Marriage case to go to Court of Appeal

(Thanks to Brett Sheppard, OUT! Magazine)

Auckland lesbian couple Lindsay Quilter and Margy Pearl say they will now appeal the High Court decision against their right to marry to the Court of Appeal.

Lindsay Quilter said, " I refuse to take no for an answer." She said that the decision made a mockery of the Bill Of Rights which guaranteed New Zealanders equal rights and the Human Rights Act which outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

"This is not just about queer rights," she said. "It shows that the Bill of Rights doesn't have the teeth it claimed to have."

Justice Kerr, High Court Judge, said in a written decision that the onus was on Parliament, not the courts, to decide if same-sex marriages should be allowed in New Zealand.

"To give marriage a meaning which the plaintiffs seek would require me to interpret the law in a way which I do not perceive Parliament to intend," Juctice Keer said.

"I accept that the traditional common law did not address the question of homosexual marriage."

He said that "community attitudes in 1996 are much more relaxed to gay and lesbian couples.... but whether that relaxation would extend to supporting marriage of such souples is difficult to gauge."

Doug Graham, Minister of Justice, said in response to the Judge's decision that he had no intention of bringing legislation before the NZ parliament to allow same sex couples to marry. He went on to say that he personally did not approve of same sex couples having the legal right to marry.

Gay and lesbian groups throughout the country have been raising funds to fight the case in the courts and such activity is sure to continue now that an an appeal against the decision is to be made.

United Church report on sexuality may influence NZ church

The Australian Uniting Church's report on sexuality may influence the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand later this month when it will decide on the ordaining of homosexuals.

The Australian Uniting Church's task group on sexuality has found after four years of studying sexual issues that there is no legitimate reason to reject homosexuality or homosexual relationships per se. It concluded that there is no evidence that a person who is homosexual is less fit for ministry, or that a homosexual minister damages the credibility of ministry any more than anyone else. The report also found that same-sex relationships should be recognised and affirmed, and work begun on appropriate liturgical resources.

Response within the New Zealand Presbyterian Church has positive to cautious. Rev David Clark, a gay minister, said the report appeared to discuss sexuality in the light of basic Christian conviction of the primacy of God's love. In contrast Rev Stuart Lange, of the group Affirm, said careful biblical interpretaion and pastorial sensitivity were important. He added that faithfulness to divine revelation was important which indicated that God's intention for human sexuality was loving, faithful marriage between a man and a woman.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church occurs in Wellington from June 30 to July 5.

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

Male Call till 16 June - Phone 0800-99-6969 a 40 minute phone survey for all men who have sex with men in New Zealand.

Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 29 June 1996
Mr Gay NZ - 28 June 1996
GABA Meet Auckland Central Politicians - 11 June 1996
Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 9 June 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

Wellington Lesbian Doods Dance - 29 June 1996
Wellington The Great Winter Solstice Lesbian Quiz Night - 22 June 1996
Wellington Lesbian Over 35s Dance - 15 June 1996
Hutt Lesbian Group - 7 June 1996
GAP and public meeting on marriage issue - 6 June 1996
Wellington Lesbian Library (LILAC) - Every Wednesday 6-8pm, Saturdays noon - 3pm

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Dunedin Pride 96 from June 23 to 6th July
23rd - Dog show and Purple Passions vs Gay boys ressurrection soccer match
26th - Queer night, Bath St
28th - Anniversary of Stonewall. Celebrate with a night out at gourmet pizza bar Filadelfio's. Enjoy a few drinks, a game of pool, and a reduced rate on the pizzas!
29th - Literary Soiree. Presentation of awards for the Out and Proud Short Story writing competition.
30th - Shop-in at Countdown - come and do your shopping for the week from 1-3pm for a "presence" at Countdown on Cumberland St...
3rd - Womens Night at Bath St
4th - Scrabble Tournament at the Pickled Penguin from 8pm (during Queerspace). Bring a board if you have one!
6th - Pride for '96 is capped off with the Masquerade Ball
Art exbiition 17th June onwards for two weeks
Dunedin lesbian indoor cricket team - Every Sunday
Dunedin Queerspace - Every Thursday
Dunedin Beyond the Closet - Every Fortnight

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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