Hard News: The Treasure at the End of the Rainbow
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And even More Ress has got a Youtube following!!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10878284
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Danielle, in reply to
Don’t forget that Homosexual Law Reform actually legalised sodomy for all, not just men.
"Sodomy for All!" A slogan Colin Craig could really get his teeth into.
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For the great majority of those celebrating last night's marriage equality vote -- those who can already wed their chosen, or who have no wish to do so -- the victory in the House was symbolic.
Though being part of that great majority, I feel that living in a society which is now a bit more equal, a bit more just, a bit more human than before is more than symbolic.
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B Jones, in reply to
Craig, you totally made my day with that clip. My favourite waiata, my favourite trombonist, and a whole album of other cool stuff to discover. In amongst all the other things to be happy about.
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Jackie Clark, in reply to
Great post, Philip. I completely understand where you're coming from - it's not an uncommon view, by any means. What I would say however is this: I know a great many straight people who choose not to be married. And an equal number of gay people who will not choose to be married, now there is a choice. And yes, marriage can be seen as an institution that was, traditionally, patriarchal, and why would anyone buy into that? Despite being married for 21 yrs, I'm not a great admirer of the institution, myself. And as you say, the divorce rate rises with the rate of marriage, I guess. But at least there's a choice, eh? And that's the point.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Great post Russell — here’s mine in response.
;-)
Oddly enough, I've been in a relationship for nearly 25 years without bothering to get married. I can't see that changing.
So clearly, I'm not placing a lot of personal value on marriage. But I don't have any ideological objection to it either, at all. It just didn't seem necessary to us, and I'm not alone in my peer group: a number of my closest friends have made the same (non) choice.
I'm slightly bemused by all the marrying twentysomethings I know -- and especially the occasional woman changing her surname (ye gods!). But I suppose I'm of the generation that delivered a lot of double-barrelled surnames to new entrant school rolls. In my 20s, almost no one in my peer group got married.
I do get David Herkt's contention that the LGBT community has established other kinds of satisfying long-term relationships, and many people in that community may have no use for the institution of marriage.
But, as Craig says, it's about having the same choices as everyone else.
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B Jones, in reply to
especially the occasional woman changing her surname (ye gods!)
The numbers of women doing this has actually increased (can't be bothered finding the cite for that, but somewhere in the media in the last month or so). Boggles me every time I see it, but it seems to be the majority of my peers in their mid thirties and younger. Older ones, not so much.
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Jackie Clark, in reply to
Or, like me, they changed their name when they married, but now largely use their maiden name.
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Islander, in reply to
My mother married twice: she changed her name twice. She was left a widow, and divorced the second one - and promptly reclaimed her original surname...flexibility is all-
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I feel proud that this has finally made it into law, but that is tinged with a bit of sadness that our friends across the ditch have practically no chance of following suit when Captain Catholic and the Conservatives get back into power. *sigh*
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Word, RB. And it was fun to actually watch some intelligent tv before 10.30pm. And tweet geek it, same time.
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FletcherB, in reply to
So clearly, I’m not placing a lot of personal value on marriage. But I don’t have any ideological objection to it either, at all.
I'm of a similar view.... which is why I am married... It didnt matter to me at all, but it was important to my wife and her family... and I'm glad I said yes when she asked me.
I'm also glad this choice is now available to everyone.
Been happily married for nearly ten years now. Civil Unions didn't exist back then.. I'd have willingly gone along with that too... but I'm not sure it would have meant the same thing to the "other side" :)... and the fact some people perceive a difference is enough proof that our gay friends should't have had to put up with it being the only option... good riddance to this inequality.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I feel proud that this has finally made it into law, but that is tinged with a bit of sadness that our friends across the ditch have practically no chance of following suit when Captain Catholic and the Conservatives get back into power. *sigh*
Steve: I don’t want to harsh anyone’s mellow here (and I don’t have Tone Sheriff privileges around these here parts), but please be mindful about using faith-based generalizations. Tony Abbott’s problem isn’t that he’s a Catholic. It’s that he’s a vindictive tit-mouse whose brain is apparently impermeable to facts or empathy.
But on the subject of marriage equality in Australia, isn’t it so awesome Julia Gillard’s response to last night was a big bag of "yeah whatever"? I’ll also note that when her conscience was put to the test, she went and stood next to Abbott. Compare and contrast our Prime Minister’s three-for-three record. Cringe according to taste.
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More music to speak for itself...
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Martin Lindberg, in reply to
have practically no chance of following suit when Captain Catholic and the Conservatives get back into power. *sigh*
So effectively no change from how things are under Gillard's Labor then?
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All the “Noes” and the bible crowd maybe should have listened to this 21 year old for some interesting interpretations of the biblical verses outlawing “unnatural acts” before they voted.
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Lucy Stewart, in reply to
I’m slightly bemused by all the marrying twentysomethings I know – and especially the occasional woman changing her surname (ye gods!).
Most of my twenty-something acquaintances are very much not married (the exceptions largely being people who were going overseas for long periods, like us) but I have had some very odd conversations with peers who didn't understand why I wouldn't want to change my name upon marriage, if I was going to bother getting married. The only argument that seemed to sway them was "it would stop people following my entire scientific publishing record".
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I personally feel that the biggest achievement for queer rights, once the sodomy canard was out the way, was the change to the Human Rights Act in 1993. A huge fight, but with an early win when the armed forces said they would not seek exemption to the terms of the act, thus making gays in the military a non-event.
And majorly sticking one up (so to speak) the police commissioner at the time, who was allowing his religious views to influence policy for the organisation.
Marriage is great for those who want it, and we are no longer 2nd class citizens in that respect. But we are all protected by the Human Rights Act - let's not forget that achievement that laid the foundation for today.
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"chris", in reply to
The only argument that seemed to sway them was "it would stop people following my entire scientific publishing record".
You could give "I'm Chinese/ Cambodian/ Muslim" a shot. Or If all else fails "..Belgian".
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nzlemming, in reply to
Tony Abbott’s problem isn’t that he’s a Catholic. It’s that he’s a vindictive tit-mouse whose brain is apparently impermeable to facts or empathy.
Word.
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Lucy Stewart, in reply to
You could give “I’m Chinese/ Cambodian/ Muslim” a shot. Or If all else fails ”..Belgian”.
That would work better if I wasn't more Anglo-Saxon than most popular swearwords.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
I personally feel that the biggest achievement for queer rights, once the sodomy canard was out the way, was the change to the Human Rights Act in 1993. A huge fight, but with an early win when the armed forces said they would not seek exemption to the terms of the act, thus making gays in the military a non-event.
You make a very good point, given that in 1977, Parliament explicitly ruled out homosexuals from protection under the Human Rights Act. It's an easy one to forget.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I loved Aaron Johnson and Sam Taylor-Wood's elegant work around when they got married last year. They both changed their surnames to Taylor-Johnson and anyone who's got a problem with that gets (rightly) treated with studied insolence. :)
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I never thought this would happen in my lifetime, and who would have thought it would happen under this Government? I thank Louisa Wall and all those who conducted such an amazing campaign. The Parliamentary speeches 'for' the change were articulate, considerate and moving. I am proud at this moment to be a New Zealander.
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Lucy Stewart, in reply to
I loved Aaron Johnson and Sam Taylor-Wood’s elegant work around when they got married last year. They both changed their surnames to Taylor-Johnson and anyone who’s got a problem with that gets (rightly) treated with studied insolence. :)
That is a nice solution, as long as your names are euphonious. My spouse is in the process of transitioning gender right now, so I’m kind of curious to see what assumptions people make about the name thing - whether we share one or not and whose it is, etc. - once they start meeting us as a married lesbian couple. (We would have switched to a civil union when necessary, but it’s vastly preferable to not be forced to.)
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