Members of the rainbow community of Tairāwhiti feel unsafe after the city centre rainbow crossing was painted white in a targeted attack by local Destiny Church members — actions Gisborne’s Mayor has condemed and Tairawhiti Rainbow Collective group has described as “outright hate”.
The paint-over was in response to a drag queen storytelling and musical event yesterday at the HB Williams Memorial Library.
At around 7pm on Monday night, members of the public reported seeing a group of people carrying placards at the rainbow crossing on Gladstone Road and setting up cones at the intersections of Peel Street and Bright Street.
The group then painted the crossing white.
A video was shared on Facebook showing Gisborne’s Destiny Church leaders Leighton Packer, husband Ernest Packer and others painting the crossing.
Leighton Packer said: “As you can see our main street is lit up like a rainbow and we want to let you know that the rainbow actually comes from God.
“We have blocked all the roads because we are not going to tolerate this anymore.
“We are calling out the Mayor Rehette Stoltz and every councillor that’s agreed to these people coming here to read to our children.”
They claim drag queens Erica and Coco Flash, who are reading to teenagers at a 16 years and over event, are “sex workers” and the story-time session is “sexualisation of children”.
Leighton Packer said: “Yup we will be held accountable. It’s worth the cause. It’s worth it to stand up for our children.”
The video shows Ernest Packer and others painting over the crossing with white paint.
The camera then pans around and shows the group of about 15 involved.
The rainbow crossing was installed in December 2021 to raise awareness of the rainbow community in Tairāwhiti.
Tairāwhiti Rainbow Collective (TRC), a group made up of local LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, was involved in its creation.
TRC chair Chris Shotton said painting over the rainbow crossing was an act of vandalism that could lead to violence.
“Standing up for what you believe in is a just cause and a given right of any democracy. However, to silence the voices of others who struggle to come to terms with their identities because they don’t fit your norm is outright hate.
“It’s a shame we can’t all walk in others’ shoes to see how horrible it can be.
“To know you are hated so much by certain elements of society . . . even worse in my book is the thought some of these hateful people potentially could have LGBTQIA+ people in their own families who would be fearful of being thrown out of their families for being just themselves, which they can’t be.”
It was the latest in a series of actions by those against the rainbow community, he said.
“The events over the last few days have me perplexed as to why certain factions of the community have taken it upon themselves to be spokespersons for the whole of Tairāwhiti.
“Education is where knowledge comes from, so how about educating yourselves a little, or is it easier to not be educated and just be dumb and make assumptions?”
The drag queen story-time event was to be held in a separate room, not the main library as many had assumed.
“The stories being read are to show young adults, 16 years and up, who are going through times of uncertainty over their identity, that they belong, they are seen and they are loved and have a life to look forward to,” Mr Shotton said.
“This was to be expressed in such a way that they understand this by people who have lived the path they are on — all age appropriate for people 16-plus.”
LGBTQIA+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers, a study in 2020 concluded.
“The actions of others play a big part in these suicides,” Mr Shotton said.
“These losses of lives affect so many people. It is just a horrid part of the community and the hate we must tolerate in our lives.
“I would have thought those in the Tairāwhiti community would have known better than to act in these ways. Shame on you all and thank you for putting us back in the closet and back 50 years.
“We aren’t perverts, paedophiles, sexual predators, and we most certainly don’t choose this life. Why would we choose a life in society that hates us with such venom and ferocity?
Mayor Stoltz said Monday’s night’s incident fuelled hatred and division.
She accepted that people held different views. However, she said there was no place for hate or bigotry in Tairāwhiti.
“Gisborne District Council strongly condemns the vandalism done last night,” she said yesterday, “They created a safety issue last night. We will be reinstating the rainbow crossing as quickly as we can.”
“We absolutely object to individuals interfering with our road markings and the safety of people on our roads.”
The GDC will be working with Police to make those involved accountable and seeking reparations for the cost of the work.
“We stand in solidarity with the rainbow community and strongly support the message of the rainbow crossing as well as the kaupapa of the library event.
“This kind of visibility of acceptance saves lives. We are very mindful of the struggle some of our young people face when there is no recognition for them as they explore their identities. Rainbows are representative of joy for everyone.
“I would like to clarify that the library’s programming decisions are made with the intent to provide a wide range of educational and cultural opportunities that reflect the diversity of our community,” said Mayor Stoltz.
Tairāwhiti acting area police commander Inspector Darren Paki said the painting out of the rainbow crossing in the main street was under investigation by police.
“We are reviewing the evidence and will be following up the matter.
“We will be dealing with any unlawful behaviour like that, and also outside the public library yesterday afternoon, in an appropriate manner.”
“We absolutely object to individuals interfering with our road markings and the safety of people on our roads.”
