Yesterday, One News reported:
John Key has hardly "led the charge" on the rights of homosexual people. The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill (PDF) to legalise same sex marriage was formulated by Louisa Wall, and last time I checked she's a Labour MP, and a good one at that. For Key to try to take credit for her efforts is a bit rich. In fact he's wrongfully appropriating her work in order to gain support for a party that's known for its bigotry.
The Bill passed its first reading in August this year btw, with 78 in favour and 40 against. Because of how the voting is conducted, we simply don't know for sure if Key is telling the truth when he says he voted for the Bill. Considering his recent lies (the MSM are calling it a brain fade) about how he voted on the Alcohol Feform Bill (PDF), it could be that he's again being untruthful and doesn't support the proposed amendments.
Either way, John Key certainly isn't leading the charge as he claims, saying in August; "I'm not looking at who's voting one way or another, I'm not judging them on it". Unfortunately for him, people are judging him on his recent outburst of blatant homophobia. In my opinion, using the word gay as a derogatory term can't be viewed any other way.
The ignorant PM dug himself even deeper into the batshit yesterday when he said; "gay just means weird". Well actually no John Key, as a matter of fact it doesn't.
There has been a huge response to Keys homophobic statements, with well respected Actor and gay rights activist Ian McKellen (better known as Gandalf in the Lord of the Ring's trilogy), slamming the Prime Minister's "gay red top" comment. The topic is even trending on twitter with the hashtag #GayRedTop.
Here's what Ian McKellen wrote:
Very well said. Thankfully many politicians in New Zealand don't share the same lack of respect for homosexual people as the Prime Minister, with the Greens today wearing red shirts to show their support.
Prime Minister John Key has been forced to defend his quip over a radio-host's "gay" red jumper this afternoon.
The Prime Minister appeared on RadioSport's Farming Show on Friday and teased host Jamie Mackay for wearing a red jumper instead of blue, the colour of the National Party.
Key joked: "You're going to be nervous when you're lining up on those par threes aren't you. You're munted mate, you're never gonna make it, you've got that gay red top on there."
He told press today "gay" was "just a slang term" used by young people and found in the Oxford dictionary.
"If someone was offended by it then I apologise but it's not exactly like a term you don't hear everywhere".
Key said he was simply giving Mackay a "hard time" because his jumper was red and "our colour is blue you know".
"I voted for gay marriage, I'm hardly homophobic. I led the charge on it."
John Key has hardly "led the charge" on the rights of homosexual people. The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill (PDF) to legalise same sex marriage was formulated by Louisa Wall, and last time I checked she's a Labour MP, and a good one at that. For Key to try to take credit for her efforts is a bit rich. In fact he's wrongfully appropriating her work in order to gain support for a party that's known for its bigotry.
The Bill passed its first reading in August this year btw, with 78 in favour and 40 against. Because of how the voting is conducted, we simply don't know for sure if Key is telling the truth when he says he voted for the Bill. Considering his recent lies (the MSM are calling it a brain fade) about how he voted on the Alcohol Feform Bill (PDF), it could be that he's again being untruthful and doesn't support the proposed amendments.
Either way, John Key certainly isn't leading the charge as he claims, saying in August; "I'm not looking at who's voting one way or another, I'm not judging them on it". Unfortunately for him, people are judging him on his recent outburst of blatant homophobia. In my opinion, using the word gay as a derogatory term can't be viewed any other way.
The ignorant PM dug himself even deeper into the batshit yesterday when he said; "gay just means weird". Well actually no John Key, as a matter of fact it doesn't.
There has been a huge response to Keys homophobic statements, with well respected Actor and gay rights activist Ian McKellen (better known as Gandalf in the Lord of the Ring's trilogy), slamming the Prime Minister's "gay red top" comment. The topic is even trending on twitter with the hashtag #GayRedTop.
Here's what Ian McKellen wrote:
New Zealand has an undeserved reputation (amongst those who have never visited) as living a little in the past, not quite up-to-date with the world elsewhere. As a regular visitor, I've often pointed out how, on social issues, the Kiwis have lead the world - first country to give women the vote, a nuclear-free stronghold and in the vanguard of civil rights for gay people.
Which brings me to John Key, the prime minister of New Zealand. Recently in a light-hearted radio interview (see below) he referred to his host wearing a "gay red top," by which he meant, apparently, "a weird red shirt." Defending himself later, he said he was using the word in the sense that his children used it and not in any way to disparage gay people. Anyway, he said, the word was in the dictionary. So of course are many other words that can give offence.
Nevertheless, Mr Key should watch his language. I'm currently touring secondary schools in UK, attacking homophobia in the playground and discouraging kids from the careless use of "gay" which might make their gay friends (and teachers) feel less about themselves. So even as he supports the proposal to introduce same-gender marriages in New Zealand, I do hope John Key listens to his critics and appreciates their concern. Careless talk damages lives.
~ Ian McKellen, 5 November 2012
Link to the New Zealand Herald story
Very well said. Thankfully many politicians in New Zealand don't share the same lack of respect for homosexual people as the Prime Minister, with the Greens today wearing red shirts to show their support.
