Tag Archives: New Zealand

Gay History: July 2 – McCarthy, Cohn and “Sex Perverts”, Rex Gildo and the IRS

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July 2nd.

1939:  Ludwig Alexander Hirtreiter, aka Rex Gildo, German singer of ‘schlagers’, born in Munich.  Hirtreiter aka Gildo  reached the height of his popularity in the 1960’s and 1970’s, selling over 25 million records and also starring in film and television roles.

Gildo died in 1999 aged 63, having spent three days in an artificially-induced coma after attempting suicide by jumping from the window of his apartment building. He was said to have been suffering “psychological problems”. After his death, it was reported that he had been gay and involved in a relationship with Dave Klingeberg, his secretary with whom he lived, for seven years.

1953:  The Los Angeles Herald-Express reports that the state department in California had fired 531 sex perverts and other security risks. The number of homosexuals fired was 425. Note: during the McCarthyist period from 1947 to 1953 more people lost their jobs for being homosexual than for involvement with the Communist party in which McCarthy was aided by the ice cold sleaze queen and deeply closeted homosexual Roy Cohn. 

1969:  Responding to the fourth and final night of ongoing Stonewall riots on Christopher Street New York police arrived and beat the demonstrators with nightsticks, leaving many many victims bleeding but in the end more then double the amount of police were injured during the riots than LGBT activist.

1970:  A group of American Lutheran leaders issues a statement calling for an end to sodomy laws and the passage of legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

1974:  In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Derksen Printers refuses to print Understanding Homosexuality, an educational publication by Gays for Equality. Group pickets printing plant.

1975: During a joint meeting of the National Organization of Women, the Austin Women’s Political Caucus and Women’s Equality Action League, the Austin Lesbian Organization is invited to give a presentation on lesbianism.

1985:  The first meeting of Heterosexuals Unafraid of Gays (HUG) is held in Wellington, New Zealand.

1986:  By only a single vote New Zealand’s parliament allows final debate to begin on a proposed law to lower the age of consent for gay sex to 16 and legalize gay sex. The bill eventually passes.

1989:  Employees of the US Internal Revenue Service who were members of the National Treasury Employees Union receive a new contract which included protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But to this day it does not appear in internal ethics material.

1994:  Italy’s “First National Demonstration of Gay and Lesbian Pride” takes place in Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

LGBT broadcaster to become New Zealand MP

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New Zealand is set to welcome a new LGBT legislator to its House of Representatives. Claudette Hauiti, next on the governing National Party’s list, is set to replace disgraced former MP Aaron Gilmore, who has resigned from Parliament.

Hauiti is a former broadcaster of Maori descent who is automatically eligible to become MP in New Zealand’s mixed-member proportional electoral system. The National Party has confirmed that she will be asked by the Electoral Commission to take Gilmore’s place.

New Zealand recently passed opposition member Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill. Civil unions have been available to LGBT New Zealanders since 2005. Hauiti and her partner (pictured) are currently in a civil union and have a five-year-old daughter; they plan to marry next year.

Despite the National Party’s centre-right orientation, during the recent same-sex marriage debate several National MPs, most notably Maurice Williamson, distinguished themselves with their support for marriage equality. Hauiti joins Attorney-General Chris Finlayson as the National Party’s only openly LGBT parliamentarians.

New Zealand has been a leader in LGBT political representation since the outing of National MP Marilyn Waring, notably electing the world’s first transgender MP, Labour’s Georgina Beyer, in 1999. Hauiti will become the seventh openly gay, lesbian or bisexual MP in New Zealand’s 121-member House.*

* Seven gay, lesbian, or bisexual MPs were elected in 2011; Labour MP Charles Chauvel has since resigned his seat.

New Zealand Becomes The Next Country To Legalize Marriage Equality

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After what has been a tough week in the news, here’s a little bright spot to brighten your day from the land down under. News has come that the country of New Zealand had finally approved a measure allowing same sex marriage. Today many citizens of New Zealand are celebrating and rightly so. Here’s more:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Hundreds of jubilant gay-rights advocates celebrated at New Zealand’s Parliament on Wednesday as the country became the 13th in the world and the first in the Asia-Pacific region to legalize same-sex marriage.

Lawmakers voted 77 to 44 in favor of the gay-marriage bill on its third and final reading.

People watching from the public gallery and some lawmakers immediately broke into song after the result was announced, singing the New Zealand love song “Pokarekare Ana” in the indigenous Maori language.

“For us, we can now feel equal to everyone else,” said Tania Penafiel Bermudez, a bank teller who said she already considers herself married to partner Sonja Fry but now can get a certificate to prove it. “This means we can feel safe and fair and right in calling each other wife and wife.”

In one of several speeches that ended in a standing ovation, bill sponsor Louisa Wall told lawmakers the change was “our road toward healing.”

“In our society, the meaning of marriage is universal – it’s a declaration of love and commitment to a special person,” she said. She added that “nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this bill.”

This makes New Zealand the 13th country approving measures that allow same sex marriage in the world. We congratulate them on their country’s progress and hope that it further inspires other countries, including the United States, to do the same.

Progress on same-sex marriage in New Zealand

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A private member’s bill to amend the Marriage Act has cleared another hurdle on its way to ensuring marriage equality for LGBT New Zealanders.

The change has been spearheaded by openly lesbian Labour MP Louisa Wall, who is of Maori descent. At first reading, the bill was supported by 80 parliamentarians (out of 120), a surprisingly strong showing, including a majority of MPs from the governing centre-right National Party.

New Zealand introduced civil unions in 2005 under the preceding Labour-led government. According to a recent poll – ironically conducted on behalf of the Family First lobby group that opposes gay marriage – 47% of New Zealanders back a change in the law while 43% believe that civil unions are sufficient.

Prime Minister John Key’s support for the legislation has no doubt convinced many right-leaning National supporters. Also on board are some unlikely allies, such as Key’s coalition partner John Banks of the Act Party. As a National MP in the 1980s, Banks had vociferously opposed equal rights for gay and lesbian New Zealanders.

New Zealand has been a leader in LGBT political representation, having elected the world’s first transgendered MP, Georgina Beyer. Currently there are openly gay and lesbian members in each of the three leading – National, Labour, and Green – parties’ caucuses.

 

Austrailian Feminine Hygiene Company Mocks Transgender Community To Sell Tampons

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“Libra” feminine hygiene products of Australia and New Zealand which are a part of SCA Global which  produces and markets personal care products, tissue, packaging, publication papers to more than  100 countries under many different brands has a new commercial that is marheting it’s tampon line by mocking the AU and NZ’s transgender community.

The entire ad is based on the premise that only ‘real’ women get periods, and that if you don’t then you aren’t women at all.  Just awful transphobic rubbish, and they should be called out for making it and airing it.

Libra website: http://www.lovelibra.co.nz/about-libra/contact-us/Their

Libra FB: http://www.facebook.com/Libra?sk=wall

Air New Zealand Pulls In Flight Safety Video Over Anti-Gay Charges – Watch the Video

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Air New Zealand is pulling an almost gay kiss on the cheek  scene from its in-flight safety video after complaints of homophobia.

The  in-flight safety video “Crazy About Rugby,” which features New Zealands best and hottest rugby players at one point shows a rugby player, All Black Richard Kahui, rejecting a chance to kiss gay Air New Zealand flight attendant Will Coxhead on the cheek
OH THE HUMANITY!

“When we created this video and discussed the scene featuring a gay male flight attendant and a rugby player with key stakeholders, including a number of the gay community, we received none of the feedback we have in the past week,”  said David Morgan, the airline’s operations and safety manager.

Gay Member of Parliament Grant Robertson said he had viewed the video many times without being offended.  “I took it in the spirit of fun. But I can certainly understand some people might be concerned about it. Air New Zealand are behaving responsibly here,” he said.

Will Coxhead, the openly gay flight attendant who appears in the safty message said, “There are some people in the gay community that can be a little precious and need to lighten up.”  (Not just in NZ Will.  Have you ever heard of GLAAD?)

Air New Zealand has rufused to name who has made the complaints.

The “homophobia” starts at the 2:50 mark *chortle*

Hot, Humpy, and Extremely Funny Christian Van Vuren (aka Fully Sick Rapper) Does It Again With ""Christiani Vanvuriani – "Behind the Package" Commentary of "Sicke" Photography"

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Awhile ago we did a story on Christian VanVurren (aka Fully Sick Rapper), the EXTREMELY HOT AND HUMPY Christian Van Vuuren who was diagnosed with TB and has spent well over 55 days quarantined to a single hospital room. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he’s made some truly amazing rap video.

He’s cute, he’s funny, but alas straight which is really too bad because with hsi sense of humour and looks, (Not to mention that cute New Zeland accent) I would be more than happy to be his private nurse when he’s released from hospital.)

Come to the gay side Christian!

Here’s Christian’s latested Video “Christiani Vanvuriani – “Behind the Package” Commentary of “Sicke” Photography”

And it looks like a very very nice package indeed.

If you are interested on this type of photography, check the Chris & Becca Boudoir website for more info, photographers capture the important moments. It’s their job—and their passion—to immortalize the most significant events in our lives.

Choosing the right photographer, therefore, ensures that your most precious memories are perfectly preserved. Whether you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding, your child’s birthday, or even an important corporate event that you’re organizing, it’s important to know how to choose the right one for your specific needs.

SCREW Publicity Whore Chelly Wright! Cutie New Zealand Olympic Speed Skater Blake Skjellerup Comes Out! : "I’m Gay"

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Said Blake to DNA Magazine via OutSports:

 “The first real issue was that I was there [at the Olympics] to compete – to focus on my skating – and to not have the focus on my sexuality. We are not yet at the point in society where being gay sportsperson is not a big deal. If I was asked during any of my twenty-something interviews at the Olympics whether I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend – in the same sentence – I would have replied honestly, but I may have replied hesitantly…Gays are too often given a stereotype. Back when I was 18, and becoming serious about my sport and my Olympic goals, if I could have seen an athlete like myself out there – with whom I could relate to – my journey would have been a lot easier. [American figure skater] Johnny Weir meets a specific stereotype, I meet a specific stereotype and [Welsh rugby player] Gareth Thomas meets another. Being gay is just like any other personality trait: it’s multifaceted. I can’t personally relate to Weir or Thomas, and nor will many other young gay athletes out there. But maybe some of them will see something in me to relate to. The more types we provide, the more we’ll appeal to people [who are struggling with their sexuality.]”

I’m proud of you little brother because unlike a certain Lesbian Country Singer we know *cough* Chelly Wright *cough* you didn’t come out to jumpstart you career and promote an upcoming CD and Book.

Welcome to the Family Blake!