GAYNZ.COM'S NEW YEARS HONOURS In which we honour LGB and T people who in 2004 demonstrated outstanding commitment to the New Zealand glbt communities and the lives of the diverse individuals who are, or will be, touched by them. Next time you see any of these folk shake their hand, give them a hug, thank them for their spirit and dedication and buy them a well-deserved drink. TIM BARNETT MP for Christchurch Central For his many tireless hours in co-ordinating efforts to pass the Civil Union Bill. It was a process years in the making, during which Tim has had to endure much: smear articles in Investigate magazine, accusations of unleashing perversion on the nation from Destiny Church, and a veiled death threat printed in the letters column of a nationwide daily newspaper. But it's all in a day's work for Tim – nothing fazed him. GEORGINA BEYER MP for Wairarapa For being the fire and brimstone we needed; firstly to wake our community up to a need to stand together (the power of her rabble-rousing speech at the Golden Stilettos thrilled and even frightened some of us); and secondly for reminding the rest of the country that we are not weak, and will not be silenced – while others called for tolerance, she stared Brian Tamaki in the face and demanded it. CHRIS CARTER MP for Te Atatu, Cabinet Minister For putting his personal life and family into the public arena in order to speak for the silent masses of gay and lesbian couples in long-term relationships, living their lives throughout the country without having the equal legal status that their heterosexual neighbours enjoy. RACHAEL LE MESURIER New Executive Director, NZ AIDS Foundation, Auckland For re-invigorating the fight against HIV at a time when it is more needed than ever. Her new broom swept through the AIDS Foundation, stiffening backs, stepping up the safe-sex message, attacking complacency in the community and re-engaging with it, and making sure no misinformed media stone thrown was left unturned. MISS MOLE Drag diva, doyenne of Christchurch gay community For years of service to the gay community in Christchurch. As organiser of the country's longest running gay event (over 20 years now), The Oscars, Miss Mole has been overlooked outside the Garden City for far too long. PETER WELLS Author and filmmaker, Auckland For his thoughtful pieces in the mainstream media on what it means to be gay in New Zealand today. His writings in the Listener and Metro magazine encapsulated in a nutshell what the rest of us were thinking about our nation's slimy underbelly of homophobia, exposed in the wake of the David McNee "homosexual panic" murder trial. ROBYN PATERSON Filmmaker and journalist, Wellington For services to GLBT film and television. Her short film Straight Hike For The Butch Dyke was a hit at Out Takes here, and has now screened at several overseas festivals. Her thoughtful items on Queer Nation last year were some of the best the programme had ever produced, especially her thoughtful and moving piece on the Presbyterian Church's vote to ban openly gay ministers. REV. MARGARET MAYMAN Presbytarian minister, Wellington For her determination to stop the Christian religion being hijacked by extremists. She spearheaded Christians For Civil Unions, an ecumenical group of Christians from around the country speaking up for the moderate majority. She stood as a religious riposte to Bible-bashing bigots everywhere, be it in the media or facing the blackshirts at Parliament. DES SMITH GayNZ.com - 8th January 2005