Massive gay support for Civil Union Bill
(NZ)


The first ever national survey of gays and lesbians has found that an overwhelming number want government recognition of same sex relationships. 

In the survey by Massey University, 94% of respondents are in favour of legal recognition of same sex relationships, with the majority preferring marriage to civil unions.

One of the researchers, Mark Henrickson, says there is strong support for marriage among women, the young, those on lower incomes, and Green party supporters and non-voters.

Dr Henrickson says the overall results show the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities are politically involved, highly educated and hold traditional values about relationships.


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ABA May Bar Judges From Anti-Gay Groups
GINA HOLLAND
Associated Press


ATLANTA - Judges are on the front line of battles over legal rights for same-sex couples and should never belong to an organization that discriminates against gays, supporters of a proposed change to American Bar Association ethics rules argued Friday.

Judges are already prohibited from joining clubs that discriminate based on race or sex. An ABA panel is debating whether to make groups that discriminate against gays off limits as well.

The ABA, the nation's largest lawyers' group with more than 400,000 members, writes conduct rules for judges and lawyers. States and federal courts generally adopt them, with some changes.

It is not known how many judges participate in groups such as the Boy Scouts that have policies against hiring gays or having homosexual leaders, or some veterans groups that restrict membership to heterosexuals.