Decline In Demand for Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
Media Release 5 August 2015
Family First NZ says that two years on from the definition of marriage being politically manipulated, statistics released today show that the demand for same-sex marriages by New Zealanders has decreased by over 10% in the past year (511[1] to 458) while traditional marriage has finally reversed its decline and slightly increased (19,605 up from 19,275).
The overall same-sex marriage numbers have been boosted by overseas couples which represent almost half of the total same-sex marriages (44%), while overseas opposite-sex couples represent only 11% of all marriages.
There have been 38,880 marriages of a NZ-resident man and woman during the past two years. Same-sex marriages during that time represented less than 3% (969) of total marriages.
“Despite an initial flurry, the demand for same-sex marriage has been underwhelming. Marriage ‘equality’ was never about equality because not everyone is able to marry. However, there are now pushes for extending the definition of marriage to allow for polygamy and group marriage. Redefining marriage was about deconstructing and weakening the meaning and purpose of marriage from its role as a specific culturally and historically bound institution,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
“The equality cause is not advanced by destroying institutions. Equality should respect difference, not destroy it.”
“It is ironic that supporters of redefining marriage have relied on a boost in tourism to justify the change,” says Mr McCoskrie.
“The real outcomes of this law change are yet to come to fruition – namely, attempts to further implement ‘marriage equality’ to allow polygamy and group marriage, and the right to freedom of conscience and belief for celebrants, venues, and service providers being threatened as is happening at an increasing rate in overseas jurisdictions.”
ENDS
[1] The year ending 30 June 2014 only includes 10.5 months of same sex marriages because the first same-sex marriages were performed on 19 August 2013. Therefore, the drop in demand is actually greater!
