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This issue:
Welcome to the first issue of QNA. It is hoped that this will develop over time into a comprehensive weekly news service of events, activities and other items of interest that are happening in the queer community in New Zealand.
Thanks to those who have contributed ideas for this initial issue. If you want to provide a report on events happening just send me some email by Saturday night for inclusion in QNA.
The news is distributed via the QNA mailing list (email proffitt@iconz.co.nz to be included on this list), GLBNews mailing list and posted to soc.motss. The news will also be archived at Akiko International web site and the most current issue will be also found at the QRD in the NZ web section.
The major news item is the local government elections where there a total of 9 out candidates standing in Auckland city, one in New Plymouth, one in Carterton and one in Golden Bay. If you are in New Zealand remember to vote.
Metro noted in their October article on the local government elections that "In Auckland City, gay and lesbian candidates indicate that the community now has the courage and depth to tackle what it sees as reactionary, oppressive councillor attitudes."
The Auckland Pride Centre undertook a survey of the candidates for the Auckland City Council. Eighty candidates were surveyed with 50 replies. Of those replies eighty-two percent were found to be supportive of the gay, bisexual and transgender community. As expected Alliance and Labour/Community Coalition candidates' replies all support the community. About half of the Citizens & Ratepayers were supportive while independent candidates were least likely to reply.
Breaking it down into the City Wards the most negative responses (and also the least responses received) were from the Eastern Bays Ward and Mt Roskill (the home of David Hay, current Deputy Mayor, and extremely homphobic). Because of the high proportion of vocal les-bi-gay-trans people in Western Bays, it is not suprising that this is the only ward that had a 100% response rate and they were all supportive.
Interesting enough the two main Mayoral candidates were also supportive.
The real test of this level of support will be what happens post election. As expected the NZ Herald did not publish the survey results but the free Auckland City Harbour News gave it front page coverage.
Georgina Beyer became New Zealand's very first transsexual to be elected to public office when she won a seat on the Caterton District council two years ago, beating 5 other candidates in the process. She is now standing for the Mayoralty of this small Wairarapa township.
Voting in local government elections is by postal vote with the polls closing on Saturday October 14.
The public meeting organised by the Pride Centre was well attended by intending candidates drawing 20 council candidates, 7 community board candidates, 2 mayoral candidates (The two communist league Mayoral candidates for Auckland and Manukau) and 1 Regional Council Candidate. These candidates represented a wide cross section of the candidates with the majority been Alliance or Community Coalition/Labour candidates. There were a few Citizens & Ratepayers candidates and some independents.
As is usual for local government elections there was not a large number of public present but an effective meeting was held which covered a wide range of issues affecting the queer community.
It was reported in the Auckland City Harbour news that the Hero parade organisers are standing by their decision to move the parade to Ponsonby Rd, despite a petition to keep it in Queen St.
Petition organiser Eileen Cameron says a lot of Ponsonby people do not want the parade held there because it will take away some of its visibility.
The Pride Centre survey also found amongst some of the supportive council candidates that they would prefer the Hero Parade to remain in Queen St.
The NZ AIDS Foundation has confirmed its decision to automate the AIDS hotline due to funding cuts. The ability to contact a counselling line well be possible which at this stage will be gayline and lifeline in Auckland if agreement can be reached with these organisations.
Meanwhile the dwindling group of volunteers are maintaining the current service. The latest suggested date for the introduction of this new service is from the end of this month. When originally proposed it was the end of September.
A smaller attendance at this years annual Pride dance. This years event was not shut down by noise control as in previous years due to the change in venue.
As part of St Matthews In-The-City Performing Arts Festival Jonathon Else performed a drag show dedicated to St. Catherine of Mt Roskill (Mt Roskill is the Bible belt of Auckland City). The show lived up to its billing as an evening devoted to the mystical life of Catherine an obscure librarian haunted by immaculate visions of Broadway.
Wellington events for lesbians contact srg3dbn@dbv.grace.cri.nz
* Lesbian Over 35s Dance - Saturday 14th October
* Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club
* LILAC - the Wellington lesbian library has new hours on Saturdays - now opening 12 noon - 3 pm
Wellington Coming Out Day LAGANZ Wednesday 11 October 5.30pm to 7.30pm First Floor Foyer, National Library, Molesworth St, WELLINGTON
Auckland Anti Violence meeting Monday 9 October 7:30pm 3rd Floor, 45 Anzac Ave. All welcome.
Auckland GABA Dinner Tuesday 10 October Meet Pam Corkery Contact PO Box 3092, Auckland.
More details on the above events can be found on the web at http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/1995.calendar.of.events.html
A new magazine was launched aimed at the New Zealand lesbian and bisexual women community. Contact storm@inca.co.nz for more information.
Check out Brenda's URL for some possible places to visit on the web http://www.actrix.gen.nz/biz/cwa/brenda2.html
An initial meeting was held with the Hero Project to have the Hero Festival and Paper put on the Web. Currently some information is available from the URL: http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/hero.html
Voting is occuring in the nz.* news hierarchy for the establishment of the nz.soc.queer newsgroup.
Thats it for this week. Please send contributions to proffitt@iconz.co.nz.
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Last Updated: 8 October 1995<proffitt@iconz.co.nz>