Gay marriage law comes into effect in New Zealand
Auckland couple Tash Vitali and Melissa Ray - who won an all-expenses-paid ceremony in a radio competition - were among the first to marry.Dozens of same-sex couples said "I do" Monday as New Zealand became the first Asia-Pacific country, and only the 14th in the world, to legalise gay marriage.
Vows were exchanged on Monday, in venues ranging from an airliner cruising at 30,000 feet to a historic bath house as gay men and women took advantage of the law change.
The Campaign For Marriage Equality said it ended a historical injustice and meant the love of all people was recognised as equal in the eyes of the law.
"A massive congratulations to the happy couples tying the knot today. Marriage equality has finally arrived in New Zealand," Conrad Reyners, spokesman, said.
It comes after New Zealand\’s parliament passed a bill in April amending the country\’s 1955 marriage act.
Air New Zealand staged a special flight from Auckland to Queenstown where Lynley Bendall and Ally Wanikau tied the knot in the air after 14 years together, with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, American gay rights campaigner and actor from the hit comedy Modern Family, in attendance.
"To be married at 30,000 feet beneath strings of fairy lights with our children, friends and family as witnesses makes an already memorable day that much more special," Bendall said.
"It was surreal to have Jesse play a part in the ceremony too."
However, Family First, the conservative lobby group, said changing the Marriage Act was "an arrogant act of cultural vandalism" that politicians had pushed through without a public mandate.
"Social engineers including politicians and activists are expecting marriage supporters to drop their deeply held convictions because of the misguided decisions of politicians," Bob McCoskrie, national director, said.
New Zealand decriminalised homosexuality in 1986 and has allowed same-sex civil unions since 2005.
At least 31 same-sex couples had indicated they would marry on Monday, usually the least popular wedding day, while inquiries about staging same-sex weddings in New Zealand had been received from Russia, the US, Hong Kong, Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, Guyana and Belgium.
About 1,000 same-sex couples in Australia planned to travel to the neighbouring country to marry, according to the Australian Marriage Equality lobby group.
The first Australian couple to do so was expected to be Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler, who beat 300 other pairs to win a Tourism New Zealand competition.
New Zealand\’s MPs approved the bill by a large majority in April this year, with 77 votes in favour and 44 against.
Source: Agencies
The Times of Earth ( TOE) founded in 1999, is a multilingual newspaper that is printed and circulated in many countries including some parts of the United States and Canada. It is considered as the largest trusted & respected international multimedia news/financial information source of the world.