Adams Paul: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Adams Paul: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:622;Page:17497] 
PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
: 
 I will not be supporting this legislation. I have been thinking through it because there are a lot of things that have been discussed and there has been a lot of debate on the Christian perspective yet every major religion in the world affirms marriage except one which I have heard about loud and strong in the debate and that is secular humanism. I believe that has been a strong voice in this country. 
In the early days of my rallying career we did a tremendous amount of our special-stage driving at night time. To be honest I absolutely loved it. All I could see with those powerful spotlights mounted on the front of the car was the road ahead. Everything else was in pitch darkness. Even if I had wanted to see what was on either side of the road that I was going down at breakneck speed it was impossible because of the darkness. That is exactly what is happening with the Government-led Civil Union Bill. 
The Government has decided the road it wants New Zealanders to go down and all its effort and attention is on giving illumination to that road or pathway—only. It is trying to convince us that it is a good road and it wants to hide everything that may be on either side of the road in darkness. Well I have news for the Government. Another thing I learnt from my years in rallying is that darkness does not last forever. At a point in time the sun does begin to rise. We are at a point in New Zealand history at which the sun is beginning to rise over our nation. Things that have been previously hidden from view by the night will now be seen clearly by all because when the sun begins to rise the darkness must go. No longer is the road alone all that we see. What is on either side becomes of tremendous importance as it affects the ability to maintain maximum forward motion on the road ahead of us. 
Middle New Zealand has seen what this legislation really is and the Government will not be able to hide the consequences of it from them. I believe that middle New Zealand has been speaking clearly on the bill. They know that it has nothing to do with loving relationships and absolutely everything to do with gay marriage. Not one email I received stated that couples were looking forward to having a civil union next year but many stated that they were looking forward to getting married next year. Members should think of the complications. Already we have Mr Mrs Miss Master and Ms. What on earth will we call these? “Civs”? Just imagine the cost to business for the stationery. Just imagine the cost to Air New Zealand when people fill out their cards. What will they be: “Civ” Miss or Ms? It gets confusing. Besides one cannot build on a lie. 
Homosexuality is a choice. Nobody is born homosexual as far as I am concerned. Yes one may lean more towards one’s masculine or feminine side but one is either a male or a female. As I said previously I have never heard of anybody’s bones being found and identified as lesbian or homosexual. People are either male or female. I have never seen a birth notice announcing the birth of a baby lesbian or homosexual. As we heard previously God made two types only—male and female. The gender people were born with is the gender they will die with and science will always confirm that. One can shout it from the rooftops as long as one likes—there are only two types. I know many gay and lesbian men and women who chose to participate in the gay lifestyle but who have since chosen to leave it. All tell a similar story which is normally to be honest a very sad story. But the bottom line always is that it always was a choice. 
I do not believe legislation should be passed to encourage people into making wrong choices. I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a generation that was at least taught what was right and what was wrong. I did not always follow what was right because people will always be able to exercise their free will. However many years later one learns and appreciates that many things one thought was OK when one was young in actual fact had consequences that were not pleasant. If this legislation passes—and I pray that it will not—there will be consequences to our nation.