GayNZ.com
Encyclopedia
GayNZ.com is the leading Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
community news website for New Zealand
.
It posts daily local and international news stories, monitors fundamentalist Christian politics in New Zealand
and associated anti-gay pressure groups, reports on political developments related to LGBT New Zealanders, discusses current issues related to HIV/AIDS, holds regular polls on topical LGBT issues, and has previews and reviews of music, theatre, film, television and literature.
GayNZ.com has featured a variety of articles profiling a diverse range of LGBT New Zealanders, including Members of Parliament, people with disabilities, drag queens, Kiwis
of various ethnic backgrounds, and local celebrities.
The website also features a selection of blogs, a forum, a national LGBT event guide and a personals section.
(such as the use of the word 'gay' as an insult) is still common.
The gay social scene in New Zealand is small by international standards, especially outside Auckland
. However, many smaller centres have LGBT organisations and social networks that cater to their community.
The internet is heavily used by gay men in New Zealand to meet others, especially in areas which lack specifically gay venues. GayNZ.com is the most popular website and is used as a source of information and current affairs for New Zealand's LGBT population to connect with each other and learn about community issues.
Between 2003 and 2006, the senior writer at GayNZ.com was Christopher Banks
. His feature articles focused mainly on social and political issues relevant to the gay community
, or debunking religious arguments against homosexuality
. Some articles were based around in-depth interviews with political or religious leaders.
Banks' writings for GayNZ.com also included a number of film reviews, two of which caused some upset in the conservative Christian community. His review of the controversial 2002 French film Irréversible
was cited by the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
in their attempts to have the film banned by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
. His positive review of Kinsey
, the 2004 biopic of the American sex researcher, drew the ire of Investigate magazine editor Ian Wishart
, prompting a further series of articles by Banks on Alfred Kinsey
.
deputy leader Bill English
of posting homophobic abuse on social networking site Bebo
. GayNZ.com had unsuccessfully sought comment from English before publishing the story. After the story's publication, National leader John Key
criticised the website for dragging a politician's son into public debate, and English sought legal advice about the article. A later complaint by English that The Southland Times
had named his son was upheld in 2008, whereas GayNZ.com had not directly identified him.
while he co-hosted the morning breakfast show on More FM in Auckland, New Zealand. He stated, "Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male... In the old days there was no such thing as gay. It was frowned upon. The church would burn you at the stake. Modern day, if you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink. Unless of course you're in the Americas Cup and you're one of these pansies who walk around with Gant t-shirts with your collars up, and you wear pink and you wear white trousers with those dirty brown slip-on shoes. Then you're just an idiot."
McFadden's comments were reported in news reports, gossip websites and weblogs worldwide, provoking considerable condemnation from the LGBT community. The singer later denied he was homophobic, saying through his publicist that his comments had been "taken out of context".
+ man living in Auckland
had allegedly been deliberately engaging in unsafe sex and had subsequently infected a number of other men. The story resulted in a formal police investigation and charges were laid when four of his male partners laid complaints with police investigators. The case may lead to a law change, after health officials revealed they were informed about the man several months before the police investigation commenced but had not informed the authorities due to "patient confidentiality".
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
community news website for New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It posts daily local and international news stories, monitors fundamentalist Christian politics in New Zealand
Christian politics in New Zealand
This article discusses Christian politics in New Zealand, particularly socially conservative and evangelical Christian politics. Although slightly over half of New Zealand's population belong, at least nominally, to Christian denominations,...
and associated anti-gay pressure groups, reports on political developments related to LGBT New Zealanders, discusses current issues related to HIV/AIDS, holds regular polls on topical LGBT issues, and has previews and reviews of music, theatre, film, television and literature.
GayNZ.com has featured a variety of articles profiling a diverse range of LGBT New Zealanders, including Members of Parliament, people with disabilities, drag queens, Kiwis
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
of various ethnic backgrounds, and local celebrities.
The website also features a selection of blogs, a forum, a national LGBT event guide and a personals section.
Background of LGBT life in New Zealand
New Zealanders are generally accepting of gays and lesbians, although low level homophobiaHomophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
(such as the use of the word 'gay' as an insult) is still common.
The gay social scene in New Zealand is small by international standards, especially outside Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. However, many smaller centres have LGBT organisations and social networks that cater to their community.
The internet is heavily used by gay men in New Zealand to meet others, especially in areas which lack specifically gay venues. GayNZ.com is the most popular website and is used as a source of information and current affairs for New Zealand's LGBT population to connect with each other and learn about community issues.
Journalism
Christopher Banks
Christopher Banks is a New Zealand journalist, musician, record producer, songwriter and film-maker.- Deep Obsession :Banks was responsible for eight top 30 New Zealand hits for three different acts between 1998 and 2002....
. His feature articles focused mainly on social and political issues relevant to the gay community
Gay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
, or debunking religious arguments against homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Some articles were based around in-depth interviews with political or religious leaders.
Banks' writings for GayNZ.com also included a number of film reviews, two of which caused some upset in the conservative Christian community. His review of the controversial 2002 French film Irréversible
Irréversible
Irréversible is a 2002 French drama film written and directed by Gaspar Noé, starring Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel. The film employs a non-linear narrative and follows two men as they try to avenge a brutally raped girlfriend...
was cited by the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
Society for the Promotion of Community Standards
The Society for the Promotion of Community Standards is a conservative Christian-dominated organisation in New Zealand. The Society's objectives include the encouragement of "self-respect and the dignity of the human person, made in the image of God", the "recognition of the sanctity of human life...
in their attempts to have the film banned by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand)
The Office of Film and Literature Classification is the government agency in New Zealand that is responsible for classification of all films, videos, publications, and some video games in New Zealand...
. His positive review of Kinsey
Kinsey (film)
Kinsey is a 2004 biographical film written and directed by Bill Condon. It describes the life of Alfred Kinsey , a pioneer in the area of sexology. His 1948 publication, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was one of the first recorded works that tried to scientifically address and investigate...
, the 2004 biopic of the American sex researcher, drew the ire of Investigate magazine editor Ian Wishart
Ian Wishart
Ian Wishart is a New Zealand journalist, author, an opponent to the hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change, and the editor of Investigate magazine...
, prompting a further series of articles by Banks on Alfred Kinsey
Alfred Kinsey
Alfred Charles Kinsey was an American biologist and professor of entomology and zoology, who in 1947 founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, as well as producing the Kinsey Reports and the Kinsey...
.
Son of MP's homophobic internet page
In September 2007, GayNZ.com published an article accusing the teenage son of National PartyNew Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
deputy leader Bill English
Bill English
Simon William "Bill" English is the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Minister of Infrastructure of New Zealand.English entered parliament in 1990 as a National party MP representing the Wallace electorate...
of posting homophobic abuse on social networking site Bebo
Bebo
Bebo is a social networking website launched in July 2005. It is currently owned and operated by Criterion Capital Partners after taking over from AOL in June 2010....
. GayNZ.com had unsuccessfully sought comment from English before publishing the story. After the story's publication, National leader John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
criticised the website for dragging a politician's son into public debate, and English sought legal advice about the article. A later complaint by English that The Southland Times
The Southland Times
The Southland Times is the regional daily paper for Southland, including Invercargill, and neighbouring parts of Otago, in New Zealand.-History:...
had named his son was upheld in 2008, whereas GayNZ.com had not directly identified him.
Brian McFadden's homophobic radio comments
In August 2008, GayNZ.com drew attention to a number of disparaging remarks about gays and lesbians made by ex-boyband singer Brian McFaddenBrian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
while he co-hosted the morning breakfast show on More FM in Auckland, New Zealand. He stated, "Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male... In the old days there was no such thing as gay. It was frowned upon. The church would burn you at the stake. Modern day, if you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink. Unless of course you're in the Americas Cup and you're one of these pansies who walk around with Gant t-shirts with your collars up, and you wear pink and you wear white trousers with those dirty brown slip-on shoes. Then you're just an idiot."
McFadden's comments were reported in news reports, gossip websites and weblogs worldwide, provoking considerable condemnation from the LGBT community. The singer later denied he was homophobic, saying through his publicist that his comments had been "taken out of context".
2009 HIV infection case
In May 2009, GayNZ.com reported that a 40-year-old HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
+ man living in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
had allegedly been deliberately engaging in unsafe sex and had subsequently infected a number of other men. The story resulted in a formal police investigation and charges were laid when four of his male partners laid complaints with police investigators. The case may lead to a law change, after health officials revealed they were informed about the man several months before the police investigation commenced but had not informed the authorities due to "patient confidentiality".
See also
- Civil unions in New ZealandCivil unions in New ZealandCivil union has been legal in New Zealand since 26 April 2005. The Civil Union Act to establish the institution of civil union for same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed by the Parliament on 9 December 2004. The Act has been described as very similar to the Marriage Act with references to...
- Hero ParadeHero ParadeThe Hero Parade was an annual gay and lesbian Parade through the streets of Auckland, New Zealand, in the 1990s. The last Parade was in 2001. It was the showpiece of the Hero Festival in Auckland which runs to the present day...
- Homosexual Law Reform ActHomosexual Law Reform ActThe New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 is a law that legalised consensual sex between men aged 16 and older. It removed the provisions of the Crimes Act 1961 that criminalised this behaviour.-Background:...
- LGBT New ZealandLGBT New ZealandNew Zealand society is generally fairly relaxed in acceptance of gays and lesbians. The gay-friendly environment is epitomised by the fact that there are several Members of Parliament who belong to the LGBT community, gay rights are protected by the New Zealand Human Rights Act, and same-sex...
- LGBT rights in New Zealand
- Out Takes: A Reel Queer Film FestivalOut Takes: A Reel Queer Film FestivalOut Takes: A Reel Queer Film Festival is an annual film festival screening New Zealand and international homosexual films. The festival takes place in late May/early June in three cities: Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. OutTakes used to premier in Dunedin with selected film screenings at...
- Same-sex marriage in New ZealandSame-sex marriage in New ZealandNew Zealand does not currently allow same-sex marriages, but allows civil unions that provide virtually all the rights and responsibilities of marriage...