Spurred by Obama, New Zealand Marriage Equality Passes First Vote

The New Zealand Parliament favored marriage equality 80-40 in an initial vote on legislation penned by lesbian MP Louisa Wall.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

August 30 2012 5:41 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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On Wednesday a marriage equality bill in New Zealand passed its first parliamentary vote by a wide margin of 80 to 40. This was the first of three votes Parliament must take before the bill can become law.

The Associated Press reports that about two thirds of New Zealanders support marriage equality. The legislation is also supported by most of the country's political leadership. New Zealand currently offers civil unions to same-sex and opposite-sex couples, but these unions notably lack several important rights conferred by marriage, including the right to adopt children.

The legislation was introduced by lesbian member of parliament Louisa Wall, who told the AP that U.S. president Barack Obama's May 9 announcement that he personally supports marriage equality provided a boost to the legislation in New Zealand.

"If I'm really honest, I think the catalyst was around Obama's announcement," Wall told the AP. "And then our prime minister came out very early in support, as did the leader of my party, David Shearer. The timing was right."

On the same day that Obama announced his support for marriage equality, New Zealand prime minister John Key broke his silence on the issue, saying he is "not personally opposed to gay marriage."