Stephen Berry doesn't believe there should be a Rainbow Panel in the first place One of the Rainbow Panel's most outspoken critics hasn't made the shortlist for the Auckland Council advisory group, but concedes that's probably not surprising considering he has opposed its formation from the start. Mayoral candidate Stephen Berry applied because he wanted to represent lgbti Aucklanders who oppose the establishment of a Rainbow Panel, and who believe serving lgbti needs is not a core service of the Council. "I'm sure I'm not the only gay person out there who opposes special panels for people on the basis of their sexuality and if a panel is to be truly representative then surely it should include at least one person who feels that way," Berry says. The Panel's make up will ultimately be decided by five members of the lgbti community. "I was judged not suitable by the recruitment company itself so I probably can't cry political interference," Berry, an ACT candidate at the last general election says. He says he didn't tick any of the boxes the recruitment company was given to determine who should be chosen - and claims the criteria shows a "subservient politically correct" panel is being sought, "and one which will always support ratepayer handouts for their special projects". When asked to think critically on trends and issues for the rainbow community in his application, he responded that the needs of lgbti people are identical to the needs of heterosexuals. "Our footpaths need to be maintained, our rubbish needs to be collected and our storm water should be well managed". Berry says to a question of what issues were facing the 'rainbow communities', a term he hates, he said "right now lgbti individuals are having a really hard time being treated differently from everyone else. I find it rather rude and condescending to be treated as a special needs case because of my sexuality. That's the sort of rubbish that used to happen before homosexuality was decriminalised." He adds "I suppose I really did myself in when asked about my understanding of community perspectives because I pointed out that it is completely impossible to do so. A community is a group as opposed to being a seeing, thinking entity in itself so it absolutely cannot have a perspective. "You would have to either have been dunked in politically correct Kool Aid or be straight out lying to answer that question satisfactorily. Individuals can have a perspective because individuals have a brain and can think. Communities can only contain individuals who have a perspective. I can guarantee you those perspectives will be many and varied making this whole concept of representing the rainbow community stupid." Berry says when the Rainbow Advisory Panel is finally formed "we can be sure that the members will be unanimous in their thinking that the a sexuality based-panel should exist, that the Council should be spending money on social programs for lgbti people, they will rubberstamp whatever handout the Council offers them and next year's parade will be bigger than ever. Realistically, I never stood a chance of being appointed." In all, there will be 10-13 members on the Rainbow Panel, which will meet every six weeks, and will offer advice to Auckland Council on lgbti issues. It's first meeting is tentatively scheduled for next month. It's going ahead, in the face of opposition from councillors over its cost, because Auckland Mayor Len Brown offered to pay for its first 18 months out of the Mayor's Budget.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 18th July 2015 - 8:50am