Editing Brian Tamaki (section)

===Views on drag story events===
In mid-March 2024, Tamaki opposed two proposed [[Drag Queen Story Hour]] events at [[Rotorua]] and [[Hastings, New Zealand|Hastings]]'s municipal libraries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Laura |title=Rotorua councillors clash over Library Rainbow Storytime event |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512078/rotorua-councillors-clash-over-library-rainbow-storytime-event |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318195412/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512078/rotorua-councillors-clash-over-library-rainbow-storytime-event |archive-date=18 March 2024}}</ref> Due to [[Drag panic|anti-drag queen]] opposition, these story events were cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Laura |title=Rotorua cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime for kids over 'safety concerns' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512228/rotorua-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-for-kids-over-safety-concerns |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320051938/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/512228/rotorua-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-for-kids-over-safety-concerns |archive-date=20 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hastings council cancels drag queens' Rainbow Storytime after Destiny Church protest |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512740/hastings-council-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-after-destiny-church-protest |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=26 March 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330040856/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/512740/hastings-council-cancels-drag-queens-rainbow-storytime-after-destiny-church-protest }}</ref> On 26 March, members of Destiny Church protested outside another drag storytime event at [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]]'s library, who also painted over a rainbow crossing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O’Connor |first1=Matahi |title=Rainbow crossing in Gisborne Main Street painted white ahead of drag-queen storytime event |url=https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/rainbow-crossing-in-gisbornes-main-street-painted-white-ahead-of-drag-queen-story-time-event |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[[The Gisborne Herald]] |date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=March 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326202734/https://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/news/rainbow-crossing-in-gisbornes-main-street-painted-white-ahead-of-drag-queen-story-time-event |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 April 2024, Ford O'Connor, a member of Destiny Church who is married to Tamaki's granddaughter, pleaded guilty to vandalising the [[Karangahape Road]] rainbow crossing in [[Auckland]] in late March 2024 and was fined $16,093 to cover the repair costs. During the sentencing, Tamaki defended O'Connor, saying that "he undertook a political protest against the excessive rainbow-washing that is occurring across New Zealand right now, at the expense of our taxpayers and our ratepayers."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plummer |first1=Benjamin |last2=Davison |first2=Isaac |last3=Williams |first3=David |title=Ford O'Connor pleads guilty, will pay $16k for vandalising K Road crossing; Brian Tamaki supports him |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-voices-unwavering-support-for-man-accused-of-vandalising-k-road-crossing/JPPLWQNGOZDXVKNFQ52QEI2WA4/ |access-date=17 April 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=15 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415195250/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/destiny-church-leader-brian-tamaki-voices-unwavering-support-for-man-accused-of-vandalising-k-road-crossing/JPPLWQNGOZDXVKNFQ52QEI2WA4/ |archive-date=15 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-May 2024, Tamaki admitted responsibility for instructing his followers to vandalise the rainbow pedestrian crossing in Gisborne.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brian Tamaki claims responsibility for defacing Gisborne rainbow crossing |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516896/brian-tamaki-claims-responsibility-for-defacing-gisborne-rainbow-crossing |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519065101/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/516896/brian-tamaki-claims-responsibility-for-defacing-gisborne-rainbow-crossing |archive-date=19 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 27 June 2024, Tamaki, Destiny Church's trustees and several pastors were sued by drag performers Sunita Torrance and Daniel Lockett for inducing breach of contract, conspiracy to injure, unlawful means conspiracy, and defamation in relation to the disruption of their drag story events. In response, Destiny Church  said it would continue to advocate for children's well-being and accused the ''[[New Zealand Herald]]'' of promoting crowdfunding for the drag performers' legal case.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackwell |first1=Finn |title=Drag performers sue Tamaki, Destiny Church seeking $2m for defamation |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520687/drag-performers-sue-tamaki-destiny-church-seeking-2m-for-defamation |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=27 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240627051345/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520687/drag-performers-sue-tamaki-destiny-church-seeking-2m-for-defamation|archive-date=27 June 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>