Date: Tue, 07 Nov 1995 07:39:29 +1200 From: Mark Proffit Press Release from the Auckland Pride Centre 5th November 1995 Mugabe Liberation for Blacks Not Gays/Protest CHOGM "It is hard to believe that Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, who had the support of black Gays and Lesbians during his struggle for black majority rule can be a worse suppressor of human rights", said Ms Rosemary Segedin of the Auckland Pride Centre. Ms Segedin is responding to a call from GALZ (Gay and Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe) to protest Mugabe's attendance at the CHOGM Conference. Mugabe has stated that Gays and Lesbians were "worse than pigs and dogs"; and has been urging his countrymen to hand any parading gays over to the Police. "One would expect that Robert Mugabe, a proven freedom fighter for black majority rule, would have empathy with the Gay Liberationalist cause. Instead he has demonstrated a bigotry towards Gays that was reminisicent of Whites hatred of Blacks", said Ms Segedin. "It is an insult to the Gay Community of New Zealand that Mr Mugabe visits our country; especially since many of us supported black majority rule in Zimbabwe and we are going to let him know", she said. There will be two protests during the conference. The first on Friday 10th November at 12:30pm, outside the Central Library which will proceed towards Aotea Square. The second vigil is on Monday 13th November at 8.00am. The newly formed activist group the "Lesbian Avengers" will be participating in this protest. Further information can be obtained from the Pride Centre on phone 64-9-378-4987 and facsimile 64-9-378-9808. Mark Proffit Aotearoa NZ Queer Resources at http://nz.com/glb/ proffitt@iconz.co.nz http://www.iconz.co.nz/~proffitt/ http://nz.com/akiko/people/agents/mark.proffit.html Iconz's users questions faq at http://www.iconz.co.nz/faq/faq.html ****************************************************************************** To send a message to the entire list "queerplanet", email queerplanet@abacus.oxy.edu This list is run by the program MAJORDOMO@abacus.oxy.edu. *******************************************************************************