By Chris Daniels
Opponents and supporters of Auckland's homosexual Hero Parade have locked horns over what some describe as a "homophobic hate" advertisement.
Published in yesterday's New Zealand Herald, the ad featured photographs of Dame Whina Cooper, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King jun, saying it "takes more than a
parade to make a hero."
Readers who endorsed "traditional family values enough to oppose the promotion of destructive sexuality" were invited to post a coupon to a group called Stop Promoting Homosexuality International (NZ).
The Rev Bruce Patrick of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle Church said the group, which was newly established in New Zealand, was trying to raise money to help pay for the advertisement from a "silent majority." It was one way of getting a message across that was rarely heard.
"You get the feeling that it is very, very hard to present any view that isn't `politically correct' through the media, that the media has a party line, and views that don't fit with that are very difficult to present."
Complaints about the advertisement were lodged immediately with the Human Rights Commission and the Advertising Standards Complaints Board.
Kevin Hague, executive director of the Aids Foundation, said the advertisement was offensive.
"I wonder if it had been about Maori people or Jewish people, or one of the minority groups that those four people pictured had belonged to ...
"There's no mention of the churches they are involved with, which is very deliberate, and no mention of anyone who is actually involved with this organisation."
Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pamela Jefferies said the advertisement was unfortunate. The Human Rights Act protected a wide range of different groups from unlawful discrimination, including gay and lesbian people.
"Attempts to stir up ill feeling against any of those groups are destructive. Such behaviour is inconsistent with the spirit of a tolerant and inclusive society."
The Hero Parade reminded people of the diversity of New Zealand lifestyles while the advertisement promoted intolerance.
"I am sure that fair-minded New Zealanders would know which they prefer."
The Auckland University Students Association plans a protest outside the Baptist Tabernacle in Queen St today at noon.
"This kind of ignorance and homophobia should not have a place in a civilised society," said spokeswoman Julie Fairey.
