MARRIAGE E-KIWI-TY

New Zealand Gets Ready To Legalize Gay Marriage

gay-marriage-new-zealandNew Zealand is well on its way to becoming the 13th nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage after a milestone parliamentary vote today.

Agence France Presse reports:

A bill that amends the 1955 Marriage Act to describe marriage as a union of two people regardless of their sex, sexuality or how they choose to identify their gender will have its third and final reading in parliament late Wednesday.

The proposal is set to pass convincingly after receiving widespread support during two previous debates – including backing from Prime Minister John Key – with the most recent vote last month running at 77 votes for and 43 against.

Since Australia rejected a similar proposal last September, New Zealand stands to be the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize gay marriage. The island nation decriminalized homosexuality in 1985 and has had civil unions since 2005.

Last week Uruguay became the 12th nation to legalize gay marriage, while England and France are steadily making their way down the aisle this year as well. So we’re going to say what everyone is thinking: global gift registry.

Gay kiwis can start making it officially official some time in August.

Photo: TNT Magazine

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