Following a unanimous decision by Trustees at a special Trust Board meeting last night the Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust (RNZCT) is announcing that it is withdrawing sponsorship of key events put on by the Auckland Pride Board and in particular the Auckland Pride Parade 2019.
The Trustees consider Pride’s decision to refuse the NZ Police the right to march in uniform to be contrary to the Trust’s key purpose which is to “maintain a fund available to build strength through diversity within the LGBTQI+ community in New Zealand.”
The RNZCT has provided funding to support not-for-profit groups entering the Auckland Pride Parade in past years but, with great regret, the Trustees have determined that they cannot support the decision of the Auckland Pride Board which appears to be driven by a small and vociferous minority in the community, and is contrary to the wishes of the vast majority of the Rainbow Community including those who have for many years fought hard for the rights we hold today in NZ.
The Trust will continue to provide funding to organisations in the Rainbow Community wishing to hold their own events in the Festival as these are separate from events managed by Auckland Pride itself. Community Participation Grant applications are available on https://rainbownzcharitabletrust.org.nz to groups in Auckland and cities around the country where events are scheduled to be held in 2019.
The Trust raises money from the people and organisations who support our Rainbow Community and holds these funds on their behalf for distribution to encourage individuals, groups and non-profit organisations in the NZ Rainbow community to hold or stage educational, cultural and sporting events; to assist LGBTQI+ support services; and to offer Scholarships to assist students who identify as LGBTQI+, entering their first year of tertiary studies.
Gresham Bradley
Chair, Rainbow New Zealand Charitable Trust,
PO Box 147 663, Auckland, 1144.
Mob. 021-473-741
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.rainbownzcharitabletrust.org.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RainbowNZCharitableTrust
