McKellen backs gay marriage for “Middle Earth”
British actor Sir Ian McKellen has recorded a video in support of marriage equality in New Zealand.
“New Zealand gave women the vote before every other country in the world, the rest of the world has looked towards New Zealand for social advance and here we are again – this time at the exciting prospect of two people of the same gender being able to get married and to join the rest of the population,” he says in the video.
McKellen has spent considerable time in the country, where he filmed The Lord of the Rings trilogy and its upcoming prequel, The Hobbit.
The New Zealand Marriage Amendment Bill passed its first reading on August 22 and is currently before a select committee.
