LOVE WILL PREVAIL

New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett, in front of the Taranaki Cathedral. Bennett says he stands with the rainbow community because “being out and being authentic isn’t easy” in the provinces.

The rainbow community and the Taranaki Cathedral will keep putting out a positive message about love after a sign was defaced in central New Plymouth.

On Wednesday morning, a rainbow billboard in the front yard of the Anglican cathedral was being cleaned for the second time in less than four days.

Priest Dan Lander said no billboard put next to the church had previously been defaced during his time there.

However, he said: “Some of the rhetoric that has come from a number of our politicians has potentially emboldened people to act in these sorts of disruptive and horrific way.”

New Plymouth MP Glen Bennett​, who is running again as Labour’s candidate for the electorate, said it was sad to see some people still did not want to include members of the community like himself.

He said some of the hoardings with his picture on them had been graffitied with homophobic slurs during this year’s election campaign.

“There have been a few slurs from people who don't think I am fit to be an MP because of my sexuality and who I love.”

Bennett said he was concerned that certain politicians and leaders had been undermining the rainbow community during the election campaign.

“Being out and being authentic isn’t easy … It’s still really hard.”

He said prejudices about the rainbow community lingered in the provinces.

“Walking down on Devon St on a Friday night, having to make a conscious decision whether you hold your partner’s hand or not … For us in the rainbow community, you still have to think: ‘Is this a safe place to hold my partner’s hand? Is this a safe place to show people that I have a same-sex partner or transgender partner?’”

EJ Barrett, a member of the local rainbow community, said it was disappointing but not surprising that the sign was defaced twice in less than a week.

They said it would be better if the people who engaged in these acts read the whole Bible instead of cherry-picking verses from the outdated Old Testament.

Barrett, as a person who has been targeted by people who did not approve of their identity, said they hoped this would result in more support for the rainbow community.