GayNZ.com

Infobox Website
name = GayNZ.com



caption = Screenshot of GayNZ.com as of 2008
url = http://www.gaynz.com
commercial = No
type = Online LGBT community news website
language = English
registration = Not required
owner = GayNZ.com
author =
launch date = 1997
current status = Online
revenue =
slogan = "In touch 24/7"

GayNZ.com is the leading Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community news website for New Zealand. [ [http://www.hitwise.co.nz/awards/popup.html?sDomain=www.gaynz.com&iDate=200801&iCatnum=275 Hitwise Top 10 Online Performance Award 2008] ] [ [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:5dR_koCxmwgJ:www.hitwise.co.nz/awards/popup.html%3FsDomain%3Dwww.gaynz.com%26iDate%3D2007%26iCatnum%3D275%26Cal%3D1+GayNZ.com+site:hitwise.co.nz&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us Hitwise Top 10 Online Performance Award 2007] ] [http://www.stonewall.org.uk/beyond_barriers/information/lgbt_issues/international/822.asp LGBT Issues International Organisations] from stonewall.org.uk_ official website of Stonewall (UK).]

It posts daily local and international news stories, monitors fundamentalist Christian politics in New Zealand and associated anti-gay pressure groups, reports on political developments related to LGBT New Zealanders, discusses current issues related to HIV/AIDS, [ [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=283&objectid=10126709 Christian porn filter seen as censorship] nzherald.co.nz.] holds regular polls on topical LGBT issues, and has previews and reviews of theatre, film, television and literature.

The website also features a selection of blogs [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/44/index.php] , a forum [http://www.gaynz.com/forum] , a national LGBT event guide [http://www.gaynz.com/events/week.php] and a personals section [http://www.gaynz.com/personals] .

Background of LGBT life in New Zealand

New Zealanders are generally accepting of gays and lesbians [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_6396.php] , although low level homophobia (such as the use of the word 'gay' as an insult) is still common. [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/35/article_6262.php]

The gay social scene in New Zealand is small by international standards, especially outside Auckland. However, many smaller centres have LGBT organisations and social networks that cater to their community. [http://www.gaynz.com/community/index.php]

The internet is heavily used by gay men in New Zealand to meet others, especially in areas which lack specifically gay venues. GayNZ.com is the most popular website [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_6307.php] and is used as a source of information and current affairs for New Zealand's LGBT population to connect with each other and learn about community issues.

Journalism

Between 2003 and 2006, the senior writer at GayNZ.com was Christopher Banks. [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_3506.php] His feature articles focused mainly on social and political issues relevant to the gay community, or debunking religious arguments against homosexuality. Some articles were based around in-depth interviews with political or religious leaders. [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/32/index.php]

Banks' writings for GayNZ.com also included a number of film reviews, two of which caused some upset in the conservative Christian community. His review of the controversial 2002 French film "Irréversible" was cited by the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards in their attempts to have the film banned by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (New Zealand). [http://spcs.org.nz/content/view/19/] His positive review of "Kinsey", the 2004 biopic of the American sex researcher, drew the ire of "Investigate" magazine editor Ian Wishart, prompting a further series of articles by Banks on Alfred Kinsey. [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/32/article_955.php]

Controversy

Son of MP's homophobic internet page

In September 2007, GayNZ.com published an article accusing the teenage son of New Zealand National Party deputy leader Bill English of posting homophobic abuse on social networking site Bebo. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Anti-gay webpage linked to Nat MP's son
work = GayNZ.com
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = 2007-09-24
url = http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_4991.php
accessdate = 2008-07-11] GayNZ.com had unsuccessfully sought comment from English before publishing the story. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = English calls lawyers over GayNZ story
work = GayNZ.com
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = 2007-09-26
url = http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_4998.php
accessdate = 2008-07-11 ] After the story's publication, National leader John Key criticised the website for dragging a politician's son into public debate, and English sought legal advice about the article. [cite news
last = Espiner
first = Colin
coauthors =
title = English to see lawyers over gay website's attack on son
work = The Press
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = 2007-09-26
url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/4214799a19715.html
accessdate = 2008-07-11 ] A later complaint by English that "The Southland Times" had named his son was upheld in 2008, whereas GayNZ.com had not directly identified him. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Press Council upholds MP's complaint against Times
work = The Southland Times
pages =
language = English
publisher =
date = 2008-03-06
url =
accessdate = 2008-07-11 ]

Brian McFadden's homophobic radio comments

In August 2008, GayNZ.com drew attention to a number of disparaging remarks about homosexuals made by ex-boyband singer Brian McFadden while he co-hosted the morning breakfast show on More FM in Auckland, New Zealand.

"Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male... In the old days there was no such thing as gay. It was frowned upon. The church would burn you at the stake. Modern day, if you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink. Unless of course you're in the Americas Cup and you're one of these pansies who walk around with Gant t-shirts with your collars up, and you wear pink and you wear white trousers with those dirty brown slip-on shoes. Then you're just an idiot." [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_6360.php]

McFadden's comments were reported in news reports, gossip websites and weblogs worldwide, provoking considerable condemnation from the gay community. [http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/irish-singer-br.html?cid=127064458#comment-127064458] The singer later denied he was homophobic, saying through his publicist that his comments had been "taken out of context". [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_6374.php]

ee also

* Civil unions in New Zealand
* Hero Parade
* Homosexual Law Reform Act
* LGBT New Zealand
* LGBT rights in New Zealand
* List of lesbian periodicals
*
* Same-sex marriage in New Zealand

References

External links

*GayNZ.com: http://www.gaynz.com