List of LGBT holders of political offices in New Zealand

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Georgina Beyer was the first openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament in the world Georgina Beyer at International Conference.jpg
Georgina Beyer was the first openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament in the world

This is a list of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) holders of political offices in New Zealand.

Contents

Charles Mackay, who served as Mayor of Whanganui for a non-consecutive period from 1906 to 1920, is the first known gay mayor. Mackay resigned from his position in 1920 after the attempted murder of poet D'Arcy Cresswell, who allegedly blackmailed him and threatened to publicly expose his homosexuality. [1] [2] Most mentions of Mackay were removed from Whanganui due to the controversy, including having streets renamed, his official portrait removed, and his name sanded off the foundation stone of the Sarjeant Gallery. [1] The first openly lesbian councillor in New Zealand was Margaret Magill, who served on the Eastbourne Borough Council from 1931 for around 30 years, including as deputy mayor of Eastbourne. [3]

The first known LGBTQIA+ member of the New Zealand Parliament was Marilyn Waring, who served in parliament from 1975 to 1984. Waring was outed by the press in 1975, but openly acknowledged her sexual orientation only after leaving parliament. [4] The first openly LGBTQIA+ politician was Chris Carter, who was elected to the Te Atatū electorate in 1993, serving until 2010. [5] Carter and Tim Barnett established Rainbow Labour, the LGBT branch within the New Zealand Labour Party, in 1997. [6]

Georgina Beyer became the world's first openly transgender mayor in 1995, when she became the Mayor of Carterton. Beyer later represented Wairarapa in the New Zealand Parliament from 1999 to 2005, becoming the world's first openly transgender Member of Parliament. [7]

After the 2020 New Zealand general election, the New Zealand parliament had thirteen openly LGBTQIA+ MPs, making it the country with the highest proportion of LGBTQIA+ politicians serving in government in the world. [8] Currently, there are six LGBTQIA+ MPs in the New Zealand parliament.

Grant Robertson is the longest serving LGBTQIA+ member of parliament, having been elected in 2008. Robertson served as the first LGBTQIA+ Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2020 to 2023, and was the first openly gay deputy prime minister in New Zealand. [9]

Members of Parliament

NameImagePartySeatTerm in OfficeNotes
Marilyn Waring [4] Marilyn Waring CNZM (cropped).jpg National Party Raglan 19751978 Outed by a tabloid newspaper in 1976, [10] Waring openly acknowledged her sexual orientation after leaving parliament. [4]
Waipa 19781984
Chris Carter [5] Chris Carter, 2008.jpg Labour Party Te Atatū 19932010First openly gay member of Parliament, [5] and cofounder of Rainbow Labour. [6]
Independent20102011
Tim Barnett [11] Tim Barnett.jpg Labour Party Christchurch Central 19962008Cofounder of Rainbow Labour. [6]
Georgina Beyer [7] Georgina Beyer MNZM (cropped).jpg Labour Party Wairarapa 19992005First openly transgender Member of Parliament in the world, [7] and first takatāpui Member of Parliament. [12]
Chris Finlayson [13] Chris Finlayson-Net Hui 2011.jpg National Party List20052019First openly gay member of a right-wing party. [13]
Maryan Street [14] Maryan Street, 2012.jpg Labour Party List20052014First openly lesbian Member of Parliament. [14]
Charles Chauvel [15] Charles Chauvel.jpg Labour Party List20062013
Grant Robertson [16] Profile--grantrobertson-390x2-UNC.jpg Labour Party Wellington Central 20082023First openly gay deputy prime minister in New Zealand. [9]
List2023Present
Louisa Wall [17] Louisa Wall (New Zealand Politician).jpg Labour Party List20082008Wall introduced the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013, [18] which made same-sex marriage legal in New Zealand. [19]
List20112011
Manurewa 20112020
List20202022
Kevin Hague [20] Kevin Hague.jpg Green Party List20112016
Jan Logie [21] Jan Logie in 2019.jpg Green Party List20112023
Paul Foster-Bell [22] Paul Foster-Bell profile.jpg National Party List20132017
Claudette Hauiti [23] National Party List20132014
Meka Whaitiri [24] Hon Meka Whaitiri.jpg Labour Party Ikaroa-Rāwhiti 20132023First LGBT Māori electorate MP
Independent20232023
Tāmati Coffey [25] Tamati Coffey.jpg Labour Party Waiariki 20172020
List20202023
Kiri Allan [26] Kiri Allan.jpg Labour Party List20172020
East Coast 20202023
Chlöe Swarbrick [27] Chloe Swarbrick headshot.jpg Green Party List20172020
Auckland Central 2029Present
Glen Bennett [28] Glen Bennett.jpg Labour Party New Plymouth 20202023
Shanan Halbert [29] Profile--shananhalbert-390x2-UNC.jpg Labour Party Northcote 20202023
List2024Present
Tangi Utikere [8] Tangi Utikere.jpg Labour Party Palmerston North 2020Present
Ayesha Verrall [8] Profile--ayeshaverrall-390x2-UNC.jpg Labour Party List2020Present
Elizabeth Kerekere [30] Elizabeth Kerekere.jpg Green Party List20202023
Independent20232023
Ricardo Menéndez March [31] Ricardo Menendez March (cropped).jpg Green Party List2020Present
Todd Stephenson [32] ACT List2023Present

Mayors

Councillors

See also

Related Research Articles

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Georgina Beyer was a New Zealand Labour Party politician who represented Wairarapa in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1999 to 2005, after serving as mayor of Carterton from 1995 to 1999. Beyer was the world's first openly transgender mayor, and the world's first openly transgender member of parliament. As a member of the Labour Party Beyer supported progressive policies including prostitution law reform, civil unions, anti-discrimination laws, and the promotion of Māori rights. She resigned in 2007, and, in 2014, unsuccessfully stood for election on behalf of the Mana Party.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayor of Carterton</span>

The Mayor of Carterton is the mayor of the Carterton District, which is administered by Carterton District Council, and earlier the office oversaw the Carterton Borough from 1887 until 1989, when Carterton Borough and Wairarapa South County were amalgamated to form Carterton District.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Broughton, W.S. (1996). "Mackay, Charles Ewing". Te Ara. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Controversial ex-mayor killed in Berlin riots | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". Nzhistory.net.nz. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Laurie, Alison J. (2003). Lady-Husbands and Kamp Ladies: Pre-1970 Lesbian Life in Aotearoa/New Zealand (PDF) (PhD). Wellington, New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Young, Hugh (2002). "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender New Zealand History. Part 4". Queer History New Zealand. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 "Hon Chris Carter". New Zealand Parliament . 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Red roses bloom early in the Garden". Up. December 2003. p. 9 – via National Library.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Trafford, Will (6 March 2023). "World's first transgender MP and mayor Georgina Beyer dies aged 65". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Thomas, Shibu (18 October 2020). "New Zealand Beats UK, Elects 'Gayest' Parliament". Star Observer. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  9. 1 2 Mishra, Stuti (2 November 2020). "Jacinda Ardern appoints first openly gay deputy PM and foreign minister with Maori face tattoo". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Gianoulis, Tina (2006). "Waring, Marilyn". In Claude J. Summers (ed.). glbtq: An Encyclopedia of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Culture . Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2007.
  11. ↑ "Ex-St Paul's dean quits AUT job over missing cash". Otago Daily Times . 30 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  12. ↑ Wall, Louisa (7 March 2023). "Georgina Beyer 'an outstanding example of the potential of humanity'". Stuff . Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  13. 1 2 Hubbard, Anthony (30 May 2010). "The man in the middle". Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  14. 1 2 "20 Years On – Homosexual Law Reform Conference" (PDF). Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand. p. 7.
  15. ↑ Parrish, David (11 July 2006). "Lawyer, company director and now... NZ's newest gay MP". PrideNZ. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "No 8 and halfback tie the knot". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "Louisa Wall". Sunday Star Times . Stuff. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Hartevelt, John; Levy, Dayna (14 May 2012). "MP drafting gay marriage bill". Stuff.co.nz . Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  19. ↑ DeHart, Jonathan (19 August 2013). "New Zealand Holds First Gay Weddings". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  20. ↑ "GayNZ.com Green Party candidate Kevin Hague". www.gaynz.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Newshub Nation Backstory: Jan Logie". Newshub. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  22. ↑ "National MP Paul Foster-Bell says Brian Tamaki earthquake 'outburst' inspired him to speak about being gay". Stuff. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  23. ↑ "Twelve Questions: Claudette Hauiti". The New Zealand Herald . 5 June 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  24. ↑ Sheppard, Nicholas (8 October 2014). "Labour's gay conundrum". Stuff . Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  25. ↑ "TVNZ's Tamati Coffey to wed – reports". Stuff.co.nz . 29 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  26. ↑ Allan, Kiri (16 November 2017). "'Nana, I stand here to honour your name': Kiri Allan's maiden speech". The Spinoff . Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  27. ↑ Coughlan, Thomas (16 January 2020). "Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick engaged to partner". Stuff . Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  28. ↑ "Labour Party announces new candidate for New Plymouth electorate". Stuff. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  29. ↑ "New Zealand's rainbow Parliament still has 'a long way' to go in terms of full representation". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  30. ↑ Harris, Sarah (3 October 2017). "Elizabeth Kerekere speaks on Maori LGBTQ term takatāpui". New Zealand Herald.
  31. ↑ Thomas, Anna (20 October 2018). "Ricardo Menéndez March – first gay Mexican Green MP". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  32. ↑ Brodie, Megan (13 December 2022). "Todd Stephenson, the great connector". MedNews. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  33. ↑ Jacobson, Julie (14 October 2007). "Same-sex marriage pioneer gets thumbs up in Kapiti". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  34. ↑ Quill, Annemarie (19 January 2022). "Radio star Steve Broad reveals the tragedy that motivates him". Woman's Day. nowtolove.co.nz.
  35. ↑ Bartlett, Hannah (14 October 2016). "Richard Hills confirmed as first openly gay Auckland Councillor". Newstalk ZB . Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  36. ↑ "The BFD | Manurewa-Papakura Ward: An Absolutely Biased Guide to Auckland Local Elections". 20 September 2019.
  37. ↑ "NZ's 'Ryan Gosling' Damian Light proud to be first gay leader of political party in New Zealand". The New Zealand Herald. 10 September 2017.
  38. ↑ Young, Audrey (28 January 2017). "Helen and Heather's great political partnership could be entering the twilight zone". The New Zealand Herald . ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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