Phillip Field Young Labour’s Pacific representative says Phillip Field’s comments that Labour is “infested” with gays are “offensive and disgraceful.” Kieran Meredith says the disgraced former MP’s rant has sent shockwaves through the party. "There is a perception that they are controlled by homosexuals. It's like a smell that won't go away,” Field has told the Sunday Star Times. "You are going to have a generation of children grow up who think it is OK to have two mums and two dads. This is a contradiction of the word of God." Field is a former Cabinet Minister and MP for Mangere, who was jailed for six years after he was found guilty of bribery and corruption with 15 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. “His comments are quite frankly offensive, especially to those who have worked incredibly hard in Labour to develop a policy platform that has and will continue to serve our Pacific Island community as a whole,” Meredith says. What angers the Young Labour member the most is Field’s statement that he “would be representing the wider Pacific community but they wouldn't be coming out as strongly”. Meredith says Pacific leaders are already coming out saying they represent the “majority” of the Pacific community on the issue of marriage equality when no community or nationwide-wide canvass has been carried out. “His comments are not actually widely-held amongst the Pacific community, whether it is in just South Auckland or New Zealand as a whole. The reality is, the New Zealand born-Pacific demographic is around 60 per cent with youth making up a solid 35 per cent of that demographic. “This represents a change in political intellect and awareness. You’ll find that our New Zealand born Pacific youth are less conservative and more progressive. “We’re also politically and intellectually aware of the way in which society is changing, his view is part of a minority which is in fact holding us back from progressing as a party and as a community in general.” Meredith says Labour will continue to work hard for the Pacific vote but what Field must understand is that Labour is a progressive party who is there to serve the interests of all New Zealanders, and that includes the LGBT community. “Of all people, the Pacific community know full well the challenges and obstacles that we have had to overcome in terms of equality and access in areas like education, social development and health. “When we have had to fight for our place in society, what gives us the right to deny another community or group their rights which they are wholeheartedly entitled to?”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 26th November 2012 - 10:36am