New Zealand’s Parliament Approves Gay Marriage Law
 

New Zealand’s Parliament votes in favour of Gay Marriage Law

The New Zealand parliament has voted 80 votes to 40 in favour of the first step towards legalising gay marriage in the country.
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/...y_2322832b.jpg New Zealand is voting on gay marriage Photo: ALAMY
By Rose Troup Buchanan, 30 Aug 2012

The vote on Wednesday took place in front of a full public gallery, and is the first vote of three New Zealand’s parliament must take, before the bill can become law.

The process typically takes several months, and allows the public to have their say. Only a simple majority vote is required to pass the second vote, and the strong majority during the first vote is an indication the motion will pass into law.

Polls show that around two-thirds of New Zealanders support gay marriage.

If the law passes, New Zealand will become the 12th country since 2001 to recognise same-sex marriages.

New Zealand already accords many legal rights to same-sex couples under same-sex civil union laws, however activists argue this does not give them equal social status.