Civil union

[vilakins]

I don't often post about news, but I know this will interest a lot of you. :-)

Since the civil unions act came into force this week, people here in New Zealand have an alternative to marriage called civil union, and it's available to any two adults. The first to get joined were a delighted and bubbly gay couple filmed by Campbell Live who waited outside the issuing office doors and got form number 1 to their glee. They were hitched on the beach at Mission Bay and looked gorgeous in black and gold oriental tunics.

Het couples who don't fancy marriage because of all the baggage it carries are going for it too. I wonder if Greg's sister and her partner will do it, esp now they have little Ari; it does offer legal recognition and protection.

We need some new words for it though. "We're getting unioned" doesn't sound right.

Comments

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Cool! You guys are so much more enlightened than the US. Sigh.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

Speak for yourself. In my state, there's legal same-sex marriage. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

What amazes me is that Spain's going for same-sex marriage. I thought they were very Catholic.

[redstarrobot.livejournal.com]

"We're getting unioned" doesn't sound right.

"We're being civilized"?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That was among the suggestions viewers sent into Campbell Live. :-) There was also 'cubbed' (from Civil Union Bill initial) and a whole lot of others I can't remember. I suppose the people will come up with something themselves. NZers are pretty good at slang.

But yes, it is quite civilised. :-)

[ianmcin.livejournal.com]

"We're uniting."

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I like it!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Hurray again for NZ, home of women's suffrage! We would take advantage of a law like this, if we could.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people who aren't religious or don't want the usual fuss will. We got married but I arranged it all and there were no speeches or anything much that was traditional apart from the core of the service. Guests said it was one of the most enjoyable weddings they'd been to because we just had fun and the whole thing was relaxed.

I've known people who got married overseas on holiday to avoid the excessive expectations of parents. Greg's sister had a stealth wedding a couple of years ago: a simple declaration at what we thought was just her birthday party.

[kerravongenius.livejournal.com]

On Sims 2, they call it joining.

I love Bush's strange standards. Two members of the same sex committing to each other is an abomination, raining bombs on civilians is liberation. Someone should buy the poor thing a new dictionary.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I used 'joined' in my post. :-D

Bush is an abomination. The idiot sucks up to Saudis, probably because they have royal titles, when most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudi and none were Iraqi. And who's got the WMDs? Um, the US? Yeah, Muslims are scary, but Bush is a hell of a lot more frightening.

If only the US could elect anyone to be president, not just billionaires who can bribe on a large scale.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Is "getting hitched" too slangy?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It is to me. But I'm sure people will find something that'll work. :-)

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

Yay! We got it a couple of years ago, but still years behind the Swedes. GO NZ!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I hope our Labour government stays in this November. I really like Helen Clark.

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! I think I'd go for something like "we're entering union" or "we're making union".

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Hm. How about substituting "whoopee"?

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

What ever its called, it does make it easier to distinguish between person who matters and lodger to help pay off the mortgage. Good for NZ.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's why so many people will go for it: it's a legal statement that you're a couple, but without the expense and trappings of marriage. Personally, I wanted to be married, but a lot of people aren't religious or don't want a fuss. I've known people who got married overseas on holiday, and Greg's sister had a stealth wedding a couple of years ago, a simple declaration, at what we thought was just her birthday party.

[kerravonsen]

I'm a bit confused: what's the difference between this, and getting married in a registry office rather than in a church? (Apart from the gay-marriage aspect of it)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm not clear on that myself. It just seems to be a much more low-key affair and is attracting het couples who just want to get a declaration signed and leave it at that. I know it makes partners 'next of kin', but maybe the difference is in terminology: they're not wife and husband, but just 'joined'. [shrug]

I wanted my wedding to be a religious one, but I did cut a lot of the social traditions like old-fashioned bridal gown, speeches and toasts out, so I understand people fleeing the societal pressures.

[kerravonsen]

Actually, y'know what would be cool? If one could legally adopt siblings. That is, have someone legally one's next-of-kin whom one isn't in a sexual relationship with.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That would be very cool! I'm sure I could do better than my sister too.

I read a few months ago that an agency in China offering introductions for people who want to live with someone in a platonic relationship is doing incredibly well. I'm not sure the arrangement has legal backing like marriage or civil union, but there really is a place for this. People need company and affection, esp with the often isolated lives many lead now. If I hadn't met Greg, I'd be single and celibate and extremely interested in something like that.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

When parliamant was debating extending civil weddings to same sex couples in Britain the Conservatives wanted that. Why should an active sex life fix who can inherit your pension or the tenancy of your flat? Family members who have lived together for years ought to be able to have the same protection.