Speech Transcript: Legalizing Gay Marriage in New Zealand

A survey conducted in 2007 showed that 1 in 25 New Zealand high school students are gay or bisexual.
We have 26 students in our class.
So theoretically, there is at least one gay person in this room.
Are we going to deny that person the chance to get married and lead a life like the rest of us?
That's why I think New Zealand needs to legalise gay marriage.

You might say, "yeah I've got no problem with gays." But think, when was the last time you called someone gay? or faggot? And I bet you said it without even realising it.
We use the term gay as if its something to be ashamed of, we use it as an insult.

And I'll admit it, it slips from my mouth too, because it's something our generation has become so used to.
It's so ingrained into our everyday speech that we barely even acknowledge what we're actually saying.

Now just imagine, you are gay, and your walking round and people are saying things to their mates like
"Bro, your so gay!" or "stop being a faggot"
You would think to yourself, 'everyone must hate what I am.

Now we all know how cruel teenagers can be.
Some kids will look for any reason to pick on somebody.
This can make the pressures on gay teenagers overwhelming, to deny who they are, and try be who they're not.

Now looking at the statistics, gay youth are 4 times more likely to have severe depression.
And we all know what that can, and quite often does, lead to.
Because a few cruel names such as "gaybo" or "faggot" can tear somebody apart.

That's crazy right?
These kids can see no way out, no way for things to get better, because of us.
Because nobody is willing to stand up for them and accept them.
Legalising gay marriage won't solve all of these problems, but it will help dramatically lower these kinds of statistics.

Could you imagine you family and friends, getting married, getting divorced, and getting married again while your not allowed one shot at it?
This is the reality for gay couples.
And the major