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[Freestyler]

The Civil Unions Bill has been passed by Parliament.

It passed by 65 votes to 55 this afternoon.

The legislation gives legal recognition to same-sex and heterosexual partnerships.

The Civil Union Bill's passage into law seemed certain with more eleventh hour defections in favour of the bill.

Labour's Rimutaka MP, Paul Swain, earlier said he would now support the bill, after voting against it at its second reading, as will ACT list MP Deborah Coddington.

There were hundreds of protestors outside Parliament both in favour and opposed to the legislation.

AWWWWWWESOME !

After months of hard work and campaigning by everyone, us gays can finally have pretty much the same rights as a married couple (apart from adoption, as far as I know), and fuck it I'm so excited!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=565

 

[kumanoki]

Well, so much for New Zealand/US relations.....

 

[cvxfreak]

Very good news indeed.

 

[Suranga3]

Supreme court here in Canada is about to rule on a proposed bill, good timing.

Ottawa to move quickly on same-sex unions

The court is expected to rule on proposed legislation that would make Canada among the first countries in the world to recognize same-sex marriage.

Ottawa proposed changing the definition of marriage to the "lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others" rather than the "lawful union of one man and one woman."

 

[Jim Bowie]

There were hundreds of protestors outside Parliament both in favour and opposed to the legislation.

How do you have protestors in favor of something?

"We don't want it, it's too darn good!"

 

[0wn3d]

Haha, thats so cool! Go New Zealand!

 

[Kon Tiki]

How do you have protestors in favor of something?

"We don't want it, it's too darn good!"

Protestors protesting other protestors.

 

[Freestyler]

Precisely.

We have this one nutter, Brian Tamaki, who's head of 'Destiny Church', which has now gone worldwide unfortunately. He's basically the leader of fundamentalist Christianity here in NZ, and he strolls around with 4 or 5 bodyguards whenever he's protesting against gay rights. Should have seen the look on his face tonight when the bill got passed !

Oh and this guy here:

Was on the national news just after the bill got passed, screaming and crying (literally crying and moaning like he was being killed) and saying NOOOOOOO, NOOOO it can't be happening. It made my day.

 

[bishoptl]

FLESHY COCKS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY

 

[Mandark]

Congratulations.

 

[pilonv1]

Next on the agenda...

 

[Freestyler]

Huh?

This is a thread about New Zealand, not Australia.. I don't get your pic.

 

[goomba]

I was waiting for the compulsory sheep joke. Its an NZ thread afterall.

But yeah, im stoked about this bill passing. Its not just for gay people either, it offers a way for straight couples to get rights equal to marriage in a union without the religious connotations of marriage.

 

[Drexon]

Yes, when Will we be able to marry cheep?

And about this thing. Gays exist, they will always exist, why shouldn't they have the same rights?

And that guy crying, wth? XD

 

[pilonv1]

I was waiting for the compulsory sheep joke. Its an NZ thread afterall.

I can't believe it wasn't the first post. It would be in an Oz forum.

 

[Freestyler]

Are you two both fellow Kiwis?

 

[Freestyler]

Dude, Australia has more sheep than New Zealand..

Screw the whole PER HEAD! thing, you could use that to make jokes about anything. Is the first thing people say in a thread about America, "OBESE PEOPLE!!"?

 

[goomba]

Yeah iv lived around canterbury my whole life.

Where bouts you guys?

 

[Freestyler]

Auckland myself.

 

[Greenpanda]

Is the first thing people say in a thread about America, "OBESE PEOPLE!!"?

Yes.

 

[lexi]

I expect that internationally, gay marriage will come to look like the Kyoto treaty. All signing except Australia and the US.

 

[Jim Bowie]

Is the first thing people say in a thread about America, "OBESE PEOPLE!!"?

If the post contains the words "Micheal" and/or "Moore" or "food" or "hydrogen".

 

[teiresias]

Oh and this guy here:

Was on the national news just after the bill got passed, screaming and crying (literally crying and moaning like he was being killed) and saying NOOOOOOO, NOOOO it can't be happening. It made my day.

This is worthless without a video.

 

[Mr Gump]

Yay?

 

[Vennt]

I'm not usually one to revel in another persons misery, but.. (ok maybe I am, a little :lol)

Thats guys pain and suffering has literally made my day, I just wish I could slip a secret radio reciever into his house and transmit messages such as the following into his house at night:

"Yes, I am punishing you, you wanted the old testiment dude back, so here's johnny"

&

"I said 'judge not lest ye be judged', and now it's payback time, bitch!"

 

[DarthWoo]

I'm not usually one to revel in another persons misery, but.. (ok maybe I am, a little :lol)

Thats guys pain and suffering has literally made my day, I just wish I could slip a secret radio reciever into his house and transmit messages such as the following into his house at night:

"Yes, I am punishing you, you wanted the old testiment dude back, so here's johnny"

&

"I said 'judge not lest ye be judged', and now it's payback time, bitch!"

Does anyone remember the movie Real Genius? You should do it more like that, and implant a transceiver into his head, so that the voice will be with him whereever he goes.

 

[snaildog]

I'm stoked that it got through and kinda proud of my country for it. At the same time I'm happy to milk it. Does anyone know whether I'd qualify for the student allowance if I got a civil union with my girlfriend?

(Warning, I'm gonna bitch about the allowance for the rest of this post)

I don't know how it is in other countries but here students can get uni costs subsidised if your parents earn below a pretty low threshold, you're over 25, or you're married. This is absolutely fucking ridiculous for the following reasons:

- Doesn't take assets or liabilities (mortgage) into account. Rich farmers' children can always fiddle their paperwork to get it, but if your parents are on a salary then forget it.

- Doesn't take into account siblings. Like my parents can afford to pay for me, my brother and my sister living in different places as well as their mortgage.

- I had friends in highschool who turned 18 and got the allowance even though they were living with their parents, no expenses. Just extra pocket money.

- I could go on the dole and sit on my arse all day and get money, but if I'm actually studying then I can't get anything.

In short: I have to work all summer to save up for the year and possibly get a part-time job, while friends of mine can just coast along.

Sorry for off-topicness, rant over.

Oh and Destiny Church is the greatest thing ever. I sometimes get up early just to watch it on TV - hilarious.

 

[cvxfreak]

This is worthless without a video.

I SO agree with this post. :lol:lol:lol

 

[Drexon]

Hey, I read something about Canada legalizing gay marriage today. Check it up.

 

[Spiritreaver]

Oh sweet, I'm in a very happy mood now. Lucky guys, but boy do I share the excitement.