Community to address Auckland City Council

This Thursday, August 15th, the council liaison group will again present the case for the establishment of a liaison group between the queer community and the Auckland City Council.

The need for this process was again reiterated when Phil Raffills, Auckland City Councillor, Avondale Principal and National Party Candidate, said in an interview in the August 1996 Metro, the "the promotion of homosexual and lesbian behaviour is not in the best interest of my kids." He went on to say that "I can't stomach this public proclamation of something that's causing 80% of the AIDS deaths in this country still."

These comments are similiar to those uttered in the past decade by other senior councillors.

In an attempt to ease the process for this Thursday's meeting the group has attempted to see the Mayor Les Mills but to date have been unable to receive a response from him. They wished to talk to him to discuss what he meant when he said, during last years election campaign, he would set up a liaison group with the queer community.

The Mayor has also said that no television cameras will be allowed into the public section of the council meeting. This decision may follow other stormy council meetings where the council has decided to sell council housing and continue with the Britomart development despite opposition from a variety of sources.

For those interested in attending and supporting the issue the council meeting is on 15th August in the Goodman Fielder Watties room, Aotea Centre, Auckland at 6.00pm.

Christian Coalition openly attacks gays

The Christian Coalition election campaign is using the queer community as a means to gain support. In recent weeks it has attacked the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Family Planning for the promoting of the homosexual 'lifestyle' as acceptable. In its latest attack the Christian Coalition candidate for Ohariu/Belmont, Rosemarie Thomas attacked the Community Development Division of Hutt City Council for helping a small group of gay, lesbian and bisexual youth to set up a support/social group.

She accused the group of been nothing more than a dating service. The group, dubbed "Coathanger" (referring to the idea that closets are for clothes and not people) has so far held a Youth Forum in Petone and have shared a meal out at a local restaurant.

The Christian Coalition in recent polls have in some recent polls gained more than 5 percent of the party vote which ensures they will have a presence in parliament.

Gay TV and Radio

Express Report every Monday 10.00pm on ATV, Capital City, Coast to Coast, Southern and CTV. and repeated on TV One, Saturday 12.30am

City Life, TV2, Monday 7:30pm.
Shortland St, TV2, Monday to Friday 7pm.
The Topp Twins - Do Not Adjust Your Set TV3, Thursday 7.30pm

Radio

Georgina Beyer performs in Hard and unfamiliar words, National Radio, Sunday August 18, 2.06pm

Regular gay and lesbian shows

Auckland - G & T Show, 810AM Access Radio, Thursday 7 to 8am
Auckland - This Way Out, 810AM Access Radio, Saturday 11:40am
Auckland - In The Pink, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 8 to 9pm
Auckland - Girls Own Show, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 7 to 8pm
Hamilton - Different Strokes, Contact 89FM, Sunday 6 to 8pm
Wellington - Gay BC, 783AM Access Radio, Gay BC, Saturdays 11:15 - 12:15
Wellington - Reading Lesbian Writers, 783AM Access Radio,Saturdays, 1.00 - 1.15
Wellington - Lesbian Radio Programme, 783AM Access Radio,Sundays, 10 - 11 am
Wellington - Boy Trouble, 89FM Student Radio, Sunday 6-7pm
Top of the South - Dyke FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 10am
Top of the South - Gaytime FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 11am
Christchurch - RDU 98.3FM Student Radio, has no specific queer show but does have queer news, play queer artists and all the rest as part of their daily programme.
Christchurch - Outwaves, Plains, 96.9FM , Monday 8pm
Christchurch - Lesbians on Air, Plains 96.9FM Monday 9.30 - 10pm (note 9-9.30pm from 18th March)
Dunedin -Dykes on Mikes, 91FM Radio One, Tuesday 8pm
Dunedin -Tea with the Boys, 91FM Radio One, Sundays 9-10pm

Reviews

None this week

Events - Upcoming

Auckland Lesbian Ball - 24 August 1996
Auckland Pride Centre AGM - 16 August 1996 7pm
Auckland City Council Debates queer liaison - 15 August 1996 6pm
Auckland Bisexual Women's Group - 15 August 1996
Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 11 August 1996

Auckland Community Church - Every Sunday 8pm
Auckland Metropolitan Church - Every Sunday 7.30pm
Auckland Gay Bowling Association - Every Sunday 5pm
Auckland Gay Space DKD - Every Sunday 4-6pm
Team Auckland Runners - Every Sunday 10am
Team Auckland Swimmers - Every Tuesday and Thursday 8pm, Saturday 10am
Te Waka Awhina Takatapui Kapa Haka - Every Tuesday 7pm.
Auckland Lesbian Support Group - Every Thursday 7pm
Auckland Womens Social Drop in - Every Friday 7pm
Auckland Uni Gays - Every Friday 5pm
Auckland AA Aquarius Group - Every Tuesday 7.30pm

Hamilton International Film Festival - 16 August to 29 August 1996
Hamilton Gaylink dropin - Every Wednesday 8pm

Palmerston North International Film Festival 9 August to 22 August 1996

Wellington Judy Small in Concert - 31 August 1996
Wellington Doods Dance - 30 August 1996
Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 18 August 1996
Wellington Ascent AGM - 11 August 1996

Wellington Lesbian Library (LILAC) - Every Wednesday 6-8pm, Saturdays noon - 3pm

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Christchurch Ascent - 15 August 1996
Christchurch Lamda Walkers - 11 August 1996

Akaroa Lesbian and Gay Group meets every 3rd Saturday.
Dunedin Gay Affirmers Service - Every Sunday
Dunedin lesbian indoor cricket team - Every Sunday
Dunedin Queerspace - Every Thursday 8pm
Dunedin Beyond the Closet - Every Monday 1pm

Events - Previews

None this week

Gay Switchboards and information lines

What is happening on the Internet

Express Report finds the internet this Monday (repeated Saturday night) where some of us try to sound intelligent about what happens on line.

Copyright, Subscription and Contribution information

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