As part of Project Uplift (the refurbishment of the Rainbow Room) a documentary was produced by the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service to tell the story of the room. The individual interviews were also published online under a Creative Commons licence CC-BY 4.0. A special thank you to the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service for allowing Tony's interview to be reproduced. The mp3 files on this page contain just the audio element of the video interview.
Summary
In the recording "Tony Nightingale - Rainbow Voices of Aotearoa New Zealand," Tony Nightingale, a longtime public servant, recounts critical moments of advocacy and legislative change related to LGBTQIA+ rights in New Zealand during the 2010s. The symposium, captured within the walls of the Rainbow Room in the Parliament buildings of Wellington on April 3rd, 2019, spans a duration of four minutes and provides a vivid recollection of past and pivotal activism and political action.
One of the significant events Nightingale remembers is the submission of a petition against the homosexuality law reform, marked by stark imagery of neatly uniformed individuals delivering boxes of petitions to Parliament and being met by a formidable counter-protest organized by Fran Wilde. Wilde, who stood tall on a makeshift platform, led the singing of the National Anthem, creating a poignant moment of resistance against what Nightingale likens to a "neo-fascist rally" at the time.
This moment is also remembered as a catalyst that stoked the fire for future lobbying and public demonstrations, eventually leading to the challenging and narrow passage of law reform, notably without an anti-discrimination clause. Nightingale pays homage to not only Fran Wilde's successful effort to lower the age of consent but also to Catherine O'Regan's less recognized but equally vital work in fighting discrimination, especially towards HIV-positive individuals. O'Regan's contributions are painted as courageous, as they came at a significant personal political cost.
Furthermore, Nightingale shares emotions stirred from witnessing a march by the Destiny Church, a movement known as "Enough is Enough," which featured an ominous display of uniformity and opposition to the diversification of societal norms. Described as unsettling, the march with its participants clad in black uniforms embodied an almost military-like resistance.
Nightingale also shares the unforgettable experience of being present in the House when significant legislation is passed, emphasizing the breath-holding anticipation during votes of conscience, which are not just procedural but symbolize the movement of society towards inclusivity. The speaker cites not only the homosexual law reform but also the prostitution reform as instances where the legislative process reflected a broadening of rights and recognition.
The Rainbow Room, where Nightingale is delivering these reflections, is portrayed as a powerful, tangible testament to the Crown's commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights. Its location within the Parliament buildings bestows upon it a significant symbolic weight, reinforcing the importance of such spaces in the narrative of social justice and the perpetual support for diverse communities.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
Voices
Tags (computer generated)
anti discrimination, aotearoa new zealand, boxes, brian tamaki, church, conflict, discrimination, diversity, friends, hope, law, legislation, letter, lgbt, lobbying, military, other, people, petition, public servant, rainbow, rally, servant, singing, tamaki, teeth, the other side, time, vote, wellington, work