Bill Logan is a long-time GLBT rights campaigner The Queer Avengers say popular support for marriage equality undermines the claims of its opponents, and is urging the issue to be treated as a matter of principle. “Winston Peters and Colin Craig have called for a referendum. Su’a William Sio is calling for Labour to drop the bill to appease Pasifika voters,” says Queer Avenger and long-time GLBT rights campaigner Bill Logan. “They’re inventing a silent majority as backwards as they are, but the data says otherwise.” Logan highlights a recent Research NZ poll, which shows that 60 per cent of voters support marriage equality, while only 34 per cent oppose it. “In fact, Maori and Pasifika voters are more supportive of marriage equality than Pakeha,” Logan points out. “Oppressed communities need to band together, not buy into this racist homophobic divide-and-conquer strategy.” The Queer Avengers argue conscience votes are a cop-out, because marriage equality is a matter of principle. “Civil equality is fairly basic stuff,” Logan concludes. “Most voters realise that now. It’s time to move on.” The Queer Avengers are running a campaign under the slogan Beyond Marriage, which underlines further struggles for LGBT and the wider community. This can be found at beyondmarriage.org.nz You can discuss this gay New Zealand community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 10th August 2012 - 2:51pm