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# New Zealand now has most LGBTQ+ inclusive parliament in the world
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/new-zealand-now-has-most-lgbtq-inclusive-parliament-in-the-world/
- Published: 2020-10-21T12:30:52.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-20T15:20:50.000Z
- Description: Following the New Zealand elections on Saturday 17 October, the country now has a greater proportion of LGBTQ+ parliament members than any other country in the world.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, New Zealand

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/new-zealand-pride.jpg)

Following the **New Zealand** elections on **Saturday 17 October**, the country now has a greater proportion of LGBTQ+ parliament members than any other country in the world. Out of 120 parliamentary positions, 12 seats – up from 7 – are now held by openly LGBTQ+ members, meaning 9.6% of the cabinet is made up of queer politicians; this is over 2% more than the UK’s parliament.

Labour leader **Jacinda Ardern** was also re-elected in a landslide victory after recently [promising](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/new-zealand-prime-minister-vows-to-ban-conversion-therapy/) to ban LGBTQ+ conversion therapy if re-elected. Ardern said: *“People should not be discriminated against, bullied or hurt for being who they are. We need to rally around that simple premise.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/jacinda-ardern-14-05-2019-1.jpg)

Jacinda Ardern

A previous bill to criminalise the practice was unsuccessful which Ardern attributed to the country’s mixed-member proportional electoral system, meaning her party does not govern alone. She hopes New Zealand’s parliament will now show greater support for the bill, saying *“I will commit our numbers to delivering this and I hope there will other parties in parliament who will support it”.*