Gay MP Kevin Hague addressed Parliament yesterday on the Orlando shooting, saying he wishes to “name this as an act of homophobic violence.” His speech follows comments made by Prime Minister John Key in which he stated there was not yet enough information to form an opinion as to whether it was a homophobic attack. Hague told the House "the Green Party wishes to express our profound shock and sorrow at what has occurred, and our sympathies to the victims themselves, to their families, to their friends and to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex communities in Orlando and around the world. An attack against one of us, is an attack against all of us.” Hague went on to say that LGBTI people in New Zealand know that just below the level of taunts, name calling and subtle prejudice, there is an undercurrent of violence. He also mentioned that “New Zealand also has a history with homophobic violence” and called for people to pay particular attention to the needs of young and vulnerable members of our communities. Hague went on to say “I want to extend a hand of friendship and of love to Muslim communities around the world also, we understand that what this man did is not representative of your communities.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 15th June 2016 - 9:26am