Below, Dot's bar owner Peter Taylor delivers a scathing yet optimistic 'State of the Union' address as New Zealand's LGBT citizens begin a decade of uncertainty. Congratulations to the OurFest and Bears Week teams for their excellent events in Auckland recently. Peter Taylor How refreshing it is to know the reins of control are now in the hands of the young people. They are more tolerant and integrated, among themselves. Hence the prejudices of the older community will eventually die out. About time, I say. It is the older members of our community, our tribe, who have broken into splinters over the past few years and instead of supporting each other, a preference to tear each other apart is a common sport. Hero finally was put to rest because we, the elders, couldn't get our shit together. It was decided, with great wisdom to hand our tribal festival over to the young people. With intelligence, a wider acceptance of each other, regardless of sexuality, gender or nationality, the young generation, the 20-somethings get on with each other as mates. Young lesbians and gay boys have friends of either gender, both straight and gay and those identified along the spectrum. Meanwhile the older, apparently more wise, are fighting among themselves, practising separatism, double standards and intolerance of our diversity, within our collective tribe. Why did our generation get it so wrong? We allowed bigotry and bitterness against each other to become a family game. When we were fighting for our freedom to be, to seek equality and recognition from the wider community and fighting prejudice with passion, we played happy community. Com. Now we have all we wanted, our community began criticising and tearing each other apart and split into groups. We accepted double standards and our community began to implode. Vera Peter Taylor - 8th March 2010