Rainbow labour
Encyclopedia
Rainbow Labour is part of the New Zealand Labour Party
. It started as a branch in Chris Carter
's Auckland Waipareira electorate in 1997, just after Chris Carter
had been narrowly defeated in the election the previous year. At about the same time, Tim Barnett, newly elected to Parliament as an openly gay man, started a Rainbow branch in Christchurch. During the next few years the branches expanded in size, with the Auckland branch becoming one of the largest in the Labour Party. This led to the formation of a Rainbow Sector Council within the Labour Party, which gave the branches a nationwide focus and co-ordinating body. In 2004, at a vote at the Party's Annual Conference, Rainbow Labour was invited to nominate candidates for a permanent representative position elected from the floor of Conference, on the Party's controlling body, the New Zealand Council.
Rainbow Members of Parliament (MPs) work closely with the Rainbow Labour Sector Council, and has included gay men Chris Carter
, Tim Barnett, and lesbian MP Maryan Street
, and until she resigned in 2007, transsexual MP Georgina Beyer
. During 2006 Charles Chauvel
became an MP when a vacancy arose; similarly Louisa Wall
entered Parliament in 2008 following a resignation (although she was not re-elected at the general election later that year), and Grant Robertson
was elected as the MP for Wellington Central in 2008. Louisa Wall re-entered Parliament on the resignation of Darren Hughes in 2011.
Issues Rainbow Labour has advanced within the Labour Party have included relationship property reform, human rights reforms, and the Civil Union Act
, which was passed in 2004. In elections since 1999, the Labour Party has published pamphlets advertising "Labour's Gay Lesbian and Transgender candidates". This is thought to be a world first by a mainstream national political party.
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. It started as a branch in Chris Carter
Chris Carter (politician)
Christopher Joseph Carter was an independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and a former member of the New Zealand Labour Party until his expulsion. Carter was a senior Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, serving lastly as Minister of Education, Minister...
's Auckland Waipareira electorate in 1997, just after Chris Carter
Chris Carter (politician)
Christopher Joseph Carter was an independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and a former member of the New Zealand Labour Party until his expulsion. Carter was a senior Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, serving lastly as Minister of Education, Minister...
had been narrowly defeated in the election the previous year. At about the same time, Tim Barnett, newly elected to Parliament as an openly gay man, started a Rainbow branch in Christchurch. During the next few years the branches expanded in size, with the Auckland branch becoming one of the largest in the Labour Party. This led to the formation of a Rainbow Sector Council within the Labour Party, which gave the branches a nationwide focus and co-ordinating body. In 2004, at a vote at the Party's Annual Conference, Rainbow Labour was invited to nominate candidates for a permanent representative position elected from the floor of Conference, on the Party's controlling body, the New Zealand Council.
Rainbow Members of Parliament (MPs) work closely with the Rainbow Labour Sector Council, and has included gay men Chris Carter
Chris Carter (politician)
Christopher Joseph Carter was an independent Member of Parliament in New Zealand, and a former member of the New Zealand Labour Party until his expulsion. Carter was a senior Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand, serving lastly as Minister of Education, Minister...
, Tim Barnett, and lesbian MP Maryan Street
Maryan Street
Maryan Street is a Member of the New Zealand Parliament for the New Zealand Labour Party. In the 2005 elections, she became the first openly lesbian woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament.-Early years:...
, and until she resigned in 2007, transsexual MP Georgina Beyer
Georgina Beyer
Georgina Beyer was the world's first openly transsexual mayor, as well as the world's first openly transsexual Member of Parliament, and from 27 November 1999 until 14 February 2007 was an MP for the Labour Party in New Zealand.-Early life:Georgina Bertrand was born and assigned male at birth, and...
. During 2006 Charles Chauvel
Charles Chauvel (politician)
Charles Pierre Chauvel is a New Zealand lawyer and politician. Since 2006 he has been a Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives. He is the first New Zealand MP of Tahitian ancestry...
became an MP when a vacancy arose; similarly Louisa Wall
Louisa Wall
Louisa Hareruia Wall is a New Zealand MP and national representative netball and rugby union player.-Early and personal life :...
entered Parliament in 2008 following a resignation (although she was not re-elected at the general election later that year), and Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament. He was elected to represent the Labour Party in the seat of Wellington Central at the 2008 general election. Robertson replaced Marian Hobbs, who had retired....
was elected as the MP for Wellington Central in 2008. Louisa Wall re-entered Parliament on the resignation of Darren Hughes in 2011.
Issues Rainbow Labour has advanced within the Labour Party have included relationship property reform, human rights reforms, and the Civil Union Act
Civil Union Act 2004
The Civil Union Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand. It was passed into law on Thursday 9 December 2004 by a final vote of 65-55 in the New Zealand Parliament....
, which was passed in 2004. In elections since 1999, the Labour Party has published pamphlets advertising "Labour's Gay Lesbian and Transgender candidates". This is thought to be a world first by a mainstream national political party.