I'd have to disagree. I know a lot of gay people who didn't support the CUB.
I'm very aware of that and I'm familiar with the arguments against it (mostly the second-class citizen ones.) HOWEVER, I believe that in this situation it would be relevant. For example, if Lockwood Smith was indeed campaigning against the CUB, I think it would be highly relevant, important even, to acknowledge the fact that he is gay and ask him to publicly explain why, as a gay man, he does not support a bill that was seen as being mostly a gay rights issue (I know that that wasn't really what it was, but that is how it was both pushed and attacked.) That would actually open up dialogue as to why the CUB might not be the best way of going about it - which would fulfill his function as an elected MP of NZ, speaking for his constituents. :P
Dude, I love how they keep saying "Chris Finlayson, National's only gay MP..." Is there anyone who really believes that?
That's always been Bill English's problem - he's the National leader most loved by people who will never in a million years vote for National. Although I didn't see much love for him in '02!
Post-election, I was his greatest fan... ;) Actually, English pulls a lot of love from class of '04 because he was relentless on the NCEA thing. ('02 was the year NCEA was introduced; class of '04, of which I am a member, were the guinea pigs every. single. fucking. year.) The way he went about it pisses me off but hey, there is that.
Thankfully even the most paleolithic of our MPs, such as a certain man whose name rhymes with Clob Barkson, aren't proposing that.
Homosexual Law reform bill? Unfortunately, Clob doesn't seem to be too far away from wanting to repeal that...
Re: No Mr Brash, I expect you to die.
Date: 2006-09-17 06:54 am (UTC)I'm very aware of that and I'm familiar with the arguments against it (mostly the second-class citizen ones.) HOWEVER, I believe that in this situation it would be relevant. For example, if Lockwood Smith was indeed campaigning against the CUB, I think it would be highly relevant, important even, to acknowledge the fact that he is gay and ask him to publicly explain why, as a gay man, he does not support a bill that was seen as being mostly a gay rights issue (I know that that wasn't really what it was, but that is how it was both pushed and attacked.) That would actually open up dialogue as to why the CUB might not be the best way of going about it - which would fulfill his function as an elected MP of NZ, speaking for his constituents. :P
Dude, I love how they keep saying "Chris Finlayson, National's only gay MP..." Is there anyone who really believes that?
That's always been Bill English's problem - he's the National leader most loved by people who will never in a million years vote for National. Although I didn't see much love for him in '02!
Post-election, I was his greatest fan... ;) Actually, English pulls a lot of love from class of '04 because he was relentless on the NCEA thing. ('02 was the year NCEA was introduced; class of '04, of which I am a member, were the guinea pigs every. single. fucking. year.) The way he went about it pisses me off but hey, there is that.
Thankfully even the most paleolithic of our MPs, such as a certain man whose name rhymes with Clob Barkson, aren't proposing that.
Homosexual Law reform bill? Unfortunately, Clob doesn't seem to be too far away from wanting to repeal that...