The negative, and winning, team New Zealand does not need a gay All Black, according to the result of today's lunchtime debate between two teams of glbti students from Auckland University. Points made against the desirability of an openly gay man becoming an All Black included that glbti people should not be "propping up heteronormative culture" as exemplified by the All Blacks and that fact that "not one All Black has supported us, we are ignored by them." It was also asked how glbti people can respect the All Blacks when they are "closed to women," and how one male gay All Black could represent "the whole glbti community." The affirmative team In favour of an out gay All Black were suggestions that it would "reinforce that we have a place in New Zealand society and culture" and that it would break down peer pressure to be anti-gay in some areas of society. James George, chair of the NZ Society of Authors and a tutor of creative writing at AUT, said that he and his fellow judges felt that the key to the moot "Does New Zealand need an out gay All Black" was the word "need." "Do the glbti communities need legitimising from outside? Not from the arguments presented for and against here today," he decreed. Around forty people, predominantly glbti folk, attended the event and when asked by GayNZ.com Daily News how many had played "some" rugby eleven, including two women, put up their hands. Asked how many had played competitive rugby at high school, club level or higher three hands went up. The debate was chaired by Verity George and was held as part of the Auckland Pride Festival.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 18th February 2013 - 3:54pm