Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Choice, Bro

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  • JoJo,

    Quoting selectively from dubious sources? Sounds like standard behaviour for the anti-gay brigade.

    Will be at the rally at parliament - after reading some of the bigots' thoughts in the papers and online, I could do with a good pro-me party.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report

  • JoJo,

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to JoJo,

    The FUCK?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    My initial response is that someone at ACT must have got to him and said "Oi, we're supposed to be classic liberals, not reactionary conservatives!' But if he really has made the decision based on human rights and basic decency, then good for him.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • JoJo,

    When asked why he was voting for it, he said "Because I am." Good to know he can still behave like a petulant child.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 95 posts Report

  • Heather Gaye, in reply to Tom Beard,

    Much as I'm happy for his support, I can't think of anything that'd convince me he's made this (or any) decision based on human rights and basic decency.

    Morningside • Since Nov 2006 • 533 posts Report

  • Tom Beard, in reply to JoJo,

    Which somewhat militates against the "human rights and basic decency" argument. Perhaps ACT on Campus have been a ... I'm struggling to write this ... force for good?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Tom Beard,

    But if he really has made the decision based on human rights and basic decency, then good for him.

    And I'd like to credit that, but his long history of utter bigoted hateful vitriol makes it... I don't know. I can't even. The fuck, etc.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Tom Beard,

    And Twyford's a yes. Tide's turning.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report

  • Tim Darlington,

    I think we can rule out basic decency - more likely to be that ACT on Campus put the hard word on him. No enthusiasts for religious conservatism among his enthusiastic electorate helpers, I'll bet.

    Since Nov 2006 • 56 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Tom Beard,

    And Twyford’s a yes. Tide’s turning.

    Twyford and Banks since I looked earlier today. That’s movement!
    (ETA- two NOT counting Twyford, in fact. So that's three.)
    A few that have struggled and come out on the right side- David Carter, for example. Quietly pleased to see that. I reckon it’s the power of the fancy Herald graphical interface :)
    And who wants to be on the wrong side of history (or the tide…?)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Tom Beard,

    And Twyford's a yes. Tide's turning.

    It's easier on your shoes if you notice that before it's up to your ankles.

    I sound bitter. I'm not. Tomorrow, I shall be crying my fucking eyes out when this bill passes its first reading.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    From Steve Gray, on a discussion thread on Facebook:

    he is a member of the act party and as we have known for months, despite his attempts at stalling, was always known he had to vote in live with the party

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Great stuff, Emma. However, I like to think of Colin as basically an indecent man…

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • JacksonP,

    Thanks again Emma. A society that allows concepts like reparative therapy to exist, let alone have a platform, hardly seems a very healthy one. In fact not even a very humane one.

    When Barrowman talks of how lucky he was he didn't stay in Scotland, and that he might have taken his own life, you get a sense of the real danger and harm that can come from entrenched, even institutionalised, intolerance.

    It is time for a change. Long overdue in fact.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to JacksonP,

    When Barrowman talks of how lucky he was he didn't stay in Scotland, and that he might have taken his own life

    Extra poignancy for us because it's the realisation that Scotland didn't legalise homosexuality until... 1980.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • JacksonP, in reply to Emma Hart,

    1980.

    Beating us by 6 years. Highlighting why so many of our peers lived such traumatised lives in their adolescence, and beyond.

    26 years is not a very long time ago. I still remember it for starters.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to JacksonP,

    I remember waaay before that...when spousal abuse aka 'domestic violence' was ignored by the police (forget about kids - that was just normal discipline) and hunting homos was regarded as a good sport by clean white straight male pub-denizens....

    Things have actually changed for the better good people (and will change even betterer apopo!)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Lilith __,

    Great post, Emma. And imagine how we will all look back on this, incredulous that there could even have been a debate.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • DuncanJ,

    Excellent post, someone needs to call these spiteful little people out. It's crazy to think we're still having to debate and argue for these rights for people to simply live their lives how they wish.

    The InterWeb • Since Aug 2012 • 1 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tim Darlington,

    I think we can rule out basic decency – more likely to be that ACT on Campus put the hard word on him. No enthusiasts for religious conservatism among his enthusiastic electorate helpers, I’ll bet.

    I am quite sure this is the case.

    For all his posturing, Banks knows the score in such matters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • simon g,

    But the bigots are only part of the problem.

    It's now clear that MPs are pushing at an open door. Public opinion was either already there, or at least willing to be persuaded.

    But for years (and still) we've heard so many politicians find every possible reason not to engage. Not to oppose, just - not to talk about it (as Emma's previous post skewered so well). That's about more than just one issue - you get the same kind of waffle across a whole range (e.g. a republic is "inevitable", said Clark and Key, while refusing to do anything about it).

    I'm not going to doff my cap and be 'umbly grateful to MPs who constantly tell us that doing something simple (which they also think is right) is "not our focus" or "something I'm not uncomfortable with' or "not something we're putting out there" (the last was David Shearer's). Is it so hard to say "I think we should do X because Y"? Not least because - to speak the language they understand - maybe it would impress the voters?

    Memo to our MPs: Martin Luther King's speech is remembered, and it's not because he said "I am at this time not opposed to having a conversation about the issues around a dream". Would you like us to remember you?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to simon g,

    ou get the same kind of waffle across a whole range (e.g. a republic is “inevitable”, said Clark and Key, while refusing to do anything about it).

    Yes indeed - or not* in deed*-

    we KNOW politicians are unreliable in their promises & almost promises - how can we best show that we utterly despise their prevarications?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    I shouldn't think Banks' conversion came at the hands of ACT on Campus, but from the Board. As much of a sham as they've become, they couldn't walk against such a basic concept of personal liberty...
    I really can't fathom this not passing into law (not just this first reading hurdle). Feels like I may be jinxing it but surely?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • FletcherB, in reply to simon g,

    Memo to our MPs: Martin Luther King’s speech is remembered, and it’s not because he said “I am at this time not opposed to having a conversation about the issues around a dream”. Would you like us to remember you?

    Word...

    But then, he got shot rather than elected again, which is what most of them are aiming for...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

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