After a decades-long campaign, New Zealand became the first Asia-Pacific country to legalise same-sex marriage, a historic decision celebrated with parties across the gay community.
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The victim of a brutal attack in Paris-Wilfred de Bruijin suffers a bruised eye and a broken tooth, while he was walking arm-in-arm with his boyfriend.
The victim of a brutal attack in Paris-Wilfred de Bruijin suffers a bruised eye and a broken tooth, while he was walking arm-in-arm with his boyfriend.
The lawmaker behind the reform, Louisa Wall, a gay member of the centre-left Labour Party, said the New Zealand legislation should pave the way for reform in other countries in the region.
"The law unfortunately has treated homosexual New Zealanders as less than human, as less than equal citizens," she told AFP. "What this bill will do is ensure the state does not discriminate against any citizen."
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Gay rights advocates said that the parliamentary vote will represent a milestone in the struggle for equality as New Zealand is poised to legalise same-sex marriage.
Gay rights advocates said that the parliamentary vote will represent a milestone in the struggle for equality as New Zealand is poised to legalise same-sex marriage.
Parliament's public gallery was booked out due to overwhelming demand and a big screen was erected in an overflow room near the debating chamber to accommodate hundreds of extra onlookers.
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The change makes New Zealand the 13th nation globally to allow gay marriage, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
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A landmark bill granting homosexual couples the right to marry and adopt has been approved by France's upper house Senate.
A landmark bill granting homosexual couples the right to marry and adopt has been approved by France's upper house Senate.
With Britain and France both appearing set to adopt same-sex marriage soon, Wall said a "global conversation" on gay rights was occurring, which should prompt changes in nations such as Tonga and Samoa, where homosexuality is still illegal.
Opinion was divided on Cuba Street ahead of the vote.
"If some people are allowed to do it, then all people should be allowed to do it," Christina Hroch said "I haven't met anyone that would be against it."
But Suzy Prime was "totally opposed" to the change, raising concerns about the impact on children raised in same-sex marriages.
"I don't think there's a need for marriage," she said. "We already have a law that they can be together with their civil rights. I don't have a problem with that but I don't think it's right to go beyond that and allow marriage."
New Zealand decriminalised homosexuality in 1986 and since 2005 has allowed same-sex civil unions.
HRW lists the countries that currently allow same-sex marriage as The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, South Africa, Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Uruguay, which changed the law this month.
Source-AFP
