Unions, not marriage?Wellington -- Legislation in New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. proposes to deny the term "marriage" to same-sex couples A same-sex couple is a pair of people of the same gender who pursue a romantic or sexual relationship together. The term "same-sex relationship" may be used when the sexual orientation of participants in a same-sex relationship is not known. , calling their relationships civil unions instead. However, since the new legislation grants homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples, it appears to grant homosexual unions the same status as traditional marriage (LifeSiteNews, June 21, 2004). New Zealand's Associate Justice Minister, David Benson-Pope David Henry Benson-Pope (born 1950) is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was formerly a cabinet minister. Benson-Pope was born in Dunedin and educated at the University of Otago and at the Christchurch College of Education. , lashed out at Catholic and Evangelical groups opposed to civil union legislation for same-sex couples. He likened their opposition to the intolerance that led to the destruction of headstones in a Jewish cemetery A Jewish cemetery (Hebr. בית עלמין "Beth Olamin") serves as any other cemetery for the burial of the dead and holds other qualities which are not found in Christian cemeteries. in the same week. Benson-Pope is the lead sponsor of the proposed Civil Union and Relationships bill. |
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