In a troubling incident that highlights the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities worldwide, a town in New Zealand recently witnessed a disturbing act of vandalism targeting a Pride event. The Queenstown Lakes District Library, which was hosting a reading session as part of the town’s Winter Pride celebrations, was defaced with spray-painted graffiti reading “child grooming.”
This incident is reminiscent of several right-wing attacks on Drag Queen Story Hour events in the United States and the UK, underscoring the persistent discrimination and prejudice faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and events.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Glyn Lewers swiftly condemned the graffiti, characterizing the use of “groomer” rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community as nothing more than “bigotry masquerading as concern” for children. In a statement, Mayor Lewers emphasized the town’s commitment to rejecting organized, premeditated acts of vandalism that promote divisiveness. He also decried direct threats made to staff and volunteers who generously dedicate their time to organize such events.
Lewers addressed the specific wording of the graffiti, which accused the Rainbow Reading session of “child grooming,” as an example of bullying and bigotry. He stressed the importance of maintaining libraries as safe spaces for all residents of New Zealand.
While Pride Week has evolved into a celebration in recent years, Mayor Lewers reminded everyone that it originated as a means for members of the Rainbow community to advocate for equal rights and recognition. He emphasized the continued importance of upholding these principles in the face of bigotry.
Martin King, the Winter Pride organizer, expressed disappointment at the incident, marking the first anti-LGBTQ+ incident in the event’s 20-year history. King refused to give more attention to those responsible for the graffiti, emphasizing that the community overwhelmingly supports and embraces Pride.
Local police were alerted to the graffiti outside the Queenstown Library and have initiated inquiries into the matter.
New Zealand has made significant strides in LGBTQ+ rights in recent years. Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was recognized for her trailblazing legacy, including being the first New Zealand Prime Minister to participate in Pride events and passing crucial reforms to gender recognition laws. Her leadership also saw the ban on conversion therapy and provisions for survivors to seek apologies and compensation for the harmful practice.
New Zealand is recognized as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly countries globally, ranking 19th according to Equaldex, just below Finland and Sweden. Despite this progress, incidents like the recent vandalism serve as stark reminders that prejudice and discrimination still persist and that there is work to be done to ensure equality and acceptance for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
