Len Brown's already given it the thumbs up Auckland Council's Governing Body will today vote on whether to add a Rainbow Panel to its advisory boards. If formally approved, the panel would provide a local government platform for addressing issues of significance to Auckland’s lgbti community. The panel would be made up of one Chair and 12 members. The forecast cost has dropped from estimates of $70,000 to $117,000 a year. The initial recruitment cost would be $15,000 and the annual operating cost would be $56,500. This would be made up of $32,000 in meeting fees, $4,500 in catering, mileage and parking, plus $20,000 for two summits. However this wouldn’t include the costs of staff time, which are yet to be ironed out. A report calling for the body says lgbti people continue to experience discrimination on an institutional and individual level as well as high levels of addiction, mental health issues and suicide. It says people of diverse gender identity still face legal and social obstacles that impede their ability to lead their lives fully, safely and openly. Representatives of OUTLine, the Charlotte Museum, GABA, Body Positive, Auckland Pride Festival Inc and the Rainbow Tick have all spoken in support of the advisory board, along with Auckland trans woman Lexie Matheson. Mayor Len Brown has already expressed support, as has his deputy Penny Hulse. Among the councillors who back the proposal is Cathy Casey, who says the Council puts a lot of energy into acknowledging Auckland’s incredible diversity. “And rightly so. We have a responsibility to represent all groups within Auckland and I want to ensure we have the widest possible representation of the lgbti community through the creation of this new panel.” Councillors including George Wood and Calum Penrose oppose it, due to concerns about cost. One of the most outspoken critics has been gay mayoral hopeful Stephen Berry, who says the gay community simply “need their rubbish collected, storm water managed and parks cared for, just like everybody else”. He continues:"A rainbow advisory board will be hijacked by radicals demanding the Council give money to their own pet projects. As its future budget grows to deflect fears of being labelled homophobic it will become just another vehicle for wasting ratepayer money. "It is impossible for anyone appointed to the board to represent the interests of gay people because they are all individuals with widely varying opinions and beliefs. Gay people are not one single homogeneous group and I wish bloody politicians would stop treating me like one."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th April 2015 - 8:44am