Dialogue: One way to have a gay old time

Relationships have enjoyed a bit of attention lately with the Property (Relationships) Bill being put under the spotlight. What constitutes a relationship? Does a shared address automatically imply de facto status; and when does shacking up become a serious half-and-half situation if a split should occur?

Oddly enough, in a country that doesn't recognise same-sex unions, the proposed legislation could be used to govern what happens to those unions if they do break up

Ahh, so they do exist? Well, of course they do, and isn't it about time New Zealand led the world and legislated to recognise them? We could be the first nation to do so and I know how much New Zealand likes to be first at things, whether in sport, seeing the sun come up or in civil rights matters such as giving women the vote.

Most arguments against same-sex marriage are very flimsy. For people who argue that marriage is an institution that exists only between one man and one woman, all I can say is I'm sorry, but that's just plain discrimination.

For those who argue that marriage is for procreation and to protect children first and foremost, do they think we should revoke the marriage licences of all childless couples, the infertile, the post-menopausal and the couples using contraceptives? I don't think so.

How about because gay relationships are wrong? Not according to the laws of this land, so that tired excuse will just have to be dropped.

I know it's not that simple or I wouldn't be writing this piece, and I do understand that the main opposition to such a move will come from fundamental Christians who think that allowing homosexuals the same rights as their straight brothers and sisters will unravel the fabric of society. That it might well begin the descent down the slippery slope to state-sanctioned bestiality, incest or worse. Really, though, what a load of old cobblers.

If you're of the persuasion that can't accept homosexuality because of prejudice or fear, or can't quite get your head around the concept of goodwill to all, just think of the money. It's all very well to entice tourists here to spend their foreign currency on bungi jumping, whitewater rafting and sheepskin mementos but imagine if we allowed same-sex marriages.

Not only would it show the world that we are tolerant of all people and all kinds of love, but our coffers would swell as sure as night follows day with gay couples coming down here to get hitched. If we really are in the clutches of a recession, some innovative revenue-gathering ideas might help us out of the hole, and gay weddings would be a lot more fruitful than a cake stall.

But considering the slipping popularity of marriage as an institution, you'd wonder why anybody would want to do it at all. Chances are they'll end up in court, but it's a matter of civil liberty. It's about gay couples being able to enjoy the same rights and privileges extended to everyone else.

Not all homosexuals are into the idea of marriage. Some ask why they would want to adopt a medieval heterosexual model for their own? Why marry when the whole business is more doomed to failure than it has ever been? But, the point is that gay couples shouldn't be deprived of marriage rights in matters of immigration, inheritance, custody or property.

Interestingly, in some of the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden and Denmark) and Holland, where they have some state-recognised form of gay or civil union, the homosexual divorce rate is lower than the heterosexual. Even if that were not the case, though, surely gay people have exactly the same rights to make a hash of marriage as straights.

The Church, or fundamental factions at least, needn't be involved in the ceremonies - the Church and state are, after all, completely separate entities in this country. Such a move would in no way undermine the coupling of men and women but simply give other types of couples protection and blessing in law.

As instigators of one of the first welfare states, historically perhaps our most humane and generous moment, New Zealand has always been proud of its pioneering roots.

Let's extend that pioneering ethos to legalising same-sex marriages and show the world that we are a kindly nation, a tolerant nation. By doing so we might kiss our economic woes goodbye.