Gay And Lesbian Elected Representatives Meet With Mayor

At a meeting Monday afternoon with the Mayor, gay and lesbian community board members Lindsey Rea, Bruce Kilminster and Christopher Dempsey heard the Mayor explain his actions in opposing the Civil Union Bill. The Mayor reaffirmed his commitment to being open to dialogue, and has promised to seek a greater understanding of the gay and lesbian community's concerns at his stance. "We sought and received a commitment from the Mayor towards rebuilding bridges with the gay and lesbian community following his actions" said Bruce Kilminster.

"I'm pleased that the Mayor listened to our concerns, particularly in the area of the 'social research' studies into same-sex parenting. Reputable studies have consistently found no link between same-sex parenting and child abuse, rape or paedophilia" said Christopher Dempsey. "We, along with Gay Auckland Business Association, will be supplying the Mayor with copies of those studies."

Eden Albert Community Board Chair Lindsey Rea looks forward to working in partnership with the Mayor and Council over the coming months to recognise the vibrancy and contribution the Rainbow community makes to Auckland City. "Lesbian and gay citizens are valuable members of the community, and we will be working hard to recognise that."

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>