A press release from Family Life International, New Zealand

Thursday July 21, 2005

United Future MP’s proposed Bill provides the Government an opportunity to prove that it did not lie when introducing civil unions to NZ

Today’s announcement that United Future MP Larry Baldock will be introducing a Marriage Amendment Bill to parliament offers the Government an opportunity to prove its claim that its civil union legislation was not meant to change the status of traditional marriage.

This legislation is important because it gives due protection to traditional marriage and those who seek to promote and educate about it in this country.

This vital Bill clarifies three things:

1. It specifies that a marriage can only be between one man and one woman, and provides that ‘marriage’ between people of the same sex is prohibited.

2. It specifies that same-sex ‘marriages’ registered in foreign countries are not recognised as marriages in New Zealand.

3. It amends the Bill of Rights Act 1990 to ensure that measures intended to promote or advance marriage (pre-marriage counselling, etc) are not considered to be discriminatory.

It also follows the example of other western countries that have already enacted such legislation.

If the Government does not support this Bill then they cannot claim to represent the thousands of married couples who populate this country, and that they lied about their true intent when introducing civil union legislation.

Their lack of support for this Bill would also show that they really do have an agenda to introduce homosexual marriage to New Zealand and that their civil union legislation was nothing more than a minority political vehicle to achieve this end.

ENDS

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