The New Zealand Defence Force is setting up a formal support network for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender personnel. Royal New Zealand Air Force's Flight Lieutenant Stuart Pearce says the Defence Force Gay and Lesbian Information Service is a significant step forward for lgbt support in the force. The network will allow meetings during work time, resources to publish newsletters, maintain a resource page on the internal NZDF intranet and conduct meetings using video telephone conferencing equipment. The Defence Force lifted its ban on openly-gay personnel in 1993 after the passing of the Human Rights Act, which prevents discrimination on grounds such as ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 6th December 2011 - 8:39am