With the announcement that two staunch supporters of the LGBTI community will be stepping down from their roles in Parliament, Rainbow MPs Jan Logie and Louisa Wall reflect on the work they have done for our community. Rainbow MP Kevin Hague has announced he is leaving Parliament to head up the Forest and Bird organisation which advocates for the country's natural environment. Fellow Green Party MP Jan Logie says she is really sad to lose Hague from Parliament and acknowledges the hard work he has done on behalf of the LGBTI community. “He has brought a deep embedded knowledge base that cannot be replaced,” she says. “His strategic campaigning helped get Marriage equality over the line, and has been instrumental in raising the issue of safety in our schools. He has the ability to work across parliament and across communities. The list of things he has done for our communities is too long for this comment. He is a man of amazing integrity who stands in his sexuality to make the world a better place.” Rainbow Labour MP Louisa Wall also notes the work Hague has done on LGBTI issues and says “The announcement that Kevin Hague has been persuaded to take up the role of chief executive of environmental organisation Forest and Bird is indicative of his passionate advocacy for our conservation estate. Kevin is an extremely motivated person and this focus and commitment to a cause is vital to driving change and achieving objectives. She says she has had the pleasure of working with Hague on marriage equality legislation and as a member of our Cross Party Rainbow Network. “I will miss the depth of knowledge and expertise Kevin has on many issues but I know he will continue this advocacy as a proud member of our LGBTI community wherever he is. I look forward to continuing to engage with Kevin to advance our LGBTI community needs and aspirations wherever he may work and hope he enjoys his new role and responsibilities.” National MP Nikki Kaye has also announced she is stepping down temporarily from her portfolios after being diagnosed with breast cancer, news Wall says comes as a shock. A vocal supporter of the LGBTI community, Wall says she enjoys “working with Nikki particularly on youth issues and these interactions have focused on increasing opportunities for our young people and specifically in funding LGBTI organisations to meet the needs of our LGBTI youth. “Nikki is a very good friend of our LGBTI community and I send Nikki much aroha as she undergoes treatment. I hope she knows she has much support not only from family, friends and colleagues who have tremendous respect for her but our LGBTI community who have a Champion of our community who has done everything she can to support us. Kia Kaha Nikki and your Whanau.” Logie also praises Kaye for her LGBTI advocacy and says “Nikki has been a real champion in the National Party caucus for LGBTI rights and I’m looking forward to her doing what she needs to do to get well so she can come back and continue that work. “We will continue to engage with other Ministers in the National Government in her absence, but there is no minimising how important she has been up to this point; getting pockets of money for our youth organisations and recognising the amazing talent at a community level.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 8th September 2016 - 9:05am