A Kiwi parenting influencer has shared a shocking confrontation he had with a member of the New Conservative political party, after being told his son would have "emotional damage" due to being raised by two fathers.
Christian Newman and his husband Mark Edwards have over 31,000 followers on their Instagram page 'Love from your Dads', which documents their lives with their young son Frankie.
In a recent IGTV post, Newman filmed himself in a heated discussion with the unnamed woman campaigning for New Conservative at an Auckland market.
Among the topics raised was the party's policy on relationship education, with the woman telling Newman schools should teach children that marriage is only acceptable between heterosexual couples.
"We just believe that the best outcome for children is a mother and father," she said.
"I've seen the documentary Gayby Babies - it's a documentary [about] children of same-sex parents. They have loving parents but they have some gaps in their, ah, they have an emotional longing for a mother or father."
She then doubled down on the claims, adding later: "Automatically there's emotional damage for children growing up with gay parents... it's just my observation."
When Newman asked if she didn't believe in same-sex marriage, she replied: "The best outcome for children is having a mother and dad, isn't it?
"No, absolutely not," Neman responded.
"I'm a gay father with a child. That's how I know. You've actually got no idea, so you're preaching and saying it's unacceptable that I have a child."
Often backtracking over her own policies and contradicting herself, the woman appeared to be getting increasingly frustrated, before saying: "No matter how long I talk to you, I know you're not going to vote for us."
"I'm a 100 percent not," Newman responded. "I"m also going to encourage others not to vote for you.
"You don't even understand your own policies."
The woman also made bizarre claims about the sex life of homosexual couples, saying she didn't think it could be as satisfying as the sex she had with her husband.
"You cannot have the full happiness in the same-sex... especially terms of sex. I'm married so..."
"So you think you have better sex than I do?" an amused Newman responded.
"In terms of sex, of course," she replied before saying she had "heard" anal sex was "painful".
In the caption of the video Newman posted to Instagram, he wrote that the New Conservative party's policies are harmful to the LGBTQI community and women seeking an abortion.
"I wanted to discuss their policies to understand where they're coming from, and of course to educate this campaigner from a different point of view," he wrote.
"The conversation certainly left many points untouched and watching this back I have so much more to say on both LGBTQI being included in schools and abortion."
He also revealed in the caption he got "riled up" and a security guard came over to stop the conversation.
"Everyone has the right to their own beliefs and opinions. But I do not believe that anyone should impact on how other people live their lives," he added.
"Everyone should be given the right to make the choice and not have that choice taken away from them.
"Love is love!"
The video has racked up over 30,000 views, with followers praising Newman's words and approach.
"You need a hero award bro," wrote openly gay Labour MP and fellow father Tamati Coffey.
"You are an inspiration, Christian, we need more people like you in this world," wrote influencer Hannah Laity. "Proud to call you a friend and sorry you have to put up with this BS."
"This is epic and so bloody inspiring, good on you, and I'm so sorry you even have to deal with this," wrote radio host Sharyn Casey.
Same-sex marriage in New Zealand has been legal since August 19, 2013. A bill for legalisation was passed by the New Zealand House of Representatives on April 17, 2013 by 77 votes to 44 and received royal assent on April 19.
