An overwhelming majority of gay and lesbian people in New Zealand want government recognition of same sex relationships. Most of them would prefer that recognition to be marriage rather than a civil union. That is one of the many findings from the Lavender Islands survey – the most extensive survey of this community ever undertaken in New Zealand.
Well over half of both men and women respondents report that they have been ‘outed’ by someone without their permission. Three-quarters of men and two-thirds of women have been verbally assaulted because of their sexuality, and almost one in five men and one in 11 women have been physically assaulted because of their sexual identities.
Overall, 2,276 people participated in the survey which was launched in April and what the gay and lesbian community said about themselves is expected to bring some surprises. Few, for example, showed any liking for the use of the term “queer”.
The Lavender Islands research team comes from across various disciplines including business, social work and nursing. They were lead by Dr Mark Henrickson, a senior lecturer in social work at the Albany campus. Dr Henrickson says the preliminary results show the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities are robust, politically involved, hold traditional values about relationships and are highly educated.
The researchers say the results make a significant contribution to knowledge of gay and lesbian communities and will be of value in shaping public policy. The results help the gay community and social scientists understand an array of important issues including identity, relationships, family structures and economic choices, says Dr Henrickson.