THEGAYUK

Tag: New Zealand News

Get the latest LGBT+ New Zealand News from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in New Zealand.

  • This theatre has the best all-gender toilet sign

    Sometimes you just gotta love a company’s sensibility.

    The management at this theatre in New Zealand doesn’t care what gender you identify as, or it seems, even if you identify as human – just as long as you wash your hands.

    The sign was the idea of the theatre director Sarah Anderson. Speaking to the Otago Daily Times the theatre manager said,

    “We like people to be relaxed and that’s the point of having the sign,

    “It takes any anxiety away for people who might feel pressured into going into toilets specified for one gender, or another, when they don’t necessarily relate to that gender.

    “The sign was installed to help people ‘to feel more comfortable and safe”.

    Quite right.

  • Christian Pastor Tells Gay Man To Commit Suicide

    Government’s Job To Kill Gay People Says Christian Pastor

    A shocking anti-gay rant by Christian Pastor Logan Robertson, in which he states every single gay person should be put to death, has been reported in New Zealand.

    A Christian pastor from the WestCity Baptist Church in New Zealand was initially approached by author Jim Marjoram, who reached out to over 400 churches to interview for a book he is currently writing when he received a shocking response from Robertson that said, “We are not interested in your filthy lifestyle or book,”
    “I pray that you will commit suicide you filthy child molesting fag.”

    An openly gay journalist, Matt Mclean then approached the pastor for comment and was told by Robertson, that he would “never give an interview to a filthy faggot”.

    However, in an interview later in the day he further laid out his point of view on gay people saying they should be put to death and that Christians shouldn’t be the ones to put gay men to death, but it was the responsibility of the government.

    He went on to explain, “I think every single one of them should be put to death,
    “Christians shouldn’t be doing it, I’m not going to do it, it’s the government’s job to be doing it.”

    The national leader of the Baptist Churches of New Zealand, who said that the comments were appalling, has challenged his comments and the church’s alignment to the Baptist Church in New Zealand. They stated that WestCity was not part of its organisation.

  • Kiwi Same-Sex Couple Become First To Get Married At 30,000 Ft.

    Kiwi Same-Sex Couple Become First To Get Married At 30,000 Ft.

    Air New Zealand becomes first airline to host gay wedding at 30,000 Feet.

    New Zealand gay marriage

    • Couple Lynley Bendall and Ally Wankikau were first New Zealand same-sex couple to wed at 30,000 Feet

    • Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and partner Justin Mikita attended the wedding.

    • New Zealand was the 13th Nation to allow same-sex marriages.

    • Monday 19th August was the first day on which same-sex couple could marry in New Zealand.

    An Auckland-based couple has this morning made history celebrating the legalisation of same sex marriage in New Zealand by saying, ‘I do’ in the skies.

    Lynley Bendall and Ally Wanikau, who have been together almost 14 years, wed onboard a special Air New Zealand flight from Queenstown to Auckland.

    The leading ladies made their vows in front of friends and family, including their children Javarn (9), Maycee (7) and Mikaere (6), and Ally’s son Damon.

    The pair exchanged pounamu (New Zealand greenstone) in place of traditional wedding bands before being pronounced as officially wed in front of actor and marriage equality campaigner Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who recently married his long-term partner Justin Mikita.

    “It’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to celebrate this historic and joyous moment with Lynley and Ally. Marriage equality is something very dear to both Justin and me.”

    Following the in-flight ceremony a pop-up choir surprised the couple and their guests, performing the Maori love song Pokarekare Ana which was sung in the New Zealand Parliament following the legalisation of same sex marriage in April.

    Lynley says the couple has waited a long time to make their 13-year union official and she’s ecstatic to be able to call herself a newlywed.

    “To be married at 30,000 feet beneath strings of fairy lights with our children, friends and family as witnesses makes an already memorable day that much more special. It was surreal to have Jesse play a part in the ceremony too – we’re big fans of Modern Family!”

    Jesse and Justin gifted the couples’ children bow ties from their charity Tie The Knot which raises funds for the promotion of marriage equality.

    Air New Zealand Chief People Officer Lorraine Murphy says the onboard ceremony was an unforgettable way to mark the law change. “The atmosphere onboard was incredibly festive and the applause following the couple’s vows was heartfelt. It was a great celebration of New Zealand’s diversity.”

    The couple departs New Zealand tonight on an Air New Zealand service to Los Angeles for their honeymoon at a Palm Springs resort.

  • Air New Zealand To Play Host To 1st Same-Sex Marriage At 30,000 Ft

    Air New Zealand To Play Host To 1st Same-Sex Marriage At 30,000 Ft

    Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson will board an Air New Zealand domestic flight alongside a lucky Kiwi couple to celebrate the first ever same sex marriage at 30,000 feet next month.

    Same sex marriage becomes legal in New Zealand on Monday 19 August, and Air New Zealand is on the hunt for a special Kiwi couple to prove that love is truly in the air by tying the knot on a flight between Queenstown and Auckland.

    Air New Zealand’s Head of Global Brand Development, Jodi Williams, says the airline expects to be inundated with couples wanting to have a unique wedding experience so they can demonstrate their love to the world.

    “We expect this marriage at 30,000 feet to attract significant global media interest. Naturally, the couple’s family and friends will want to be on hand for the special occasion so we have plenty of seats set aside for them. Jesse Tyler Ferguson being present will make the day even more memorable,”

    Ms Williams says.

    “Jesse has been deeply committed to campaigning for marriage equality and the fact that he is prepared to travel from the United States to be here demonstrates the historic nature of this event.”

    Jesse Tyler Fergusson says,

    “Justin and I are thrilled to be taking part in witnessing this historic moment for New Zealand! After launching ‘Tie The Knot’, our bow tie campaign for marriage equality in the US, it is clear that the journey towards marriage, both in the US and beyond, means so much to us. We cannot wait to celebrate this joyous occasion with Air New Zealand!”

    Kiwi couples keen to walk down the aisle on board the Air New Zealand flight are invited to visit www.flyingsocialnetwork.com and share their love story. Entries close 26 July 2013.
    Ms Williams says the lucky winner will also get the honeymoon of a lifetime.

    “We’re shouting them a honeymoon to Palm Springs in the United States. It’ll be an amazing time there escaping the cold Kiwi winter.”

  • New Zealand MP Gives Powerful Speech On Gay Marriage

    New Zealand MP Maurice Williamson has delivered a powerful speech following the legalisation of gay marriage in the country.

    Watch the video here of MP Williamson attacking any far fetched ideas that gay marriage would doom New Zealand in an amusing yet powerful speech.

    ‘We are not declaring nuclear war on a foreign state, we are not bringing a virus in that could wipe out our agriculture sector forever, we are allowing two people who love each other to have that recognised and I can’t see what’s wrong with that.’

    ‘I also sir had a Catholic priest tell me that I was supporting an unnatural act. I found that quite interesting coming from someone who’s taken an oath of celibacy for his entire life.’

    Watch The Full Speech Here: Gay Marriage Speech By NZ MP

  • Gay Marriage Now Legal In New Zealand

    Early reports are coming through that Gay Marriage is now legal in New Zealand.

    Reports coming through from Twitter reveal that politicians voted 77 for marriage equality and 44 against.

    According to @MarriageEquality on Twitter, New Zealand is the 13th country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

    Gay marriage is legal the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay

    The bill introduces marriage equality for all regardless of sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.

    Meanwhile the hash tag #MarriageEquality overshadowed Margaret Thatcher’s hash tag #thatcherfuneral on Twitter. The former prime minister of the United Kingdom has her funeral today in London after dying a week ago from a stoke.

    Margaret Thatcher was known for her divisive leadership and in terms of gay rights was the country’s premier, when the first anti-gay law in 100 years was enacted in the form of Section 28, which forbade the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools in the UK.