LegaliseLove

We love reading your submissions on the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill! Feel free...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:28:25 +1300

We love reading your submissions on the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill!

Feel free to submit them to our tumblr, flick them to us over facebook or send them to us via email.

I took a Tumble: Marriage Equality Submission

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:23:09 +1300

I took a Tumble: Marriage Equality Submission :

glitter-stained-lies:

I grew up not realising anything was different about me, I never knew that I wasn’t like the other kids and it wasn’t until the end of high school when I discovered who I really was that I even noticed there wasn’t equality in NZ. I’m from a loving family that supported me no matter what, so even…

"Ever since I started being open and honest about my sexuality, I have constantly heard “You just..."

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:21:46 +1300

“Ever since I started being open and honest about my sexuality, I have constantly heard “You just haven’t had a real man.”, “I’m sure if you just tried a guy, you would like it.” and other derogatory phrases to that effect. I am sick of my sexuality being treated as a novelty or a joke. I cannot change who I am, and the argument that being gay is a choice is simply wrong. If I had the choice, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose heterosexuality, as life would certainly be a lot less complicated if I was considered “normal” in society’s eyes. Sexuality is not a light switch; it cannot be suddenly changed at will. It is only one small part of who I am, just like the colour of my skin, that I cannot change. I do not believe that my eligibility to marry should be based on the gender of my partner, and I believe that the current laws encourage discrimination and intolerance. The warped and skewed perception that people in society have of sexuality is just one of many issues that can be rectified by passing the marriage equality bill. LGBT couples and heterosexual couples should not be separated under the law, as this separation encourages the idea that LGBT people are different to everyone else. I have been lucky; I have a strong support base of friends and family who accept me for who I am, no matter what. Not everyone is as lucky as I am. Many LGBT people feel ashamed and scared of who they are because of the attitudes of the people around them, and constantly have to hide behind a facade, pretending to be someone they are not, because of the negative and discriminatory attitudes of their own community. Many are afraid to be true to themselves, as this could see them be outcast by their peers, friends, and even their own family. Marriage is a right, not a privilege. This bill will be a positive step forward to being a truly accepting society.”

- My submission in support of the Marriage Equality Bill. If you live in New Zealand, I urge you to fill one out. Last day you can hand one in is this Friday, 26th October 2012. Don’t miss out on having your say! This is the only point in the process that you can have your voice heard. (via amourir)

Mr: My submission to the Government Administration Select Committee on the issue of Marriage Equality

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:21:13 +1300

Mr: My submission to the Government Administration Select Committee on the issue of Marriage Equality:

mr-mr-mr-mr:

Marriage Equality matters because marriage is the ultimate expression of love.

My idea of Love: it should be without frontiers; it should overcome and transcend; and it should be free. It should not be limited; it should not have obstacles put in its way, nor should it consequently lag behind; it…

Light Reverie: Marriage Equality Submission

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:20:22 +1300

Light Reverie: Marriage Equality Submission:

lightreverie:

My name is Logan Reynolds, I am gay, and I care tremendously about securing the right to get married. Although I am young and not ready for marriage, I am stoic in my conviction that the passing of this bill is a critical step in New Zealand’s journey to authentic equality. When I find love -…

Weew.: My submission to the select committee in regards to marriage equality in New Zealand.

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:19:44 +1300

Weew.: My submission to the select committee in regards to marriage equality in New Zealand.:

deathstears:

My name is Kate Chamberlin. I am seventeen years old, and I like to consider myself a fairly normal teenager. I get decent grades, I have an amazing group of close friends, and I have a family who cares for me. However, there is one thing that sets me well apart from the majority of my…

My Submission in Support of Marriage Equality

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:19:06 +1300

My Submission in Support of Marriage Equality

long-gone-and-moved-on: Help vote for Marriage Equality in New...

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:18:24 +1300

long-gone-and-moved-on:

Help vote for Marriage Equality in New Zealand

http://www.marriageequality.co.nz/submit.html

"I believe that LGBT rights are human rights and that the whole of our society will be better if we..."

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:18:21 +1300

“

I believe that LGBT rights are human rights and that the whole of our society will be better if we enable a large swathe of New Zealanders to fully embrace these rights under New Zealand law. There is nothing moral, sensible nor prudential about this form of institutionalised discrimination. While marriage once had its beginnings in practical considerations to do with the protection of the family, we are increasingly finding that people can live perfectly well in loving, committed relationships without it. What it comes down to, then, is choice. The choice to formalise, symbolise your relationship in a legally - and, arguably, moral - way. That there are people wanting to do this is surely a wonderful, beautiful thing. It seems perverse to argue that an increase in the number of loving, equal kiwi families will be a detriment to society.

I don’t know. The pessimist in me thinks that you’ll have already made up your minds, or that the bureaucratic processes will mean some of you will have to compromise your beliefs for the sake of the party, or some other deal you have going on elsewhere in parliament. But I also think about when my parents divorced, and my mum and I went to live in a renovated one-bedroom flat in the bottom storey of the house of a wonderful, committed, lesbian couple in Hataitai. They housed and looked after us for six months, giving my mum a chance to get back on her feet. They gave our lives at this time a form of structure that we would otherwise have lacked. If they could have married, I think they would have. And I find it ludicrous that we assume a heterosexual relationship - like my parents’, failing from its very beginnings - contains within it more sanctity than a homosexual one. That’s discrimination. And it’s a form of discrimination that is rapidly decreasing, notably amongst the younger generation. I can offer you no prudential reasons for voting against this bill, but one for; you’re going to get left behind, old guard. You’ll be branded as relics of another time. The government ought to lead in a progression towards a more equal society, not be dragged along behind society as we increasingly embrace progressive ideals.

Ultimately, this debate has centred around belief. Belief and love. I believe that LGBT rights are right; others will (and do) believe otherwise. But if we let our dogmatism, our bloody-minded insistence that our beliefs are correct over all the others, overshadow the simple truth that there are people in this country wanting to express their love for one another to the fullest extent they can under law and they are being denied this, then there is something deeply wrong with New Zealand society as it currently stands. The government has a role to protect its citizens, and to rectify wrongs institutionalised in society. Do this.

”

- My overly long and self-indulgent submission to the select committee for Lousia Wall’s Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill. Submissions close at 5pm, so do yours now! (via big-black-car)

A Crossfire of Flowers: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:18:05 +1300

A Crossfire of Flowers: Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill :

sadlypeoplecomeandgo:

“I offer my viewpoint after hearing the arguments put forth by those opposing this bill and/or same sex marriage. One of which is that civil union gives those in same sex relationships the same rights already offered by marriage. Stemming from this comes the question why another…

glaad: Polls show that Minnesotans are more likely to support...

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 20:37:53 +1200

glaad:

Polls show that Minnesotans are more likely to support marriage equality if they have had a conversation about it with an LGBT person.

Stories matter. Learn more at http://mnunited.org/

starshone-storm: LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:12:18 +1200

hey mr english

honest woman

love makes a family

fag

starshone-storm:

LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage equality; Wellington, New Zealand; August 29th 2012

1: Hey Mr English, did I get to vote on your marriage? (Bill English being a very Catholic MP)
2: 10 years together - let me make an honest woman out of her
3: love makes a family
4: I’m a son, I’m a brother, I’m an uncle, I’m a nephew, I’m a father, I’m a fag

starshone-storm: LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:11:35 +1200

all the things

keep calm

otter

starshone-storm:

LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage equality; Wellington, New Zealand; August 29th 2012

1: Marry ALL the things! [Hyperbole and a Half parody]
2: Keep Calm and Marry On
3: DON’T DENY Otter People’s Relationships!

starshone-storm: LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage...

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:10:49 +1200

disney

lock up

wedding dress

starshone-storm:

LegaliseLove celebration rally for marriage equality; Wellington, New Zealand; August 29th 2012

1: Cinderella and Snow White kissing (as a former cast member who has heard Tales of the entertainment department (tales to the point of character performers are presumed gay until proven straight), this amuses me); Legalise ♥
2: lock up your daughters
3: Who do you think designed your wedding dress?

The day after the Marriage Equality Bill passes it's first reading, the Adoption Equality Bill gets drawn.

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:18:38 +1200

captaingaylord:

I have never been prouder to be from New Zealand.

fightingforfireflies: “Can’t nobody hold us back. They can’t...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:06:26 +1200

Me and Sarah

Crowd

Beehive

Panorama

fightingforfireflies:

“Can’t nobody hold us back. They can’t hold us down. They can’t keep us back”

Marriage Equality rally in Wellington NZ 29/08/2012

abigcomplicatedword: Photo not mine. Full article, video and...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:05:24 +1200

abigcomplicatedword:

Photo not mine. Full article, video and more photos here.

“I’m very clear that we have an inherent discrimination currently perpetuated by the state of Aotearoa against some of our citizens.”

“Please do not fear what this bill will do.”

“I want to thank you all – tonight is going to be historic.”

Louisa Wall, Labour MP.
29 August 2012.

Today, close to a thousand people marched to Parliament in support of marriage equality in New Zealand. It was a celebration, it was peaceful, it was energetic. I walked next to an elderly man at one point, as well as students from my university, middle-aged couples, religious people and atheists. Opposition was welcomed, greeted with smiles, and addressed with kind, hopeful words. “Please do not fear what this bill will do,” was a key phrase in Louisa Wall’s amazing speech. Politicians from most parties greeted us and each spoke remarkably well and united us even further. I am so glad one of the churches was involved; I am so glad that people turned out as a reminder that homophobia and religion do not go hand-in-hand, that not all Christians oppose the bill or the idea. I hope we make history sometime soon. We are far too behind on this “issue” and it’s time for the discrimination to stop on all levels. By achieving marriage equality we could let our children, adolescents and adults know that who they are is not fundamentally wrong. Society needs to begin changing if we are to put a stop to the bullying and hate that is flying around on our streets. This could save lives.

Bring on 9pm tonight!

the-eccentric-teaspoon: MARRIAGE EQUALITY HERE WE COME,...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:01:25 +1200

the-eccentric-teaspoon:

MARRIAGE EQUALITY HERE WE COME, NZ

“Today is the time to open the institution of marriage to all people [regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity]. There is no reasonable ground on which the state should deny any citizen the right to enter the institution of marriage if he or she chooses,” Louisa Walls, sponsor of the Marriage Amendment Bill, said.

The Marriage Amendment Bill was overwhelmingly passed with 80 votes in favour and 40 votes against at first reading.

Woo. You make me proud, NZ!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10830345

Auckland’s pro-equality St Matthew’s-in-the-city...

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:52:18 +1200

Auckland’s pro-equality St Matthew’s-in-the-city erects marriage equality billboard

“Our question is why would any church not endorse two people making a loving commitment to each other” He says.

“Through our billboard we are expressing our solidarity with the many Christians in many denominations who are calling on Members of Parliament to support Louisa Wall’s bill.”

lumosknoxobliviate:

A church near my house put up this billboard in support of marriage equality.

cocktoons: You may now kiss the groom.

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:30:26 +1200

cocktoons:

You may now kiss the groom.