First civil union at Parliament

Stuff reports:

Piri Norris and Justin Elder will make history today when they tie the knot in the first civil ceremony at Parliament.

Their lips were sealed as to which MPs, one of whom is a minister, were attending the lavish event.

The Wellington men’s whirlwind romance began a little over a year ago after they first laid eyes on each other at the gym.

“I was too shy to talk to him, then he finally plucked up the courage to come up to me and say something,” said Mr Norris, 24, who is a law student and works part-time for the Social Development Ministry. …

The pair approached former Wellington mayor Kerry Prendergast to be their celebrant for the historic occasion as she officiated the first civil union in the country six years ago.

Having the ceremony at the place people had fought for gay rights was symbolic for the pair.

Mr Elder, 28, who is an executive assistant to National MP Sandra Goudie, was granted permission by the Speaker of the House to hold the civil union in the Legislative Council Chamber.

Only current MPs or parliamentary staff can get married or hold a civil union at Parliament.

The men both “came out” when they were 19 after knowing for years they were “different”.

Best wishes to Justin and Piri for their big day.

There have been 2486 civil unions since Wellington men Des Smith, 71, and John Jolliff, 82, became the first same-sex couple in New Zealand to have their relationship legally acknowledged in April 2005.

That’s 5,000 New Zealanders who have been able to have their relationship legally recognised, who could not have been previously. That’s a good thing.