Audio from the launch of Mark Beehre's book A Queer Existence. The launch was held at Unity Books in Wellington on 19 October 2021. A Queer Existence is a major documentary project that uses photographic portraiture and oral history to record the life experiences of a group of twenty-seven gay men born since the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986.
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The abstract below summarizes a recording of the "A Queer Existence" book launch event at Unity Books in Wellington on October 19, 2021, where speakers like Anna Brown, Fran Wilde, and others contributed their experiences and insights during the event.
The launch celebrated Mark Beehre's book "A Queer Existence," which is a collection of narratives and photographs documenting the lives of gay men born after the Homosexual Law Reform Act of 1986 in New Zealand. The book is published by Massey University Press, represented by Anna Brown, who spoke on behalf of the absent publisher Nicola. The event also marked Unity Books' first event post-lockdown, having previously launched Beehre's book "Men Alone - Men Together" in 2010.
The event signified the power of storytelling and the courage involved in sharing personal experiences. The common thread of the talks was the acknowledgment of historical context and the importance of visibility and acknowledgement for the queer community. Beehre’s intent was to document the transformation in societal attitudes towards same-sex relationships and to open a window into the subjective experiences of growing up queer in a time where there is legal recognition and rights protection for the community.
The speakers highlighted the sociopolitical changes, the progress made, and the ongoing challenges faced by queer individuals, especially within the education system. Fran Wilde, who spoke at the event, was instrumental in the historical gay law reform efforts, and emphasized the power and importance of visibility in advocating for change. Through this book, Beehre aims to offer a vehicle for promoting understanding and empathy, providing a historical record, and paving a way for future generations to better understand and accept themselves.
Diverse individuals shared their personal journeys, reflecting on their participation in the project, which spanned a decade. They spoke about the intersection of their lives with wider social changes and histories and voiced hopeful sentiments for a more accepting future where individuals would not have to face the struggles of hiding their true selves.
The event underscored the significance of remembering and honouring the efforts of those who fought for equality, as well as ensuring that the struggles and achievements that have shaped the contemporary landscape of queer rights are not forgotten.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
Tags
1980s, 2020s, a queer existence (book), anna brown, des smith, fran wilde, gavin young, geraint scott, homosexual law reform act (1986), john jolliff, kerry brown, marion castree, mark beehre, massey university press, men alone - men together (book), mike bryant, neill ballantyne, photography, unity books, wellington
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