Diversity
I am getting very encouraged about how accepting our city is becoming of gay people. We are supposed to be the most conservative city in the country but we dont seem to act like it.
For a start we have a Pride Festival.
Second, we have a gay bar, a gay club and a gay sauna.
Third, we have an openly gay MP representing the city
and now we might be getting an openly gay city councillor!
His name is Tony Milne. He's a young guy who spoke at the Pride Festival this week. He seems very progressive and forward thinking. Of course he's not been elected yet but it will be a real bonus for the community as well as the wider community in general. He is representing The Labour Party and did stand at the last General Election in the Rakaia seat. His attempt in that safe National Party seat was unsuccessful. If there are any blog readers from Christchurch then you might want to check him out. The city would benefit from his fresh eyes and clean approach. Because of his young age it will add value to the city council which is already governed by older sorts.
By the way, did you know that in our 121 seat parliament based in Wellington we have from my memory at least 3 openly gay MP's and 1 transgender MP. Pretty diverse for a small country eh?
posted by kevin @ 9:49 PM
14 Comments:
Even more reasons why NZ is an appealing option for some of us in the north.
Now if we can just work out this a--backwards "summer/winter" thing... LOL!
Seriously, you have much cause to be proud of your culture. You've grown up while we're still *playing* "cowboys and Indians" up here.
Thanks for the kind works Kevin. Unfortunately there are still some small minded people out there who will see being gay as a barrier. But I've spent my life fighting other people's barriers and I'm not about to stop now :) But it will be a big task to beat two incumbents, so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Words, not work!
Wonderful. Refreshing.
Wow Kevin, thanks for giving me even more reason to come visit NZ (as if I needed any more reason that to get to meet you).
Good luck to Tony Milne! Anyone who's on the side to promote a positive image of the GLBT community is a winner in my book.
That's awesome!
I've been meaning to ask... have you heard the AmeriNZ podcast or read that blog? He's talked about the level of acceptance he's experinced since moving from the US to NZ. Interesting stuff.
Best of luck to Tony (and how COOL that he commented on your blog?)
1) do you ever visit this 'gay sauna'?
2) Did Dan Carter participate in the Pride festivities with any of his mates??
Oh- and check out Milne! Woof- he's got MY vote... or would have my vote if I somehow were sponsored so that I could emmigrate to NZ...
your work sounds like my sister's, who's a registra. working non stop and at odd hours. having tests on top of work.
i suppose you cope with it someway or another without thinking about it. you always have the knowledge that you'll get through it.
It's great to hear all this news about NZ. You've got the US beat in terms of diversity!
Wow, sounds like a place I might like to go live if things in this country don't start shaping up!
That'll be another pretty step for all of us. Cheers to that.
I'm very impressed. And I'm even more impressed that Tony read and commented on this post, and has a blog of his own. Talk about interactive government!
Its Amazing that a country like your can have a more diversified legislative body, but the oldest Democracy (America) can not even seem to allow women to hold office, let alone homosexuals.
-Nick
Ps. You got a new reader
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