Glider tragedy
undergoing the Rainbow Tick process) can walk with their heads held high. Others might get the side-eye from some; New Zealand Rugby debuted a float this year, despite the fact that there has never been an openly gay player in the team recognised as the standard-bearer for the sport in this country. So, presumably, there were no gay or making to ensure that LGBTQIA actually feel welcome.
Another feature of last night’s parade raised tensions ahead of the event too; a one-off rainbowcoloured police car. The Trans community were sceptical of the gesture thanks to the treatment given a trans man at a protest in Wellington last October. This man says he was mocked and repeatedly referred to by his ‘‘dead’’ name (the name he was born with and which he gave up when he transitioned) by police trying to break up the protest. If true, that’s not respectful, or inclusive. It sits awkwardly with Rainbow Youth’s important new ‘‘Language Matters’’ campaign, launched at last night’s parade. And once again it shows that although marching in a parade can bring warm fuzzies once a year, it’s in the every day work, no matter how difficult, that the good intentions must be transformed into good practice. A man has died, crashing while paragliding at Mount Maunganui. Emergency services were sent to the scene after reports he was found having crashed into a rock on the side of the mountain. He was flying with the Bay of Plenty Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club dress up and spot landing day. Several members of the club who attended the event would not comment on the incident, as the man’s family was overseas and they wanted to wait for family to find out first. Police confirmed the paraglider had been found at 5pm yesterday afternoon, but would not say what state the glider was in. At 7.30pm the police confirmed the death.