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2.10 Quiet glbt gathering "celebrates life"

Sat 5 Mar 2005 In: New Zealand Daily News

A lone anti-gay protester was the only jarring presence in an otherwise quiet and relaxed pro-glbt gathering held to counter the fundamentalist Destiny march and rally in central Auckland. In contrast to the thousands of uniformed and shepherded Destiny and City Impact church accolytes who heard their leaders call, and sometimes shout, for political action to push their religious precepts into Parliament, the small glbt family gathering heard and watched entertainment by musician Chris Knox and glbt community entertainers. However, Big Gay Out fundamentalist protester Justin Pearce turned up alone at the gathering, handing out anti-gay leaflets and heckling speakers including the Hon. Judith Tizard, MP. After nbeing pointed out by Knox, Pearce was surrounded by a glbt group wherever he went in the University Quad venue, being kissed, hugged and getting smeared with touches of pink sunscreen. One gathering participant observed that Pearce seemed to be unconcerned by the up close and personal contact and "even seemed to enjoy it! Maybe he has issues huh?" Another noted with sly emphasis that Pearce's wife had not accompanied him on this outing. Judith Tizard's speech was a significant focus of the gathering, she recalled the persecution and fear experienced by gays before the 1985 passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill and recollected that back then one Labour MP had even tried to pass a law which would have made it illegal for homosexuality to be discussed by anyone except a minister or doctor. She contrasted the glbt gathering with the Destiny spectacle, saying she was glad to see people relaxing in the sunshine and "celebrating life."    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Saturday, 5th March 2005 - 12:00pm

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