While many have questioned the appropriateness of Green MP Benjamin Doyle’s language and judgement over disturbing content on his Instagram account, Doyle remains unapologetic.
“I refuse to be disappeared by hate and I continue to be committed to the kaupapa that brought me to Parliament,” he said.
Echoing Green leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s much maligned explanation, Doyle insists the language used in his online profile was misunderstood: “The Rainbow community co-opted terms that might not be understood by those outside the minority community, oftentimes with irreverence and absurdity.”
Despite widespread public concern and a rebuke from the Prime Minister, Doyle has refused to stop using the nickname at the centre of the controversy.
During candidate selection, the Green Party leadership warned Doyle that the account could cause trouble. Doyle admits he was told: “There’s a very real chance that account could lead to controversy.”
He chose to keep it anyway.
Doyle now claims the incident has allowed him to highlight transphobia in politics.
The MP argues that Winston Peters’ public questioning of the Instagram posts was politically calculated: “I believe… this is a clear, blatant distraction tactic to whip up a storm of hate – dog whistle politics at its finest.”
Despite the controversy, Doyle says he is staying in Parliament.
Centrist Ltd.