Jacinda Ardern the first Prime Minister to walk along the Parade
Eva Corlett
Radio New Zealand
Auckland, February 18, 2018
Jacinda Ardern has become the first Prime Minister to walk along the Auckland Pride Parade.
Over 70 floats, including ones made by the Rainbow Community, political parties, universities and businesses, supported the LGBTTQI community in Auckland last night (Saturday, February 17, 2018).
This year’s Parade was the largest with between 25,000 and 30,000 people turning out to watch the revelry.
Celebrating Diversity
Addressing the people, Ms Ardern, who has attended previous Parades, said that the Government ‘walks beside’ the Rainbow Community.
The event was a great opportunity to celebrate diversity and connect with young people.
Significant mental health issues still existed within the young rainbow community, she said.
“Bullying, a sense that you cannot be who you are in certain environments – we do still need to be worried about that. Those people are growing up all over New Zealand. They need to feel safe and supported,” Ms Ardern said.
She said the Parade sent a strong message to those groups.
Several previous Prime Ministers have attended the Parade but Parade organisers said it was the first time a Prime Minister had walked along the Parade.
Gender Identity unlawful
Organisers have urged Ms Ardern to include gender identity as an unlawful basis for discrimination in the Human Rights Act.
The Parade’s Producer Shaughan Woodcock said that Rainbow Rights had come a long way in the past few decades, but the Parade remained relevant.
Issues remained in New Zealand – especially for the trans-community’s access to gender-reassignment, Mr Woodcock said.
Mostly a Celebration
Chief executive of RainbowYOUTH, Frances Arns, said the Parade was mostly now a celebration, but had a ‘dual purpose’ of being a platform to spread important messages.
“There are still so many issues that exist on a daily basis for our community. Discrimination and lack of understanding continued to create barriers for the community,” she said.
The Pride Parade, now in its sixth year, marks the final celebration for the two-week long Auckland Pride Festival, which has showcased more than 85 musical, theatre and discussion events.
*
Indian Newslink has published the above Report and Pictures under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
Photo Caption:
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with Lexie Matheson, Co-Chair of the Auckland Parade Festival Board
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with (from left) Piper Shields, Phoebe Newcombe and Audrey Reid at the Pride Parade on February 17 (Photos by Claire Eastham-Farrelly for RNZ)
