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Beyer: Vercoe Nazi-like, demented, uneducated

Mon 7 Jun 2004 In: New Zealand Daily News

A plainly angry Georgina Beyer MP has hit out at comments by newly-appointed Anglican Archbishop Vercoe that he envisioned a world without gays, describing his stance as Nazi-like, "demented" and "uneducated." "A world without gays? I don't think so! We cannot be written off by a statement from the mainstream clergy, fundamentalist preachers like Brian Tamaki or anyone else against human rights for all," Beyer said to a standing ovation at the Auckland Golden Stilettoes awards. This morning Beyer likened Vercoe's dreams of a backlash against gays to the policies of Nazi Germany. "Substitute the word 'gays" for 'Jews'," she said, "then maybe people will understand what he is implying." She says gay people and our allies have fought hard for human rights but the gains are still fragile. "Vercoe has declared himself to be our enemy, in hateful language not used against us so directly since the worst periods of the Homosexual Law Reform Campaign." Beyer says she cannot understand how a person in a position of respect and highest standing in a mainstream church could promote such views. "Surely these are the demented musings of someone who should be more educated," she said. Beyer's concerns were supported by ex-MP Tuariki John Delamere who was a co-judge at the Stilettoes awards. He said Vercoe's statements were plainly unacceptable and could not be ignored, especially as they came from the head of a NZ mainstream church.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Monday, 7th June 2004 - 12:00pm

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