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No. Welcome everyone to this the, uh, second Asia Pacific Out games Human rights conference. My name is Barry Taylor, and I am the conference convenor. It is my pleasure to welcome and to, uh, sort of lead us through the opening ceremony. Um, for this conference, we have some apologies today, Uh, unfortunately, uh, his Excellency, the [00:00:30] governor general, the patron of the second, uh, Asian Pacific Art Games. Sir Satyan, uh, was is unable to make it today. But of course, he was here on Saturday and officially opened, uh, the art games. Just to note that in the history of the gay Games and the art games, it is the first time that a head of state has actually, um, has opened the games. And as Grant Robertson appropriately acknowledged, it was appropriate that a representative of a queen opened the games. [00:01:00] Um, the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby from Australia, who has, uh, a former high court judge of Australia who is the patron of the conference, had hoped to come and actually be a keynote presenter. Unfortunately, he is doing major work with the Commonwealth at the moment, and he was unable to make it, uh the honourable Chris Binson. The Attorney general, uh, sends his apologies, as does Cecilia Wade Brown, the mayor of Wellington. Uh, once [00:01:30] again, Celia, uh, was at the opening and spoke at the opening of the whole out games on Saturday. Also, his David and his partner, Dwayne McGuane. The David is the ambassador to the United States is unable to make it this morning. Uh, last night he hosted, he and Dwayne hosted a small function at the, uh, his residence out at lower hut, which several from the conference attended. Um, I understand the reason why they're not here today is Dwayne [00:02:00] wouldn't let David out because they hadn't done the dishes. So, um, but we have got the wine stains out of the carpet. We think it was the Canadians who did that. So But we have also some welcomes today. Uh, I'd like to welcome, uh, Ethel Murray from G. Lisa, uh, as a representative of Lisa, Glees is the overall governing body for the, uh, out games. Uh, and in our audience, just like to acknowledge, uh, Jenny Rowan, the mayor of [00:02:30] um, who were also MC at the opening. Um, I had some association with Jenny a few years ago in my paid work. Not in this work. In my, unfortunately, in the, uh, there'd be several, uh, unfortunately, some suicides of young people. Um, and, uh, I worked with Jenny, and you could just tell it was a lesbian. As the mayor, she was so practical. It was just a a can do attitude. So it was fantastic. So, Jenny, and [00:03:00] thanks for all your work, Uh, and great to have you here at the conference. We acknowledge, uh, today the that over the last several months in New Zealand and in the world through, um, natural disasters, there has been loss of much life. So we want to acknowledge those that have particularly travelled up from Christchurch to join us to be as part of the conference. Uh, but also to recognise that some, [00:03:30] for instance, of the diversity liaison officers from the police who had hoped to be here over the week are actually doing amazing work down in Christchurch. So to acknowledge, also that, uh, we want to acknowledge, um, Doctor Hiroyuki Tai from Japan. I don't know. She had hoped to try and still make it so not Not here yet? Maybe, uh, but just once again, to acknowledge. And also just to acknowledge, of course, Kevin Hague. In terms of the the the disaster and the loss [00:04:00] in the West Coast last year and and how that has felt our community. Um, just over 25 years ago, Um, I remember being in Cathedral Square. I was only three at the time. Um uh, and we left on a march on a cold Friday night, and it was a march saying that [00:04:30] it was time for change in our law, Uh, in terms of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. Now, I've been a bit of a student radical, been at Canberra, and I'd been on many marches 81 through the tour, and I'd left that that square many a time to march on a whole lot of issues. But in that moment, I felt an incredible sense of vulnerability because I was making a statement about myself. [00:05:00] And yet also in that moment of vulnerability was this tremendous moment of strength, strength in terms that, uh, we were collectively staging and claiming our voice. Uh, and to take a stand is a political act. An individual person coming out often is a political act, and it is an act that we take a risk in. [00:05:30] And so I just want to acknowledge that, and and my hope is that the passion and the creativity that happened during that campaign as we mark 25 years this year in New Zealand of the decriminalisation of homosexuality that that spirits, uh, be with us during this conference. However, we also want to acknowledge that time to take a stand. It is a huge cost, for instance, to acknowledge [00:06:00] David Kato from Uganda, the activist this year who was killed. There are many others, of course, in our whakapapa of of people who have lost their lives because of willing to take their stand and and and to acknowledge those I just also want to acknowledge. A year ago, I was organising another conference on, uh, men and suicide. It was the first ever national men's only gathering, and on the [00:06:30] it was a year today, about 11 o'clock at night. Uh, as I was preparing for the opening of the conference, I received a phone call from Sydney to say that a friend of mine had killed himself. Uh, that was one of three deaths of significant friends of mine who killed themselves last year. And I just want to acknowledge that because suicide is a major killer in our community, and so therefore and [00:07:00] that those deaths is not necessarily that that someone violently killed them. But discrimination, prejudice, internalised stigma all contributed to poor mental health outcomes for those people. So what I would like to invite us to do is to stand for a minute's silence, to honour all those who have been part of our who have stood up and at times have experienced [00:07:30] and suffered and have now who are now no longer with us. Please join us in a minute's silence. Thank you. So here we are at the conference, Um, and I'd like you to share it with you. It's in the front, the vision that we have for this conference, and and for the future that for all [00:08:00] people, whatever their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity is one to be able to live in inclusive societies with equal access to the resources and services that will ensure the physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of themselves and their families that we all were able to fully participate in the economic, social, cultural and political development of our societies and our communities, and enjoy equal protection under [00:08:30] the law from discrimination and violence. That is, that the dream and the vision that we put before you to today for this conference organising this conference, the analogy I want to use. It's a bit like the organising a gigantic pop up dinner. And so we were thinking, Is we? We sent out an invitation and we have a full conference. 3/330 [00:09:00] people will attend the conference over the three days as part of just under 1400 people who are attending the second and Asia Pacific Art Games across the whole week. 23 countries are represented here today and there will be over 100 and 10 presentations. So we've got a big menu. We just had to make sure there was enough salads, enough desserts. And so the programming day when [00:09:30] we had to put it all into the streams was an interesting Saturday. Uh, but we fitted as many of you in as possible and and what we had was we had a huge banquet, but Of course, we've done our bit. We've set up the place. The real success of any kind of gathering is the people and the conversations, the stories, It's the telling. It's the sharing. And as has happened at the on, um [00:10:00] uh, Saturday we're now all we're all one. And so therefore, at times there will be sometimes some tears and some anger, but this is a safe place to share that also, we can share it all as we tell our stories and learn from each other. So this is the banquet. Enjoy it to each other. Look after each other. And welcome to the second in Asia Pacific Out games. Thank you. [00:10:30] I'd now like to introduce and welcome, uh, Roslyn New Noonan, the chief commissioner of the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. The commission have been fantastic in supporting this initiative and is one of our partner organisation. Greetings. Welcome. [00:11:00] [00:11:30] I've opened my greetings with the words from a Maori proverb. It goes like this. If you pluck out the heart from the Flex bush, where will the bell birds sing? [00:12:00] And if I ask you what is the most important thing in the world? It is people. It is people, It is people. And I think that proverb to me always reflects the fundamental human rights values to be found in every culture and society. To you, the esteemed visitors who have come to support this the out games in this conference, [00:12:30] um, welcome to you from the Four Winds of Asia Pacific. Welcome to this Human rights conference, which is Barry has said is to discuss what we still need to do to achieve the full realisation of human rights for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. And did the few words of Maori that I spoke. I ended with another probably [00:13:00] which says, observe to gain enlightenment, participate to feel the essence. And I think that's a wonderful A wonderful, um, proverb for this, uh, conference, Your Excellency Excellency Ambassador, A van der of the Netherlands. I want to acknowledge you for the wonderful support that you and your country have given to this conference. Um, Grant Robertson, [00:13:30] who's the, uh, member of Parliament for Wellington and to the other very illustrious members of the here. Greetings. I want to also especially acknowledge those of you who are here from Christchurch. I bring apologies from Commissioner Richard Tankersley, who in fact first bought the out games to the commission table. Um, but he's, uh, very much committed [00:14:00] to the Community Health Service, which he's involved in, and had to make the difficult decision that he couldn't yet leave that work and come. But I know he's missing this, and he said they wouldn't. You know, there was nowhere else he'd rather be than here. And I want to acknowledge those from Japan who have lost so much in the terrible tragedy that that country faces on behalf of commissioners and staff from the Human Rights Commission and I, I think you're going to meet if you haven't already a number [00:14:30] of them over the next few days. Um, for us, it's been a great It's a great privilege and pleasure to be welcoming people from over 23 countries of Asia Pacific, uh, to this conference, with its timely focus on the Yogyakarta principles and its aim of contributing to the movement to make human rights a daily reality for people, whatever their identity across the Asia Pacific and as well as those from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission. Um, we've [00:15:00] got, uh, colleagues from other commissions across Asia Pacific. And I have seen, um, Commissioner his from Indonesia come in. And I want to especially, um, welcome her, but those I think, um, I've got a colleague from Malaysia, uh, from India, Nepal, Um, and perhaps a number of others. So they are here as highlighting the commitment that national human rights institutions throughout Asia Pacific [00:15:30] have made to finding ways to advance the realisation of rights for people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. And it's great to have them here in the long worldwide struggle to affirm the rights of every person, whatever our sexual orientation or gender identity. The Asia Pacific region has much to contribute, partly because of the rich diversity of sexual [00:16:00] orientation and gender identities within the region, including the place of, uh, traditionally in Maori communities and the position of and a across the Pacific. And because it was the birthplace of the Yogyakarta principles in 2006, those principles are a universal guide to human rights which apply to people, whatever [00:16:30] our sexual orientation and gender identity they apply. They affirm binding legal international human rights standards with which all states must comply and they promise a future, in the words of the Yogyakarta website, um, where all people, born free and equal in dignity and rights, can fulfil their precious birth right well across our region. [00:17:00] Not a single country has yet realised that wonderful vision. And so we know that discrimination and violence against people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity is a serious problem in many of our countries. People of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, whether actual or perceived, have faced execution [00:17:30] or extrajudicial killing, torture, rape, arbitrary detention, unfair trials and, in the case of women, forced pregnancy and forced marriage. These human rights violations occur at the hands of state officials and authorities and at the hands of non state actors, often with the actual or implied complicity of state actors and often with impunity. And so, [00:18:00] at this conference, we need to think about our specific responsibilities to change that. There's the role and responsibilities, as I've mentioned of national human rights institutions, um, across the region, who are and must be defenders of the human rights of every person within the borders of the countries that they belong to we've the role of civil society. [00:18:30] So that's all of us. Must never, never be underestimated. Because without the sort of marches, the campaigns without individuals, often small, vulnerable groups standing up and saying these rights are ours, too, and we are no longer going to allow them to be denied. Nothing changes. And, of course, government. The state [00:19:00] has a primary responsibility to promote and protect the rights of everyone within their boundaries. And they have responsibilities to support each other in the promotion of those rights in the region and beyond internationally. The conference This conference is taking place at a at a very crucial time in the United Nations Human Rights Council. I think at the last count, some 58 governments [00:19:30] had signed up to a statement, Um, advocating, uh, for the promotion and protection of the human rights of, um, gay, lesbian, bisexual and intersex and trans people. And that's a very, um, important initiative. Uh, because when states start to speak to each other about these issues internationally, um, then we know that you can begin to see movement at home. [00:20:00] And alongside that statement, national human rights institutions from around the world, US will be following that statement with their own statement of support for states that are prepared to stand up and advocating stronger measures at the international level, but also committing ourselves to further action at the national level. And again, I hope out of this conference we can ensure that more countries [00:20:30] from across Asia Pacific join that statement at the United Nations. So in closing and wishing you well for a very instructive, constructive and also fun conference, because I think there is a lot to be celebrated and not least just in being able to come together and share experiences and gain energy and support from each other, I want to acknowledge that here in [00:21:00] New Zealand, while much has been achieved thanks to people like Barry and I think some former colleagues of mine who are here commission former commissioners Warren Lindbergh and Joy Lio, I just want to mention, uh because they were driving, um, inspiration for the public inquiry that the commission did on the discrimination experienced by transgender people, which I think was the first such inquiry anywhere in [00:21:30] the world in which we published as to be who I am and so I want to emphasise the importance of people pursuing the issues of fundamental human rights wherever they are. And you will see that we've provided your packs our own assessment of the extent to which the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and intersex and trans people are recognised and respected here in New Zealand. [00:22:00] And we've identified in that what more needs to be done. So we're looking forward to working with you and to gaining inspiration for you for the next stages to full legal equality here in New Zealand. So can I just conclude by wishing you a wonderful conference? Um and, um, I've come down from Auckland this morning, and I've tried to bring some sunshine with me, which, just following, you know, slowly behind should be here by lunch time. [00:22:30] Thank you, Rosine. I now have the pleasure of introducing uh, Ari Van Der, the ambassador to the Netherlands, the Netherlands of those who have, uh, generously funded this conference and that we were able to provide 15 full scholarships, travel scholarships and accommodation scholarships [00:23:00] for people from the Pacific to attend this conference, as well as to sponsor our, uh, one of our speakers, Boris Dietrich who will you will be hearing from during the time. Um, it's interesting to note that in the time of that is that the New Zealand government has, in fact, has been cutting its, uh, Hu, uh, human rights [00:23:30] funding in the Pacific And that, uh, once again, So, uh, Grant and Kevin, we look forward to hearing from your political party manifestos and about how you will be funding human rights and the link between development and human rights. Uh, as we move it, it's an election year in New Zealand. We're gonna make the most of it. Uh, but welcome, Ari who, by the way, won a gold medal on Sunday for the five K run in [00:24:00] his age group. That was the 20 to 25 year olds. Sorry. These are my few Maori words I learned since I'm in New Zealand. And that's about six months ago when I presented my [00:24:30] credentials to the Governor General. Uh, may I, uh, correct a few small things of the previous speeches? Or maybe to add a few important things to what was said in the first place? Here stands a second representative of the Queen. My, [00:25:00] my original title is Her Majesty's ambassador, and that is my second correction. I'm not a high commissioner. A very warm welcome to all participants of this conference and may, I say, [00:25:30] is that all protocol is duly observed. Allow me first to convey on behalf of my government our our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the people of Christchurch and the whole of New Zealand. We have been deeply touched by the devastation caused by the earthquake [00:26:00] on the 22nd of February. Our thoughts are with the victims, the loved ones and all those affected by this terrible tragedy. And a few days ago, a new disaster has struck the Pacific Rim. We were shocked by the images caused by one of the largest earthquakes in history that had hit Japan and the tsunami [00:26:30] that followed. Our hearts go out to the people and communities in Japan. It goes without saying that these disasters already had and will have an impact on the second Asian Pacific Out Games this year. Dear participants. My government is one indeed of the [00:27:00] co sponsors of the Art Games 2011. Our support was primarily meant for the organisation of this conference reviewing the human rights situation in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity in the Asian Pacific region. But I'm also proud, as already was said, that we were able to provide 15 scholarships to people from the Pacific [00:27:30] to participate in this conference to give the conference more regional ownership. For many amongst you, our active support for promoting universal protection of human rights and fundamental freedom for all may not be a surprise. The Netherlands has a long tradition of tolerance, which is already which is readily associated with [00:28:00] the acceptance of homosexuality, women's rights, abortion, same sex marriage and the liberalisation of euthanasia and soft drugs. A major attraction involving tolerance is, for example, the coffee shop. Not because of the quality of the coffee, I can assure you. Some incorrectly conclude [00:28:30] from this that the Netherlands is a true drug paradise. However, only the sale of soft drugs is tolerated on the principle that a complete ban would not eliminate sales but would make the problem invisible and create more problems. Also, the first same sex marriage took place in the Netherlands almost 10 years ago, [00:29:00] to be precise on April 1st, 2001 and since 2001 following the pioneer example of the Netherlands, same sex marriages have been legalised in 10 more countries, and this shows that there is a clear progress but still slow. Or as Boris Die, who is with us today, said the trend to legalise same sex [00:29:30] marriage is unstoppable abroad. Our liberal tradition is cause for admiration, but I have also to confess as well as horror. In the latter case, the Netherlands is portrayed as a country without moral awareness where no rules apply. Tolerance is also a frequent topic of conversation [00:30:00] in the Netherlands itself. National discussions on whether the country is tolerant enough or perhaps too tolerant are not unusual and becoming more intense lately. The 17th century, the so called Dutch golden age is considered the cradle for this belief and intolerance. At that time, the Dutch republic was the only country in which [00:30:30] freedom of conscience was enshrined in law. Being pragmatic, the 17th century Martians also saw that tolerance was useful. Trade flourishes only in a climate of freedom and mutual respect, and every customer is an individual, regardless of colour or political or religious convictions. So [00:31:00] with the Dutch you have always to ask yourself the question whether you deal with the merchant or the missionary. Ladies and gentlemen, over the past decades, we have seen a number of positive developments in the area of LG TB rights. In addition, key human rights mechanisms of the United Nations have affirmed state's obligations to ensure effective [00:31:30] protection of all persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, around the world, many people still face human rights violations because of their homosexuality, including killings, torture, rape, criminal sanctions and violence. In 85 countries in the world, homosexuality is still considered [00:32:00] a criminal offence, and in a substantial number of these countries you can even receive the death penalty for sexual conduct. In other cases, these women and men become targets of extrajudicial executions like, as was already said happened recently in Uganda. Human rights organisations have expressed concern over a growing a growing [00:32:30] homophobia in certain parts of the world. It may be understandable. UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon said recently in an address to the Human Rights Council that gender identity raises sensitive cultural issues, but cultural practise cannot justify any violence of human rights. he states. When our fellow humans are persecuted because [00:33:00] of their sexual orientation or gender identity, we must speak out. Human rights are human rights everywhere for everyone, he concluded. A joint as already set by Ross, a joint statement on ending violence and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity will be delivered at the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, 21st [00:33:30] of March, which is next week. Indeed, 58 states out of 192 have now endorsed the joint statement. It is important to ensure the greatest possible support for this statement at the UN level and I have to underline this. Be aware that there is a counter statement in the make. Many Asian [00:34:00] Pacific states have supported previously the LGB initiative but have not yet supported the present joint statement such as India, Nepal, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, BNG and Fiji. Joint statements provide a constructive opportunity to raise awareness and support in the fight against homophobia. Maybe [00:34:30] this conference can encourage mainstream human rights organisations, France human rights commissions and other allies in countries that have not yet endorsed the joint statement to contact their governments and make their voices heard. And maybe this conference should, through a press release, urge Asian Pacific states to join the statement about ending violence [00:35:00] and related human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. High visual. The fruitful deliberations. I'm confident this conference will be a success. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, [00:35:30] I just also want to acknowledge at this time the funding that we receive from the American Jewish World Service, the Australia Lesbian Foundation for Justice and the Open Society Institute. All trust from the United States who provided funding for 12 scholarships from Asian countries also to attend this conference. Uh, and then in particular, I want to acknowledge the tenacity [00:36:00] and the passion and the drive of particularly, uh, Jack Byrne. Uh, who made that funding possible? Jack, could you stand up, please? Um um, some days when I opened my email and there was another 10 from Jack, I would just go. Mm. Especially when I'd come home at 7 a.m. in the morning in Sydney [00:36:30] after a a beer underwear party last two weeks ago. Don't go visual. I warned people yesterday about that, Um, but walking into yesterday to Saint Andrews on the terrace. Uh, Hall. Where? Over 70 trans and over 100. 0, my God. The catering bill has just gone up again. Uh, over 100 people, transit and intersex people were there, just made it all worthwhile. So and and to [00:37:00] Sam Orchard also, who made all those travel arrangements for us, it was just a fantastic experience. Also. Just want to thank Margaret Maman, who's here on stage, Who is the minister at Saint Andrews on the church. Have a dyke is a Presbyterian minister who graciously gave us the the hall for that to occur. So, Margaret And now, [00:37:30] uh, it is election. Yes. We have to invite an MP to open things. So who more appropriate than the MP for Wellington Central? Uh, but also, who has been a a strong advocate in terms of our work and supporting not only the out games, but this conference. Uh, but, uh, our very own Grant Roberts. We asked him to come and open the conference, [00:38:00] uh, and are warm as we can be in Wellington today. Pacific Greetings to all of you. Uh, I want to particularly acknowledge Barry and the organising committee and I don't think Barry's quite managed to let you know, But the lovely people who are in the back row, particularly behind us, are all part of the organising committee. So I want to acknowledge all of them now for the great work of those. [00:38:30] I too, Barry, um, was opening my emails with, uh, some trepidation in the last few weeks as we dealt with one or two, immigration issues. And I know that Rosy also was involved in that. And I think it's a lesson for us that we still have some way to go in terms of a good immigration policy in our country can Can I? Also, I also wanted to acknowledge Sam and June Jackson for their welcome. Um, as always they were They were warm and their welcome, although I think Sam's, uh, call for me to keep [00:39:00] this conference straight is, uh, both beyond me and not something I want to do. So, um, I want to particularly also acknowledge my parliamentary colleague, Kevin Hague. Uh, Kevin and I should both be sitting in the Health Select Committee right now, and I think we both prefer to be where we are. Uh Kevin likes to say that he's the gayest MP in Parliament. I don't know what criteria you use for that, Kev. At some point, we may have to have a gay off of some sort. Uh, [00:39:30] I also want to acknowledge a former parliamentary, uh, former parliamentarian and Marilyn Waring. Who's I know you'll be hearing from in the next session. So welcome, Um, to you, uh, Marilyn as well. I think of you particularly actually, at this time of enormous tragedy in Japan and the ongoing, uh, nuclear situation there and the work that you did in that area in past times in New Zealand. So I acknowledge you, particularly today, uh, Marilyn, for that, uh, I also want to acknowledge the ambassador, and, um, thank you again. [00:40:00] I think it's absolutely incredible that we're sitting here today with so many people supported here by the Dutch, uh, embassy. Their commitment to this conference is the kind of thing that every country in the world should think about, how they can support. I'm not sure, New Zealand, and I'm not making this a political statement, particularly I'm not sure New Zealand embassies overseas would be involved in a conference like this in the way that the Dutch Embassy had. So I really want to add my thanks and congratulations to the Dutch Embassy as well. Absolutely brilliant. [00:40:30] And also to acknowledge Ros Noonan and the fantastic work that the that the Human Rights Commission Uh, do as well Can I just say that all of you look fantastic Just sitting in the front row and looking out at the the conference, uh, participants, you are going to have a magnificent three days. The diversity, the depth of talent that is in this room, just how good looking you all are, quite frankly, but it really is going to be a magnificent [00:41:00] few days, and I'm very sorry that I won't be able to join you for as much of it as I would like. I also want to make a particular acknowledgement, as I look at the programme and the depth and breadth of it and the people who are involved, that there are the the groups that are here today. I can't can't even contemplate to speak for or on behalf anyway of of the diversity of people here. But I do want to acknowledge all of you for making the effort to be here for overcoming the obstacles and adversity that many of you had in order to be here. I want to single [00:41:30] out one group in particular who are sitting mainly, I think, towards the front here, which is the fantastic out at work people who have actually, um, merged their conference into, uh, this conference this year. This is the group of people who look after the interests of our rainbow communities within the workplace. So I particularly want to acknowledge you and Karina who I see from Christchurch down the front here as well. So I think, uh, it's great that you've been able to be part of this. I am acutely conscious that that the people represented here today from across our region, uh, are people with a vast range of experiences, [00:42:00] uh, experiences of different legal regimes, experience of persecution on a daily basis, or if not on a daily basis, then on then on a more regular basis than anyone of us would like. I want to reflect today very briefly on what I consider to be something that's happening here in New Zealand, and that is what I consider to be a journey from what I call tolerance to acceptance. But there is a long road to even reach the starting point of that journey. Tolerance. Many [00:42:30] of you in the room today live in societies who those who represent the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity could not at any way claim that they are being tolerated. There are people here today who are actively persecuted, discriminated against and marginalised, and the situation is obvious around the world. Ugandan gay rights activist David Cato has already been mentioned today. He was killed earlier this year. He was a vocal opponent of the anti homosexual bill before [00:43:00] the Ugandan parliament. His death followed the publication a couple of months earlier in a tabloid of the pictures, names and residence locations of some members of the LGBT community, along with the headline in that tabloid that read Hanged Them. Cao's photo appeared on the cover of that tabloid. He suffered the indignity at his funeral that it was taken over by the homophobic [00:43:30] rants of the minister who was presiding over it. There is a responsibility on each and every one of us to stand up against this kind of thing wherever it is in the world. It is a responsibility at a governmental level, but it is also a responsibility at an individual level. We must stand up against this, [00:44:00] but I briefly want to return back to New Zealand. We can sit now in 2011 in New Zealand and reflect reflect on the list of of rights and recognitions and achievements. A few years ago, the far right in New Zealand politics used to talk about a gay agenda in New Zealand politics. What they didn't realise was that the former Labour MP Tim Barnett had a large document which, actually we used to call the gay agenda quite think it was, too. We didn't get all the way through it [00:44:30] following on from the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and Barry mentioned being, um, on the on the protest march at A at a very young age. I I was at high school, and when I was moving out of home, um, after the end of school, before I went to university, I found in a box I'd clipped out of the newspaper who had voted for and who had voted against the homosexual law reform bill in New Zealand. I don't even remember doing that. I would have been 14 years old when it passed. But these things matter. Those who go before us matter. [00:45:00] And we we can look back proudly on the fact that we have have moved on from the decriminalisation to the Human Rights Amendment Act in 1993 further into into the 21st century, with changes around property law, the Civil Union Act and the 108 pieces of legislation. And I used to be able to recite them that were to acknowledge the passing of the civil Union Act, changes around the way in which the education review office reviews schools in terms of of bullying, birth deaths and marriages, legislation, the Prostitution Reform Act. We [00:45:30] can point to great progress, but I hasten to add that it is nothing like full equality. You've already heard briefly from Roz about the to be who I am, report which details areas we must make progress on for trans people. In the session that follows, you will hear from Marilyn Waring, who, among others, has been sharply critical that we have not got ourselves to full marriage equality. We're still grappling with the process on how to make adoption for same sex couples possible, but great progress has been made. [00:46:00] But to me it somehow represents something of the New Zealand psyche that we've reached a point where diversity is tolerated rather than accepted. We can't be complacent, of course, and I think about earlier this year the burning down of Lindsay Kno and Juliet Lee's business in In um, accompanied as it was by homophobic graffiti and and other threats. We can't be complacent in the face of that, but the difficult issues that remain to be dealt for us here in New Zealand are about accepting diversity, [00:46:30] embracing those who are different and celebrating what that brings to our society. And if I can just get political for one moment, you knew I would. And there was a moment at the, um, the Fantastic New Zealand AIDS Foundation event in Auckland earlier this year, the big gay out where our prime minister attended and isn't it great that the prime minister of a Conservative party would attend something like that? But the prime minister stood up at that event and said that he and his government had been good for the Rainbow Communities [00:47:00] of New Zealand because they had not rolled back any of the achievements of the previous decade. Now, in some ways as you as you are reacting, that's an extraordinary remark. But in others I think it actually reflects a genuinely held view that what he had done was great because he had tolerated the changes and the advances that we had achieved. A true journey from tolerance to acceptance will be one [00:47:30] when those who are coming out at school are supported, where professional rugby players feel that they can be honest about who they are and where even. Maybe one day an aspiring gay politician won't face the constant question. Is New Zealand ready for a gay prime minister? OK, perfect. The kind of agenda I'm talking about now is different, but additional to [00:48:00] the rights and legislative based agenda. It's the agenda my parliamentary colleague Charles shall calls the dignity agenda. It's an extension of the rights that is based on an attitude change that sees difference as a positive. This is a long road, but I strongly believe that it is one that we need to go down to unlock the bigger changes to reach the equality that we're all seeking. I'm very jealous of you today. I will now have to return to the Health Select Committee [00:48:30] and the somewhat tedious, uh, reviews of, um, district health boards that we're going through at the moment. But I hope that you'll spend the next three days listening, discussing, sharing, challenging and inspiring each other. As you move on at your own pace on your own different journeys. I wish you well. And I leave you with the words of WH or perhaps as a spirit to guide this conference. Civilizations should be measured by the degree of diversity [00:49:00] attained and the degree of unity retained. Uh, thank you, Grant. I must admit, when I saw all the red lays, I thought it was a Labour party branch stacking as usual. But but it's great to actually to have out at work here. It's fantastic. Um, [00:49:30] that now, uh, concludes the opening ceremony, which is we're now running late, but well, you know, we're running late. So, uh, I I asked. Now I I'd like to, uh, thank all those to Though we will now proceed straight into the, uh, the the opening plenary. We ask, uh, and welcome Kevin Hague who will chair it. And we ask the three presenters to come up to the front and we'll ask the others to come and sit in the rows. Uh, and we'll take it from there. Thank you.
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