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Pride: scarf slur "illustrates prejudice"

Thu 18 May 2006 In: New Zealand Daily News

5PM: The organiser of Christchurch's Pride Week says an anti-gay comment made by a senior police recruitment officer is an example of how easily prejudice against gays occurs. Senior Constable Kelvin McBride denigrated a potential police recruit at a weekend careers expo in Christchurch because his scarf was "a bit too gay," but a police headquarters spokesperson says the police are "pretty well convinced" that the officer is not homophobic. She believes the comment was just part and parcel of "some banter" between the officer and the man and doesn't believe he meant to denigrate either the man or gay people in general. "The comment was directed toward someone who wasn't even gay, it's a very good example of how prejudice against gay and lesbian people affects far more than just a minority," says Pride Week Co-ordinator Brent Mitchell. Mitchell says it is ironic that this incident has been reported in the media during Pride Week, an annual gay community celebration organised by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, and on the same day he is holding one of NZAF's regular Who Are You Hurting? workshops, which are designed to counter sexuality-based prejudice. "We've conducted these workshops for police in the past" says Mitchell who has extended an invitation to senior Christchurch police officers and recruiters to attend the next workshop.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Thursday, 18th May 2006 - 12:00pm

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