Tue, 22 Jun 2004

Press Release Libertarianz Health

Gay and Lesbian Marriage Should be Allowed

"Gay and lesbian marriages should be civil unions established by contract - just as marriage should be for the rest of us be we heterosexual, polygamous, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or of any persuasion," declared Libertarianz Leader Bernard Darnton today. "Helen Clark and the state have no place dictating the terms and conditions of the relationships entered into by consenting adults, nor who may enter into such relationships. The state should enforce only the contracts that people enter into in formalised relationships," he said.

"The state should confer no advantages or disadvantages on any individuals in marriages, civil unions or de facto relationships. Such relationships are not the business of the state - rather they are private to the individuals within them, save only for the children that parents or guardians in such relationships may have responsibility for. And yes," Darnton explained, "Libertarianz believe gay and lesbians should legally be able to be considered parents and guardians."

"The Civil Unions Bill will provide for an option for same sex couples that does not exist right now, but this should not be necessary - the full ambit of rights of formal relationships should solely exist in common law, including marriage, for all adults to enjoy."

"Neither ACT nor National are able to shed the homophobia of many of their MPs to assert the freedom both parties claim to represent. The NZ First and United Future parties of course express barely concealed homophobia, while Labour is stuck between many who support allowing gay marriage, and pandering to political polls".

"Libertarianz is the only party that supports allowing gay and lesbian marriage explicitly, and, in the meantime, we call upon ACT and National, as parties that purport to support individual liberty, to declare support for the Civil Union Bill and to support liberalising laws on marriage".

ENDS

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