Queer News Aotearoa (New Zealand) Issue 6

12th November 1995

This issue:

Queer protest against Mugabe

A number of demonstrations in Auckland occured on Friday, the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Goverment Meeting (CHOGM). About 50-60 queer activists protested against Mugabe. The group was diverse including members of Lesbian Avengers, Pride Centre, NZAF, Auckland Gay and Lesbian Welfare, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and others. A letter was handed to the police to pass to Mugabe. This received coverage on the national television, radio and newspapers in New Zealand.

A further demonstration is planned for Monday morning at 8am.

Presbyterian Church licenses Dunedin gay man

The Presbyterian Church made history when Martin Dickson, an out gay man, was licensed. The Presbyterian Church is currently debating the issue of whether homosexuals can be parish leaders. A decision on this matter has been delayed until the 1996 General Assembly.

Alliance selects gay candidate for West Coast-Tasman Electorate

Richard Davies, an out gay man living in Takaka, Golden Bay, has been selected as the Alliance candidate for the West Coast-Tasman electorate.

NZ Man Robs Bank with Blood-Filled Syringe

Reuters (11/06/95)

A thief carrying a blood-filled syringe stole about NZ$2,000 from a New Zealand bank. The man absconded with the money by threatening three bank employees with the syringe, which they feared was filled with HIV-infected blood, Television New Zealand reported. A police squad has searched the residence of one suspect, but have not found the man.

Events - Reviews

Lesbians on the Land - Golden Bay

(From an interview Henry James had with Felicity Stacey-Clark 3 November)

The idea for Lesbians on the Land came from the 1995 Lesbian Studies Conference when great interest was shown by a number of lesbians in alternaltive life styles. The event was staged over a weekend on Felicity's farm in Golden Bay when 22 lesbians from all over NZ and including one from Holland attended.

The weekend was practically orientated with lessons in chainsawing, workshops on alternative housing and energy; and natural/holisitic health. Site inspections included visits to houses that had been built single-handed by women, including one in a remote site with no electricity, and a motel using composting toilets.

The first event was enthusiastically recieved by those attending who are already planning next year's. The weekend finished up with a great social occasion in which the visitors were joined by locals and 40 lesbians gathered in a local hall.

Queer Carnival Night in Nelson - filed by Henry James

For most of 1995 the wymmen of Nelson organised fun nights on the first Friday of the month in the back bay of Molly Maguire's. The last for the year was held recently as a Queer Carnival night. Starting at 6 with stalls selling all manner of things the party was under way by 8 and fun seekers dressed in all manner of disguises got into the swing of things and partied away until the small hours.

The nest party to be held on the 1st December is being organised by the Nelson guys, and hopefully we will see an occasion where more guys will turn up and make a great fun night with the wymmen.

Events - Upcoming

Wellington events for lesbians (from srg3dbn@dbv.grace.cri.nz)

LILAC - The Wellington lesbian library is open:

  • Over 35s Dance - 18th November, at Escape Nightclub - upstairs at 9 Edwards St. (behind Caspers), but different music, and smoke-free
  • DOODS Dance 25th November at Escape Nightclub.
  • Lesbian Ball - 9th December, old Town Hall 8pm to 2am.

    Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club Programme, Oct. - Dec.:

    meet outside the Wellington Railway Station at 10 am stout walking shoes or boots; bring lunch, drink and raingear

    Ascent Wellington events

  • 21 November : Ascent discussion evening : Topic "End Time Stuff - you must be joking!" . Contact Roger/Ron for details (Ph 64-4-387 3205)
  • 13 December : Ascent Mass at St Marys Convent, Guildford Tce, Thorndon, Wellington. 7.45pm. Contact Roger/Ron for details (Ph 64-4-387 3205)
  • Advent Carol Service for the Lesbian/Gay/Bi-sexual Community. Sunday 3 Dec, 7.30pm at St Andrews on the Terrace, Wellington.

    More details on the above events can be found on the web at http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/1995.calendar.of.events.html

    What is happening on the Internet

    Well the main news happening this week has been the contact with GALZ (Gays and Lesbians in Zimbabwe). The simple post in issue 2 of QNA resulted in GALZ emailing me and encouraging the New Zealand queer community to protest against Mugabe. This direct contact with Stephen enabled us to obtain substantial background information on the situation in Zimbabwe including transcripts of some of the homophobic parliamentary speeches made by the Zimbabwean government.

    The result of this can be seen in the reported protest and the increased awareness of the situation of gays and lesbians in Zimbabwe.

    Copyright, Subscription and Contribution information

    Overseas media who utilise any or all of the above material please credit QNA as your source. Thank you.

    QNA is a weekly news service of events, activities and other items of interest that are happening in the queer community in New Zealand. The news is distributed via the QNA mailing list (email proffitt@iconz.co.nz to be included on this list), posted to soc.motss and nz.soc.queer.The news articles only are distributed via the GLBNews and Queerplanet mailing lists.The news will also be archived at Akiko International web site (http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/QNA/) and the most current issue will be also found at the QRD (http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/world/pacific/nz/qna.html.)

    Contributions to QNA can be sent via email to proffitt@iconz.co.nz, fax 64-9-376-1404 or 64-21-787-264 or toll free fax 0800-771-404 or snail mail.

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    [QRD] [WORLD] [PACIFIC] Last Updated: 12 November 1995
    Mark Proffit <proffitt@iconz.co.nz>