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Here
it is - another issue of the Otago Gaily Times - just what you need
to curl up with in front of the fire on these cold evenings or to read at
a café while you enjoy a hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows!
So,
what’s been happening and what will be happening? During the last couple
of months gay pride has been celebrated around the world - and right here
in Dunedin as well. While gay pride marches or parades in places like San
Francisco, New York and London have been large and very public events for
some time now (we’re talking up to a million people at some of these
events!), each year gay pride celebrations start to pop up in countries
where such public expressions of queerness have not been experienced
previously or where there has been tremendous resistance to such
demonstrations in the past.
For
example, this year saw the first ever gay pride parade in Jerusalem (with
about 2500 marchers) and also in Croatia (with about 200 people marching).
These events didn’t take place without protest, though, and in Croatia a
tear gas canister was thrown at the marchers.
Incidents
like this remind us that that homosexuality is actually still illegal in
some places around the world and that individuals are still convicted and
punished simply for their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, while
in other countries queer people are only slowly starting to gain rights
and freedoms.
For
me, an important part of gay pride is not only celebrating who we are and
the fact that we’re proud of who we are, but also remembering and
acknowledging our past, those who lived and loved in more difficult times
and those who made it possible for us to be where we are today. Gay pride
is also a good time to think about the future and what we still have to
achieve - and there’s definitely some work still to be done even in a
country like New Zealand in order for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
takataapui, fa’afafine and intersex people to have equal rights with
heterosexual people under the law.
As
you’ll see from this issue of the OGT there are lots of different groups
and activities available for queer people in the Dunedin area to
participate in - WAQD, Purple Passions soccer games, UniQ, Pride Dunedin,
Ascent, the queer walking group, the Dunedin Rainbow Labour group, LICCs
& CLITs car rallies, Vivace, PFLAG, Lesbians Over 35s group, and so
on. More details are provided throughout the paper about local groups and
events and contact information is contained on the back page. So, get
involved, enjoy your community and, above all, be proud of being queer!
Victoria
Devereux
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-
Who
wrote, “I don’t consider my homosexuality a political thing … I
only started going to political rallies to meet women”?
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In
days gone by, which New Zealand city was described as the “gay
capital” of New Zealand?
-
Which
actress first introduced Oscar Wilde to the elite literary circles of
London society?
-
Which
city has hosted the Gay Games twice?
-
In
what year did the Stonewall Riots in New York (which sparked the
modern gay rights movement) take place?
Answers to Queer Quiz
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PRIDE
DUNEDIN - WHAT IS IT?
Dear
Editor
While
I commend individuals and/or groups who initiate and coordinate events for
the queer communities, I am concerned about the implications of “Pride
Dunedin” being used as the slogan for this year’s gay pride week.
Locally,
nationally and internationally gay pride events are associated with
visibility and celebration of the gay community. Not only does this affirm
us as individuals, it provides a focus for community cohesiveness, an
opportunity for public education and for those who may be questioning
their sexual orientation. Historically symbols reflecting the diversity of
the queer community and language such as gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender were apparent in promotional material for the week’s
activities.
In
contrast, though, the use of the phrase “Pride Dunedin” to promote
many of this year’s pride week events in Dunedin is somewhat ambiguous
and could easily be interpreted as a promotion for our delightful city
rather than a celebration of our uniqueness as a queer community.
The
banner across Stuart Street - “Pride Dunedin Celebrate Diversity” -
could refer to anything. In addition Pride Dunedin’s logo is on the
banner which appears to be much more a symbol of heterosexuality than
homosexuality with the portrayal of a female and male figure. There is no
symbol displayed on the banner that indicates that celebrating diversity
is associated with being queer. Anyone unfamiliar with the group Pride
Dunedin would have no idea what this banner is promoting.
Lastly
it is disappointing that a week that acknowledges pride in who we are and
reflects the history of our culture has a window display that is mostly
comprised of alcohol products and uses media advertising to promote events
as “queer friendly” and refers only to “pride week” not “gay
pride week”.
And,
isn’t it bizarre that the largest event of gay pride week, the
Masquerade Ball, is promoted as “queer friendly” rather than gay or
queer?
Yours queerly,
Disappointed & Invisible
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Wanted ASAP: lesbian secondary teachers from all
over NZ to participate in a survey on their appointment, employment
conditions and career advancement.
Auckland lesbian Carol Bartlett, a west Auckland
teacher, is organising the confidential postal survey to show how
attitudes to sexual orientation affect the employment of secondary
teachers who are lesbian. Her Master’s-level thesis in Educational
Administration will detail the results.
“My own previous experiences have suggested to
me that with a lesbian orientation it is harder to be appointed, secure
promotion or even stay in a job,” says Carol. “If this is the case,
it’s important to gather information about it at first hand, especially
as schools are required to operate under the Human Rights Act which
outlaws employment-related discrimination based on sexual orientation.”
The validity of Carol’s conclusions depends on
having as many teachers as possible complete the questionnaire. “It’s
also crucial that a wide range of women respond so that the sample is
representative. For instance, it would be good to hear from teachers who
are not "out" on the job as well as those who are; rural
teachers as well as those in towns or cities; and women who prefer terms
such as "gay" as well as those who self-identify as lesbian.”
Carol hopes secondary teachers from a diverse
range of institutions - private, state, integrated, composite or other
schools - will take part.
“As a lesbian working in a secondary school, I
am very aware of the need for confidentiality and anonymity in this
research. Participants can be assured that their anonymity will be
protected through processes approved by the Massey University Ethics
Committee.”
Carol will send those interested the
questionnaire and a letter for other potential participants.
Information: phone Carol Bartlett on 09-820-2332,
write to her at PO Box 19-415, Avondale, Auckland or email her at [email protected]
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by Enne Eskay
It is difficult to be queer in the straight
world; it can feel oppressive. To be disabled in an able world can
certainly feel as oppressive. However, in creating an even more difficult
mix of all this, one ventures into the murky territory of speaking of
alternative sexuality of disabled people.
Granted that even to speak of sexuality in
relation to the disabled is already touching a nerve. And to be so bold as
to suggest that even disabled people may be queer seems to be going far.
As with queerness, we are once again in the
position of asserting for ourselves that a different belief is okay. It
calls for a lot of confidence on the part of the disabled person to assert
his or her sexuality. And then to declare that it is not mainstream.
Like any disadvantaged group, the disabled face
being considered ungrateful because society is indeed moving ahead on
civil rights for disabled individuals. Accessibility has moved leaps and
bounds in the past few decades. But sexuality is not linear, and cannot be
put on hold. It, too, is a pressing need. As the queer community knows,
more than most, just the acknowledgement and understanding of one's
sexuality can bring so much peace and confidence.
To bring the sexuality of the disabled person to
the fore is a tall order, one that behooves a disabled individual to make
conscious things that are easier swept under the rug. And this includes
things like sexuality in general, and particularly alternative sexual
desires. But this tough task is something that speaks to the reality of a
large segment of the population.
The sexuality of disabled people is something
that only the disabled give any thought to. But disability is a fact of
life, and so is sexuality. And so is queerness. For a disabled person to
express this will not be easy. But it is a climb of expression that will
free so many. And least of all, it will free a disabled person to even be
able to say, I'm queer.
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What Do They Mean & Where Do They
Come From?
by Victoria Devereux
So far in previous issues of the OGT we've looked at the history and
meaning of the pink and black triangles and the rainbow flag. This time
we're going to investigate the labrys and the lambda.
The
Labrys
The labrys is a double bladed axe and was used by
the matriarchal Amazon warrior tribes both as a harvesting tool and as a
weapon in battle. The Amazons ruled with a dual-queen system where one
queen was in charge of the army and battle while the other queen stayed
behind to administer the conquered cities. Amazons were reputed to be
ferocious and merciless in battle, but once victorious they ruled with
justice.
The labrys is also connected with Demeter who in
ancient mythology was the goddess of the harvest and fertility and used a
labrys as her sceptre. Rites and ceremonies associated with the worship of
Demeter are thought to have involved lesbian sex.
Today the labrys is regarded as a symbol of
lesbian and feminist strength and independence.
The
Lambda
The use of the lambda as a symbol representing
queer rights is perhaps not so common in New Zealand as it is in the USA
where it is more well known and where there are organisations that
incorporate the term in their name (for example Lambda Legal, a national
American organisation committed to achieving full civil rights for queer
people and those with HIV/AIDS through litigation, education and public
policy work).
The lambda symbol was adopted in 1970 by the New
York Gay Activists Alliance and in 1974 it was adopted as the
international symbol for gay and lesbian rights by the International Gay
Rights Congress held in Edinburgh.
However,
the lambda symbol is a somewhat controversial one in terms of its meaning
with different opinions as to why it was originally chosen as a symbol of
gay and lesbian rights. Although the exact reason for using this
particular symbol remains unknown, there are various possibilities
including the following:
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As the Greek lower case letter "l" it stands for
"liberation".
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The use of lambda in physics to denote energy or wavelength.
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The Greeks Spartans believed that the lambda represented unity.
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The Romans thought that it meant "the light of knowledge shining in
the darkness of ignorance".
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It may represent scales and balance
and the constant force that keeps opposing sides from overcoming each
other. The hook at the bottom on the right leg then signifies the
action required to reach and maintain balance.
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Recently Brigid Loughran and Andrew
Metcalfe talked with Stu Terry, the person currently leading Pride Dunedin
Incorporated, about the establishment of the organisation and its future.
At the conclusion of Pride Week 2001 in Dunedin a
group of people got together to discuss the success or otherwise of the
events. One of those present was Stu Terry. There was agreement amongst
the individuals that the programme of events within the week could be
improved. A perceived shortcoming was the lack of awareness within the
queer community of the celebration of our way of life.
This is where the impetus for setting up Pride
Dunedin came from. Initial meetings were held at Planet Pancake in Princes
Street. In its embryonic stage a small group of people, including Stu and
some enthusiastic helpers, set about establishing an incorporated society
that would be responsible for developing a programme of events for Pride
Week 2002. And so, the organisation Pride Dunedin came into being and the
committee worked feverishly for several months to come up with the events
that made up Dunedin Pride Week 2002.
Sponsorship plays an important part in organising
events on the scale of Pride Week. Stu could not speak highly enough of
the financial support from the Dunedin Casino and Public Health South.
Then there was also Metro Cinema, who made possible the hanging of a
banner across Stuart Street in the lower Octagon, and The Chancellor Hotel
(formerly Wains Hotel) which was the venue for a number of the events.
At the inception of Pride Dunedin it was intended
that the group would go on and not just plan and execute Pride Week
activities. According to Stu the group should not be viewed only as a
"good party" organising body.
Along with its social role within the queer
community Pride Dunedin is to have an educational role to play as well
which will extend to the whole Dunedin community. In addition, as an
umbrella organisation Pride Dunedin could, in the future, help groups get
funding and assist with matching groups to funding sources. This is an
important reason why the group has become an incorporated society.
According to Stu this gives Pride Dunedin some formal credibility which is
essential when making approaches for funding.
Currently the goals of Pride Dunedin are as
follows:
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To recognise the dignity and value of
all people within the queer community |
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To emphasise respect for the rights
of others, based on recognition of worth of each individual.
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To co-ordinate and support social and
educational activities for queer people within Dunedin.
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To promote to the Dunedin community
the positive contribution made to the city by queer people.
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To develop awareness and
understanding of the needs, challenges and strengths of the queer
community to the Dunedin community.
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To provide for a melting pot, a
recognised forum for the free exchange of ideas, skills and
experience.
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Pride Dunedin welcomes the participation of all
people regardless of age, creed, gender, gender identification, HIV
status, ethnicity, physical, mental or developmental ability, race,
religion or sexual orientation. Pride Dunedin’s constitution will be up
for review during the next month or so and they are seeking input from the
community (see following page for more details).
Since the establishment of Pride Dunedin Stu has
been in the role of Chairman and he has been supported by a committee of
individuals who have taken on various other roles. The organisation has
now scheduled an extraordinary meeting for August 19 at which they will
decide on a nomination process so that formal elections of the committee
by the membership can take place at Pride Dunedin's first AGM, probably to
be held sometime in September.
For $5.00 anyone can go along and become a member
Pride Dunedin, have their say in the running and direction of the
organisation and get involved in the activities and events it organises.
This is an opportunity for people to have input into what they want from
their community. As Stu pointed out, attending Pride Dunedin meetings and
events would be a safer, alternative way to meet people instead of chat
rooms and, in the boys case, the sauna. To help people find out more about
Pride Dunedin a website has been set up and an email list developed for up
to date information on where and when the group gets together.
Stu's involvement with Pride Dunedin Incorporated
evolved from an early interest in community and social issues. At school
(Otago Boys High School) he took part in the activities of church youth
groups. For him this was a way of meeting a variety of people. Twenty five
years on he is a graduate of the University of Otago and works in the
education sector. His involvement in community groups continues with
membership of the local Rotary Club.
For Stu it is a matter of continuing service to
the community and a way, albeit subconsciously, of exposing everyone to
the idea of people getting on with each other. Stu noted that as people
got to know him his sexual orientation was not such an issue. For him the
experience of being queer was scariest at the point just prior to publicly
coming out. He feels that he may have been assisted in that he works in
the education sector where diversity of cultures is tolerated and where
there are fewer men.
Like any number of people involved in community
work there is somehow time for other interests. For Stu it is study for a
Postgraduate Diploma in Commerce and Latin American dance. Then there is
Pride Dunedin as well.
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The OGT is looking for more people to join its
collective and be involved in the running of the paper. It’s painless
(quite fun actually!), involves as little or as much time as you can give
and doesn’t require any specific skills or experience. During the
production of an issue we meet fairly regularly (that is, most weeks but
not all) and the meetings generally last about one and a half hours.
OGT collective members help obtain copy for the
paper by liaising with individuals and groups in the community, contribute
copy for the paper (but this is by no means compulsory!), help distribute
the paper around town, talk about the paper on the queer radio show, and
do various other things as well. If you would like to be involved or find
out what it’s all about, then please let us know - see the home page
forr the various ways you can get in contact with us. We’d love to hear
from you!!!
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Pride week became very visible this year with
events and social gatherings bigger and better than Dunedin or any other
main centre has experienced for many years. The reason for this is mainly
due to Pride Dunedin Incorporated being formed and the huge hours spent by
the team of Pride Dunedin.
The events were varied with something for
everyone from dog shows and soccer games to the amazing Ball, which was
absolutely fantastic and included a large array of shows and great music
that didn’t finish upstairs till 7am; then a breakfast followed
downstairs in the Chancellor Café.
The week was very positive for the gay community
with our logo celebrating diversity living up to its name and Pride
Dunedin was very happy with the response from the public about the week
and its events.
Pride Dunedin would like to thank our sponsors
and volunteers because without their help and donations of time and money
Pride Week would not have happened. Thank you to Planet Pancake for
letting us use their café like an office, UniQ for all their help and for
loaning us equipment, and all the others. You can find a list of all our
sponsors on our web page at www.pridedunedin.sphosting.com
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by Nathan Brown
The atmosphere at Pride Ball 2002 - the
“Masquerade Ball” held in the Chancellor Hotel - was electric with
roughly half the Ball goers choosing to go Egyptian for the night and the
other half donning top hats, tails and masks. Nubians roamed next to
phantoms, a comical mix.
The shows began at 1am, just a little more than
fashionably late. Cleopatra (Ruby) left everyone with jaws dropped with
all her screaming; she even strangled one poor woman presumably in gest.
But I was also left gob smacked by how she looked - totally Cleopatra,
full credit to Niki for the amazing make-up, and her stage presence was
great.
But the top act for the night was, without a
doubt, the funky female dancers and the mummy - excellently choreographed,
top notch, really cool and fun to watch. I so want to see more
performances like that at LGBT events.
What was the deal with having to pay for the
vodka jellies though? And how about the loud dude in his underwear? I
heard he was an Aucklander!! My only whinge was that the shows were too
long for one sitting but boy did the rest of the night make up for that.
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As part of the 2002 Dunedin Gay Pride Week
celebrations, a church service was held at Glenaven Methodist Church on
July 7th.
During a packed service the congregation was
reminded that they were in a safe place for anyone to be a part of,
regardless of whom they chose to love. “We are here in this place as
real flesh and blood people who experience God through our often messy and
complex relationships,” said preacher and member of the Glenaven
congregation, Andrew Metcalfe. “We are known, we are loved – not only
by God, but also by all of our friends around us: straight, gay,
whatever-in-between, whoever and however we choose to love.”
A variety of gay and lesbian people and their
friends contributed to the service, which it is hoped will continue to be
a regular event.
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Pride Dunedin was formed just over two months
before Pride Week, so it was always the intention to initially focus
efforts on that and to review the wider picture afterwards, says Chairman
Stu Terry. This process kicked off at the first post-Pride-Week membership
meeting on 23 July.
At the meeting, Pride Week accounts were
presented and members were delighted at the news that the event did not
lose money despite a lower attendance at most events than was budgeted
for. A discussion followed about future focuses and three key development
areas were identified:
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The development of positive options for young queer people.
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Constitutional and structural review, including the formal nomination and
election of an Executive Committee as the present one is only interim.
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Continued planning of upcoming social events.
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The next meeting of Pride Dunedin will be at 7pm
on Monday August 19 in the Princess Room at the Chancellor Hotel, Princes
St. This is an extraordinary meeting to discuss constitutional and
structural issues. It is intended that agreement will be reached on a
structure so that nominations can be accepted. Elections will then be able
to take place at the AGM, to be scheduled for September 2002.
Email submissions are also being sought prior to
this meeting. If you would like to become a member of Pride Dunedin, make
a submission or otherwise be part of the process, please email us (at [email protected]
).
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Following the phenomenal success of last year’s
Queen Of The South at which 200 people had to be turned away at the door,
this year is set to be just as big. Last year’s winner, Miss Melbourne,
is not permitted to enter this year but must give her crown to the
glamorous lucky winner. Entrants are now being asked to come forward. All
those interested should email Pride Dunedin (at [email protected]
).
The venue for this year’s event is yet to be
confirmed with ReFuel being mooted as a possibility, although other
non-campus venues are being sought. However, the date for the night has
been confirmed as Saturday 14 September 2002. See you there folks!
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Following the Pride Dunedin meeting on July 23,
six interested members (mostly under 25) met on July 26 to begin the
process of developing supports for young queer people in Dunedin under the
banner of Pride Dunedin Youth.
The group identified the following areas that
Pride Dunedin Youth will seek to address. These areas included (but were
not limited to): developing positive identity, strengthening relationships
between young queer people and peers, family, school and the community,
providing a means by which young people can meet other like minded young
people, educating the wider youth population, and working with schools to
disseminate information and combat homophobia.
Actions to address some of these issues include
strengthening Icebreakers (a 10 week workshop for under 26 year old men
questioning their sexuality) by reviewing the entire programme with regard
to training, safety, accountability and funding; building a relationship
with WAQD to re-establish a similar programme for women; developing a
social network of under 18 year olds with a non-smoking and non-alcohol
focus; and seeking 18 year old and under representation within Pride
Dunedin Youth.
Anyone who is interested in helping young gay,
lesbian or bisexual people is encouraged to email us (at [email protected]
) and get involved.
We particularly want to hear from young gays and
lesbians and people with youth work experience.
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Tentative plans are underway for a Mardi Gras to
be held in the Octagon on the evening of 7 February 2003. This would
coincide with the Summer Festival and would attract visitors from cruise
ships docked in Dunedin for that night.
The DCC has expressed support in kind for the
Mardi Gras idea which would not be a strictly LGBT display but rather
would show-case performances from a cross-section of cultural groups in
Dunedin. Pride Dunedin is expected to coordinate the event and planning is
likely to get under way shortly. Interested groups or individuals should
email Pride Dunedin (at [email protected]
).
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The following previews of some new lesbian titles
have been provided by the Women's Bookshop in Auckland.
For issues of their wonderful newsletter and more information about
all sorts of books, check out their recently redesigned web site at:
www.womensbookshop.co.nz
The Skeleton Woman: A Romance
by
Renée
Rose Anthony is reeling from a series of major
and minor crises - including breast cancer and a rift with her lover Olga
- when life becomes still more complicated. Someone has literally left a
baby on her doorstep, and skeletons are rattling in their closets. This
fifth novel from a much-loved writer is a delight: a tightly plotted and
entertaining story whose heroine provides a comic, human foil to the
seemingly inhuman.
The Comfort of Strangers
by
Peggy Herring
Lela's work as a scientist and healer has always
sustained her as she drifts from one relationship to the next, never
risking her heart. But when the stately blonde warrior Alaric saves her
life, Lela's soul stirs with a new passion. A new science fiction title
from a popular lesbian author.
Hot & Bothered 3: Short Fiction
on Lesbian Desire
ed
by Karen Tulchinsky
A wide range of writers - from the well-known
Leslea Newman and Joan Nestle to newer names - guarantees to get readers
hot and bothered all over again with 69-plus tales of love and lust.
Love in Idleness
by
Charlotte Mendelson
When Anna Raine's Aunt Stella offers her a London
flat, Anna's curiosity about this thrillingly reckless woman becomes
fascination. By day Anna feigns efficient adulthood; by night she sinks
into an increasingly heated world of discovery. "An intelligent and
gripping first novel with a pleasurable ripple of sexual tension."
(Diva lesbian magazine)
Body Check: Erotic Lesbian Sports
Stories
ed
by Nicole Foster
Let's face it, lesbian fascination with sport
doesn't begin or end with Martina Navratilova! Recreational tennis player
and professional lesbian Nicole Foster has collected stories of sexy,
sweaty action between women runners, basketball players, swimmers and
other athletes.
Around the Houses
by
Amanda Boulter
Anna's having a baby. The father's gay, her lover
is a woman and she still hasn't told her parents. Rather than offering the
usual deal of a straight family with colourful gay characters on the
margins, Amanda Boulter's refreshing first novel centres on a gay and
lesbian family. Likened to Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City but
set in South London and penned by a lesbian, this is the first in a new
series.
Woman to Woman: An Everywoman's Guide
to Lesbian Sex
by
Carol Booth
At last, an antipodean book on lesbian sex and
relationships! Woman to Woman is aimed at questioning women as well
as those who are sure of their lesbian selves. Booth, an Australian doctor
who came out after turning 30, complements factual information with
personal stories and the experiences of other lesbian women.
Tea
by
Stacey D'Erasmo
At eight Isabel Gold loses her mother to suicide,
in her teens she finds she likes girls as much as pot and Joni Mitchell,
and at 22 she scrambles to keep her bohemian dreams and her relationship
alive. "Written with a strength and daring that make reading it a
breathtaking pleasure." (San Francisco Chronicle)
Best Lesbian Erotica 2002
ed
by Tristan Taormino
Always popular, with sexy stories appealing to a
diverse range of lesbian tastes. This book features established lesbian
writers as well as newer names.
Flying Under Bridges
by
Sandi Toksvig
UK gay and lesbian booksellers are giving this
novel by a well-known British comedian (and out lesbian) the thumbs-up.
When bored housewife Eve meets up with her childhood friend, now a
closeted celebrity, she begins to reconsider her life - setting in motion
events which include the killing of her prospective son-in-law. This
hilarious yet sad story makes some serious points on hypocrisy and family
values.
Burning Ground
by
Pearl Luke
Percy Turner begins her seventh season of summer
work in a fire tower deep in the Canadian woods. She spends her days
scanning the horizon for "smokes" out in the forest, but inside
she's smouldering with a passion for her best friend Marlea.
Lee & Elaine
by
Ann Rower
A hitherto heterosexual art teacher falls for a
female student. Spurred on to change her life entirely, she rents a home
near a famous artists' cemetery and plans a book in which two women buried
there (Elaine de Kooning and Lee Krasne) return as ghosts and as lesbian
lovers. In real life all hell breaks loose when Elaine's headstone
disappears. A funny, sharp book about romance, life, death and art.
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become
you - indigo girls
CD Review by Victoria Devereux
It's been three years since the last Indigo Girls
CD was released and "Become You" is the ninth that the duo has
produced. After "Come On Now Social" and "Shaming Of The
Sun" which were a bit more "rocky" than the Indigo Girls's
previous albums, "Become You" marks a return to a more acoustic
sound, and the tracks on this CD are full of the harmonies and melodies
that we have come to expect and love from Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. Their
latest CD was recorded in the studio with one band rather than lots of
different musicians and so the sound is simpler and there's a greater
sense of cohesiveness about the album as a whole.
"Become You" contains twelve songs -
six written by Amy and six by Emily. In addition to the distinct sound of
each singer/songwriter, there's a real mixture here in terms of content -
there are songs that are about love and relationships (and break ups) and
songs that have more of a political focus. The tracks "Become
You" which talks about the South (of the US) and "Nuevas
Senoritas" which pays tribute to the ultimate fate of the Mexican
women who fight for change with the Zapatistas fall into the latter
category:
"Nuevas Senoritas, are you gone to brighter
days? Have you found your greener valleys and the place where your heart
stays?”
In contrast, though, songs like "Moment of
Forgiveness" relate much more to personal emotions and situations:
"Baby I woke up cryin' last night just to
realize that you were gone. Has it been two long years without you? When
are you gonna come home?"
There is something of a contrast between the
harmony and gentleness of the voices and the angst expressed through the
words of the songs, but throughout the whole album there is a feeling of
strength and a sense of the power of the human spirit that comes to the
fore in dealing with both the personal and the political.
kd lang - Live By Request
kd has been recording for almost two decades and
“Live By Request” (2001) covers the last fifteen years. "Big
Boned Gal" recalls the period 1985-1989 with the release of the
albums "Angel with a Lariat" and "Absolute Torch and
Twang". These were the Patsy Clinesque backed by the Reclines years.
"Constant Craving" and "Wash Me
Clean" are from the swoony pop and adult contemporary fad that marked
the albums "Ingenue" (1992) and "All You Can Eat"
(1995). No recording of this nature would be complete without the
inclusion of "Crying", the duet with Roy Orbison (1987).
Other songs come from "Drag" (1997) an
album given the 20s/30s cabaret treatment. The latest new songs were
recorded in 2000 on "Invincible Summer" and two of these tracks
are included here. These are a shift back to the big raw ballads, strong
with no frills.
"Live By Request" is an okay disc as an
intro to kd's music or if you want one kd album for the car then this one
will do.
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Sitting Under A
Rainbow
by
Val Coleman
I’m
sitting under the rainbow
Sick
of chasing pots of gold
Looking
up from way down low
Feeling
strong and bold.
Some
will say I gave up on my dreams,
But
you know it’s not so bad here,
Looking
up at coloured seams
Is
really easy to bear.
Chasing
that elusive pot
Doesn’t
seem so important now
For
I found I have a special spot
It
doesn’t matter where or how.
Friends
colour my pathway,
Prisms
of internal light,
A
different sort of fulfilled days.
That
stay in my dreams at night.
So
I will sit under my rainbow
Enjoying
waves of colour and joy
Knowing
that this will never go
Because
it is much more than a toy.
Let
me be a bright stripe
In
the rainbow of your life
Forget
internal worries and strife
Let
rainbows light your life.
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by Tor & Barb
Okay, so the weather has not been particularly
co-operative on many of our designated queer walking Sundays recently (as
you'll know if you'd been planning on coming along to any of them), but we
won't let that discourage us. The walks listed below for the next three
months might sound familiar - they are all ones that have been scheduled
previously but haven't happened because of rain - and on one occasion,
snow!
Remember that kids and dogs are very welcome on
the walks. And - one other very important thing - we've changed the
meeting time for the walks from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
If you have any questions or need a ride, then
phone Barb and Tor on 453-1108. Also, if you know of any walks that are
dog-friendly and that you think would be good for the queer walking group,
then please let us know.
Here are the walks that we've arranged for the
next few months. For all of the walks, meet at the duck pond at Woodhaugh
Gardens at 2:00pm.
Sunday
August 25
·
Street walk around Maori Hill and Balmacewen
This walk is from one of Paul Hayward's books of
"Intriguing Dunedin Street Walks". It should take about an hour
to an hour and a half, and will lead us past Tolcarne (St Hilda's boarding
residence), Mercy Hospital, John McGlashan College and Prospect Park - to
name just a few of the landmarks along the way. We will bring some copies
of Paul's commentary about the buildings and areas on the walk because it
makes for interesting reading.
Sunday
September 29
·
The Steve Amies Track to Trig Q, one of the Silver Stream Water-Race
Tracks at Whare Flat
A number of tracks have been developed in the
historic Silver Stream Water-Race at Whare Flat (at the bottom of Three
Mile Hill). The walk that we'll do starts from the car park on Swampy
Summit Road and takes about one to one and a half hours. Parts of the walk
might be exposed so make sure you bring warm clothing.
Sunday
October 20
·
Lee Stream (Outram Glen) - 3rd time lucky for this walk since
it's already been cancelled twice!!!
After meeting at Woodhaugh Gardens we will drive
out to Outram Glen where the walk starts. This walk follows the Taieri
River upstream from the Outram bridge and ends at Lee Stream. Allow a
couple of hours for this walk and it might be muddy so make sure you wear
appropriate footwear.
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by
Barb
Depending
on how early one gets to the game, there is an opportunity to view a
diverse group of lesbian women in various states of disrobement preparing
for the Saturday morning or early afternoon social soccer game. These
fearsome amazons bearing their purple passions t-shirts, rainbow socks and
black shorts brave the Dunedin weather weekly to entertain spectators with
their skills, speed and ability in pursuit of a goal and a lot of fun.
Sometimes those on the sidelines are distracted from seeing the
goal scored as they are trying to encourage their canine companions from
running onto the field.
However,
sideline support is prolific with cries of “go purple”, “good
ball”, “push on up” which easily drown out any noticeable grunts
from the rugby game being played on the other field.
There is often a quick flurry of t-shirt swapping as another woman
is subbed on and there is always the risk that spectators will need to
throw on some boots if the team is a couple of players short.
All
queer women are welcome to come along and play and it’s not necessary to
know what you’re doing as this is a social soccer league and a great
opportunity to learn the rules. Spectators are always welcome and relied
upon to know the score on occasions; at other times they are too
distracted trying to work out who the new woman on the field is …
To
find out when the Purple Passions are playing you can check out the Unipol
web page (www.unipol.co.nz) or email Shar ([email protected]) and get
yourself onto the email list which will give you a couple of days notice
of the game and also keep you informed of other queer events.
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Otago University has a diverse range of students
and offers a number of services to support them. The UniQ office, at the
students' association, is charged with representing the interests of queer
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, takataapui, fa'afafine) students and
their friends. Our aim is to create a safe, encouraging and open forum for
these students.
We provide a number of services to the gay
community on campus, including peer support, providing health and welfare
information from services around Dunedin and referring to those services
when necessary, and running campaigns on campus to increase visibility and
education about queer issues.
What has UniQ been up to this year? Aside from
running Vivace, the only gay venue on any campus around the country, we've
been focusing on running a few quality functions with our resources,
rather than spreading them thin. At the start of the year, we helped
organise the “Gay at the Beach” which was a great success, attracting
over eighty participants. In May, OUSA hosted the national UniQ conference
which attracted delegates from around New Zealand and got a lot of
positive feedback. And, for Pride Week, we ran the Mr and Ms Pride Dunedin
competition in association with Pride Dunedin. We are also helping the
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association to establish a similar group,
called PolyQ, for the polytech students.
Over the next semester we plan to keep running
Vivace every fortnight using ReFuel as our venue, as well as some high
visibility campaigns to supplement Pride Week. Homophobia awareness is one
such campaign to educate everyone around the university how hurtful and
damaging homophobia can be. Tolerance Week is another planned action and
will include a series of activities and events aimed at promoting
tolerance within the diverse culture that is Otago University. But none of
this takes away from our main responsibility which is to help students in
the queer community and to provide them with any support that they need.
And if we can't provide it, we'll be able to redirect them to someone who
can, like the advocacy services at OUSA, or health and counselling
services in Dunedin.
UniQ has been active at Otago for the last four
years, and was started by Alex Nichols. Currently the office is staffed by
Alex as Co-ordinator and Stuart Geary as the UniQ Assistant. Regrettably,
Alex has decided that it's time to move on from UniQ, and will be leaving
us. He will be sorely missed, but we hope to continue providing the same
quality service to students that has always been there.
If you wish to get in contact with UniQ, you can
find us at the OUSA building on the university campus, email us at [email protected]
, or phone us on 479-5332.
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7-15 September 2002
Gay Ski Week New Zealand 2002 is New Zealand's
gay and lesbian skiing and snowboarding week, bringing together gay,
lesbian, bisexual skiers and snowboarders alike for a week of fun and
excitement.
During Gay Ski Week New Zealand 2002 there will
also be a range of social events including the following:
|
Fat Gingers Cafe - Official Gay Ski
Week New Zealand 2002 Bar, Thomas's Hotel - 50 Beach Road, open 4pm
till 1.00am. Pop in for a drink and a chat about the day's events.
|
|
Gay/Lesbian Lake Cruise - 11
September 2002. Come cruising on the Lady of the Lake - TSS Earnslaw -
for the first gay and lesbian lake cruise with your "Hostess with
the Mostess" - the wonderful Buffy and Bimbo. Departs 6.30pm and
returns 8.00pm.
|
|
An Audience with Buffy and Bimbo - 12
September 2002. Spend an enjoyable evening with Buffy and Bimbo with
song, comedy and their special game show.
|
|
Gay Ski Week 2002 Party - 13
September 2002. Celebrate the end of New Zealand's gay & lesbian
ski week. Location TBA
|
For more information check out the web site at: www.gayskiweeknewzealand.com
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The "Lesbians Over 35 Yrs" group (now
simply referred to as "Over 35s") first met two years ago at the
Cigar Bar (very Austin Powers) in the Southern Cross.
That first night didn't end until about 10pm and
resulted in two parking tickets.
The group has continued since then and now has a
get together during the week (on Wednesdays from 5:30pm) which provides
the opportunity for lesbians from throughout the city to meet up with one
another in a relaxed and informal environment.
Venues have varied from the posh to the otherwise
and those in between. From over twenty-five women at some of the nights
early on the numbers have steadied to about fifteen on a good night.
Eureka in Albany Street seems to be the venue of choice at the moment
probably because it comes into the category of "in between" -
the food is interesting and the service good.
Women tend to network in interesting - perhaps
even peculiar! - ways and from the Over 35s group has emerged "LICCS"
(Lesbians In Classic Cars) and "CLITS" (Classic Lesbians In
Transport). Car rallies, movie going and parties for festive occasions for
all lesbian women have also come about from within the group. (See Page 3
for more information about some upcoming car rallies.)
If you want to find out more information about
the Over 35s, then e-mail [email protected]
or make your way to Eureka one Wednesday evening.
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by Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga
Remember that delicious new relationship feeling? How buoyant you are?
How you can do anything? How the future shines so bright?
It's a
situation that makes you very aware of the possibilities and opportunities
open to you. So some of that buzz may be due to body chemistry and sleep
deprivation, some of it is due to your attitude. You’re willing
to be positive, you’re willing to be happy and hopeful.
Of course
life presents lots of situations that make feeling hopeful a much tougher
challenge. Many of these situations crop up in close relationships. When
your partnership is lacklustre, your children behave like barbarians, or
your friends forget you, hope is often the farthest thing from your mind.
When boredom
or desperation start to get the upper hand in your relationship, take hold
of your hope. When your picture of the future is full of gloom, you are
usually stuck with a very narrow range of possibilities about how things
can be.
When you
introduce hope to the situation, it's amazing how often other
possibilities start to emerge. So, for example, if you are locked in an
ongoing battle with your parents over their attitude to your sexuality, it
feels like every time you see each other you argue and every time you
argue you feel defeated.
If you
decided to get hold of your hope you might start to deliberately focus on
something positive about your parents. Next time they discount your
relationship, you might say “Mum/Dad, I feel really good that you
want me to be happy, and I really admire how you can hold on to
your beliefs. I’ve learnt a lot about that from you. I’d like to learn
more.”
This is not
an instant fix. But it does make a start. All of a sudden you’re showing
your parents that you don’t want to be at odds with them all the time.
Actually, despite your differences you like and respect something about
them.
It’s
a much more hopeful message for the relationship, because it tells your
parents that you value them and that you want to be comfortable to be
around them. It tells them that you see the relationship as being about
much more than the conflict going on at the moment. It suggests that you
have strong hopes of a respectful and admiring relationship with them in
the future.
The
great thing about hope is how infectious it is. At first your parents
might not even notice it. But sooner or later, they’ll warm to the
genuine compliment you offer. And so will you.
Yes
you will still feel hurt and frustrated because you want them to accept
who you are. But you will also create space for you to remember the love
between you. When the relationship between you feels good, your parents
might find themselves more able to stretch their world view and appreciate
the person you are.
When
you offer someone a hopeful picture of themselves and their relationships
it attracts them. They want to be part of it. They feel good when a skill
or a good intention is recognised. We all like to be around people who
have that knack of helping us feel good about ourselves.
The
more we are with people who give us hope, the more we start to become
people who act and think in a hopeful way.
So
introduce hope into your relationships. It's one infection you’ll really
enjoy.
If
you would like help to find the hope in your relationships, contact
Relationship Services on 0800 RELATE (0800 735 283) or your local office
which is listed in the telephone directory. Or visit us at www.relate.org.nz
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DEMAND FOR
YOUTH SERVICES
In
recent weeks a surprising number of young people have contacted the
Dunedin branch of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).
Erin, who monitors the cell phone service for PFLAG South, reports that
more calls have come from young gay, lesbian and bisexual people than from
parents. “The ratio is probably about 2 to 1,” she says.
“During
our initial phone conversation I suggest a meeting with a PFLAG South
member, usually in a coffee bar. It means I have to give a description of
the person they will be meeting. It might be ‘the grey-haired woman with
the big smile and even bigger handbag’. We haven’t missed anyone yet.
We don’t wear our PFLAG badges to identify ourselves as that might cause
embarrassment.”
“Sometimes
such a meeting is all that is needed,” says Erin. “We have a range of
resources we can give to young people when they are thinking about their
sexuality or about coming out to their parents. We also suggest they
attend our monthly meetings and most do. It can be very helpful for a
teenager to hear the experience of someone who has just come out to their
family and to hear the concerns of a parent prepares them for some of the
questions they might need to answer. Our PFLAG parents benefit too from
hearing the concerns of young people.”
“It’s
been a challenge to our group to provide for this unexpected response,”
says Erin, “but all of our members have personally experienced the
coming out process, either as parents or as gay or lesbian people, so in
PFLAG we have a valuable resource which we are able to offer to both the
gay and straight communities.”
“COUSINS
OF DOROTHY”
The
expression “Cousin (or "friend") of Dorothy” is one which
will be very familiar to older gay readers. It was a code message that
could be used in straight company to indicate that someone was gay or
lesbian. It carried with it a sense of belonging to a community, something
which the Dunedin queer community has experienced recently during Pride
Week. It is also experienced by members of PFLAG especially when
travelling. PFLAG South member, Sue Thompson, recently visited our the
PFLAG chapter in Melbourne. I asked her about it.
Before
I left for Melbourne, a friend suggested that perhaps for three weeks I
might concentrate on my new granddaughter and forget about PFLAG! Week one
(didn't last long!) I went walking and found myself down in Prahan,
standing with the pram and a rainbow flag outside "Hares and
Hyenas" bookshop! I heard there of some wonderful people at PFLAG
Melbourne. Couldn't resist and rang up. They were so friendly and
hospitable. I felt as if I was visiting friends. I was known and accepted
without having to explain. The password seems to be "I have a gay
son/daughter"! The PFLAG president was Nan McGregor, a dynamic lady.
We met at ICE Cafe and she presented me with an envelope of wonderfully
interesting things - PFLAG leaflets, key rings, fridge magnets and other
information about their publicity and work.
I
was also taken to and welcomed at their meeting, and asked to speak.
People were most interested to hear how it was in Dunedin and that so much
is being done in a city much smaller than Melbourne.
They presented a book of Australian Coming Out stories for PFLAG
South and also an educational programme designed to be used in rural
areas. It's called "Not Around Here" (a typical response to the
question, "How long would two lesbians/gays take to settle in this
district?") Another programme is being successfully run in schools by
a young gay man who is a youth worker. It's called "Pride and
Prejudice" and there is a video available which tells more about it.
I
gathered from parents that the level of homophobic bullying over the
Tasman has been bad. Some parents, even years afterwards, found it hard
when they spoke of things that had happened to their children. Nan said
that in her experience of speaking in schools that teachers often didn't
know how to deal with gay issues, either coming out or homophobia. There
was a huge response to a meeting at a Catholic school where 70 people had
turned up, instead of the expected 40, to hear Nan speak. It was
interesting to note that PFLAG over there has a most welcome attendance of
young people as well as parents, and that it enriches the meeting for
everyone. It is good to realise that it is happening here as well.
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by
Jane E Libeau
There
are no closed doors in life only those we are afraid to open for fear of
what is on the other side.
So when coming across a seemingly shut door, don’t assume
it is locked, or what lies behind it is too daunting to face. Step up to
it and knock loudly – and walk on through. If what you find is less than
what you expected remember that there are other doors. Keep knocking; keep
opening because every doorway is worth entering.
Take
a chance in life and know that where ever you are, is where you are meant
to be, and that an ending always makes way for a new beginning.
To
embark on any journey is full of mystery and unknowns, but by embracing
change we open ourselves to life’s many wonderful experiences.
So
stepping out into this world with arms and mind open we can expect to
receive all that life in her abundance has to offer.
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Richmond
Fellowship NZ
The
drinking of alcohol and the use of other drugs such as cannabis is very
much a part of many people’s lives here in Aotearoa. However, a
significant number will experience some problems as a result of that use.
How that difficulty is experienced may differ from one person to another,
but for many it will cause problems such as relationship difficulties,
high financial cost, legal problems, poor and deteriorating health and
fitness, loss of interest in recreational activities, missed days at work,
anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and intent, and aggressive
behaviour to name but a few.
We
are informed about safe drinking limits, aren’t we? Did you know that as
a general guide a sensible upper limit for adult men is no more than six
standard drinks on any one occasion. But for some people, once they start
drinking/drugging it is very difficult to constantly predict and control
how much they use and how often they use the substance. They also
experience that it is really hard - in fact sometimes it feels impossible
– to go more than two to three days without using alcohol and/or other
drugs because they feel physically and emotionally sick. They are possibly
experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal
symptoms common to most substances are restlessness, agitation, sweats,
tremors, heightened anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite and sleeping
difficulties. Supporting people need to manage these symptoms and to get
time that is free from alcohol and drug use is what the detox service is
all about.
We
are a “home-based” detox service and our experience, backed up by
overseas evidence, shows that a person supported in the comfort of their
own environment to withdraw from alcohol or other drugs is more likely to
be successful. Also, that person arrives in a better place both physically
and emotionally to be able to make better decisions regarding their
future.
The
detox service is available to people who live in Dunedin and surrounding
areas and it is run by professionals who are well experienced in the
alcohol and mental health fields. This is a free, confidential, 7-day
service. Self-referrals are accepted and to date over 50% come from this
source. Usually from our first phone contact we arrange a home visit to do
an initial assessment. Support people/whanau are welcome to be present and
involved. This assessment can take up to an hour and involves gathering
essential information including the following:
- Motivation to undertake the detoxification.
- That the home is an appropriate and safe environment to manage a
detox. (A short-term residential bed may be considered in some
circumstances.)
- That there is no physical or mental illness that may compromise a
detox being managed in the home.
- That
a GP is available should there be a need for symptomatic relief
medication and to arrange any medical investigations as seen as
appropriate.
Following
assessment, a commencement time and date is negotiated. The time involved
in every detox is guided by the person’s physical and emotional state
and the substance involved. Normally it can vary from seven to fourteen
days. However, the person can be sure that the service will visit at a
minimum at least once a day with all contact prearranged to suit.
Our
goal is to support the person into a period of being alcohol and/or drug
free safely and effectively, and also to offer education and information
with ongoing recommendations and referrals as required. For all inquiries
phone 471-6170.
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by Stephanie
Read, Health Promotion Advisor, Public Health South
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in
men aged 15-34 years. Compared with other cancers it is relatively rare,
so there is no need for panic. The risk of developing testicular cancer in
your lifetime is approximately 1 in 500, but for young men it is the one
to watch out for. Caucasian men are more at risk than other ethnic groups;
why no-one knows but it’s something for the researchers to chip away at.
Even though it is more common in young males,
testicular cancer can also occur in late adulthood, so don’t get
complacent just because you’ve turned 40 - there is still a lot of life
left!
Testicular cancer has a good cure rate,
especially if detected early. Diagnosis of testicular cancer usually
starts with self-discovery. The key message is to check for lumps and
bumps regularly. If you find anything suspicious go and see your doctor
straight away.
Self
Examination Tips:
Best performed after a warm bath or shower as
heat relaxes the scrotum, making it easier to spot anything abnormal.
There is no need to ignore your partner in this equation as they often
find abnormalities. “Self” in this case really means not a medical
practitioner. You might want to try checking out each other’s balls
every now and then.
- Stand in front of a mirror; check for any swelling on the scrotum
skin.
- Examine each testicle with both hands. Place the index and middle
fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the
testicle gently between the thumb and fingers. Don’t be alarmed if
one seems slightly larger than the other - that’s normal.
- Find the epididymis, the soft, tubelike structure behind the
testicle that collects and carries sperm. If you are familiar with
this structure, you won’t mistake it for a suspicious lump.
Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides of the testicle but can
also show up on the front.
- If you find a lump, see a doctor right away. The abnormality may not
be cancer, but if it is, the chances are it could spread if not
stopped by treatment. Only a physician can make a positive diagnosis.
Fear or self-consciousness is not a good reason
to ignore this part of your health. Wishing will not make it go away and
the sooner testicular cancer is treated the better the outcomes. Even
though the cure rate is very high for all types and stages of testicular
cancer, many of the drastic measures taken to cure later-stage disease can
be avoided if the tumour is caught early enough. The best way to do this
is through regular self-examination.
The message is: keep an eye on your balls, and if
you find something unusual see your doctor about it straight away!!!
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by Tony Weisstein
Hi again! It’s been a while since the last
column in this series, but let’s jump right in and take a look at
another argument used to justify prejudice and discrimination against
lesbians and gay men. Our target this time: “Gay men are promiscuous.”
The first obvious problem with this statement is
the implication that it applies universally. Plenty of gay men - more than
you might expect - choose either celibacy or monogamy, and many of the
rest of us have dating lives a lot closer to “Will and Grace” than to
“Queer as Folk".
That said, several studies have found that gay
men have more sexual partners on average than straight men, simply
because there are guys out there who really rack up the numbers in this
department. Whether you consider such behaviour immoral, studly or just
very time-consuming, the fact remains: on the whole, gay men are gettin’
more than our heterosexual counterparts. No wonder straight guys don’t
like us.
But the story doesn’t end there. The usual
subtext behind the promiscuity charge isn’t about behaviour - it’s
about psychological pathology. After all, if gay men are running around
all day having sex, then surely that means they’re sex maniacs, right?
Well, some recent research at Illinois State University looked at this
very issue and yielded some interesting findings. (As always, we need to
bear in mind that the results of a single scientific study don’t
necessarily represent the Ultimate Truth.)
The study measured how interested men and women,
both gay and straight, are in having casual sex. They found that interest
levels for gay and straight men are about equal. Ditto for lesbians and
straight women. The big difference was gender: men were much more
interested than women in having casual sex. (This is one of those “They
needed a study to show that?” results.)
So the reason straight men have fewer partners
isn’t that they don’t want to have lots of sex, it’s just
that their potential partners are more likely to tell them to piss off.
Now, if you want to, you can go ahead and condemn actions you’d gladly
engage in yourself if only you had the chance, but your moral high ground
is starting to look a bit shaky here.
In the end, some folks simply like to have sex
with lots of people and some folks don’t. So long as people are making
informed and responsible decisions about their own behaviour, is that
really a problem?
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Answers to the Queer Quiz are:
1. kd lang
2. Dunedin
3. Lillie
Langtry
4. San
Francisco
5. 1969
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This
year a record number of openly queer candidates stood in the general
election. There was a total of 15 - 6 from the Labour Party, 5 from the
Green Party, 2 from the Alliance, 1 from Jim Anderton's Progressive
Coalition and 1 from Act. In the end only three of these were successful
in getting into Parliament - Tim Barnett (Christchurch Central), Chris
Carter (Te Atatu) and Georgina Beyer (Wairarapa) who were all re-elected
with very comfortable majorities. All three of these MPs are from the
Labour Party.
At
the time of writing this, it has not yet been announced exactly what the
government for the next three years will look like but it will be a Labour-led
government. The percentage of the vote and the number of seats that each
party ended up with is indicated in the table below (although this is
before the special votes have been tallied so things may change a bit!):
|
PARTY
|
%
OF VOTES
|
NO.
OF SEATS
|
|
Labour
|
41%
|
52
|
|
National
|
21%
|
27
|
|
NZ
First
|
11%
|
13
|
|
Act
|
7%
|
9
|
|
United
Future NZ
|
7%
|
9
|
|
Greens
|
6%
|
8
|
|
Progressive
Coalition
|
1.75%
|
2
|
At
this stage it's looking like the other players, in addition to Labour, are
going to be the Progressive Coalition, the Greens and potentially United
Future. So, where does each of these parties stand on queer issues and can
we rely on them for supporting legislation like the Civil Union Bill and
adoption by same-sex couples?
The Labour Party
Labour has developed a Rainbow Policy that encompasses
community development, human rights, family law, youth, health and
government expertise. This policy includes a commitment to introduce
legislation for civil unions to give recognition to same-sex relationships
and to provide rights equivalent to those of marriage. Labour also claims
that it will change the adoption law that currently discriminates on the
basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and instead focus on the
needs of the child.
The Rainbow Policy also talks about ensuring that the
standards required by the Human Rights Act are met by government and that
legislation will be introduced to include gender identity as a prohibited
ground of discrimination in the Human Rights Act. In addition, remaining
laws that cause unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
or gender identity will be amended.
Labour's policy recognises that GLBT youth are entitled
to equality and respect whether they be at school, tertiary institutions
or the workplace. Labour will require educational institutions to ensure
GLBT students are safe and face no barriers to being open about their
sexuality or gender identity and will ensure that the Youth Suicide
Prevention Strategy recognises the importance of preventive work amongst
GLBT youth.
The Other Players
So what about the other parties that Labour may be relying on
to help pass this legislation?
The Green Party is quite clearly fully supportive of ensuring
that queer people have equal rights and changing laws that discriminate
against people on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
In information provided to the OGT the Green Party described their
position as follows:
"The Green Party supports human rights for
everyone irrespective of the categories into which one individual or group
may fit. We do not just uphold "rights", we positively embrace
differences and believe they enrich the entire human family. The Green
Party believes marriage should be available to all citizens irrespective
of sexual orientation."
Being a left political party Jim Anderton's Progressive
Coalition will no doubt be able to be counted on to provide support on
progressing civil rights for queer people.
However, it could be a bit of a different story when it
comes to United Future NZ. As a pretty unknown quantity and a surprise
winner on election night, Peter Dunne and his eight colleagues may not be
easily convinced that queer people should have the same rights and
responsibilities under the law as non-queer people.
In
a message from Peter Dunne on the United Future NZ's web page he writes,
"We say it is time to rekindle the traditional New Zealand values of
compassion, honesty, personal responsibility, reliability, trust and
effort on which our country was founded. It is time to recognise again the
key role of the family, and that strong and healthy families are the
pathway to a strong and healthy society." Potentially there's nothing
wrong with this statement at all, but it totally depends on how you define
a "strong and healthy family". And, for someone who lived in the
US for a number of years, this kind of rhetoric definitely has undertones
of the "family values" of the conservative right.
The
first issue of express newspaper to come out after the election
included an interview with two members of United Future NZ who are now in
Parliament - Gordon Copeland and Larry Baldock. In the article we learn
that Copeland "cites his opposition to the Property Relationships Act
as the catalyst for joining the party and declares proposed Civil Union
legislation an 'absolute minefield'". A bit later in the interview
Copeland says, "I don't believe in making homosexuals criminals, but
I do support the moral teaching of the church on the morality of, not just
homosexuals, but on a whole range of issues."
Larry
Baldock's views on civil unions and queer families are reported in express
as follows: "He is neutral on the civil unions concept, 'provided it
doesn't weaken the institution of marriage' but opposes prostitution
decriminalisation, same sex couples adopting children ('research shows
children are best raised by a mother and a father') and any move towards
same sex marriage." Interestingly, recent international research has
also shown that children raised by same-sex couples are just as well
adjusted as other children and do just as well in school.
So,
the next three years are going to be interesting ones from a political
perspective for our communities. We have the opportunity to progress a lot
of legislation that will provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people with rights that are already enjoyed by our heterosexual
counterparts. It will take some work - but it will be worth it!
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A Rainbow Labour Branch is currently in the process of
being formally established in Dunedin. Following meetings in the city on
June 22 and July 20, it was decided that there was enough interest to get
the group going.
There are five other Rainbow Labour Branches throughout
the country - one in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton and two in
Auckland. The first branch was established in 1997 and Rainbow Labour is
now recognised as an official sector within the Party with its own
representation at the highest levels of the party.
The reasons why Rainbow Labour Branches exist include
the following:
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To
act as lobby groups.
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To
support queer MPs.
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To
provide a voice for the queer community within the Labour Party.
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To
influence Labour policy, government policy and New Zealand legislation
in order to change the laws that discriminate against our communities.
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To
advocate for equal rights for queer people.
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To
educate people (both within our queer communities and outside them)
about the issues and laws that affect us, and changes that need to be
made.
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The next meeting of the Dunedin Rainbow Labour Branch
will be held on Saturday August 31 at 2:30pm at the Plunket Family Centre
(2 St David St, cnr St David St and George St). Thereafter the group will
meet at the same time and place on the last Saturday of every month. Tim
Barnett MP (Christchurch Central) and a member of the Christchurch Rainbow
Labour Branch will attend the August meeting to talk to the group and
answer any questions we might have.
Anyone is welcome to join the Dunedin Rainbow Labour
Branch, to become actively involved or to come along to a meeting. Rainbow
Labour Branches can decide for themselves which issues they want to work
on so we'll be discussing this at upcoming meetings. If you have any
questions or would like any further information, then contact Barb and Tor
on [email protected] or 453-1108.
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by Steve Attwood
South Island Health Promoter for the
NZAF Gay Men’s Health Programme
In the last issue of Otago Gaily Times there was
a call for urgent work to be done in Dunedin to combat homophobia. This
followed the experience of Mark, who was assaulted in what appeared to be
gay hate crime.
Mark’s call has, at least in part, already been
taken up by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF). For about two years
now the Gay Men’s Health team of the NZAF has offered education and
health workers a four-hour professional development workshop on
recognising and dealing with homophobia and heterosexism. The workshop is
called Who Are You Hurting? He Aha Te Utu? (What is the cost?).
The South Island centre that has booked this
workshop the most has been Dunedin. As many of the people who have
attended these workshops have been teachers and/or youth workers, youth
counsellors etc., it is to be hoped that their adoption of anti-homophobic
practices will have at least some beneficial impact on the attitudes of
the wider Dunedin community, albeit probably a long term one.
Who Are You Hurting? He Aha Te Utu? was developed
by the NZAF as a means of combating the spread of HIV among
men-who-have-sex-with-men. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest
that people subjected to homophobia are less likely to be able, or
willing, to negotiate safer sexual practices. However, it is our belief
that the benefits of the workshop are wider than that. All members of the
queer/takataapui community stand to benefit if we can reduce homophobia in
our communities, especially among education and health professionals, who
not only influence the attitudes of the young, but are often the first
resource young people dealing with a “different” sexuality will turn
to for help.
Studies show that young queer/takataapui folk are
over-represented in suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, other self-harm
behaviours (including unsafe sex) and poor mental health statistics such
as depression, isolation and anxiety. They are also over-represented in
homelessness statistics, as the victims of school bullying and as victims
of community violence. None of this is because being queer is, in itself,
an illness or a weakness, but because of the messages young people who are
other than heterosexual get from others about who they are. It’s hard to
stay well and be motivated to succeed at school when you’re being told
you’re rubbish all the time. Therefore dealing to homophobia is an
important public health and education issue. It is also being increasingly
recognised as an issue that impacts on crime.
Who Are You Hurting? He Aha Te Utu? is available
to any health and education workers (in the widest possible sense) either
by attending a “general” workshop (usually hosted by local health
promotion agencies such as Public Health South in Dunedin), or it can be
booked as a work-based workshop for all or a number of staff in one
institution.
While not specifically designed for this purpose,
it has also proved to be of benefit to queer folk as a means of self
understanding and combating internalised homophobia. Anyone who is
interested in helping promote this workshop to Dunedin health and/or
education organisations, or who would like to attend a workshop themselves
or organise one for their group, can contact me via the following:
Steve Attwood, Health Promoter, NZAF
PO Box 21-285, Edgeware, Christchurch
Ph (03) 379-1953, Cell Ph (027) 496-5427
Email [email protected]
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The
Ettie Rout Centre in Christchurch provides the following services:
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Information
on HIV and AIDS.
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Free
and anonymous counselling and HIV antibody testing for people who
might be at risk of HIV infection.
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Individual
counselling and support for people living with HIV and people living
with AIDS.
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Support
and counselling for families and friends of people living with HIV and
AIDS.
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Assistance
with maintaining safer sex and drug use.
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Sexual
health counselling for men who have sex with men.
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Appointments
are recommended and are available Monday to Friday between 9am and noon
and between 1pm and 5pm.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Ettie
Rout Centre
31
Asaph Street, PO Box 21-285, Christchurch
Phone:
03-379-1953, Fax: 03-365-2477
E-mail:
[email protected]
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The second Otago Festival of the Arts takes place
in Dunedin from Friday 4th October until Sunday 13th October.
The 2002 Festival boasts more than 40 different events
packed into ten days. With the Festival’s “something for
everyone” philosophy, theatre, music, dance and visual arts are all
well represented. Once again audiences will be treated to extraordinary
and once-in-a-lifetime experiences as international artists share billing
with New Zealand performers.
Dunedin was abuzz in October 2000 (when the first
Otago Festival of the Arts took place) as a result of the dazzling line up
of performances. This year’s Festival guarantees an equally impressive
and diverse programme with performances ranging from high octane
explosiveness to sublime beauty.
The Dunedin Fringe Festival will also be part of
the mix with a programme of fringe events running from September 27th
to October 6th.
So, clear your diaries now and start saving some
dollars in readiness for a great arts roller-coaster ride.
Contact
for enquiries: Lindsay Somerville, phone (03) 477-7600 or e-mail [email protected].
A full programme of events is available online (at www.otagofestival.co.nz
).
There isn’t room here to list all the events
taking place during the Festival, so here are just a couple to whet your
appetite.
Wilderness / Weather
11 & 12 October 2002, Kavanagh Auditorium
Michael Parmenter is recognised as one of New
Zealand’s most highly regarded dancers and choreographers. Dunedin
audiences will remember his stunning production Jerusalem that
premiered here three years ago. And now in Wilderness, Parmenter's experience of a life-threatening illness is transposed into
a powerful stage image of the body intimately imbedded in the natural
process of growth and decay.
Accompanied by a specially commissioned score
from Japanese composer Somei Satoh, Michael Parmenter takes us on an
extraordinary journey, which had critics at its Wellington premiere
reaching for superlatives: " … rich in content and performed
with great intensity".
In his new work Weather, Parmenter's
ongoing concerns with the exterior influences on dance movement are
expanded by his recent investigations into interior impulses. In Weather,
we see the dancing body under threat from both inside and outside, and
this feeling of dread is intensified by Michael Gordon's extraordinary
musical score.
Wilderness / Weather promise to be both a radical assault on conventional
dance expectations and a powerful and engaging theatrical experience.
Mika Haka
8 October, Regent Theatre
Direct from the Edinburgh Festival, Mika Haka
is a blockbuster show. It is the youthful and exciting face of New Zealand
today. Mika Haka is a song and dance spectacular that merges
ancient traditions with new urban styles. It stars Maori showman Mika and
his young and funky Polynesian dancecrew Torotoro. Their
high-energy performance is delivered to a rich sound track of big-beat
dance anthems with lyrics in Maori and English. Mika Haka is a
sharp new hybrid of Maori, Pacific and global culture.
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by Victoria Devereux
We laughed, we cried, we despaired and we
delighted in seeing images of ourselves and our lives, in all their glory
and their complexity, on the big screen.
Early in June Dunedin was host to a mini version
of the Out Takes gay and lesbian film festival. This was the second time
that a selection of films from Out Takes has been brought to Dunedin and
overall the event was better supported this year than last which will most
likely mean that we get to experience a weekend of queer films again in
2003 - yeah!!!
Out Takes Dunedin 2002 was primarily organised by
Reel Queer Inc., a group based in Wellington and Auckland that organises
New Zealand's annual gay and lesbian film festival. Locally Out Takes was
supported by DykeWorks and Metro Cinema, the venue for the film
screenings. In addition, financial support was received from the Dunedin
City Council through the Creative New Zealand Creative Communities Dunedin
Scheme.
Metro Cinema provides the perfect venue for this
film festival - it's small and cosy and just like being at home with all
your friends. The atmosphere at all the films I attended was great and
there was a real sense of anticipation and excitement in the air which
underlines how rare and special it is for us to experience our own queer
culture in a safe, friendly and supportive environment.
Out Takes Dunedin 2002 included 5 different films
with 7 screenings. The films themselves were a real mixture from the quite
light to the serious, dark and macabre with some unexpected twists here
and there and some discussion-provoking characters thrown into the mixture
as well.
According to a recent press release from Reel
Queer, "This year's festival [Out Takes] has been extremely
successful … and attracted its largest audience ever since the festival
began in Wellington in 1995." In the same press release a Reel Queer
committee member says, " …we are getting really positive feedback
about the festival from a broad cross-section of the community. Young gays
and lesbians are growing up with access to positive images of themselves
and their community."
Out Takes is predominantly a labour of love with
most of the work required to organise and run the festival being done on a
voluntary basis. So, if anyone in Dunedin would like to be involved with
bringing Out Takes back to the city next year, then please contact Gavin
from Reel Queer in Wellington ([email protected]) or Victoria from
DykeWorks in Dunedin ([email protected]
).
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Women's Spring Ball, Saturday August 31, Deaf Society Hall, 232 Armagh St, ChCh, 8pm to
late, BYO, Supper, Entertainment, DJ & Bands. Tickets $10-$20. For
more information contact Otautahi Lesbian Outpost, PO Box 10049, ChCh or [email protected]
LICCs
(Lesbians In Classic Cars) & CLITs (Classic Lesbians In Transport)
Spring Car Rally,
Sunday September 1, meet at Unity Park at 11am. For more information
e-mail [email protected]
or phone 487-8965.
Gay
Ski Week New Zealand, 7-15 September, Queenstown, www.gayskiweeknewzealand.com
(See page 7 for more details)
Queen
of the South,
Saturday September 14, venue TBA. For information contact Pride Dunedin ([email protected]
).
Otago
Festival of the Arts, 4-13 October. For more information contact Lindsay
Somerville on 477-7600 or [email protected]
or check out the full programme at www.otagofestival.co.nz
A
Walk on the Queer Side
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Sunday
August 25 - Street walk around Maori Hill & Balmacewen
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Sunday
September 29 - Steve Amies Track, Whare Flat
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Sunday
October 20 - Lee Stream, Outram Glen
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For
all of the walks, meet at the duck pond at Woodhaugh Gardens at 2pm.
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Vivace
Bar at ReFuel,
Otago University Campus, under the Union Hall, gay bar every other
Saturday night.
Lesbians
Over 35yrs meet
every Wednesday night 5:30pm.
E-mail
[email protected]
Ascent
Coffee Evenings, every 2nd and last Friday of the month at 9:00pm at Robert Harris Café
(cnr of High St and Princes St), upstairs in the balcony area.
Glenaven
Methodist Church, Chambers St, North East Valley. A “reconciling congregation” which
affirms and includes men & women, young & old, gay & straight,
people from different cultures & social backgrounds. Services are on
Sundays at 11am preceded by morning tea at 10:40am, www.dunedinmethodist.org.nz
Lesbians
at Arc,
an over 35 lesbian group meets at Arc (135 High St) every Wednesday from
5:30pm onwards.
COQ on Wednesdays, Lounge Bar, Southern Cross (lower High St) from 9pm. Unofficial social
coQtails, all welcome - join the crew.
Round
The Bend Radio, Sundays, 10-11pm, Radio One, 91 FM.
Dunedin
Rainbow Labour Branch Meeting, Saturday August 31 (and thereafter the last Saturday of
every month), 2:30pm, Plunket Family Centre, 2 St David St (cnr St David
St and George St). All welcome. E-mail [email protected]
or phone 453-1108 if you have any questions. (See page 10 for more
details)
WAQD
social support group for queer women, weekly meetings/social lunches, Wednesdays, 12-2pm,
Women’s Room, 2nd floor, University Union. All queer women welcome.
UniQ
Lunches,
Thursdays 12-2pm, Clubs & Societies Building, University of Otago (84
Albany Street).
Queer
Beers (run
by UniQ), Thursday evenings, Abalone’s (cnr George St and Hanover St).
PolyQ
Lunches,
Wednesdays, 12-1pm. Contact UniQ.
Pride
Dunedin Extraordinary Meeting, Monday August 19, 7pm, Princess Room, Chancellor Hotel
(Princes St). (See page 5 for more details)
Planet
Pancake open
Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5:30pm, Friday 8:30am-9:00pm, Saturday-Sunday
9:30am-5:30pm
For other listings see the "Links"
section of our website
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