Presbyterian Church says no to gays

Since the decision by the Presbyterian church not to ordain practising homosexuals a number of people have said they will defy the Church. The decision, made at 170 votes to 142, came 22 years after the issue was first debated. While the decision was not binding unless confirmed at the next assembly in 1988 it has sent a clear message to gays and lesbians within the Presbyterian Church.

The Moderator the Right Rev Peter Willsman said after the decision that "this assembly calls the Church to move ahead in a spirit of acceptance and compassion for one another."

The Rev Dr James Stuart, of St Andrew's on the Terrace (home to GalaXies and with a large number of gays and lesbians in the congregation), said the decision was "hypocritical and scandalous". He went on to say that "St Andrew's would not be abide by this decision."

The Very Rev Alan Brash, former deputy secretary of the World Council of Churches and author of Facing our Differences, said he was appalled by the decision. He also believed the assembly's decision was effective immediately because if a gay or lesbian couple asked tomorrow for ordination, on the basis of last week's decision they would have to be refused.

Don Borrie, minister and Porirua City Councillor, expected a number of congregations and presbyteries would refuse to obey it. He believed the Church was in for a time of chaos and very deep debate.

Bill Edington, a gay elder at St Andrew's said the ruling meant that he was thinking about his future in the church. He said the decision denied genuine calls to leadership.

Alison Murrie-West, ordained elder and lesbian at St Andrew's, said the decision was hypocritical. For the assembly to declare in its ruling that the Church must be a community of acceptance and compassion was unbelievable.

Bible College of New Zealand Minister and Affirm group secretary Stuart Lange, was reported as been delighted with the decision.

Terry Stewart, author of Invisible Families and mother of a gay son, wrote in the Evening Post, on the tenth anniversary of homosexual law reform, that given the Presbyterian Churches decision and the Dunedin Community Baptist Church pamphlet which vilifies gays and lesbians as "human debris" begs the decision of how much reform has occurred.

She went on to say that disaffected parents such as herself would not belong to a denomination that does not accept our children as equals.

Ten Years Out Media Coverage

All media, except the New Zealand Herald, covered the tenth anniversary with feature articles and other information generally discussing how things had changed in the past ten years for gays and lesbians and identified still today some of the difficulties faced by our communities. The New Zealand Herald, Auckland's only daily newspaper, provided no coverage but did report the Graeme Lee's, leader of the Christian Democrats, promise to reverse the repeal if at all possible.

Christian Democrats would make homosexuality illegal

Graeme Lee, the leader of the Christian Democrats, announced last week that the homosexual law reform of 10 years ago had opened a gate to a runaway horse of homosexual political agendas.

Among the social consequences since the Homosexual Law Reform Act took effect in 1986 included increased displays of inappropriate behaviour such as the Hero and Devotion parades exhibitions of homosexual art in public galleries, taxpayer-funded gay telephone sex and provision within Government departments for gay support groups and special days off. He is also unhappy about the broadcasting funding express Report. He also claimed that the AIDS rate in New Zealand had increased by 500 percent since the passage of the Bill.

He said if the Christian Coalition, a coalition between the Christian Democrats and Christian Heritage, had the numbers, it would reverse the appeals.

Meanwhile in a less serious mood the McGillicuddy Serious Party marked the 10 year anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill with a new policy requiring 33 percent of the population to be homosexual. It says its objective would be achieved by state funding to promote homosexual lifestyles, spot prizes awarded by police for acts of homosexual affection in public, and vigorous reprogramming of homophobes.

The policy will be the second part of its population reduction programme. Its first part is the deportation of all New Zealand First supporters.

Auckland City Council Liaison

A further meeting has occurred between the Auckland queer community liaison group and Jill McPherson, Auckland City Council Community Planning Manager. A draft report has been prepared which has a number of recommendations which will be heard at the Recreation and Community Services Committee on July 26th. If these recommendations are accepted it will result in improved consultation between the City Council and the queer community despite strong opposition from some City Councillors.

Since the process began late last year it has become clearer those areas in which a liaison group could prove useful, despite some political opposition, not least of which is gaining more direct access to council staff.

A public meeting to discuss the progress of the liaison group will be held this Monday, 15th July at 5:30pm at the Pride Centre, 33 Wyndham Street.

Application for new AIDS treatment lodged with Pharmac

Pharmac, the Government drug funding agency, said an application had been received to subsidise the new AIDS treatment involving a protease inhibitor, intended to supplement the AIDS cocktail treatment. Pharamac advised any decision on providing funding would dependent on the priority it received in the overall drug budget.

Gay Sport New Zealand launched

Gay Sport New Zealand was officially launched last week. About 40 people attended the public meeting in Auckland. They heard a general outline of the organisations origins, plus details of membership, publicity and internet presence.

Gay Sport New Zealand serves as a national umbrella organisation for sport event in New Zealand. Its mission encourages the development and the promotion of all gay, lesbian, bisexual related sport, fitness, leisure activities in New Zealand.

Health and Disability Code takes effect

The new Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights came into effect on 1 July 1996. This provides ten rights to consumers of health and disability services. Of particular interest is that the code covers a wide range of services from hospitals to health product sales. This means for example the recent claim by the rebirthing couple that they could cure AIDS could also be complained about to the Health and Disability Commissioner.

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 12.15am

Shortland St, TV2, Monday to Friday 7pm.

Radio

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

Mr Gay NZ - 28 July 1996
Auckland International Film Festival - 19 July to 3 August 1996
Auckland Health Issue Meetings - 16, 17 and 18 July 1996
Auckland Council Liaison Public Meeting - 15 July 1996

Auckland Community Church - Every Sunday 8pm
Auckland Gay Bowling Association - Every Sunday 5pm
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.

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

New Plymouth 10 Pin Bowling - 15 July 1996

Palmerston North International Film Festival 9 August to 22 August 1996

Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 21 July 1996
Wellington International Film Festival - 12 July to 27 July 1996
Wellington Lesbian Library (LILAC) - Every Wednesday 6-8pm, Saturdays noon - 3pm

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Events - Previews

None

Gay Switchboards and information lines

AIDS Hotline - Auckland +64-9-3580099 Toll free 0800-802-437 24 Hours
Whangarei Gay Help - +64-9-437-7620, Tuesday and Thursday 7 to 9.30pm
Auckland Gayline - +64-9-303-3584 10am to 10pm weekdays, 2pm to 10pm weekends.
Hamilton Gayline - +64-7-854-9631, Wednesday 8 to 10pm
Rotorua Gayline - +64-7-348-3598, Tuesday 7 to 9pm
Napier Gayline - +64-6-835-7482, 5pm to 8am.
Palmerston North - +64-6-358-5378 24 hour answerservice.
Wellington Switchboard - +64-4-385-0674, 7.30pm to 10pm
Wellington Lesbian Line - +64-4-389-8082 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 7.30 to 10pm.
Greymouth/Reefton Gayline - +64-3-768-4366, Wednesday to Friday 6 to 9pm.
Westport Gayline - +64-3-789-6027, Friday 7-8.30pm
Hokitika Gayline - +64-3-755-6270, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7-10pm
Christchurch Gayline - +64-3-379-4796 Mondays 8-9pm, Saturday 7.30 to 10pm
Christchurch Gay Information line - +64-3-379-3990 24 hour recorded service.
Dunedin Gayline - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Wednesday 5.30 to 7.30pm, Friday 7.30 to 10.30pm
Dunedin Lesbian Line - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Tuesday 5.30 to 7.30pm

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