Goulter can be seen behind Hone Harawira in this screenshot from One News footage The man who is starting a takataapui wing of the Mana Party says its leader Hone Harawira invited him upstairs to Brian Tamaki's VIP quarters at the Destiny Church conference. Jevan Goulter, who is known in the queer community for such previous proceedings as his controversial Carmen fundraiser and Whanganui mayoral campaign, has become a passionate supporter of the former Maori Party MP and is assembling a gay, lesbian and trans branch of the Mana Party. Goulter attended the Destiny Church conference where a number of Maori politicians spoke, and handed out flyers for the Mana Party. Harawira and the other speakers have been slammed today as endorsing the church's homophobia by attending, but Goulter says Harawira did not suck up to Tamaki like some of the other politicians and in fact took a pro-gay stand. "At the end of his speech, after they spoke, he came up to me and asked if I would like to come upstairs." Goulter says he was nervous but went along unsure what to expect. "There were maybe about 12 people up there," he says. "And Hone introduced me to Brian 'this is Jevan', and Brian shook my hand and was very polite to me." He then spoke to Tamaki's wife Hannah and when noted the expensive champagne, she explained it was because "God deserves the best". Goulter says the glbt community strongly dislikes Destiny Church for good reason, "however as I have said in former statements, I am unable to flaw them on how I was treated, welcomed and made to feel comfortable, by the congregation, the Bishop and his wife." He believes the community will only ever beat Destiny Church through education, not hatred. "We need to forgive but not forget, we need to show them the love that we show to other communities. We do not have to like them, we do not have to agree with their values, however we do not need to take the same actions that they have taken and shown towards us." Goulter explains that the Mana Movement is supported by many gay, lesbian and transgender people, some of whom are working on Harawira's by-election campaign. "He doesn't have a problem with any of them. He respects them all, like he kisses the transgender girls." He says Harawira will go where he is invited and he is sure he would attend the Big Gay Out at his side. The young political junkie says he mooted the idea of starting a takataapui branch and Harawira told him to go for it. He is now the interim coordinator until a party meeting after the by-election.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 8th June 2011 - 1:38pm