Labour leader Andrew Little has sparked both anger and bewilderment after making jokes about gender reassignment surgery twice this week. In yesterday’s Budget debate, he spoke about multiple veils coming off and said of Finance Minister Bill English “I don’t know what he’s trying to hide - some sort of fiscal gender reassignment or something". The response was quick on Twitter: Andrew Little Little’s comment came just two days after he was asked about a Labour remit for free gender-reassignment surgery, and responded by joking "I'm quite happy with my gender." Other Labour MPs made light of the suggestion, while Stuart Nash said he didn’t think it was an important issue for New Zealanders and was not something he’d lose votes in Napier over. A number of people have taken to Rainbow Labour’s Facebook page to express their anger. Rainbow Labour co-chair Amanda Hill has responded that she cannot defend the comments. “I'm sorry there are still these views in the Labour Party and I'm determined to change them,” Hill says. “There are so many good people in the Party, please don't condemn us for this. I'm sorry if those comments made you feel humiliated or ashamed. But by all means, be angry - because that is how you will be heard and that is how we can effect real change. Please don't give up on us, we are better than this.” Andrew Little attended his first Big Gay Out earlier this year and told GayNZ.com Labour’s track record of support for the lgbti community would "absolutely" continue under his watch. He said his party believes in there being a place for everybody in our communities.You can see his Budget speech comment at the 2.40 mark in the video below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 22nd May 2015 - 9:35am