why they voted the way they did
The Herald has the views of four MP who voted on the Civil Union.Bill.
Ashraf Choudhary voted for the bill because he was told that it promotes equality of minorities. Problem is that gay people are not a minority under Human Rights legislation and the bill is not about equality. What Choudhary didn’t say is that he was told to vote against his conscience and was given reasons for his vote by Maharey, Carter and co.
Clem Simich, a (lapsed) Catholic, said it was the Catholic thing to do, to look after a minority. The Catholic Church will look after him all right.
Deborah Coddington voted no as it was not a gay marriage bill, and therefore not equality. Maurice Williamson voted no as he realised that gay people didn’t want to be celebrated for their differences after all.
Why is it that supporters of the bill are actively opposed to a referendum?
Why do they still call gay people a minority?
Why do some opponents such as practising Christian David Lane of the SPCS describe Tim Barnett as a "practising homosexual"? He's either real homosexual or a pretend one. No need for practise if he's the real mckoy. I mean, they don’t call Helen Clark a practising heterosexual, do they? Is that because she is not heterosexual or not practising? Tim Barnett has been practising for so long he's probably got it down to a fine art by now, and he may as well be a tutor.
5 comments:
I think conservative Christian opponents of the Civil Union Bill need to ask themselves why they so blindly support binding citizens initiatd referenda.
After all, it was another binding citizens initiated referendum that decriminalised physician assisted suicide in Oregon (1997). Do evangelicals really want that situation to arise in this country? But it will, if your community doesn't exercise some critical thinking about BCIRs as an issue.
Moreover, surely representative democracy is about elected representatives, who make decisions about issues of public policy. If they're prepared to take the populist plebiscite easy way out, they shouldn't be in Parliament.
Aren't you concerned that the New Zealand League of Rights appears to be one of the strongest backers of BCIRs?
See: http://www.alor.org
Craig
I think it would be far more appropriate if Helen Clark was called 'a practicing heterosexual in need of more practice', as she sure hasn't convinced me.
According to Aussie's DNA mag, La Helen once
said:
'I'm not lesbian, but my haircut is.'
Does that answer your curiousity?
Craig
In the Herald on Sunday we find out more background to why Clem Simich voted the way he has. His son is gay and has been the subject of anti-gay violence.
He says this has nothing to do with his vote, but I find that hard to believe.
In other words, it was attributable to 'family values.'
Because Clem is a caring parent and loves his son. Nothing wrong with that.
Craig
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