Maryan Street Lesbian Labour MP Maryan Street has indicated she she supports Grant Robertson over David Cunliffe for the Labour leadership. Street, a past Labour party president, says she supports Robertson, the highest-ranked gay MP in the house, because he represents a new generation rising to leadership in the party. Appraising the other two declared candidates, Street says she respects Cunliffe's talent and experience as a cabinet minister and she believes he should be on the front bench regardless of who wins the leadership election. Street discount's Shane Jones's candidacy as "less likely" and describes Robertson and Cunliffe as "high calibre" by comparison. She has also confirmed speculation that she was working in the background to bring a motion of no confidence in David Shearer's leadership before he announced his resignation from the position. Although she is not known to have made a specific public statement on who she supports, South Auckland's lesbian MP Louisa Wall was reportedly one of the people flanking David Cunliffe when he made his candidacy announcement yesterday. The world's first transgender MP, Georgina Beyer who is now out of the house, says she believes New Zealand is not yet ready for a gay MP, a strong possibility is Robertson wins the leadership battle ahead of next year's General Election. "I don't think we're ready yet," Beyer told Stuff.co.nz. "It's not because Grant isn't capable, I think he's very capable . . . but the stigma that rests over those of us who are out, proud and gay who get into public office becomes untenable because you never shake it off and you get pigeon-holed."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 27th August 2013 - 2:44pm