Queer News Aotearoa (New Zealand) Issue 2

15th October 1995

This issue:

Carterton elects New Zealand's first transexual Mayor

New Zealand's first transexual Mayor was elected to office when Georgina Beyer was elected as the Mayor of Carterton District Council. Carterton District Council is in a small rural community in the Wairarapa, north of Wellington. Ms Beyer had been a very popular elected councillor on the Carterton District Council prior to standing for the office of Mayor.

Conservatives reelected in Auckland City

Auckland City local government election resulted in a return of the conservative Citizen's & Ratepayers group (C&R) in all but two of the city's wards. Also C&R decimated the Alliance on the Auckland Regional Council and the Auckland Regional Services Trust. In reveiwing the Pride Centre survey it appears that only 9 out of the 24 councillors are supportive of the queer community. The majority of the councillors elected did not return the survey.

Trevor Barnard, a sitting gay councillor, failed to get reelected in Tamaki. None of the other 8 out gay and lesbian candidates in Auckland were elected.

'Sisters' booklet controversy

The 24 page booklet, 'Sisters', published by the Public Health Commission and compiled by the YWCA in association with the Family Planning Association has been attached as 'confusing and unbalanced on issues such as lebianism' by the education spokewoman for the United Party, Margaret Austin. The booklet offers students advice on a range of issues connected with sexuality, including masturbation and sexual orientation.

The Minister of Health, Jenny Shipley and the National Council of Women have come out in support of 'Sisters'. The Family Planning Association has produced a paralled publication, 'The Rush', for young men.

Gay candidate withdraws from the race for the presidency of the Labour Party

Peter Kaiser, the partner of Te Atatu MP, Chris Carter, has withdrawn his nomination for the Labour Party Presidency. A number of reasons have been cited but it follows statements by Jack Elder, Labour MP for West Auckland, that Labour doesn't represent a broad cross-section of New Zealand opinion but rather represents minority opinions including women, gays and Maori. Mr Kaiser's decision was made the same week that Labour dropped to only 16% of the vote in the latest opinion poll.

The retiring President of the Labour Party is Maryan Street, an Auckland lesbian women.

Possible protest action against Mugabe

Discussion within the gay community is occuring on whether to protest when Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe visits Auckland for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference (CHOGM). Security will be extremely tight when CHOGM occurs with much of central Auckland been closed by the police and the council.

Another Hero parade petition

A petition for the HERO parade to be in Ponsonby Rd is been promoted. This petition is in reaction to the petition calling for the return of the HERO parade to Queen St.

NZAF jobs readvertised

NZAF is readvertising the Prevention Programme Manager and the Auckland Community Education Worker positions due to the lack of applications for the positions.

Hepatitis A on the rise

A rise in the incidence of Hepatitis A in Wellington among gay men has prompted health officials to plan a campaign to prevent its spread. NZAF and Capital Coast Health have launched the 'Cover your arse' campaign aimed at gay men. Auckland earlier this year had a rise in the incidence of Hepatitis A.

Events - Reviews

Pride Party - Hamilton

Just over 300 people attended this years Pride Party in Hamilton. This is down on the previous years party but the event is expected to break even.

Hair Event 95 - Auckland

Forty hairdressers raised $8500 for Herne Bay House, a home caring for the people with HIV related conditions.

Events - Upcoming

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

Play: Last summer at Bluefish Cove, by Jane Chambers, at Stagecraft Theatre, Tonks Ave (off Upper Cube St.) until Oct. 21st

LILAC - the Wellington lesbian library has new hours on Saturdays - now opening 12 noon - 3 pm

DOODS Dance - 28th October (last Saturday of the month) at Escape Nightclub - upstairs at 9 Edwards St. (behind Caspers)

  • Over 35s Dance - 18th November, same venue as DOODS, but different music, and smoke-free
  • Lesbian Ball - 9th December, old Town Hall ..... watch this space for more info

    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

    Napier - Regal Gay Dance Saturday 21 October 9pm starts after nine, Bay City Rugby Club.

    Dunedin - Lesbian Ball Sunday 22 October. For further informaiton phone Sandy Forsyth 64-3-478-0136 or contact Dykeworks Dunedin, PO Box 6212, Dunedin North.

    Auckland - Pollen8 Saturday 21 October 10pm, Railway Station.

    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

    This week it was a reminder that homphobia is alive and well in New Zealand. In response to a simple query from a gay man moving to New Zealand some extremely homphobic postings occured in the soc.culture.new-zealand newsgroup. The majority of the homphobic postings were from lincoln university accounts. However there was strong support against these posts by a wide cross section of internet users in New Zealand.

    Subscription and Contribution information

    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), GLBNews mailing list and posted to soc.motss. The news will also be archived at Akiko International web site (http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/qna.html) and the most current issue will be also found at the QRD (http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/world/pacific/new_zealand/qna.html.)

    Contributions to QNA can be sent via email to proffitt@iconz.co.nz, fax 64-9-3761404 or 64-21-787264 (a toll free number will be available shortly) or snail mail.

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    [QRD] [WORLD] [PACIFIC] Last Updated: 15 October 1995
    Mark Proffit <proffitt@iconz.co.nz>