Fri 7 Jan 2011 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
McDonald's hamburger outlets are under fire for denying access to gay-related websites for customers using their new nationwide free WiFi service. The service was instituted in McDonal'ds branches prior to Christmas with the company claiming it is now the largest free internet provider in New Zealand. But complaints are coming in to GayNZ.com that many glbt-related sites appear to be blacked out on the service, including GayNZ.com. The Agender site for transgender people is also a no-go, as is Rainbow Youth and at least one of the NZ AIDS Foundation sites, Bro Online. Access to the online version of the international gay lifestyle magazine Advocate is also disallowed, as is Family Planning. Wellington lesbian Julz Darroch is one of those expressing anger to GayNZ.com. "In this day and age it has shocked me," she says. "Just when we think we can get used to being treated as equals in society, and in the main centres at least, something like this comes along. Our being lesbian or gay, or wanting to be in contact with our friends and communities, should not be an issue for the likes of McDonald's." A spokesperson for McDonald's said this morning that she was unaware of what might be behind the apparent censorship of gay-themed sites but she is referring the matter to Australia where the company's IT support and resources are based. So far reports of the blackout are coming from the Wellington region. If you know of any more areas of the country where this problem is occurring or any more websites blacked out please contact us through the Contact Us link below! You can discuss this New Zealand gay community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 7th January 2011 - 8:01pm