Church’s Anti-LGBTQ Protests Sparks Debate About Charitable Exemption for Hate Speech
Remember years ago when members of the Westboro Baptist Church stood outside of military funerals holding signs reading “God Hates Fags?” The things those church members said and did were despicable back then, especially when they were protesting at the funeral of some soldier or marine who died in Iraq. But we’ve so far regressed, I think, that we hardly bat an eye at vulgar slurs or open expressions of hate. Westboro is still around but they are hardly even newsworthy anymore. What that tax exempt church was doing back then seems commonplace today.
Not just in the United States. New Zealanders are debating whether the Destiny Church should continue enjoying tax exemption after its members engaged disrupted a Pride parade and a Pride-day children’s play organized by a drag artist. The YouTube video above members performing a Haka to block a Pride parade. Haka is a traditional sort of welcome or intimidation dance, depending on the occasion.. In this instance it was not a welcome.
After blocking the parade, protestors stormed the library hosting the children’s play. Once inside and up the stairs, they performed another haka. They succeeded in forcing terrified toddlers, children and parents to barricade themselves in a room, just like terrified American congressmen and women on Jan 6, 2020. Here is one story:
Protesters linked to Destiny Church, who stormed a children’s event being hosted by a drag king, crossed the line with aggressive and violent behaviour, say police. The event on Saturday was part of Auckland’s pride festival, but was cancelled after about 50 protesters pushed their way into Te Atatū library and refused to leave. About 30 adults and young children were forced to lock themselves in a room. The family event featured a Drag King talking to the kids about the science of rainbows. Acting District Commander for Waitemata Inspector Simon Walker told Checkpoint the actions of the protesters were unacceptable and it was not a peaceful protest. “In my perspective, of course people have a right to protest, but no one has the right to intimidate and use violence against other people.”
After all this happened, legislators began petitioning the taxing authority to yank Destiny’s tax exemption. One MP filed a complaint with the Charities Service. Here is a sample:
1. On 15 February 2025 followers of Destiny Church at the direction of the head of Destiny Church Brian Tamaki carried out a violent protest action at Te Atatū Peninsula in my electorate which was under s. 4(1) of the Charities Act oppressive. It was oppressive in that members of Destiny Church violently forced their way through Auckland Council staff to lay siege to a community event for small children and their parents being held by Auckland Council. Members of the public going about their lawful business at a community centre were subject to violent, bullying and intimidating behaviour.
2. In the words of the NZ Herald report Destiny Church followers were “punching, pushing and shoving their way inside”. RNZ reported about 30 toddlers, young children and adults had to be barricaded inside. The Herald reports a 16-year-old girl attending a sports event at the community centre suffered concussion after being assaulted during the violent fracas.
The Herald reports Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown said Destiny Church’s actions were “totally unacceptable”. “While I respect freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest, to enter a council library facility that is there for all our communities to use and intimidate council staff, volunteers and community members going about their business is completely out of line,” Brown said.
The complaint makes the case that Destiny’s action violate the Charities Act because they were illegal and that they were discriminatory in that they “targeted a reading for children put on by a drag artist because of the artist’s gender identity.” The head of the Destiny Church doesn’t deny the acts as described. Instead he asserts a higher right to stop the “sexualization” and “molestation” of children. He said the children’s play borders on pornography>
Seriously? It was a parade and a children’s play. I try to just report the facts, but that is about the dumbest most bigoted boneheaded BS I have ever heard. But it’s not my first time hearing it. Everybody knows it’s them frat boy church members in the video who are most likely to do nasty, criminally-sexual things to children. Not some effeminate ladyboy in a children’s play. Everybody knows that. Lok it up.
Anyway, the talking heads were on Sunday podcasts debating whether nonprofits should by “struck” for engaging in civil disobedience. “Struck” or “struck off” is NZ vernacular for “revocation.” The podcast below contains an interesting 8 minute Sunday morning debate about speech, civil disobedience, hate speech, tax exemption and tax deductions. And being “struck off” for any of those things.
darryll k. jones