‘Group marriage’ supporters in New Zealand are calling for legal recognition just weeks after same-sex marriage was legalised in the country.
The group, which has set up the Facebook page, Support legalised Polyamory in NZ, says: “We believe that ALL committed loving relationships between adults regardless of number should be respected and given legal acknowledgement.”
It states on the page: “We are supporters of the legal recognition of Polyamorous marriage in NZ. By ‘Polyamorous marriage’ we mean – responsible, adult, committed non-monogamy (Plural marriage of any gender) marriage or union”.
Tamper
The New Zealand Parliament voted 77 to 44 in favour of same-sex marriage last month.
The news comes as the Bill to redefine marriage in England and Wales will move to the House of Lords once it has completed its latter stages in the House of Commons in the next few months.
Campaigners in the UK warn that tampering with the definition of marriage would pave the way for polyamorous unions here.
Polygamy
In Holland, where same-sex marriage was introduced in 2001, three-way relationships were given legal recognition through a “cohabitation agreement” in 2005.
In March the politician who masterminded the gay marriage campaign in the Netherlands said that ‘group marriage’ was now being discussed in the country.
In British Columbia, Canada, there have been major attempts to legalise polygamy through the courts using the precedent of same-sex marriage.
Brazil
Last year three people in a polygamous relationship were allowed to enter into a civil union in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo.
Same-sex unions have been legally recognised in Brazil since 2004, and in 2011 a judge allowed a same-sex union to be recognised as a gay marriage.
Last year a blogger on the Guardian’s website courted controversy when he claimed there are some “economic advantages” for children having three parents.
Martin Robbins said: “What’s wrong with polygamy? It seems to be that a child brought up by three loving parents would have some quite big economic advantages, and humans have cooperated in child-rearing since the year dot”.