Justice Kirby (r) with HIV-positive people's advocate Bruce Kilmister A prominent Australian jurist and international activist against HIV infection and oppression of glbti people has warned against thinking that successes against HIV and improvements in the social and legal status of some mean the fight for better lives is over. In a Candlelight Memorial service speech delivered in Wellington this afternoon, retired Justice Michael Kirby recited poetry, recounted heart-felt memories of friends lost to HIV, and applauded successes in prevention and treatment. But he also voiced concern that the lessons and experiences of the past could too easily be forgotten or lost to future generations of glbti people. As an example he expressed concern that NZ AIDS Memorial Quilt, a tangible reminder of the victims, mostly gay men, of the HIV epidemic, is held in the vaults at Te Papa. "It should be on permanent public display," he said. Warming to that theme he urged the setting up of a museum of oppression "to remember, to teach and so that the oppressions of the past won't be repeated." As an example of continuing oppression Kirby referenced a recent Australian survey of school-aged youths which showed that 60 per cent of youths were uncomfortable around gay people and a similar percentage wouldn't want a glbti person as a friend. We deceive ourselves if we think the fight for freedom is over," he said, highlighting the needs of young glbti people in general and intersex people in particular. He was particularly scathing of religion-based oppression of glbti people, now and in the past. He equated present-day religious intolerance to belief in hob-goblins and medieval thinking.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 17th May 2015 - 8:54pm