Why do religious people feel they have the right to tell other people how to live their lives, asks Matt McCarten.

Two groups, split down the middle by barriers and police, sang and prayed late into the night as Parliament resumed its fierce debate on legalising same-sex marriage.

While opposition to same-sex marriage appears to be growing in NZ, several surveys in the United States show public opinion is surprisingly heading in the other direction.

Public opposition to same-sex marriage has grown significantly since a law change to legalise it came before Parliament, a HeraldDigiPoll survey shows.

Following the second reading of my marriage bill last week, there has been a concentrated move from those opposed to my bill to argue that it will "enable gay adoption.

Screen siren Ellen Barkin was so passionate about the storyline of The New Normal she took time away from big Hollywood movies to appear as a regular in the US television sitcom.

A banned advert depicting Chairman Mao performing the Gangnam Style dance could insult 120,000 Chinese immigrants living in Auckland, a local community leader says.

An advert depicting Chairman Mao performing the Gangnam Style dance has been banned from Auckland bus stops for fear it will insult Chinese residents.

Chris Auchinvole's speech on gay marriage was widely hailed as one of the best given by a politician in the debate this week on the legislation.

A genuinely secular state has no place in the finery and stresses of the weird and often wonderful ritual of a wedding, writes Toby Manhire.

Same-sex marriage campaigners say the overwhelming support for the bill is a ringing endorsement which shows MPs are in line with the views of ordinary Kiwis.

Same-sex marriage inched another step closer late last night when MPs backed it overwhelmingly at the second hurdle, with only a handful of previous supporters turning against it. Labour MP Louisa Wall's bill passed its second reading 77-44, Chris Auchinvole spoke about the social shift occurring in NZ, with only 32 per cent of marriages taking place in a church.

Hugs, cheers and kisses were thrown around Parliament last night as MPs moved marriage equality in New Zealand one step closer to reality.

Join us as we follow tonight's online debate on Louisa Wall's marriage equality bill.

In a bid to combat homophobia, a new ad campaign has been launched in Quebec asking readers "How open are you?"

After months of emotional submissions and some bitter protest, a bill to legalise same-sex marriage appears likely to pass another hurdle.

Opponents of same-sex marriage are being slammed for distributing leaflets saying legalising the move will result in more incidences of AIDS and syphilis, and see the end of titles such as "husband and wife".

Church leaders are making a last-minute appeal to MPs to protect teachers who believe marriage should only be between opposite sexes even if Louisa Wall's gay marriage bill is passed tomorrow.

Entertainer Lynda Topp has married her partner Donna Luxton at their home in Staveley, in the foothills of the Southern Alps.

The challenge for those in this discussion is to acknowledge and respect the values of others and to be courageous and generous in love, writes Russell Hoban.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the push for gay marriage in NZ, writes Douglas Pratt. Expectations of a momentous change are high.

Religion has always sought to manipulate and dictate the manner in which individuals live their lives, writes Sam Clements. The Marriage Equality Bill threatens many in the church.

A Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended that a bill to legalise same-sex marriage be passed into law.

The Family First lobby group has published a poll which finally concedes what all other polls in the past year have shown - that more New Zealanders now support gay marriage than oppose it.

The proposed redefinition of marriage now before Parliament seems to have produced two major responses, writes Ron Hay.

The return of a Pride Parade to Auckland has been declared a fabulous success.

Opponents of a law change to allow same-sex marriage are stepping up their campaign, targeting MPs they feel may change their vote at the bill's next hurdle.