NZ military 'light years ahead' on issue of gays

The New Zealand Defence Force is light years ahead of any other military services in its approach to gays, lesbians and bisexuals, says equal employment opportunity consultant Eugene Moore.

Many countries banned discrimination against gays in the military, but none was doing as much as New Zealand to challenge the old homophobic military culture, he said.

He estimated that up to 20 per cent of men and women in the New Zealand military would admit to having gay orientation.

Traditionally, the presence of openly gay people was seen as detracting from the military's masculinity, but homophobia was the real problem and needed to be brought out into the open.

"It's like Dracula, once you bring it out into the light it dies," said Mr Moore, who has been working on an education programme for the armed forces for more than a year.

He said the programme was designed to create an environment where gays, lesbians and bisexual personnel in the military did not fear coming out.

Australian and French admirals had visited New Zealand specifically to see the Navy's at-sea education programmes and he had been invited to make a presentation to Australian military chiefs.

- NZPA

nzherald.co.nz/defence