We're open-minded enough here to not care about the relationship between gender and love, right? Yeah, maybe wishful thinking...
There are some who still haven't opened their minds to the fact that humans love other humans and should be able to sign a legal document saying so. At this stage I should say each to their own. Right? Nope. At this stage I should attack Australia. Yup!
Apart from it just generally always being a good idea to give Australians a sly elbow in their slightly-more-tanned-than-our-own ribs, I actually have a reason.
It's not their string of eternally disappointing prime ministers, it's not the abhorrent history (and present) when it comes to their indigenous people, it's not the brash disregard for human decency they show towards some refugees, or the 'detention centres' they keep some of your fellow Kiwis in.
Today I look past all that and I give them (their government) jib because they don't accept love. Which to me is worse than all of the above, because maybe that's where all of the above issues actually have their roots -- love for other humans.
Australia has still not legalised same-sex marriage.
When these two fantastic ladies, who are actually two of the most in-love humans I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, go back home to Melbourne their marriage is not recognised. They are not officially wife and wife over there. They are living a lie in the eyes of their 'powers that be'.
Now you be that couple. How would you feel about getting back to the Bay and everything you'd committed to each other, in front of your closest bunch of humans, didn't matter to your country?
Oh and while we're at it, Phar Lap, Crowded House and pavlova are all ours.
But we'll happily trade you them if you open your eyes and let people love other people.
- Will Johnston is host of The Hits 95FM Day Show. Live and local from 9am till 3pm, every weekday in the Bay of Plenty.
