Jacinda Ardern appoints Grant Robertson as New Zealand’s first-ever out gay deputy PM
At last, some good news - and Ardern's appointed two lesbian women to her cabinet, too!
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Grant Robertson as Deputy PM, making him the country’s first-ever out gay man to hold the role.
It follows Ardern’s centre-left Labour Party landslide majority re-election last month.
The appointment was announced today (Monday 2 November 2020) alongside a handful of other appointments, including Nanaia Mahuta, New Zeland’s first Indigenous woman Minister of Foreign Affairs.
According to the FT, two of the new ministers appointed to the cabinet – Ayesha Verrall and Kiri Allan – are both out lesbian women and parents.
Verrall will serve as Minister for Food Safety and Minister for Seniors, as well as Associate Minister of Health and Associate Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.
Allan will meanwhile serve as Minister for Conservation and Minister for Emergency Management, plus Associate for Arts, Culture and Heritage and Associate Minister for the Environment.
“As a country we should be proud of this”
Ardern commented: “It is both a cabinet with huge merit and talent, which also happens to be incredibly diverse.
“I think it’s an important point to make. These are individuals who have been promoted for what they bring to the cabinet. They also reflect the New Zealand that elected them. I think as a country we should be proud of this.”
Cheers to all for the congrats today. A wonderful team to be a part of. Feeling humbled, proud and ready to go!
— Grant Robertson (@grantrobertson1) November 2, 2020
“Feeling humbled, proud and ready to go!”
Responding to the news on Twitter, Robertson said: “Cheers to all for the congrats today. A wonderful team to be a part of. Feeling humbled, proud and ready to go!”
Robertson will continue to serve as Minister of Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Racing and Minister for Sport and Recreation.
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