Sat 26 Nov 2011 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Jan Logie "It's a shame to have such a clearly homophobic voice back in Parliament" is the verdict from an incoming lesbian Green MP on the re-emergence of John Banks. Banks, who became an enemy of glbti communities thanks to his hateful opposition to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill during his time as a National MP and vicious homophobic statements during his time as a talkback host, has won the Epsom seat and guaranteed ACT a place in Parliament. Kapiti Coast lesbian Jan Logie has secured a place in Parliament due her ninth place on the Green Party list, with the Greens on track to claim 13 seats for the new term. She will join gay Green MP Kevin Hague in being a voice for glbti issues in the House. Speaking from her home tonight, where she is watching the results with core team members and friends, she says Banks getting back into Parliament is a surprise, and she is more than prepared to stand up to the likes of him. "That's one of the things about coming from the community and having spent a lot of my life doing advocacy work, is that I am really passionate about the importance of standing up and speaking out. And I'm really looking forward to being a voice that can add to that chorus against those voices." On a brighter note, Logie is looking forward to celebrating her future as an MP and "dealing with the over-excitement" with a couple of drinks when the final results are in tonight. Logie is expressing "huge thanks" to all those in the glbti community who gave their party vote to the Greens. She says earlier tonight she was at a function in Wellington which Amaduh La Whore MC'd, "and it was just so fabulous to have a drag queen fronting our celebration party and it really made me proud to be part of the Greens and part of the queer community, and just feeling those two things coming together," she says. "I love both of our communities so I'm really thankful."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 26th November 2011 - 10:25pm