In a loud, colourful and peaceful event around forty people held a Big Gay Disco protest outside the Auckland headquarters of Destiny Church this morning. The protesters, some of whom were from the organising group Socialist LGBT Aotearoa and others from the Unite union and the wider gay community, were there "to show we're not going to tolerate Brian Tamaki's bigotry." They were specifically concerned when Tamaki in a recent sermon linked the Christchurch earthquakes with sin and the then-Christchurch Central MP's advocacy of Civil Unions. Speaking amongst rainbow flags and banners worded "No more bigotry," "Teach love not fear," and "Tax the Hate," protest organiser Wayne Baker says he is particularly concerned about "lgbti youth inside and outside the church who will be disturbed by Tamaki's teachings. "We're here because it's important to show we're not going to take it," he said. Fellow protester Nicola Fahey says she also wanted to protest because of the effects of intolerance on young glbti people. "I know quite a lot of young glbti people who are hearing this sort of thing and are getting upset," she says. "They're asking 'why do they hate us?' I want to show that this sort of thing is unacceptable. It hurts them so it hurts me so I'm here on their behalf... I felt I needed to do something. As the protesters sang and chanted on the roadside many of the people in passing cars showed support with cheerful toots, thumbs up and smiles and nods. Destiny security staff kept up a strong presence along the church's property line. None of Destiny's media team present would speak with GayNZ.com Daily News about the protest.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 4th December 2016 - 1:02pm