GLBTI community supporter Celia Wade-Brown has won another term as Wellington Mayor. Wade-Brown is a Rainbow Wellington patron and was supportive of GLBTI events in the city through her first term. In 2011 she spoke at the opening of the Asia Pacific Outgames in the capital, saying her city and New Zealand as a whole were moving "beyond tolerance and towards treasuring" our differences. In the same year, speaking about Out in the Square, she said: "I love the fact that Wellingtonians are so keen to celebrate their distinct identities with a string of superb, inclusive festivals and events throughout the year, and that the city embraces that." Wade-Brown added that Wellington's GLBT communities played a huge role in the liveliness of the city. "They are very positive, outward-looking and lively communities and as such reflect beautifully the Absolutely Positively Wellington ideal. Their members play a large part culturally in the creative capital - and economically too, with GLBT tourism of ever-growing importance. The GLBT communities both reflect and enhance Wellington's reputation as a relaxed and diverse place which is great to visit and wonderful to live in." Wade-Brown was also the head judge at the 9th Queen of the Whole Universe pageant in 2011, and has been supportive of the idea of a Carmen Rupe memorial in Wellington.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 12th October 2013 - 6:34pm