Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 13:44:36 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: NZ 332:  NZ SSM APPEAL DISMISSED

Aloha auwinala kakou.

Sad news from New Zealand--the appeal brought forth by three same-gendered
couples challenging the marriage law was dismissed unanimously by New
Zealand's High Court today.

One judge (Thomas) said that Gays & Lesbians are denied a basic civil right
under this legislation in that the freedom to marry is rightly regarded as a
basic civil right.  "In a real sense, Gays & Lesbians are effectively
excluded from full membership of society," Thomas noted.

Jools Josselin, one of the plaintiffs noted that the focus now shifts back
to the Netherlands and Hawai`i.  She also said:  "We're in it for the long
haul."

Follow-ups will be forthcoming.

~~pau~~
 
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "Televangelists:  the pro-wrestlers of religion."
                       --via Jason Powell, Honolulu
                        ~~~~~~
                   Fred and Martin,
               24 years, yet strangers
           before all but 16.7% of the law.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~