1.38PM: Labour party politicians have once again publicly committed themselves to advancing issues important to the lives of many glbt people. Speaking from the main stage of the Get It On Big Gay Out moments ago, party and opposition leader David Shearer said Labour had always been at the forefront of gay rights. "You can do much by legislation but putting people up in senior roles is what counts," he said in an allusion to the highly placed shadow cabinet positions of rainbow Labour MPs Grant Robertson, Charles Chauvel and Maryan Street, all of who are accompanying him today. Shearer said he was strongly in support of same sex adoption rights, "it's about doing the right thing for kids." It was a sentiment which drew applause from the crowd, many of whom are same-sex couples with their children. Shearer said it is "lovely to be back here again" and that the event is held "in my hood... I alive down the road and I have a message for the people who parked their car across my driveway: Don't worry, it will still be there when you're ready to go home. " Shearer was the target of a few sly comments by MC duo Buffy and Bimbo, who told him he had a firmer ass than his predecessor Phil Goff and that he was one of the only politicians ever to stand between them on the BGO stage without shaking with nerves. Gay Labour deputy Leader Grant Robertson then spoke, saying the Labour caucus is committed to working on glbt issues such as "making sure our schools are safe places for our kids... nothing is more important." Robertson also pledged to advance same-sex adoption, marriage equality and follow through on the To Be Who I Am report into transgender issues. GayNZ.com Daily News is filing regular live reports throughout the afternoon from the Big Gay Out. You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 12th February 2012 - 1:35pm