An Auckland students? association has voted to support both marriage and adoption by same-sex couples.
Auckland University Students? Association (AUSA) has officially endorsed the removal of gender from the 1955 Marriage Act and law reform that would allow same sex couples to adopt.
Queer rights officer Levi Joule says he feels the time is right because of private members? bills in the ballot in Parliament.
?I felt that it was appropriate for AUSA to make a stand in support of marriage equality and adoption law reform on behalf of its LGBT students,? he said.
?There shouldn?t be discrimination in the law against people because of who they love and, currently, in the 1955 Marriage Act there is.
?Their love is not any different so there is no reason why it should be treated differently in the law.?
Executive director of Rainbow Youth Tom Hamilton says the student union support will benefit the culture and diversity of the university and give a greater sense of belonging to queer youth.
?They?re going to feel more accepted.?
He says it will help give the queer community more visibility, which it needs.
?People are going to have an idea of where to go if they have questions about their own sexuality, so it helps in the coming-out process.?
He says AUSA?s endorsement sends the message to queer students the association is prepared to make a strong stand in support of them.
?As a queer student, I?m really happy I?m a member of a students? association that supports me having the same rights as my heterosexual peers.?
University of Auckland student Chris Meadows-Bonner says he is extremely happy the association has endorsed marriage equality and adoption law reform.
?Everyone?s for it as far as I can tell.?
Joule says successful and legitimate relationships do not just consist of a man and a woman.
?Those relationships deserve the same recognition as an opposite-sex relationship.?
He says he often hears religious reasons why marriage laws should not be changed.
?To use a religious argument to keep marriage between a man and a woman when it is a secular institution makes no sense whatsoever.?
He says there is no threat to families from marriage between same-sex couples.
?The gender of the two people in the relationship has no bearing on how the children would be raised.?
He says a lot of people have problems with marriage as an institution and that civil union is more appropriate for them.
?I recognise marriage isn?t for everybody. But it?s about giving people the option to choose and not face discrimination because of their sexuality. It?s just a basic fairness issue really.?
Hamilton says a student group backing marriage equality will also help with lobbying Parliament on related issues.
??Having a student body backing you instead of individuals would be beneficial.?
Source: http://www.tewahanui.info/twn/index.php/ausa-support-same-sex-marriage/
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