In the past, I was criticised for giving too much scrutiny when it came to Christian Right pressure groups. However, this time, it's justifiable. Granted, the recession has resulted in the evaporation of all but three leading religious social conservative pressure groups. Of these, Right to Life may not like Starbucks coffee and same-sex marriage very much, but they're primarily focused on prohibiting women's right to choose abortion through an interminable series of court cases. Family First and the Conservative Party are the major threats to LGBT rights. Founded in 2006, Family First is now the leading Christian Right pressure group in this country. Its founder, Bob McCoskrie, was a talkback radio host on fundamentalist Radio Rhema. It is opposed to same-sex marriage and parenting, comprehensive sex education, abortion rights, sex work, a neutral and secular welfare state, current corporal punishment of children bans and is heavily dependent on international Christian Right organisations like Focus on the Family (US), Lifesite (Canada) and the Christian Institute (United Kingdom). It is dependent on a ring of fundamentalist small businesses for its so-called Forums on the Family and electoral "Value Your Vote" propaganda. Thanks to them, antigay New Zealand First is back in Parliament. It can be relied upon to try to obstruct the eventual introduction of inclusive adoption reform and same-sex marriage proper if it is not dealt with beforehand. The Conservative Party is New Zealand's seventh consecutive seperatist fundamentalist party and polled 2.75 percent overall in a 'clean field' last time. That rates the fifth largest voter share in that election- and according to the Electoral Commission website, it (narrowly) outspent Labour. With ACT and United Future only four thousand votes or so away from electoral oblivion, it is not entirely impossible to envisage a situation where a desperate Key administration, nosediving in the polls, seeks to engineer an opportunist coalition with the Conservatives in 2014. If not National, then one is left to wonder we are witnessing the emergence of a satellite party for New Zealand First. In either case, this party is still a potential threat. It backs binding citizens referenda, which have been used in the United States against same-sex marriage in numerous state-based contexts. Its leader is fundamentalist Auckland real estate millionaire Colin Craig and spent one point eight million dollars last year in its attempt to enter Parliament. Granted, Colin Craig came a distant second in Rodney, where he stood for constituency election. Granted also, he came a distant third when it came to the Auckland supermayoralty election, which he also contested. However, the party has a robust infrastructure and obviously hasn't given up after contesting a single election. And need I raise the contingency of overseas right-wing campaign funding from suspect quarters after the Exclusive Brethren debacle back in 2005? Let's not take the chance. These two pressure groups are at the forefront of organised homophobia in this country and require constant, disciplined surveillance lest they take us by surprise when we are finally able to finish our legislative reform aspirations. Recommended: Family First: http://www.familyfirst.org.nz Conservative Party: http://www.conservativeparty.org.nz Craig Young - 13th April 2012