NZ's first openly lesbian mayor (Update 3; 10 years later)

New Zealand has elected its first openly lesbian mayor after Jenny Rowan won the race to head the Kapiti Coast District Council, north of Wellington.

A former commissioner in the Environment Court, Rowan was mayor of Inglewood from 1986 to 1989 and came out as a lesbian at that time.

"This is the second time I've been in public office," she said. "The difference is that this time I've been elected as an 'out' lesbian."

~ Sunday Star Times, front page

Well, as a voter in the Kapiti Coast District, I can say that I had absolutely no idea Jenny Rowan was an 'out' lesbian. Had I known she was a lesbian, I would not have put her down at number 2 on my voting form. As she never campaigned using "vote for me, I'm a lesbian", I wouldn't be surprised if many other Kapiti voters also had no idea. I also would not be surprised if she only lasts one term.

UPDATE: GayNZ has an article.

UPDATE 2: It seems a number of people are confused with my position here. There have been equivalences made with homosexuals and Jews, and homosexuals and "Negroes" on David Farrar's blog. This attempt at equivalence is ridiculous. A person cannot change their race, while as any person can live in celibacy. Having sex of any type therefore becomes a choice.

I recommend people coming here read two articles:

1) The politics of Porn - describes how pornography and the accompanying decline in sexual morality threatens both our freedom and our civilization,
2) Theology of the Body - Implications for understanding same-sex attraction and same-sex acts

From the second article:

Through the period of the Fathers and into the Middle Ages Catholic teaching consistently held that homosexual acts are immoral. In the teaching of St. Thomas we see an important development. In the Summa Theologiae, II, II, Q. 154, art. 18, Thomas takes up the question whether homosexual acts are the worst among the sins of lust. After raising the customary objections he comes to his conclusion. His teaching would be significant for the Catholic understanding of why homosexual acts are sinful and disordered:

Augustine says (De adult. conjug.) [14] that “of all these,” namely the sins belonging to lust, “that which is against nature is the worst.”

I answer that, In every genus, worst of all is the corruption of the principle on which the rest depend. Now the principles of reason are those things that are according to nature, because reason presupposes things as determined by nature, before disposing of other things according to what is fitting. This may be observed both in speculative and in practical matters. Wherefore just as in speculative matters the most grievous and shameful error is that which is about things the knowledge of which is naturally bestowed on man, so in matters of action it is most grave and shameful to act against things as determined by nature. Therefore, since by the unnatural vices man transgresses that which has been determined by nature with regard to the use of venereal actions, it follows that in this matter this sin is gravest of all. After it comes incest, which. . . is contrary to the natural respect which we owe person related to us.

With regard to the other species of lust they imply a transgression merely of that which is determined by right reason, on the presupposition, however, of natural principles. Now it is more against reason to make use of the venereal act not only with prejudice to the future offspring, but also so as to injure another person besides. Wherefore simple fornication, which is committed without injustice to another person, is the least grave among the species of lust. Then, it is a greater injustice to have intercourse with a woman who is subject to another’s authority as regards the act of generation, than as regards merely her guardianship. Wherefore adultery is more grievous than seduction. And both of these are aggravated by the use of violence. Hence, rape of a virgin is graver than seduction and rape of a wife than adultery. And all these are aggravated by coming under the head of sacrilege, as stated above (10, ad 2). [15]

UPDATE 3 November 2017

Ten years ago when I wrote this blog post, David Farrar wrote a blog post on his puzzlement over my position. I responded in the comments. However, in all this time I never realised my comment has not been published. I came accross it today to find that it is still in moderation! That means it has never been visible to anyone except me if I log on using my old account. Wow!

Anyway, for the purposes of making sure my side of the story is out there, if it even matters anymore, here is my still in moderation comment in Kiwiblog responding to David's blog post.

Your comment is awaiting moderation.

Hi David,

I’ll answer the two questions you’ve put forward that have not yet been answered by me anywhere else.
Not that it would have been hard for Lucyna to find out Jenny was a lesbian. A quick Google search on her name has a reference in the top five hits. Also on Jenny’s website she mentions her partner is Jools.

Why didn’t I check she was a lesbian? It never occurred to me that she was one. The name “Jools” likewise would not have rung any alarm bells, as it is not a name I am familiar with.

So while she did not campaign on it, she certainly didn’t hide it. What more does Lucyna want? For her to warn people with a flashing homo alert badge at public meetings?

What I would have liked is for this “out” lesbian to at least state that she was a lesbian on her bio in the little booklet that came out with blurbs on each of the candidates. I’ve thrown it out, so I can’t go back to check exactly what each candidate said about themselves, but I do remember mention on several of them of the person being retired, or being married, or having a family. One could even have been a single mother.

But this woman talks about how Kapiti elected an “out” lesbian like it was obvious she was one. That she was elected despite her being a lesbian. However, it was not obvious. I can say that with certainty. And that is why I wrote my post.