were each voting on the decision having been heavily encouraged to vote based on their conscience, and not on their policy platforms, the results proved to be both surprising and historic.   

   The new law will not go into effect until the end of August.  However, many in New Zealand have celebrated the progressive accomplishment through means of partying in the pubs of Wellington, and through singing the indigenous Maori love song “Pokarekare Ana” in unison with tears of joy.

   However, not everybody is completely in agreement with the recent news.  Australia, New Zealand’s neighbor, shot down the same-sex marriage proposal as it entered Parliament last September.  Julia Gillard, Australia’s Prime Minister, is also strongly against same-sex marriage, and does not seem to be interested in an agreement any time soon.  Meanwhile, other organizations in Australia, like Family First, have created several petitions against same-sex marriage, declaring that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.  Thus, while many Australian same-sex couples are currently making travel arrangements to exchange marriage vows in New Zealand, their marriages will not be recognized in Australia, itself.

   Yet, in retaliation, Australians have recently started a “rainbow rebellion” in which those supporting same-sex marriage “chalk” rainbow colors in public areas of Australia.  Although same-sex marriage still seems to be a stretch for Australia, hope continues to stay within Australia’s gay community as more nations around the world “face reality.”

     

   With New Zealand in the mix, countries that have legalized same-sex marriage now include Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, and Uruguay.