Marriage bill drew out best

If you are going to be wrongly outed, it may as well be by a top flight publication as the New York Times.

While that paper's reputation for accuracy has taken a hit, in New Zealand at least, the image of Maurice Williamson has soared since his speech during the marriage equality bill's third reading.

Who knew he was so flamboyant?

His was one of a number of speeches that made Parliament highly entertaining on Wednesday night.

It is surprising that such a potentially divisive subject seemed to unite the house. It certainly brought out the sense of humour in many, perhaps unshackled from the need to verbally lay into people which is the usual Parliamentary mode. If you were backing the bill going through, or just a casual observer, the joy that seemed to ring through the building was palpable. It's not often one can say that about the house.

Conscience votes such as this always prove the most interesting. There were MPs who voted against civil unions yet for same sex marriage, and there was one openly gay MP - Chris Finlayson - who voted against the bill. It demonstrates people can be economically conservative yet socially liberal, as well as the socially conservative in left of centre parties.

And yes, it also demonstrates that people don't fit the little boxes we tend to put them in.

The passing of the bill into law has made New Zealand the first Asia-Pacific nation to legalise marriage between same sex couples and the 13th in the world.

And as Mr Williamson pointed out, the sky is not going to fall in. Marriage has been a political institution before. Henry VIII rent a whole new Christian tradition so he could get divorced and marry again. And opposition by some churches to the legislation was largely calmed with changes that meant they will not have to do or say anything different than they already do.

While Mr Williamson has been enthroned as a gay icon for his exuberant speech, the credit for the passing of the bill should go to Louisa Wall. It took courage to see this change through. The former national representative netball and rugby union player has had to sidestep the criticism - some of it quite nasty - that goes with sponsoring such social change. Parliament is about making laws and her time there has been well spent if she does nothing else.

The debate has also brought wider issues of justice and discrimination to the fore. Wanganui MP Chester Borrows, who voted against the bill, said the "bill is using a mickey-mouse way of trying to achieve a bigger argument. I agree with gay couples having equal legal and social status, but we should be brave enough to debate the wider issue, which is the prejudice we have around homosexuals." Mr Borrows also told the Taranaki Daily News he believed more needed to be done to prevent the high suicide rate in gay teenagers.

He is absolutely right. But giving gay people the same opportunities as straight people - and removing another divide - can't hurt.