Tuesday, 24 August 2004

times-age.

Beyer stands by comment

By Alastair Campbell

Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer is standing by her comments that yesterday¹s
Destiny Church protest at Parliament was like a Nazi rally.

The transgender MP had an ³eyeball to eyeball² confrontation with some of
the 6000 to 7000 ³Enough is enough² protesters during which she asked the
marchers ³why do you hate people like us so much².

Ms Beyer who had earlier stood on parliament steps with a rainbow flag said
she had been provoked into challenging the Destiny Church protesters as she
attempted to make her way to the around 1000 counter-protesters supporting
legislation giving gay relationships legal recognition. ³They were taunting
me and calling me OGeorge, George, George¹ and saying I was abnormal.²

Besides the Nazi-style regalia and salutes another aspect of the march that
alarmed Ms Beyer was the number of children and physically and
intellectually handicapped people on the march. They are prepared to use
these people for political ends, Ms Beyer said. She doubts the church¹s
messages of hate will have made much impact on New Zealanders.