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Just a couple of little, uh uh, housekeeping. But don't forget your evaluation sheets. You can put them up the back and, uh, Paul Mill. Paul Mills. You have lost your card. And if you're going to any of the parties, you'll need that to get in. You can see me. Uh, just very quickly. I didn't say where he can see me. Uh uh. Yes. Well, [00:00:30] I haven't got time. I want my ginger us, um, people in New Zealand. Just a little domestic thing. Um, people have said, Well, we're too next. This has been an amazing experience for New Zealand. I just want to ask Michael Stevens very briefly to come up and to say we're next. Michael Stevens and Spear. We are the co-chair of a new organisation [00:01:00] called the A Rainbow Alliance. And there's a and, um who we are well and myself. There are other board members here. Anna Birkenhead works at outline. Um, Priscilla here from Rainbow Youth. We've got Mark Henrickson, who is responsible for lavender islands for the research there. Paul hid, um, from Auckland. Um, and I think we've got everyone, haven't we? That's why [00:01:30] have we established ourselves where we need a national voice. We have no national organisation to represent the Rainbow Communities. And there's been a widespread perception. I think that we do need to have a body like us. Um, we need action, and we need to start somewhere. So we've started somewhere. Uh, what we are. We are an alliance of organisations and individuals with the goal of strengthening our rainbow communities. Um, with, uh, strengthening our rainbow community [00:02:00] well being facilitating the growth of our networks and advocating for the rights and issues that affect our rainbow communities. Now, we've only had 32 hour meetings. We are just taking our baby steps. We're an incorporated society. We've got a constitution. We're debating our principles. Um, we're working. We've got another meeting coming up next week. Watch this space. As I say. We're not here to be an empire. We're here to be an alliance [00:02:30] to bring groups together to work together for, um, the Rainbow Communities throughout this country. Absolutely. No, no. There's nothing more to add. There's nothing more to add, but just please, um do give us feedback. We are having to We are an Auckland centric group at this point. which is pointed out to me already this morning. But we are reaching out to go further than Auckland. But we have to start from somewhere. And as we say, baby steps is the way to take big steps. So watch this space. [00:03:00] Thank you. Uh, I'm just, uh uh We now have, uh, just, uh, someone, uh from glia, which has been the overall, uh, organisation to how they're going to just have a few words. Thank you. [00:03:30] Thank you, Barry. A K order. Rainbow family. Uh, my name is at Murray, and I'm on the board of Glia Asia Pacific, along with Peter Segar, Karen Moses, Kevin um, and Nick Ward and Frank Brady, who are not here. It is perhaps a little remiss of us not to have introduced ourselves to you before now, but let us address that by telling you where we come from. [00:04:00] So in 2006, um, 4 people two from Melbourne, one from Sydney and one from Adelaide got together on a hot summer's day in Melbourne to create a Pacific. It was an idea to bring together the rainbow communities of the Asia Pacific around sport, culture and human rights. Those four people admittedly were all sports people. We didn't know how and we didn't know who. And we didn't [00:04:30] know if people would wanna come and want to be part of it all. But Melbourne, uh, accepted the challenge to host the first Asia Pacific Out games in 2008 people came. People supported people, uh, accepted it. Then. Glee. Asia Pacific was blessed with wonderful Wellington coming forward to invite us all together again. And here we are, still growing. Still developing also still taking baby steps. Uh, my name is Kevin [00:05:00] I and three others from Wellington saw the vision that Lisa Asia Pacific presented, uh, to us as a community. And so we decided that yes, let's join that vision. I decided. Yes. Personally, I'd like to join that vision. And so when I joined that vision, I brought with me my culture and my to make sure that that [00:05:30] vision was inclusive of me. So what is our vision? Our vision is to encourage participation to strengthen individual communities and to create an active Asia Pacific rainbow community. So how could we all participate to activate, nurture [00:06:00] keeping this wonderful momentum alive? and just like Michael said, we're two from here. Well, glia Asia Pacific is not another organisation that seeks to, um, take action and, um, and deliver. Rather, we are an enabler. We support others to make it happen through sports, culture and human rights events and networks. We're not about replicating what you're already doing in fabulous, [00:06:30] amazing, wonderful ways. We're about creating spaces for you to share what you're doing and linking you with others who are already doing similar things in different places. Already, we've opened doors and we celebrate with Wellington. 2011 incorporated the success of this sports culture and human rights events, the second Asia Pacific Art Games, and we thank you for your stories and for extending our understandings. [00:07:00] However, this is not the end of the journey. We're inviting you if you haven't already to join us in opening more doors and building further opportunities. So we ask that you or your organisation join us at GSAAP dot org because there is strength in diversity and together we make a difference. Thank you. [00:07:30] Thank you. Um, we have asked a couple of people who have been as part of the conference just to continue that reflection as we start to close and draw. And the 1st 1st, just to reflect on the experience of this conference has been for them. And the first person I'd like to invite, uh is, uh, Prue Hyman. It's Barry. [00:08:00] Uh, we not only have five minutes each, which is impossible as anybody who knows me. I only think in 50 minutes, like all academics Kota, Qatar. For me, it's been a splendid three days, great and symbolic to have the increasing score of number of countries signing up to the statement 70 78 80. Wow. Having just heard about the two Lambda Literary Awards, I'd like to start with saying, How tremendous was the film evening [00:08:30] yesterday? Those of you who didn't make it to the dinner? Uh, it goes beautifully with the Lambda Literary Award. We started with grace poor, and most of you saw her trailer this morning. So I'll concentrate on Kirsty McDonald, Rebecca Swan, Mary Mitchell and Jack Byrne, who were here doing a wonderful Q and a after the film of assume Nothing and the book's been nominated were shown. I've seen the film before, but it was even more meaningful seeing it again and seeing [00:09:00] it with a terrific Q and Q and a afterwards. And, you know, it was really humbling hearing the personal stories, Um, more of them than I knew before. Marie's intersex story, Jack's, um, trans story and so on. It was fabulous. Um, next, uh, for this five minutes, I had a look back because I'm on the conference organising group. I thought I'd better have a look at the initial vision and the conference Purpose Connect, Collaborate and Spa. It did it for me. We'll learn from your feedback forms if it did it for you. [00:09:30] We all have our own conferences. Of course, because of these horrible choices, Ros talked about all the streams. I come myself from an a New Zealand lesbian feminist background after an English childhood. Um, my conference had two sort of streams to it myself. Contrasting but complimentary. The first was, um, connecting with the lesbian sessions, the lesbian visibility. I sort of reflect on the fact that so many groups find themselves sort of invisible within our [00:10:00] whatever, Um, soup. And you know, that's perfectly reasonable. We all need to be visible, and we need to be there each stream and together in coalitions. But certainly it's true that lesbians, you may all think we're all incredibly loud and proud and everything else. But often I and some others feel that the word itself and its lesbian feminist idea years have disappeared again into Queer Soup or even disapproved of [00:10:30] in some quarters. And Susan Hawthorne's paper was referred to by Boris, and that was a paper specifically on violence against lesbians and lesbian human rights, which still need plenty of attention. Separately, along with the violence and human rights is used among all our brothers and sisters in their groups. And I heard and discussed much about what's happening in lesbian communities and the needs of younger and older lesbians, lesbian parenting and dealing with schools, issues, lesbian communities [00:11:00] and resources and what there is still to do so. For me, working and talking separately when we need to, as well as together in coalitions is still essential. My second stream, for me was learning far more than I knew before about many groups and countries throughout the Asia Pacific region, their working in coalitions. After this, I'll try to learn and understand more than just, say, LGBTI QMVPFFF. And remember [00:11:30] that for many of us we're talking cultural identity more than sexual identity. And I'll also try and build on the lessons I learned from Asian experience from speakers like Grace poor and Getting Misra about the risks and lessons and strategies. Very thoughtful talks from organising in Asia and closer to home, being reminded by Elizabeth Kerry Kerry that if it's good for Maori, it's good for all marginalised groups. Next, [00:12:00] equality and dignity are two of the core words we've heard a lot of on these three days. Yes, yes, yes to both of them. But not please, simply equality to the heterosexual Norm Um Instead, let's create our own norms. And so for many of us of us, while, of course, marriage is better than civil union, Um, we don't I don't want to forget the lesbian feminist critiques [00:12:30] of marriage as being often actually bad for women. They still need to be heard. So let's not a that institution. Let's create our own superior relationships and family structures and friendship networks. We are already which matter, and let's remember that our all total family structures and our friendship networks often matter just as much as or more than the couple relationships. Even [00:13:00] though I'm a happy happily partner for 13 years, I think those broader ones are just as important. And single single LGBTI S also have their very strong concerns. And often, for example, if they're older, need a great deal of support. Um, so the next one was dignity? Yes, of course, we need to be treated with dignity, but let us also be strong, outrageous and undignified. [00:13:30] Just as Marilyn Waring said, Silence allows discrimination. But there are a lot of paradoxes. Mostly, um, as as we had at one of the plenaries wonderful statement. We say it as it is loud and out. But there was a reply for the next speaker. Yes, but some of us we don't say it as it is. We can't say it as it is at the moment, and that has to be respected as well. But most of us who are in a position [00:14:00] to be strong, outrageous and undignified can be so to the challenges ahead. Uh, I was told I had to have that section working for full human rights for all of us and all other marginalised groups in the world working together to make the world more socially, just better for all. What I'm now going to try and call [00:14:30] and and all others suffering persecution, discrimination or inequality on any grounds. Ethnicity, class, religion, age, sex, gender, disability and all their intersection with being because we all have multiple identities. Let's go from here soon. Work for all this in our own groups and coalitions with our own priorities, building on what we've learned, Let's keep in touch and meet again. And finally, [00:15:00] as we have heard often and rightly, there's no movement without music and song we've heard and shared in my world in all this. In all this world we've heard and shared over the three days many wonderful art and songs which are crucial to many of our cultures. One of my identities is my Jewish culture, and I did just want to say that we've had critiques of religion over the last few days and and and some here and, of course, [00:15:30] religious fundamentalist fundamentalism. We all critique. It's very it has a lot of harmful impacts. But of course, religion, as we've also been, is very crucial to an awful lot of people. And they, uh, many in the Pacific. It's really important to to their identities. Uh, I call myself a Jewish agnostic, actually. But my Jewishness is still extremely important to me. And, um, I should mention that not all the liberal [00:16:00] end of many religions are very much with us and not against us. We've had Margaret Maman, of course, here all all three days. And she's a, I'm afraid I don't know, Christian nominations, but anyway, she's a minister. No, we have also. We've also had Rabbi Dean Shapiro here from Beth Shalom, uh, in Auckland, who is an out gay rabbi. There are out lesbian rabbis as well. We haven't got one in New Zealand at the moment. Somebody [00:16:30] said I ought to be one, but I don't think it's my scene. Quite so. I'm finishing. We are finishing with singing a Jewish song. Uh, Ruth and, um, Sonia have joined me. And if anyone else is Jewish or knows, please join in. Uh, this is and it's about sitting and sharing and with our brothers and sisters. So from here, please. Um after everybody else has spoken, [00:17:00] of course, live in peace. and Charlo Peace to all he name my to my to I am. Yeah. So [00:17:30] the he never told him I seen Yeah. Oh, shit. [00:18:00] 25 years ago, Uh, in the a room next door, there was a lot of lies and hatred often spoken during the homosexual law reform. Um, I think we have well and truly exercised that hatred out of this venue today. [00:18:30] I'd now like to invite, uh, a stunning woman, uh, Joe Mali from Tonga to give her reflections. [00:19:00] You all must be thinking, Gosh, that lady can stay in hills all day. For your information, I was born with heels, and I will die with heels, but well, [00:19:30] I was asked by my beautiful new husband. Vary to give a reflection or an overview of the conference. Well, Barry, in the Pacific, it's custom that I take it back to our caucus to our sisters, brothers and our sister girls or our sister boys. [00:20:00] Um, that I get all their recommendations and their inputs as a president of the Pacific sexual diversity. It is only right that I do that. And we are very fortunate that you were kind enough to give us a room for our caucus even though it was only 20 minutes. Yeah, and please bear with me with this. This is more recommendations. Um, [00:20:30] it may may sound like that we are the arches of the conference. Mhm. But But as human, as a human rights defender, we're here to take a stand in the Pacific caucus. We have representation from the following Pacific Islands, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, American Samoa. And we had the [00:21:00] privilege of having the beautiful from Asia. Our overview of the Second Asia Pacific Human Rights Conference is to first acknowledge our sincere gratitude our participate for our participation and for having a voice. Secondly, we would like to make a special mention to the of A [00:21:30] for hosting us, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to the organising committee of this conference. OK, our key recommendations. First of all, funding, funding, funding. We feel that funding is a key element for our specific and I know it applies to [00:22:00] a lot of others other countries to enable us to action our advocacy of human rights as elaborated by our Pacific keynote speakers. Secondly, representation, representation, representation, we would like to stress the importance of having a Pacific voice in every stage of process and planning. What we mean is from the conceptual stage [00:22:30] to the end. Therefore, we as the Pacific must be in every aspect of decision making. If it ain't Pacific, then be specific. I told you it will sound like one number three culturally appropriate identity terms. We respect the position of LGBTI. [00:23:00] Don't get us wrong, and we ask that you respect the decision of MVPFF. And if you're confused, I'm confused, too. To that woman. It is our identity. It defines who we are. Number four. Balance of issues. What we found from the Pacific Caucus with their experiences of this conference. For there is a gap [00:23:30] and not an equal balance of all issues that is being lesbian sex workers Trans and MVPFF five. Lastly, further Pacific forums. Just make sure that we don't have the Pacific forums all in one time, especially when there's too many queens from the Kingdom of the Pacific, [00:24:00] tying into the funding recommendations to allow for Pacific forums to happen. To discuss relevant Pacific human rights issues to align with international human rights and future games conferences to sum up funding, representation and VPFF balance and development. We [00:24:30] come a long way and we have a long way to go. We have been told, Don't bite the hand that feeds us. But the hand that feeds feeds us must also guide us. Nurture us, support us and sustain us. Thank you, Marlo Alto. [00:25:00] I just want to say that, uh, this we want to make a presentation. But I just want to go back to the greetings and, uh when Tahitian says, and the Cook Islands extend to you or the operative words in those greetings is which means life. And when the Tongans extend to you their greetings of [00:25:30] and the of and indeed from the Republic of Fiji, which is via the operative words and those are and which means loosely wellness or goodness. And finally, when the Samons and the new extend their greetings of the operative words and those greetings is a So in other words, they extend to each and every one of you life [00:26:00] transmitted in wellness and goodness but cocoon in love always. And I thought it was a really appropriate way to extend those greetings. And but those messages to a very special person here today because the Pacific Caucus would like to present in their own way in the expression of life, wellness and goodness. But always that was done, extended to them in love by Barry Taylor. [00:26:30] I'm now going to ask the Fijian they are going to sing because they're the largest, is is. But can I just on behalf of the caucus of all the Pacific extend this, uh, is a or a treasure or tapa that was done by groups of wonderful tonnes and and, uh really to extend to our to you personally, [00:27:00] Barry, a sincere thank you that I have all the Pacific people I know for. And Suzanne, join us, please. [00:27:30] And Jack, I'm terribly sorry. I wanted to be here for the film. That's why I sneaked into your little preview at the at one of the in the room. Unfortunately, in this conference, they have just made me the Reverend. I've never prayed so many times in public, so I had to disappear last night for that function. The [00:28:00] as it is tradition in the Pacific, we end everything with the and we would like to sing a song that we the Pacific Islands will probably know. But I'm sure you're tired of listening to the San Juan songs. I can't sing a song because they don't know what it is. I will do [00:28:30] a Fijian song that we are all familiar with. And it's a farewell song called Isa Isa. Mhm. So yes. Hm. I Yeah. [00:29:00] Oh, but so [00:29:30] So, uh, because, um on and [00:30:00] Yeah. [00:30:30] Thank you. I'm Hamish. I'm, um, operations [00:31:00] and logistics for art games. And, um, I was fortunate enough to have the first conversation with Barry Taylor and recruit him into the position of conference convenor. Um, and it's a great pleasure that I, um give him the, um, our our gold medal for, um, it's a gold medal. It's, um, for, um, a fabulous job in creating and crafting and lovingly, um, bringing together this conference so really on on [00:31:30] behalf of the out games committee. Thank you. Hm. [00:32:00] Well, I knew I wasn't gonna get a medal in solo synchronised swimming, so I had to get it in something. Right. Thank you. Um, well, look, I haven't done it myself. It's been an amazing group, and I just want to introduce and to thank that group for what has been a tremendous experience. [00:32:30] We've had a few little tensions at times. We've had a few tears, but no, I've not got a tale about those things. Uh, but I just want to acknowledge, and some of them couldn't make it here, but, uh, Andrew Camp, Is Andrew here? Andrew Campbell from, uh, out at work. Uh, Judy Ellison. Where's Judy? Stand up, Judy for the learning stream. Uh, Alison, Laurie and Gavin for, um, uh, store [00:33:00] for the stories. Liz from wellness. And she got the other and well, being Margaret Maman for spirit. I not No, I think she was. Had to go. Uh, Katrine Evans, who is not here from, uh, law, uh, for the legacy box. Where's Jim? Oh, he's most probably out interviewing someone, um, Prue in terms of the human rights, [00:33:30] uh, film session last night. And for two incredible women who just made everything else that I didn't have to worry about. The logistics Carol and Dawn. Um, and, of course, a huge thanks to all those in the red shirts. The volunteers who have just done an amazing [00:34:00] right, um, in my work as a therapist, often I have people who come incredibly bound and trapped come with, uh, a range of of issues, much not of their own doing, [00:34:30] but from external. And for many of those, sadly, for some of those, their decision has been to kill themselves. They have been our brothers and sisters. And one of the things I always talk about, uh, in in my work, Uh, and I'm so it came from my Judeo Christian tradition is that truth sets us free. And in this room and in the many rooms, truth [00:35:00] has been spoken. And that has been spoken because that it is our lives. It is our stories. It is our experience. And it is our spirit. Whatever we have done, whatever we choose to do, However, we when we claim who we are, when we become grounded in that knowledge that we [00:35:30] are important and when we claim that power, then it can never be denied us. And so, in closing, I'm going to claim from another Judao Christian and an adaption from the Prophet Micah. May we continue to act justly with boldness and passion. May we love tenderly whoever we choose and are compelled to love [00:36:00] And may it be our our friends, our lovers and may we walk humbly in this earth and in this land and may we walk humbly with whether it is our god or spirit or whatever sustains us. The spirit goes on. It cannot be stopped. Thank you. [00:36:30] I now ask Kevin to come and to close. Yeah, yeah, right. [00:37:00] I you Yeah, [00:37:30] yeah. Mhm. Before I close our session, I'm going to practise something with you. First of all, at the end of, uh, this [00:38:00] that, uh I'm going to say I'm going to end with the words and I'm gonna go and you're gonna go. And what that is saying is essentially let us all be one and let it be done. So I'm going to, uh, use the words of our conference, and I'll translate in Kevin's translation. It [00:38:30] might be different by somebody else. What those words are saying Listening to the song of the bell bird 2223. Yeah, weave it, weave it. We weave it on high, [00:39:00] weave it on low, weave it inside, weave it outside, weave it to the fabric of humankind so that it may be heard in light and in darkness. Two year it [00:39:30] Weave it to this person that comes from the Great Hawaii, The long Hawaii, the legendary Hawaii, the where our spirits meet. [00:40:00] So that I may say it is dawn. It is dawn. It is a new awakening. Well, [00:40:30] the pot luck dinner is over. And And can you just please take your dishes with your home? I? I know some of you haven't labelled them and I'm going home. I've got my ginger nuts. Thank you. Go well.
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