The scholarly Don of  Dallas has lately posted on John Kilpatrick's Silver Fox Mailing List several newspaper articles relating Christian persecution of the American homosexual. Peter, a young businessman in New Zealand who is also a subscriber to the List, felt inspired by these disturbing articles to contribute happier news from his own country where prevailing attitudes toward the gay community seem to be more in harmony with democratic ideals than the garbled and distinctly fascist ones loudly voiced in self-righteous wrath by America's intolerant Christian Right. He has given me permission to quote his letter below. 
  
Hero Parade 

Hi Guys, 

I'm inspired to write following a number of posts by Don of Dallas relating to religious bigotry in the USA. 

Tomorrow - Saturday night here in Auckland, New Zealand - is our annual HERO Parade - a celebration of the Gay lifestyle and our contributions to society as a whole. Furthermore,  it is primarily a vehicle for fundraising for the AIDS Foundation of N.Z. which assists those with AIDS to retain their financial and emotional dignity as they struggle with their problems. 

Last year,  there were 50 "floats" depicting all facets of Gay life, as well as the compulsory Marching Boys and their Pom Poms, etc. Like most Gay parades it is a "little" outrageous to say the least but drew a crowd of more than 200,000. (Auckland's population is 1.2 Million.) 

This year, the organisers approached the Auckland City Council or $15,000 to assist with crowd control measures and cleaning of the streets,  post parade. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and a majority of the Council are of such religious persuasion that in their opinion, "our fine city does not need this revolting and disgusting event displaying public nudity and S&M, It is a threat to traditional family values and it is simply a recruiting occasion to induce innocent young men into this depraved lifestyle." Funding was not granted! 

The resultant furor has produced a vehement backlash against the Council. Private corporations have virtually queued up to provide funding, to an amount now exceeding $150,000. The publicity derived from the Council's action has provided publicity that the organisers could have only dreamed of. The Mayor and his "mob" have been dragged before the Human Rights Commission to explain and face severe public and financial penalties for "discriminating against Homosexuals" (illegal in New Zealand),  

Various TV programs / News items have debated the pros and cons of the parade and all have come out in favour and, best of all, New Zealand's new lady Prime Minister has just announced she will not only attend the parade, but will cut the opening ribbon setting off the floats and will ride on the leading float herself! How's that for sticking up the Mayor!!! 

So while I read with great sadness of how the religious right are mounting ever more vicious attacks on the Gay community in America, I thought a little bit of good news for you all that there are plenty of thinking and understanding people out there as well.  Saturday night is now expected to draw a crowd of 400,000+ people, there are special trains being put on to bring people from cities south - some more than 300 miles, the expected revenue projections for the AIDS foundation have jumped from about $100,000 to close to $600,000 and best of all we are in for a wonderful night on Saturday!!! 

Yet yes we still are this funny little country way down here near Australia! 

Best Wishes to you all, 

Peter 
            
P.S. For those who know of Julian Clary, a famous English homosexual and camp TV comedian debating last night with our equivalent of Jesse Helms, in answer to the charge that the parade was a recruiting ground for innocent young men, he replied, " I was made to play Rugby at school, but that didn't make me a Rugby player."