Auckland Mayor Dick Hubbard is all in favour of moves to further integrate the city's GLBT community in the interests of acceptance, but cautions against pushing people too far. Speaking to GLBT community representatives at the Council's recent historic Partnerships Committee meeting, the Mayor expressed concern about events such as the Hero Parade. "I wonder if it's actually good or bad in terms of advancing the cause," he told GayNZ.com this week, in an interview reflecting on the positive outcomes of the meeting. "I read in Sunday about how a lot of members of the gay community have moved from going out to bars to having houses, gardens, pets and that sort of stuff. One of the people interviewed was asking do we do ourselves good or harm by promoting a parade? I was interested in the issues raised there." The Mayor says he would have the same issues with erotic elements in a heterosexual parade. "The best way to promote ‘gay' is to see that its part of the community. Less emphasis on erotica and more on, I guess, lifestyles." Hubbard is keen to work on incorporating gay elements into existing events, rather than always taking a separatist approach. "Seeing the gay community as part of normal community activities, instead of having totally separate activities all the time. If that were to happen, there'd be more acceptance, the gay community would become a natural part of things in the city."