Ruthie and Connie (USA, 2002) - In 1959 Ruthie and Connie had been
housewives and best friends for 18 years in a close-knit Jewish community
in Brooklyn. Then the unthinkable happened - they fell in love. A major
award-winner, this inspirational documentary traces the lives two feisty
women who risked all for their love. This is a wonderful tale about two
lively and inquisitive women who love life and each other – and who
bicker like mad.
You 2 (The Netherlands, 2001) - The Surinamer culture is tolerant and laid back
– all is fine and well as long as no one talks about it. In this
fictional take on a very real dilemma, Sandra thinks she has a lot to lose
by coming out to her mother and their close-knit community.
Nine Dead Gay Guys (UK, 2002) - Not for the politically correct, this
outrageous caper is the story of Kenny and Byron, two rent boys from
Belfast stumbling through London’s underground gay scene in search of
gainful employment to subsidise their giros. When their principal source
of income meets an untimely end, they are forced to look elsewhere. It is
then that they hear of a stash of money that one of their clients, an
orthodox Jew, keeps in his bed. Along the way they have to deal with an
angry dwarf and several well-endowed African boys, among others – and
all the while the dead gay bodies keep piling up …
Reservoir Dykes (a selection of short films) - Imagine if lesbians were in charge of
Hollywood … Marilyn Monroe and Bette Davis would star in an elaborate
Sapphic musical called Stealing Horses (USA, 1998, 4 mins).
Medieval machinations would be between Eleanor and her mistress in The
Strawberry Harvest (UK, 2001, 25 mins). The lesbo-erotic subtext of
Disney fairytales would take centre stage as a Helpless Maiden Makes An
I Statement (Canada, 2000, 6 mins) while handcuffed in a dungeon.
Cinemas would screen From Queer To Eternity, Taxi Lesbian, Good
Faigolas and Reservoir Dykes (USA, 2002, 8 mins). Fairytales
would be wild and wacky as four Pretty Ladies (USA, 2002, 30 mins)
let us indulge in their individual night time fantasies – where everyone
gets their girl.
Where The Boys Are (a selection of short films) - This collection of
boys shorts kicks off with three hysterical – and vicious – scene
queens preparing for a night out in I Hate Faggy Fag Fag (USA,
2000, 10 mins), followed by a nerdy 12 year old’s ode Jan Michael
Vincent Is My Muse (USA, 2002, 6 mins). A man confronts his childhood
fears in the poignant and beautiful Contact (Australia, 2002, 17
mins), while Hung Frankenstein (USA, 2002, 16 mins) is a creature
of inhuman proportions. During a weekend trip Mads has to deal with how
Kristian loses his innocence in Summer Blues (Norway, 2002, 25
mins). And, finally, the cute young things in LTR (USA, 2002, 16
mins) have been together for two weeks … could this be the elusive Long
Term Relationship?
Between Two Women (UK, 2001) - It is 1957. Ellen Hardy is unhappily
married but is close to her ten year old son Victor. Suffocated by the
working class mores of small town Huddersfield both Ellen and Victor focus
their attentions on local schoolteacher Kathy, who is keen to encourage
Victor’s art. As the friendship between the women grows, Ellen is torn
between her duties as a wife and mother and a fear of admitting her own
true feelings for Kathy. The burgeoning relationship between the two women
marks the start of Ellen’s journey beyond a loveless marriage and the
stifling conventions of Huddersfield.
The Sex Hour (a selection of films) - Hot Brazilian boys and cool nights on Hampstead
Heath feature in this steamy collection for the boys. The Sex Hour (Brazil,
2001, 4 mins) is the best time of the day – when the boyfriend gets home
from a hard day’s work and needs some relaxing. Leo is a hustler who
steals from his pimp, getting himself into way too much trouble in Fake
Vuitton (Brazil, 2002, 16 mins). And, finally, The Truth About Gay
Sex (UK, 2001, 51 mins) is a comprehensive look at the ins and outs of
everything gay men do to get off. Whatever your personal fetish or desire,
it is likely explained here. Doctors, sex parlour owners and proficient
practitioners use charts, diagrams, raw video footage and the odd
watermelon to show how it’s all done.
Dyke-u-mentaries (a selection of documentaries)
Body: A Woman’s Definition (USA, 2002, 41 mins) – This surprisingly
moving film follows eight lesbian body builders from their gyms in San
Francisco to the 1998 Gay Games. As these striking women talk about how
becoming increasingly muscular transformed their lives, it becomes clearer
why they stick to the rigorous and sometimes contradictory discipline of
women’s body building.
No Dumb Questions (USA, 2001, 24 mins) - A funny and heart-warming
documentary in which three sisters (aged 6, 9 and 11) struggle to
understand why and how their Uncle Bill is becoming Aunt Barbara.
Lesbian In Kautokeino (Norway, 2001, 25 mins) - Marjit Buljo was driven
away from her village three years ago and courageously travels back to try
and heal the wounds. A fascinating insight into the Sami culture in a
remote part of Norway.
Queen Of The Whole Wide World (USA, 2001) - Warning! This film is highly
contagious. This spirited drag-umentary follows the trials and
tribulations of the seven semi-finalists competing for the Queen of the
Whole Wide World title in Los Angeles, a send-up spoof of the Miss America
pageant. No matter that Miss Antarctica is snow blind and needs a
seeing-eye walrus, that Miss Saudi Arabia has to wear her swimsuit over
her clothes or that Miss Norway is a black muscleman, the proceeds go to
raise a bundle for people living with HIV and AIDS. Each queen pulls out
all the stops in their quest to win the coveted title of Queen of the
Whole Wide World.
The Truth About Jane (USA, 2000) - A close mother/daughter relationship
goes haywire when daughter Jane comes out. Jane is an everyday, ordinary
girl at high school and things are going fine. Then she meets the
new-girl-on-the-block Taylor and slides headlong into confusion and love.
An obscene phone call and an outrageous excuse later, Jane comes out, only
to find it doesn’t end there. She discovers she also has to deal with
the reaction of her mother, father and peers.
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The
Word Out There
The Word Out There is a column in the OGT
that's all about finding out what different people in our community think
about certain issues. In each issue of the OGT we ask a range of
queer/GLBT individuals a question and print their answers.
QUESTION:
What issues do you think you will face as you age as a GLBT/queer
person?
Barb, lesbian, 35 years old
The concept of ageing raises more questions than answers for me. It leads
me to contemplate power of attorney papers, my health and mortality, and
my place in the “community”. As I age will there be an increasing
number of people who assume my sexuality to be straight? Will it take more
energy to out myself as a 70 year old than as a 30 year old? Will the
queer community include me in their ideology of lesbian? Financial
planning for retirement is promoted, but where does one go for guidance
about everything else associated with growing old and at what stage of my
life will I accept this term?
Nathan, gay man, 23 years old
Ageing for me now means where I think I will be at 35. Once I get to that
milestone, I expect that I will start to have ideas about what life might really
be like when I start to age. In the meantime when retirement enters the
conversation over a bottle of bubbly visions of lonely, wealthy, dirty,
old men with gardener toy boys always seem to surface.
Wendy, lesbian, 52 years old
A bit thought provoking this one … Through each significant stage in my
life I have gathered people and activities around me which support and
nurture the changes and challenges of each new era. The issues for me, I
would also see as significant for all women as they grow older. As a
woman, menopause, lifestyle and body image adjustments are significant and
will become interwoven into my understanding of myself as a lesbian woman.
But hey, I’m only 52, so I might be wrong!
Grant, gay man, 24 years old
The main issue for me is being single. As I get older singlehood becomes
more of a hole you’re stuck in; the older you get the deeper the hole
seems to get, especially as peers pair up around you. And, as a Drag
Queen, people can find it hard to separate the person from the persona so
never get to know the person. Another issue for me is the queer community
as a whole; as I age and our community becomes more accepted and
mainstream the need for “community” may become less and less. So, a
commitment to the community as a fantastic entity that needs protecting
from complacency and neglect is an issue for me, as I get older.
Sarah, lesbian, 18 years old
"Child" as I am, I can only really bear to look at this in
terms of the next decade or
so. I suppose one issue that I see ahead is my hope for a gay/lesbian
community which I can be involved in where a "party" culture
isn't a given. Other than that is what the future holds in terms of
"out"ness within the workplace - it would be nice if there could
an environment unlike the frustrating "we know but we won't talk
about it" attitude I found throughout secondary school.
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Being
Queer At Work
by
Marie Metcalfe
Always the feeling, do I tell? Should I tell? What will it mean for me?
To be out is to stop the lying, stop the hiding. But to be out is to risk
being stared out, gossiped about, hassled. It’s a hard decision, and it
depends a lot on the situation - company policy, co-workers’
expectations, informal norms … I have only come out in one workplace
situation, and that was only after my co-worker came out to me! Somehow it
made it a lot easier.
In other situations, I have just smiled and given my usual vague answer
to the usual question, oh so do you have a boyfriend? I’ve ignored a lot
of homophobic jokes, thinking the hassle is just not worth it. I’ve even
ignored it when people hassled other co-workers for “looking” gay. By
doing so, I kept myself safe, I never got hassled. But by ignoring these
behaviours, I myself perpetuated the heterosexism, condoned the
homophobia.
Sometimes I get so angry that it’s an issue, that I have to make this
decision. We live in New Zealand already, theoretically, a pretty
progressive society on queer issues. Our legislation’s not too bad, at
least compared to other countries. Under the Human Rights Act it is
illegal to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation, whereby
sexual orientation is defined as heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian or
bisexual orientation. This applies to the areas of employment,
accommodation, provision of goods and services, access to public services
and education. It is also illegal to sexually harass anyone, including
harassment on the basis of sexual orientation. Sounds great, eh?! Well,
except for all those people whose sexual identities don’t fit into those
categories … the law does not ban discrimination against transgender and
intersex people, as well as Maori and Pacific Island sexual and/or gender
identities such as takataapui, fa’afafine, mahu and fakafafine.
So, does the reality of being queer at work reflect the legislation?
Sometimes, sometimes not. For my dissertation proposal, I looked at queer
women’s experiences at work. The research is pretty sparse, especially
in relation to New Zealand, but they all agree on one thing:
discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in employment
continues to exist in New Zealand.
Raven (1992) conducted interviews with 23 lesbians who were employed by
the Department of Social Welfare The interviewees reported regular
harassment related to their sexual identity, which included “complaints
about unfeminine clothing appearances, discrediting of professional
performance, the threat of allegations of sexual misconduct against
clients, concerns about biased and “unprofessional” judgements, and
sexual harassment”. In order to “survive” in the workplace,
interviewees outlined two main coping strategies. Firstly, they could
become “well-behaved” by adjusting their opinions and appearances.
Alternatively, they could become high achievers for the organisation in an
effort to make their sexual identity a secondary issue in the workplace.
Atmore (1990) investigated how six self-identified lesbians represented
their workplace experiences, particularly in relation to their sexual,
class and ethnic identities. None of the women were completely closeted in
their current jobs, nor were any completely out. Their decision to come
out depended on the perceived costs and benefits, which were dependent
upon the work environment and the type of political beliefs they held.
Some of the costs included harassment and being defined solely in terms of
their sexual identity. As one respondent commented, “I’d have to be a
full-time lesbian … the authority on matters lesbian, have a sense of
humour but also have a firm jaw 24 hours of a working day”. Does this
sound familiar to anyone?! The benefits included an improved situation, an
alleviation of some of the costs of being closeted, not being seen as a
potential romantic partner and being able to talk about their lives
outside work.
Rankine’s survey (1997) is the most comprehensive account of lesbian
and bisexual women’s experiences of discrimination in New Zealand. The
results reveal that, in general, 75% of respondents had experienced verbal
harassment because of their sexual identity. In addition, 8% of the women
reported regular verbal abuse, 14% experienced physical assault, 32% had
been threatened with violence and 62% feared for their safety at least
once. Maori women were more likely to have experienced verbal abuse,
assault and threats of violence than Pakeha or immigrant women.
With regards to employment, 63% of respondents have hidden their sexual
identity at work in order to avoid workplace discrimination. Respondents
used a range of tactics to hide their sexual identity, including dressing
in “feminine” clothes, not bringing their partner to work functions,
hiding or not displaying books, posters or domestic items related to
lesbianism in their homes and avoiding discussing or defending
homosexuality with heterosexual co-workers. Other tactics for avoiding
discrimination included moving to a more tolerant locale and socialising
mainly or exclusively with gay, lesbian and bisexual people (Rankine,
1997).
In terms of workplace discrimination, 9% reported being dismissed because
of their sexual identity, 5% indicated that they had been refused a job,
8% had been denied promotion and 22% were harassed. In addition, 31% of
respondents reported being treated differently than heterosexual
co-workers and 40% were treated differently by heterosexual co-workers.
Maori women were more likely to be dismissed from a job, denied a job or
promotion and/or harassed because of their sexual identity than Pakeha and
immigrant women (Rankine, 1997).
References:
Atmore, C. (1990). “Everything Isn’t For Everybody”: Some
Experiences Of Being Lesbian In The Workplace. Victoria University:
Wellington.
Rankine, J. (1997). The Great Late Lesbian And Bisexual Women’s
Discrimination Survey. Discrimination Survey: Auckland.
Raven, A. (1992). “Lesbians And Equal Employment Policy In The State
Sector”. In C. Briar, R. Munford, & M. Nash, Superwoman, Where
Are You? Social Policy And Women’s Experience. Dunmore Press:
Palmerston North.
Top of the Page
Gay
Queenstown
Recently
a gay Queenstown web page has been set up to provide information about
Queenstown to the gay community within New Zealand and overseas.
Accommodation and activities can be booked from the web page and there’s
other information there too about things such as dining out and shopping.
As
the web page says, “With a name like Queenstown you should already feel
at home and we even have streets with names such as Camp, Shotover and
Man.” So, if you’re thinking about a trip away or know people who are
travelling to Queenstown, then check out www.gayqueenstown.com
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PFLAG
Office
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays) now has an office. Here are the details:
1st floor, 326 Moray Place,
Dunedin (within the offices of the Dunedin Methodist Mission)
Office telephone: 477-2000
Help line: 025-686-9304
Email: [email protected]
Postal address: PO Box 5266,
Dunedin
Hours: 10am to 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays
Top of the Page
Coming
Out As Transgender
The following is taken from the website of the
Human Rights Campaign, a national American organisation that works for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights (www.hrc.org/ncop/).
Just as many gay, lesbian and bisexual people
come out about their sexual orientations, some people examine, redefine
and acknowledge their gender identities, or how they understand their
gender as a man, woman or somewhere in between.
Some people say they have felt trapped in the
wrong body for as long as they can remember and, at an early age, redefine
their gender. Others don't come out until middle age and still others
don't realize or aren't able to be honest with themselves until they are
seniors. Whenever or however a person comes out, it is important to
remember that gender varies and many people don't fit neatly into one
narrow definition.
There are many different ways that transgender
people identify themselves, including as a transsexual or simply as
transgender. Transgender is an umbrella term that describes anyone
expressing characteristics that don't correspond with those traditionally
ascribed to the person's sex or presumed sex, as well as transsexual
people and cross-dressers. It is not a sexual orientation. Unlike sex,
which is biological and based on characteristics such as reproductive
organs and chromosomes, gender is a social construct and can be displayed
by appearance and behavior, including clothing, hairstyles, even the way a
person walks. Society creates masculine and feminine gender roles that
people are expected to follow. These roles are fairly set and most people
notice when they are crossed.
Whether or not they identify as transgender,
many gay, lesbian, bisexual and straight people transgress traditional
gender roles. A straight female with short hair who is often called
"sir" in public, a boyish-looking lesbian who is questioned in
the women's bathroom, a gay teenager who is reprimanded for "not
acting like a man" - all face bias based on preconceived notions of
gender. The more people see how gender varies, the more people will
embrace laws that treat people equally regardless of their gender
exhibition.
Top of the Page
Prostitution
Reform Bill
by Victoria Devereux
The Prostitution Reform Bill is a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Tim
Barnett MP. It aims to decriminalise prostitution and create a legal
framework that:
safeguards the human rights of sex workers and protects them from
exploitation
promotes the welfare and occupational health and safety of sex workers
is conducive to public health
enables the prevention of undue offence or nuisance from the location and
conduct of prostitution
prohibits the use in prostitution of persons under 18 years of age
Key Dates:
- Introduction: 21 September 2000
- First Reading: 8 November 2000
(87 MPs voted for; 21 against)
- Select Committee Report: 29 November 2002
- Second Reading: 19 February 2003
(62 MPs voted for; 56 against)
The Prostitution Reform Bill is built on a decriminalisation model which
rejects the position that prostitution itself needs to be or can be
controlled. Instead the Bill focuses on controlling the genuine harms
which can arise in association with prostitution. The Bill starts from the
premise that, provided the people involved are of legal age, the act of
selling one’s own body for sex is a legal activity in which the state
will not intervene. The Bill identifies and outlaws specific harms which
include under-age sex, coercion, unsafe sexual practices and poor health
and safety practices.
Recently I put several questions to Tim
Barnett about the Bill and its progress towards becoming law.
1. What changes will the Prostitution Reform
Bill bring about?
The Prostitution Reform Bill will generate
the following significant changes:
No
prosecutions/convictions for prostitution related offences.
More coherent and
accessible range of rights and protections for sex workers.
Detailed
consideration (through a Review Committee) of how best to deter entry into
and encourage exiting from the sex industry.
A move towards
smaller worker-operated brothels.
A greater focus on
contact with health and labour officials, and less on contact with the
police.
2. Why are these
changes important?
Because they reduce
the risks faced by a significantly vulnerable section of our community,
enabling those people to live more balanced lives.
Because they free
police resources for more important things.
Because they remove
an historic and significant gender bias in the law.
3. Are the changes
being proposed based on models used in other countries?
The most significant
decriminalisation model has been in New South Wales, Australia, where it
has operated for the last 8 years. Aspects of decriminalisation operate in
Belgium and the Netherlands, but only in certain zones. All indications
are that the system works well in NSW.
4. Is the
Prostitution Reform Bill supported by those who work in the sex industry?
It is supported by
the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective and by operators of smaller
brothels, including some which operate as escort agencies. Owners of
larger brothels (massage parlours) support parts of the Bill but seek a
clamp-down on smaller operators.
5. What are the main
concerns of those who don't support the Bill?
Opponents of the Bill
claim it will expand the sex industry and will worsen the existing risks
in it. Some want to criminalise clients, while supporting the
decriminalisation of workers; others want both to be criminalised.
6. What are these
concerns based on?
The concerns are
based (variously) on misinformation about the impact of decriminalisation
in NSW, on base prejudice against sex workers and a deep dislike of the
concept of prostitution, and on a feminist analysis of prostitution which
believes that women's bodies should not be available for sale, even if the
woman consents.
7. Why is it
important that the queer community supports this Bill (or lobbies MPs to
support it)?
For two reasons:
- This is the first
significant debate on sex and sexuality-related matters in NZ since
homosexual law reform. The conceptual parallels with homosexual law reform
are strong, and have been raised frequently in debate on the Bill.
- The arrests for
soliciting over the past five years have disproportionately been of men
(50%+) and Maori (50%+). It is the Maori transgender workers who are the
focus of most police pressure. This is a Rainbow issue.
8. How can we best
support the Bill?
By contacting local
MPs who are voting against the Bill (e.g. Bill English) and congratulating
those who have supported it so far (David Benson-Pope, Pete Hodgson, David
Parker, Mark Peck, Katherine Rich). Write to local papers giving your
reasons for supporting the Bill.
9. Did you anticipate
that the recent vote on the Bill's second reading would be so close? Why
or why not?
I certainly thought
it would be closer, since:
a) Some MPs happy to
see a Select Committee look at an issue had no real intention of letting
it go further.
b) The anti-lobby may
have lost the intellectual argument, but won the numerical war. Most
letters we have received were against the Bill.
c) The 2002 election,
ironically, saw an increase in the number of morally conservative MPs,
including two whole parties (NZ First and United Future) and a clear trend
within National.
When it gets as close
as 62:56, you're just grateful for every vote!
10. What is the
process from here for the Bill?
The Bill will
continue in its Committee Stage for as long as MPs keep talking -
certainly through into May. There will be votes on (acceptable) amendments
to certify operators, to give local bodies clarified powers over brothel
location and to ensure that immigration laws are not evaded through
decriminalisation. If all that happens okay, we move to the Third Reading.
Then the Royal Assent, and that is that.
For more information
about the Prostitution Reform Bill, visit Tim Barnett’s web page (www.timbarnett.org.nz).
Top of the Page
Dunedin
Rainbow Labour Branch
by Victoria Devereux
The Dunedin Rainbow Labour Branch has been busy recently working on our
annual fundraising event for 2003 – a quiz night that was held on April
30. In addition to the quiz itself there were raffles throughout the
evening. We were very excited about the wonderful support we received from
businesses and individuals in regard to securing raffle prizes – and
this provided an excellent opportunity to explain and promote the
objectives of the Rainbow Labour Branches. In addition, the support we got
from the community and friends on the night was awesome - the Shiel Hill
Tavern was full and everyone seemed to have a good time.
The quiz night was an amazing success for the Dunedin Rainbow Labour
Branch. A very big “thank you” to all the individuals, MPs,
organisations and businesses who supported this event by donating raffle
prizes, entering teams in the quiz and/or purchasing raffle tickets. And,
a very big “thank you” to the members of the Branch who worked so hard
to make this fundraiser happen in such a fabulous way.
On the political front the Dunedin Rainbow Labour Branch is still
focusing on the issue of adoption and the need for the current law to
change since it excludes all same-sex couples from adopting (both within
New Zealand and internationally). As we’re finding out, a big part of
bringing about change involves educating people about the current
situation because so many people are surprised when they learn that the
adoption laws in this country discriminate against same-sex couples.
(There will be more information about this in the next issue of the OGT.)
Tim Barnett MP was scheduled to attend our meeting at the end of March,
but unfortunately bad weather prevented him from getting to Dunedin on
time. Tim has kindly rescheduled his visit, though, and will now attend
our meeting on August 30. While at the meeting Tim will give us an update
on the “Rainbow Agenda” (where things are at politically in New
Zealand in regard to issues that affect the LGBT/queer community) and
answer any questions that people have.
Anyone is welcome to join the Dunedin Rainbow Labour Branch and/or attend
one of our meetings which are held on the last Saturday of the month at
2:30pm at Kirkland Chambers, 83 Moray Place, 2nd floor. Also,
people can join the Branch and choose to be financial members only and not
attend meetings, or only attend them from time to time. This includes
people who live out of Dunedin. If anyone would like more information
about the Dunedin Rainbow Labour Branch, then please email [email protected]
or phone 453-1108.
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Surrogacy
Application Being Considered
The Government’s National Ethics Committee on Assisted Human
Reproduction is currently considering an application for two gay men to
have a surrogate baby. This is the first time that such an application has
been made in New Zealand and so the committee’s decision will be an
important one not only for the individuals involved but also for this
country’s queer community in general.
Top of the Page
Schools,
Sexuality & Safety: What The PPTA Is Doing
by Judie Alison
As
a union, the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) has been working on
issues for queer teachers and students since 1986, when an Annual
Conference that year passed a series of resolutions calling on branches to
work with their boards to ensure that their schools were safe for lesbian
and gay staff and students. This was seven years before the Human Rights
Act in 1993 made discrimination against people because of their sexual
orientation illegal.
A
Taskforce of lesbian and gay PPTA members began working in 1994 on
developing materials and supporting research by Kathleen Quinlivan, Shane
Town and Cynthia Shaw about queer students’ school experiences and ways
to make schools welcoming places for queer students. That Taskforce went
into recess for a time, but was re-established in 1999 after two PPTA
members, Judie Alison and Susan Battye, went to the first ever
international conference for queer trade unionists, in Amsterdam in 1998.
On their return, funding was provided for workshops with lesbian and gay
members to find out what the situation was like for queer teachers in
secondary schools. The picture was grim. Homophobia was still rife,
directed at teachers and students, and only a few boards or principals
were acknowledging the problems and trying to address them.
Since
then, work has been quietly proceeding. A pamphlet providing advice about
"Making Schools Safe For People Of Every Sexuality" was supplied
to branches early in 2001. A set of Guidelines for Boards of Trustees was
produced, with help and endorsement from a number of groups including the
Human Rights Commission, the Family Planning Association, the Youth
Affairs Minister and the School Trustees Association. These Guidelines
were issued to Boards of Trustees and PPTA branches late in 2001. Branches
were also provided with a Kit to help them promote the Guidelines and
begin education of teachers in their own schools. Multiple copies of two
posters aimed particularly at students went out with the Guidelines and
Kit.
In
2002, Judie Alison joined the national office staff of the PPTA as an
Advisory Officer, with issues for queer teachers and students as part of
her job description. Later in that year, Christchurch executive member
Robin Duff, the current convenor of the Taskforce, and Judie attended the
second conference for queer trade unionists in Sydney. As in 1998, the
conference was organised to occur in the days leading up to the Gay Games
to allow people to attend both.
Robin
and Judie presented a workshop in which they reported on what the PPTA had
done for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender members and students since
the Amsterdam conference in 1998. They talked about the series of
workshops held with members, the long process of producing the Guidelines,
Kits, posters and leaflet, and what was left to be done. People were very
impressed with the PPTA's materials.
As
it happened, there was a workshop at the conference on the subject of
"Coming Out as a Queer Teacher", presented by a Dutch group.
They discussed the reasons why queer teachers might "come out":
- Visibility for students – seeing the reality of
queer people, students learning appropriate social behaviour.
- For themselves - losing the fear of being outed,
having to lie, etc. and its consequences in terms of burnout and stress.
They
said that the second reason was a much more important reason, and would
generally result in happier teachers which was better for the school too.
However,
there were also some negatives:
- Being seen as "the gay of the school" –
not just the physics teacher.
- Becoming the "expert" – you teach other
people including students how to relate to queer people.
- Colleagues assuming that you are strong so you can
cope with anything.
- The danger from hidden queer colleagues, for whom
your coming out is a threat, making them subject to extra questioning.
- The issue of separating work and private life –
where is the boundary?
In
a very depressing presentation, Gerard Kelly of the UK National
Association of Teachers in Further Education described what can happen in
a context where there is no anti-discrimination legislation. He talked
about two appalling cases:
1. A
lesbian accused of a sexual relationship with a student. The parents
recanted their accusation but her institution persisted with action
against her, saying that she was “a known lesbian” and therefore a
danger to her students, and demoted her.
2. A
lesbian whose supervisor kept saying to her “We’ll get you into a
skirt one day” and the like, leading to extreme depression. She finally
capitulated and wore a skirt, and the next day she committed suicide.
The
materials produced by the PPTA for schools and boards are based on a
diversity model and place recognition of diversity of sexualities firmly
within a wider diversity context. This is made clear in the terminology
used in the Guidelines:
Schools
are institutions where diversity is the norm, among the staff, the
students and the community served by the school. Every Board and staff
must ensure that their school not only recognises this diversity but
affirms it, to ensure that everyone involved with the school feels welcome
and valued.
The PPTA's Guidelines and Kit were re-issued early
this year to school Guidance Counsellors, accompanied by a letter of
commendation from the Chairperson of the NZ Association of Counsellors and
the PPTA President. The Taskforce is considering rewriting some aspects of
the material and re-issuing them to branches later this year. A page is to
be set up on the PPTA website to provide resources for schools and for
queer members. Work with teacher educators and health teachers is planned.
The Taskforce will continue to put pressure on the government to live up
to their manifesto promise to “Require educational institutions to
ensure GLBT students are safe and face no barriers to being open about
their sexuality, or gender identity” (Labour Rainbow Policy 2002).
The
Sydney conference passed a final resolution which called on trade unions
and their peak organisations to make further progress in addressing issues
for queer workers. One on which the PPTA could feel it is making good
progress was the following:
This conference calls on all unions to include in their education
strategies and programs information and training on the elimination of
discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender
expression.
While there is more that can be done, the PPTA has at
least made a good start.
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Pride
Dunedin Youth
by Pamela Dwyer, Chairperson of Pride Dunedin Youth
So I think we all know and agree that there is a need in Dunedin, as in
all cities and towns, for there to be support groups and safe social
networks for youth that are same-sex-attracted or who are questioning
their sexuality. We all deserve the right to come out and to be real and
honest with ourselves and others without fear of negative reactions while
we grow and discover who we are.
Pride Dunedin Youth, after a long haul of seemingly endless meetings and
discussions, is now at the stage of developing these support groups and
social networks in our very own Dunedin.
Personally, these planning meetings and discussions have helped me to
feel more secure about my own sexual identity and what I really need to
trust and accept about who I am. This proves to me the importance of being
able to talk freely and comfortably about myself as a young gay woman
involved with Pride Dunedin Youth. Therefore, I hope that Pride Dunedin
Youth will be a place for other young people to feel free and accepted.
During Pride Week in July, we will be launching two facilitated group
support programmes: Icebreakers for young men and Bloom for young women.
Trained facilitators will follow a programme of information-based and
social activities including discussions on issues such as coming out to
your parents, public displays of affection and safe sex. We have got a lot
of work to do and we're excited, but we also know that this is an
important support needed in our community.
The makings of Pride Dunedin Youth owe dues to a lot of people; however,
I'd especially like to thank Jan Hudson from Internal Affairs and Euan
Thompson from PFLAG South for all their work and support. March 31st
saw the launch of Pride Dunedin Youth's Draft Strategy Document at a
community meeting in the Municipal Chambers. At this meeting the inaugural
six member Management Team, consisting of 3 young men and 3 young women,
was concretised with plans underway to develop a committed Advisory Group
(the older ones!) that will meet with us every month to provide assistance
and feedback.
The importance for us to get ourselves out there in environments that
will reach young people, especially those who are under 18, is our
immediate next step because what is the point of us existing if there are
few to reap the benefits! So, School Counsellors and Sexual Health Workers
can expect to hear from us in the near future.
And if anyone has any other ideas of ways to become known to the youth of
Dunedin, please do not hesitate to email us ([email protected]).
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NZAF
South - Te Toka
NZAF South - Te Toka in Christchurch (formerly known as the Ettie Rout Centre)
provides the following services:
- Information on HIV and AIDS.
- Free and anonymous counselling and HIV
antibody testing for people who might be at risk of HIV infection.
- Individual counselling and support for
people living with HIV and people living with AIDS.
- Support and counselling for families and
friends of people living with HIV and AIDS.
- Assistance with maintaining safer sex and
drug use.
- Sexual health counselling for men who have
sex with men.
Appointments are recommended and are available
Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, and Tuesday evenings between 5pm and
8pm.
CONTACT DETAILS:
NZAF South - Te Toka
269 Hereford Street, PO Box 13-618,
Christchurch
Phone: 03-379-1953, Fax: 03-365-2477, E-mail: [email protected]
Top of the Page
The following is taken from a New Zealand AIDS Foundation press release issued earlier this year.
HIV
diagnoses among men who have sex with men in 2002 were the highest in New
Zealand since 1996. Fifty men who have sex with men (MSM) were found to be
infected with HIV through antibody testing, a rise from a stable number of
about 35 over each of the previous four years.
While
cautioning that the numbers being diagnosed are still small in New
Zealand, and therefore random numerical fluctuations from year to year can
appear as a large percentage change, NZAF Executive Director Kevin Hague
stated that the information is cause for concern.
The availability of new HIV treatments in the mid-1990s resulted in
improvements in the health of many people with diagnosed HIV infection,
particularly by limiting the progression of HIV on to an AIDS-defining
illness. However, health promoters have feared for some time that the
decreasing public visibility of AIDS might lead to heightened complacency
about HIV. This could eventually lead many uninfected gay men into
believing that HIV is no longer a significant personal threat.
Approaching
the third decade of the AIDS epidemic, NZAF has been at pains to point out
through its prevention campaigns that the risks associated with any one
occasion of unprotected intercourse are actually increased in statistical
terms.
This
is because there are more HIV positive individuals in NZ than ever before.
Many are aware of their infection because they have tested positive, but
some are not. In western countries, it is estimated that about a third of
people infected with HIV are not aware of it at any one point in time.
It’s therefore important for people not to automatically assume that
their sexual partner is HIV negative – it’s everyone’s
responsibility to practise safe sex. This is particularly critical for gay
men.
Fifty diagnoses over one year amounts to almost one diagnosis a week.
Although it’s possible that some of these infections may have been
acquired some time ago or that last year’s high number of diagnoses is
an aberration, it means that gay men are still becoming infected with HIV
in New Zealand. As much as some people might like to pretend HIV has
gone away, it hasn’t.
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A
Final Celebration And Farewell
- What Do You Need To Consider?
by Barb Long & Andrew Metcalfe
We all live with different expectations and
assumptions about life, no one wants to talk about death and funerals
unless forced to, we tend to avoid considering our own mortality and to
contemplate the death of one’s partner is far too challenging.
Death is a complex event that balances many
factors: spiritual requirements, emotional needs, “family dynamics”
and financial realities. When faced with mortality we all react in
different ways. Within the gay community the acceptance of our sexuality
and relationships within our families of origin and wider society can have
a significant impact on our ability to plan funerals and grieve for loved
ones.
As morbid as it may seem, to save conflict
within families and to have your wishes (and if in a relationship those of
your partner as well) respected should you die, there are advantages in
thinking ahead and discussing one’s funeral.
You can choose a funeral director in advance
and it is important that they are supportive of your choice of service and
non-judgmental in guiding you through the arrangements. Your wishes can be
pre-recorded with a funeral director and/or lawyer so that they can be
carried out accordingly. Preparing a will and power of attorney is another
whole matter to discuss with your lawyer.
You need to check with individual funeral
directors if pre-planning funerals obligate you to any cost and services
from them. Many funeral directors offer pre-payment options where your
money is invested in secure funds.
In contemplating your funeral consider the
following;
Where would you like your
service to be held
Do you have any particular
requirements for clothing (personally Barb would hate to be clothed in a
dress!)
Do you want to be buried or
cremated
Do you have a particular
casket choice
Who would you like to
facilitate your service
In relation to your service,
is there any particular music that you would like played or other requests
(such as readings, hymns, etc.)
Would you like particular
people to be pallbearers
Do you want donations to a
particular organisation in lieu of flowers
It may be easier to initiate these thoughts
and discussions if forced to due to ill health, terminal illness or
personal bereavements. However, the gay community has a history of
discrimination and we believe it is important to retain our dignity and
honour ourselves by considering our wishes for when we die ahead of time.
You may also prefer to have a religious or
spiritual component in the funeral service, and there are a variety of
ways this can happen. Increasingly as people choose not to identify with
organised religious groups, funeral celebrants are becoming more common.
They offer a service for people who want to have the spiritual component
of life and death recognised, but in a way that is tailored to their
needs. Check out who is around and whether they have a good track record
for being able to listen and design something that is right for people in
the GLBT community. Your funeral director will be able to tell you the
range of people who are available. Ask to see examples of services they
have carried out and if they have worked with people in similar
circumstances to you.
For those who do want support from a church
community to say goodbye to a loved one, there are congregations and
individuals in Dunedin and beyond who are supportive of the GLBT
community. A good place to check out where these might be is the
Association of Christian & Reconciling Congregations, Aotearoa New
Zealand (ARCC). In Dunedin, Glenaven, Mornington and Broad Bay Methodist
congregations are members of ARCC, as well as Knox Presbyterian. There are
also a number of other people in other denominations who can offer
sensitive support – it is worth while contacting GLBT Christian
organisations such as “Ascent” to find out who is available.
Contacts:
Association of Christian and
Reconciling Congregations: www.arcc.org.nz
Dunedin Methodist Parish: www.dunedinmethodist.org.nz
Knox Presbyterian: http://knox-dunedin.freeyellow.com/
Ascent: a Catholic-based gay and lesbian support group for
those seeking to foster their spirituality. The Dunedin group is an
ecumenical one with monthly religious services or social events. Write to
PO Box 5328, Dunedin.
Thanks to Cheryl Cowden, Dignity With
Sincerity Funeral Services (Christchurch), for her support with this
article (www.dignitywithsincerity.co.nz).
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Ascent
Dunedin
Ascent Dunedin is a Catholic-based Christian group for gay men and
lesbians. While there are Ascent groups also in Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch, Ascent Dunedin has opened its doors to other denominations.
So we can truly say we are a Catholic-based ecumenical group, and we are
privileged to have a Catholic Chaplain appointed by the Bishop.
The last year or so has been particularly distressing for many of our
members, who have felt alienated by the Church's response to the issue of
sexual abuse of young people. Although sexual abuse of young people seems
to be widely recognised by health professionals as a predominantly
heterosexual power issue, the Church has seen fit to present it as the
fault of those of us who acknowledge ourselves as homosexual. We believe
the proposed changes put forward by the Church to combat the activities of
sexual predators are aimed at the wrong group. If this is a demonstration
of the degree of knowledge the Cardinals, Bishops and their advisers have
about sexuality, it is a sad reflection of their willingness to truly come
to grips with the issue.
Although Ascent was originally founded to support people in the
exploration and growth of their spirituality, we have come to realise
there is a need for such a group to be open to people who do not wish to
attend religious services, but who nevertheless enjoy contact with others
who share a similar philosophical basis for living.
Therefore, we have planned a provisional programme of activities for 2003
(which includes our popular Mid Winter Dinner), as well as some other
social occasions, and people are very welcome to attend these. We realise
there are a number of people who have been badly hurt in their contact
with Churches of all denominations in the past, and Ascent aspires to
provide a safe environment for all.
Those of us in the older age group remember very well the climate in the
past when it was simply not safe to acknowledge our sexuality, and we can
only be thankful to those who worked so hard to help make society a little
safer for the younger ones coming out, who hopefully will never have to
experience the difficulties of gay and lesbian people in past years. We
are also appreciative of the individual Church congregations who not only
support but affirm gay and lesbian members in their relationships; maybe
it means the message is getting through that we are people, and that our
sexual orientation is simply one facet of who we are.
Ascent Dunedin can be contacted via PO Box 5328, Dunedin.
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by
Sue Thompson (PFLAG)
The paragraph below seems to make sense to me. It’s from the book Eternal Echoes: Exploring Our Hunger To Belong
by Irish priest and poet John
O’Donohue.
He writes about shame in this way:
“It is one
of the most distressing and humiliating emotions … dignity is torn …
we lose our esteem and reputation because of either something we have
done, or incurred the disapproval of the community. Shame is a force
intended to put one outside all belonging … conventions that shame are
immensely powerful in a community.”
Stories we hear at PFLAG meetings suggest that many GLBT people and
their families either have experiences like this, or fear it.
When parents of lesbians and gay men go through a “death” of
heterosexual expectations for their son or daughter they experience grief.
One of the emotions that can be part of grief is guilt.
Guilt is a feeling that you are
somehow to blame for something. It is easy to understand why parents might
feel this, given that they are coping with their belief that their family
member will not now be acceptable in society or the church. Many parents
feel guilty that they:
have been bad parents
have caused this pain and trouble for their child
may have previously hurt their child by their homophobic attitudes
are unable to just “get over it” instantly
Sometimes gay children feel guilty that they:
can’t fulfil their parents’ expectations
have caused their parents unhappiness
are the cause of family disharmony
Some people can carry this guilt throughout their whole life.
So, it’s important to recognise that shaming is a way that groups of
people act to control behaviour, and it is often very unjust and unkind.
Be proud of the person you are. Guilt accomplishes nothing and takes a lot
of emotional energy. Better to try and move on through the challenges of
examining the ideas that cause the guilt. If it seems possible, and when
you can, try talking about these things in the family. You will need
patience, understanding and willingness to speak about your true feelings.
We wish you well.
Top of the Page
A
Walk On The Queer Side
by Tor & Barb
Winter might be approaching, but that's no reason to stay indoors! Here
are the queer walks for the next three months - and, if you haven't come
on one before, why not give it a go? We can promise you lots of fresh air,
beautiful scenery and probably some interesting conversation as well!
Children and dogs are very welcome.
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.
For all of the walks, meet at the duck pond at
Woodhaugh Gardens (Duke Street) at 2:00pm.
Sunday May 25
Karitane and Huriawa Pa
After meeting at the duck pond we'll drive out to Karitane (about 40km
from Dunedin) to start this walk. This walk includes shoreline, cliffs,
blow holes and great scenery and should take about an hour or so.
Sunday June 22
Beach Walk at Island Park Recreation Reserve (between Blackhead Beach
& Brighton)
We haven't done a beach walk before and someone at a queer walk recently
suggested it and we thought that it was a great idea. After a short walk to the sand from the car park we'll wander
along the beach towards Blackhead for as long as people want!
(NOTE: This walk was meant to happen in March but was cancelled because
of the rain!)
Sunday July 27
McGoun's Creek Walking Track
This is a track within the Ross Creek forest. It starts in Tanner Rd and
joins up with the Pineapple Track, and provides a lovely scenic walk
through the forest. So that we get in a good hour or so of walking, we'll
go through a bit of Ross Creek first.
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Rainbow
Families
A Rainbow Families Group has recently been
formed in Dunedin so those who have, want or are trying to have children
can get together for support and social activities. The group meets on the
first Saturday of each month. Below are listed the events that have been
planned for June, July and August.
For more information about the Rainbow
Families Group, contact Barb on [email protected]
or 453-1108, or Jacinda on 471-9495.
Saturday June 7
Museum - we'll visit the different exhibitions and then there's the
option of a cup of coffee and/or snack at the Museum Café afterwards.
Meet in the foyer by the moa at 2:00pm.
Saturday July 5
Mid-winter (indoor) Picnic - starting at 12:30pm, venue to be confirmed.
Bring indoor games and the smaller children can bring their favourite soft
toy.
Saturday August 2
Moana Pool - there's the learner's pool, the wave pool, the regular pool
and the hydro slide (so there should be something for everyone!). Meet in
the foyer at the pool at 2:00pm - and we might like to head into town
afterwards for a cuppa!
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Pride
Dunedin Inc.
by Stu Terry
Pride Dunedin Inc. has recently celebrated its first
birthday. Our first year has been exciting, demanding, challenging,
exhausting and totally rewarding. Everyone involved in Pride Dunedin was
amazed at what was achieved in such a short period of time. The amount of
voluntary time and effort people gave to ensure our whole community could
proudly and publicly celebrate who we are and take our place in the
community was awesome.
The start of 2003 has been slightly less frenetic
than 2002. Pride Dunedin started 2003 by working on our foundations. All
organisations that endure have solid foundations and we are no different.
A lot of work has been undertaken behind the scenes as we develop our
strategic and business plan. Our strategic plan is about the big picture
goals between now and 2008. The business plan is about what we will be
doing this year to achieve those goals. We are working slowly through this
process and once a draft has been completed we want to talk to people in
our community for their input. We have identified some big goals we want
to pursue such as having a full-time paid coordinator who can advocate for
our issues, support our communities and seek funding.
We have supported Pride Dunedin Youth which was
officially launched at the end of March. Pride Dunedin Youth will operate
as a semi-autonomous group within Pride Dunedin. We are all delighted that
Pride Dunedin Youth has been formed to support young GLBT and questioning
people in the city.
Planning is now well underway for Pride Week 2003 in
July, “Unity In Our Community”. We have listened to feedback about
Pride Week 2002 and this year’s week will feature a wide range of
activities for everyone in our communities to participate in. A major
change with Pride Week this year is how the events are being run. Last
year Pride Dunedin organised and funded almost all of the events, whereas
this year our role is focusing on facilitating and co-ordinating the
events. A dedicated team of people are working hard to bring together a
great week.
Communicating and keeping people informed about what
is happening is one of our key goals. One way this is taking place, thanks
to Grant, is the weekly “What’s On” email. I know the list of people
it is sent to grows almost daily, and feedback has been very positive. To
be added to this contact list just send an email to Grant ([email protected]).
It was interesting that following a request recently
from the New Zealand Herald for people to talk about coming out in the
workplace the article mainly featured Dunedin people. I believe this was a
consequence of our strengthening communications. It was great to see
Dunedin people being able to openly and freely talk about their
experiences in the workplace. It was also good to read a balanced and well
researched article on GLBT issues. Hopefully we can convince the Otago
Daily Times to do the same.
Pride Dunedin values all feedback, input or views on
our strategic and business plans, Pride Week and anything else. Please
email us at [email protected]
or write to us at PO Box 1382, Dunedin.
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Poetry
One Million Eyes
by Jane E Libeau
I looked into one million
eyes
Saw tears or sorrow
As the dust subsides
Unity has made them feel
They try to forgive
They try to heal
The destitute child
Who walks the ruins
Mother has gone
From fathers evil doings
The earth has shook
The shiver climbs our being
What have we done?
What are we seeing?
Throw back our thoughts
To greener grasses of home
Too late for wishful
thinking
We have been left alone
The eyes look at me
I crumble and weep
We’ve destroyed ourselves
There’s nothing left to
keep
Tomorrow is another day
Tomorrow we all shall pay
And the million eyes
Will be unforgiving
We took from them
Their right to living
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Book
Reviews
by Andrew
Metcalfe
Worlds in Collision: The
Gay Debate in New Zealand, 1960 - 1986
by Laurie Guy (Victoria University Press, 2002)
This book is based on a doctoral thesis by Laurie Guy, a lecturer in
church history at Carey Baptist College, Auckland. As such, it is a fairly
“academic” treatment of a fascinating and important part of our
history by someone many would consider to be an “outsider”. This
aside, the book is an interesting retrospective of what went on at this
time, based on extensive interviews and other research. It begins by
reminding the reader of what New Zealand was like in the 1960s and the
evolution from the “decent obscurity” stance of the NZ Homosexual Law
Reform Society through to the Gay Liberation movement of the 1970s - 80s.
Of particular interest is Guy’s discussion of what went on in church
circles over homosexual law reform in the early eighties, plus the ensuing
debate between hard-line fundamentalists and reformers. His analysis of
how the conservative right made major tactical errors is of particular
interest to those of us who got caught up in it all to a certain extent,
but were often unaware of the bigger picture.
My main gripe with this book is that although Guy seeks to be an
impartial raconteur of what happened over this period, there is an edge of
bias that creeps in occasionally. Perhaps this is because I know some of
the people he refers to and have a more intimate knowledge of some of what
went on. Guy doesn’t appear to get it “quite right”. Like anything
else of this genre, it is open to challenge, but it is still a significant
work telling a story that was begging to be told. Hopefully it will spur
some responses and recollections from others who were more directly
involved.
The Comfort of Men
by Dennis Altman (William Heinemann, Australia,
1993)
This book could be “old hat” to many, but worth reminding people of
as an offering from Australian author and academic Dennis Altman (see also
Homosexual: Oppression and Liberation; Coming Out in the
Seventies; Rehearsals for Change, The Homosexualization of America;
AIDS and the New Puritanism; A Politics of Poetry; Paper
Ambassadors). This is a novel that in some ways reads like a biography
in the best sense of the genre. It revolves around Steven, a gay man in
Tasmania in the 1960s - 70s, along with a variety of his male and female
friends. The story moves around these characters as Steven recounts to his
dying lover what made up who he was.
One “twist” of the book is that a central theme is the process of
Tasmania gaining independence from Mainland Australia – told in such a
way that it got me scratching my head and wondering if this had happened
but I’d somehow missed it! The effect is to emphasise to what extent
things could have gone if this island – renowned as being one of the
most conservative states in the Commonwealth of Australia – had
succeeded in creating a separate existence, which excluded anyone
perceived to be “different”. What really inspired me (as any good
novel should) was the way that the characters’ lives unfurled in such a
way to connect with parts of my own journey. Perhaps it might for you as
well! It is a beautifully told story, with some classic lines - certainly worth adding to your reading list.
Top of the Page
Dunedin's
Pride Week 2003: Unity In Our Community
Pride Week 2003 is being facilitated and
co-ordinated by Pride Dunedin Inc. and will take place July 11-20
(although a couple of events are happening earlier). A wide variety of
events are planned so there should be something for everyone.
More details about events are available from Pride
Dunedin (email [email protected]
or write to PO Box 1382, Dunedin).
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Lesbian
Plays
In association with Pride Week
DEGREES OF SEPARATION
3 short plays about lesbians and their families, directed by Kari Morseth
- Conversation
A
prologue to coming attractions.
- One Degree of Separation
The
straight daughter of a lesbian couple lives in the "perfect"
family until she discovers a shattering truth.
- Daughter of the Bride
The
stresses of a lesbian relationship become more complicated when a mother
gets involved.
Three performances only:
Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, July 17, 18, 19
8.00
pm, Allen Hall, University of Otago
$10
waged; $7 unwaged
Auditions
will be held in May for actors. Characters are three women, aged
approximately 18-21, 25-35 and 40-50.
If
you are interested, please email Kari Morseth at [email protected]
Top of the Page
Are
You Feeling Left Out?
Has coming out alienated you from your church
family? If so you might feel at home at Glenaven.
Glenaven is a Methodist Church with an
ecumenical congregation and a special ministry to the gay and lesbian
community. Even if you don’t think of yourself as Christian you can
belong and be valued. Theologically, Glenaven is at the cutting edge and
our Sunday sermons are followed by some pretty lively dialogue. Be
prepared to be challenged.
Try us out on Sunday mornings. We have coffee
and cookies from 10:40am and our service is from 11am to 12pm. You’ll
find Glenaven in Chambers Street, just two blocks along North Road from
the Garden’s supermarket.
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FUNQ!
On March 22 in Dunedin over 260 open-minded, happy go-lucky FUNQERS came
along to the “New Arrivals” FUNQ queerdisco night at Refuel. A damn
good night was had by all! Well it was hard not to with so many wild and
wonderfully executed acts throughout the night.
FUNQ returned on April 12 for “Pacific Paradise”. Our very own
Brendan Kydd choreographed a “pacific island dance troupe with bite”
plus more fun!
Entry to FUNQ is $5 and we encourage everyone to come along for a bit of
fun. There’s always a pool comp and excellent drink specials. We look
forward to seeing you at Dunedin’s next queerdisco!!
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UniQ
UniQ Working Party Established
The UniQ working party that emerged out of the Queer Students General
Meeting that was held in late March has been meeting regularly to look at
all the options of how UniQ may operate next year. The working party will
present its recommendations at the next Queer Students General Meeting
planned for May.
As the working party is only in the early stages of its thinking it is
difficult to say anything definite other than that there are four broad
options being considered at this stage: an advisory group to the
coordinator, a committee that directs the coordinator and fronts
UniQ, formalise the status quo, appoint a queer portfolio or
queer officer on OUSA. Elements of each of these are interchangeable.
UniQ Lunches Are Back
Good old UniQ Lunches have finally returned and they got off to a modest
but concerted start on Monday March 31st. The new venue is the
ever-friendly and warm environs of Refuel. The lunches, which will take
place in the performance room beside the bar area, are a time for any
person – gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender – to come along, to hang
out and be yourself. The lunches are on Mondays and start at 12pm and run
through until 2pm so you can still come if you have a class at 12pm or
1pm.
Some meal specials are still to be worked out with Scotty, the bar
manager, and because we are using that backspace he is kindly allowing us
to bring a cut lunch from home if we prefer! We are also working out what
UniQ can provide so come on down folks and be with your family for lunch
on Mondays!
FUNQ
Just a little interior tweaking, carefully selected DJs and unparalleled
live shows have transformed Refuel once a month into what can only
described as Dunedin’s very own Studio 54, and is fast growing into the
best queerdisco Dunedin has seen since the heydays of Powder at Fuel.
One of the greatest strengths of FUNQ is the priceless atmosphere of gay
men and lesbian women celebrating being queer together like no other city
in the country can do. This means that FUNQ is proving to be the perfect
preamble to the theme of Pride Week 2003, “Unity In Our Community”,
and is living proof of the commitment of Dunedin lgbt/queers to enjoy our
differences and make them our strength.
“New Arrivals” on March 22 saw over 260 people bring Refuel (just
inside campus) to life with colour and personalities, and on April 12
Brendan Kydd pulled together five other men and women to deliver what had
to be one of the most ground shaking shows that FUNQ has seen so far -
that’s if the applause was anything to go by! Our very own Rasa Dance
Company have thrilled FUNQ audiences twice now and Lisa is choreographing
a troupe of the Purple Passions for a special M*A*S*H edition of FUNQ on
May 17.
“The decision made early on to start with a monthly event has proven
successful. The focus is now on retaining the special celebratory
atmosphere, and I think part of this comes from the deliberate move to not
drown out the energy with mediocre drag shows like other centres do. FUNQ
is pure energy for everybody,” said Nathan.
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Relationship
Riddles: Preserving Romance
by Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga
It's true. It's blind. It's romance. And it lasts
about a minute and a half.
You want someone to love you. No question. But someone who spots your
finer qualities, and loves them, can be depressingly elusive. As for
stumbling on someone who appreciates you on a bad hair day, that can be a
really tall order. So when you do find someone, it's your glossy best you
aim to display. That's romance for you. The delightful blurring effect of
the rose coloured lens. The candlelight feels delicious and cosy. It
softens the distinctive features that make both of you the people you are.
After a while you start to feel this tension. Romance is yummy and you
want to hold on to it. But there is more to you than is on show. When your
unique, individual style gets a look in will it snuff out the candlelight?
If you need to squash some bits of you to keep basking in that rosy glow,
how good does the romance feel? What if your wonderful new lover wants you
on the other side of the closet door? What happens when some of those
warty bits slip the leash and make themselves startlingly obvious?
The pressure builds. It pushes you from romance to something else. You
find your feet more often on the ground. Growing familiarity begins to
replace novelty and excitement. Your focus becomes sharp and clear.
Sometimes a good clear look is all it takes for a relationship to shut up
shop. Sometimes the relationship was all about feeling the romantic buzz
and when that goes so does the reason for the relationship. Sometimes
romance lays great foundations for love. You just need to figure out how
to build on them.
You wanted someone to love you. You thought this new partner was a real
cracker, but now you wonder if they're a fizzer instead. If you feel
square one getting closer you might want to ask yourself just how keen you
are to really love someone else? Loving someone takes courage. The best
dressed, best behaved self they show you first is relatively simple to
enjoy. It might be a whole lot harder to keep your heart open when the
face you see is scared or pompous or critical.
Daring to acknowledge and accept all that your partner offers moves you
both into uncharted territory. You encourage them while they explore. Your
support helps transform their inner map. They'll discover some of their
buried treasures. Some of their scary "there be dragons" spots
become less alarming and more known. You learn to be the kind of person
who can support this particular partner really well. You discover talents
in yourself you never knew you had. Some of your own dragons might just
disappear or transform in the process.
This is when you get the best chance to really enjoy romance. When you've
got the hang of being open with yourselves and each other, you don't have
to hide or worry or impress. You trust each other. Your partner knows you
stretch yourself when they need something hard for you to offer. You know
that they dig deep for you as well.
Treasure that early flush of romance. Try to preserve it as it is, and
you'll pickle it. Let it grow, and it will keep on sprouting when your
relationship is due for a little spring.
If you would like help to build on your romance, contact Relationship
Services on 0800 RELATE (0800-735-283) or your local office which is
listed in the telephone directory. Or visit our web page at www.relate.org.nz/index.asp
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Queer
Quiz Answers
1. Julie Andrews
2. Slave Auction
3. Ru Paul
4. 1928
5. Andrew Whiteside, Rebecca Singh, Jonathan
Marshall and Kelly Rice
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What’s
On
Out Takes Gay & Lesbian Film Festival,
June 13-15, The Academy (50 Dundas St). See article for more details and
the schedule of films. Additional information is available on the Out
Takes web page (www.outtakes.org.nz).
Pride Week - "Unity In Our Community",
July 11-20. See article on Pride Dunedin Inc. for for more details or
contact Pride Dunedin on [email protected]
or write to PO Box 1382, Dunedin.
A Walk on the Queer Side (See
article for more details)
Sunday May 25 - Karitane
and Huriawa Pa
Sunday June 22 - Beach Walk at Island Park Recreation
Reserve
Sunday July 27 - McGoun's
Creek Walking Track
For all of the walks, meet at the duck pond at
Woodhaugh Gardens (Duke Street) at 2pm.
Rainbow Families (See
article for more details)
Saturday June 7 - Museum
Saturday July 5 - Mid-winter (indoor) Picnic
Saturday August 2 - Moana Pool
Gay Ski Weeks, Queenstown, August 2-9 and September 6-13. See www.gayqueenstown.com
for details.
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