MEDIA RELEASE
28 August 2012 EMBARGOED UNTIL 12.30PM

Signatures Supporting Current Marriage Definition Presented

Family First NZ has presented a petition containing the signatures of almost 50,000 kiwis to a group of MP’s from Labour, National and NZ First calling on them to reject the bill to redefine marriage when it comes up for its 1st Reading tomorrow.

The statement presented says “I support the definition of marriage in New Zealand being maintained as one man one woman. I oppose any attempt to redefine it.”

“This is an incredible response considering we only launched the campaign a month ago. It shows the level of public opposition to the bill, and the signatures continue to pour in,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“This is not an ‘anti’ campaign. We all support equality. But same-sex couples already have legal recognition through civil unions, so there is no need to redefine marriage. It's not discriminatory to support the existing definition of marriage. Many homosexuals do not support the call for same-sex marriage – yet they are certainly not ‘homophobic’ or ‘bigoted’ which are lazy labels given to anyone supporting the current definition of marriage.”

“Politicians understood that when they passed the civil unions. Both Labour and Green MP’s acknowledged the structure, traditional value and cultural institution of marriage, and that civil unions was the ‘acceptable alternative’. Nothing has changed since then,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“If marriage is redefined once, there is nothing to stop it continuing to be redefined to allow polygamy, polyamory and adult incest relationships. Throughout history and in virtually all human societies, marriage has always been the union of a man and a woman. Marriage reflects the complementary natures of men and women. Although death and divorce may prevent it, the evidence shows that children do best with a married mother and a father. Marriage is about giving every child a loving and biologically connected and committed mother and father. Marriage is how societies do this.”

Family First is calling on MP’s to reject the marriage amendment bill and to focus on more urgent issues such as employment, child abuse, negotiating our way through the recession, restoring Christchurch, and dealing with family poverty.
ENDS

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