Labour, Greens release LGBT policies ahead of election.

With the election just over six weeks away, both leading centre left parties, Labour and the Greens have now released their LBGT policies.  Both parties have pledged to allow for full marriage equality, give same sex couples the rights to adoption and have made commitments to ensure safer schools and tertiary institutions for LGBT youth.

 

Charles Chauvel and Jacinda Ardern recently both sat down with the Express magazine and outlined Labour’s commitments to LBGT rights.

Kevin Hague, the Green party’s sole LBGT MP, has also unveiled the Green party’s policy on LGBT issues. Titled. ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender/Sex Identity Policy - Celebrating a Rainbow Nation’ In their policy document, the Greens outline 9 key policies related to LGBT or what they label ‘Rainbow’ issues.

Perhaps the biggest surprise with both parties’ policies is that both have made a commitment to granting full marriage equality, to same sex couples, currently not seen as a big issue in New Zealand. Point 2 of the Green party’s specific goals states that:   "Rainbow" and heterosexual partnerships are equally entitled to respect and support. We support the extension of all legal partnership arrangements and rights to same-sex couples.

 

Similarly, Labour has also pledged to allow for full marriage equality also. According to Chauvel “It’s our policy to open up the right to marriage so that people can make the choice…I imagine there will be some who have some difficulty with that, but it’s consistent with our commitment to equality.” This would have to be the biggest surprise, of Labour’s announcements, given recent hesitation by some Labour MP’s on the issue, and resistance from within some sector groups of the party.

 

Both parties have also made a commitment to allowing gay couples the right to adoption, something not permitted under current law. Labour has promised to ‘Modernise the law relating to the care of children, to ensure that the widest pool of suitable adults is lawfully available to provide care to children in need’ while the Greens similarly ‘support equal criteria for both "rainbow" and heterosexual couples in their assessment for suitability and eligibility for parenting.’

Perhaps the most impressive policies from both the Greens and Labour is the bold commitments to combating bullying against LBGT youth in schools. This issue is very topical currently, and recently, there have been calls by Lady Gaga in the US to enforce stricter measures to combat LBGT bullying following the suicide of gay 14 year old Jamey Rodemeyer after suffering prolonged bullying because of his sexual orientation.

Charles Chauvel states that “All our young people have to pass through schools and we all know how unsafe we can feel through bullying, negative comments or not being made to feel the same as your straight friends. It’s going to be a requirement of every school to have an anti-bullying policy that specifically mentions GLBT youth and is reported on regularly through the ERO mechanism. Parents will be able to know if their kids are going to a safe school.”

Having Charles Chauvel and Jacinda Ardern release the Labour party policy on LGBT issues is interesting politically. It has been noted by many political commentators, that Charles Chauvel and Jacinda Ardern are both rising stars within the Labour party, and having Ardern front the policy will do her no harm in her battle with Nikki Kaye in the marginal seat of Auckland central, which has one of the biggest LBGT populations in the country.

 

What will be interesting to see is the release of any possible National party LGBT policies. Expect that to be fronted by Ardern’s opponent, and current Auckland central MP, Nikki Kaye, possibly the queerest friendly National party member of parliament.

 

Ultimately it would have to be concluded that there is very little difference between Labour and the Greens on LBGT issues. Both have presented bold and very favourable LGBT policies. That is very much worth congratulating and keeping in mind ahead of the November 26^th election.

 

 Check out the Greens' Sexual Orientation and Gender/Sex Identity Policy Here.

Check out Labour's Rainbow Policy Here.

 

Posted by Editor on 10/13 at 05:17pm
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