Queer Avengers: “We’re only just getting started”

The Queer Avengers are underlining that marriage equality is not the end of the line for LGBT struggles. Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill passed its first reading on the 29th of August, after more than 1,000 marched to Parliament in support of the Bill.

The Queer Avengers note that the cross-partisan support for this bill is positive, but there are harder struggles ahead. “Marriage is a modest reform, it’s not a fundamental change, politicians are generally okay with it,” notes Queer Avenger Sara Fraser. “We’re only just getting started.”

The Queer Avengers say much has changed, and still needs to change. “We have a lot more freedom now to express ourselves, without fear of getting beaten up,” concedes Fraser. “But there’s so much more to do.”

Fraser particularly highlights the oppression faced by youth. “Kids are still getting kicked out home for coming out, still self-harming and committing suicide. Addressing queer and trans homelessness is much more challenging for the system, it requires a lot more investment than just extending marriage rights.”

“Equality will not just trickle down to the most marginal. We need to fight for it, and more voices need to be heard.”

Fraser also highlights that there is a broader spectrum of relationships and identities which marriage and adoption law does not address, including indigenous kinship structures and polyamory. “Consent is the bottom line, not state sanction,” says Fraser. “What’s upset me most has been the reaction from our own communities. That we must behave, don’t rock the boat, don’t make too much noise and don’t mention other types of relationship.”

“This isn’t just about marriage,” concludes Fraser. “It’s about rights, it’s about equality and consent. We’re calling for a struggle beyond marriage.”
ends

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

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