End expected for 'last barrier'

Wairarapa Labour Party chairman Kieran McAnulty expects hundreds of "yes" campaigners, who are expected to pack the public gallery of Parliament, will be "jubilant" after the Marriage Equality Bill passes the third reading on Wednesday as expected.

"It's hugely significant, it's probably the last barrier of equality between heterosexuals and homosexuals. Only 20 years ago it was illegal to be a homosexual. I know it's controversial but in 5-10 years I'm sure a lot of people will wonder what all the fuss was about," Mr McAnulty said.

The controversial bill previously passed its first and second readings 80-40 and 77-44 respectively and political analysts and observers believe the sizeable winning margins should result in a comfortable and historic victory for the "yes" side. If passed, the Marriage Equality Bill will become legal this week.

Mr McAnulty expects there will be excitement, emotion and happiness and he believes the "no" campaign will not be subjected to negative criticism after the third reading. "There's no hatred or [anger] from people on the pro equal-marriage side. While some of the references were regretful which were said against us, the pro-marriage campaign have tried to bend over backwards to try to accommodate religious [views].

The Wairarapa nominee hopeful was highly critical of MP for Wairarapa John Hayes who stated in a speech in Parliament during the first reading last August that he canvassed several thousand Wairarapa residents over same-sex marriage and he said some responded that the bill would lead to polygamy and legalised incest.

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"They see this bill as legalising by stealth the adoption of children by gay parents," Mr Hayes said. "They fear the extension of boundaries to include relationships we do not as a society currently condone: polygamous relationships and incestuous relationships. These are very genuine concerns for my constituents."

Mr McAnulty described the comments as an "embarrassment". "As you know Wairarapa elected a transgender mayor in Carterton, so for him to suggest that people here were against homosexual marriage and secondly linking it to incest was [wrong]."

He believed since Mr Hayes came in for criticism after those comments he has completely avoided the issue.

Mr McAnulty said that apart from writing a newspaper column, where he concluded with a "Let me know what you think" line, he has "completely avoided the issue".

The 28-year-old said there was huge support and a large attendance at a meeting in the Town Hall last year, which Mr Hayes failed to attend.

"Just judging by the comments from the floor there were two distinct messages from that meeting. One, the public were supportive of the bill, and two, the public were angry that John Hayes didn't canvass the electorate."

Mr Hayes told the Wairarapa Times-Age yesterday: "I have nothing to say, I've spoken on this issue already."