Wed 1 Feb 2017 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The Auckland Pride Festival Board has this morning confirmed that it has asked the Department of Corrections to withdraw its application to participate in the forthcoming Auckland Pride Parade. In a just-released statement the Board makes it clear Corrections, which controversially had uniformed staff march in the last two parades (see above), is not welcome this year due to not delivering on publicly stated intentions to improve their game and a damning ombudsman's report. The Board “strongly believes that the Festival and the Auckland Pride Parade should be inclusive events which support diversity and advance equality for members of the rainbow communities and their allies,” the statement reads. “Organisations that seek to take part in the Parade must be able to demonstrate that they are supportive of their rainbow staff, clients, stakeholders and all who are associated with them. The Department of Corrections is unique in that the criteria apply not only to its staff, but to those under its care, including those in prison.” “We have seen no evidence that the promised Transgender Policy has been implemented and the Ombudsman Report in relation to the Provision, Access and Availability of Prisoner Health Services was particularly concerning. That report concludes that ”the Department's policy regarding transgender prisoners does not adequately reflect the expectation that transgender prisoners should be treated with dignity, nor does the policy adequately acknowledge prisoners' gender identification." "Therefore, the Board has unanimously agreed not to approve the Department of Corrections’ application to participate in the Auckland Pride Parade 2017." Echoing a letter the board late last year sent to Corrections which was revealed by GayNZ.com Daily News yesterday, the Board says it recommends “that the Department withdraw its application in order to allow the organisation to preserve its mana, with a view to building a stronger relationship between the Department and Auckland Pride. The Board values the ongoing work undertaken by the Department of Corrections with regard to its staff, and their intentions to better support those under its care, and looks forward to providing whatever support it can to assist with the improvement of living conditions for LGBTIQ prisoners.” “We recognise the work that rainbow and allied staff at the Department of Corrections do to support our communities in their care, and we are supportive of those that want to take part joining us on Saturday 25 February. Pride says two other organisations marching in the parade have agreed that Corrections staff can march with them, though it is understood that conditions have been attached to that manner of participation. GayNZ.com Daily News yesterday approached the Corrections Department for comment.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 1st February 2017 - 10:22am