Picture: GayNZ.com The Queer Avengers are continuing to the highlight the fact the GLBT community has struggles beyond marriage, with the message “we’re only just getting started”. The Queer Avengers say the cross-partisan support for the bill is positive, but says there are harder struggles ahead. “Marriage is a modest reform, it's not a fundamental change, politicians are generally okay with it,” notes Queer Avenger Sara Fraser. “We're only just getting started.” The Queer Avengers say much has changed, and still needs to change. “We have a lot more freedom now to express ourselves, without fear of getting beaten up,” Fraser says. “But there's so much more to do.” Fraser particularly highlights the oppression faced by youth. “Kids are still getting kicked out home for coming out, still self-harming and committing suicide. Addressing queer and trans homelessness is much more challenging for the system, it requires a lot more investment than just extending marriage rights,” she says. “Equality will not just trickle down to the most marginal. We need to fight for it, and more voices need to be heard.” Fraser also highlights that there is a broader spectrum of relationships and identities which marriage and adoption law does not address, including indigenous kinship structures and polyamory. “Consent is the bottom line, not state sanction,” says Fraser.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th August 2012 - 9:05am