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My name is Ken Moala. Um, I'm originally from Samoa, and, um, my background to do with, um, gay and lesbian and transgender activism is that I am a, um co-founder of the Pacific Sexual Diversity Network, which started in 2007 in Samoa, and that reaches out to the countries of the Pacific. Um, promoting [00:00:30] a, um, men who of men transgender, um, and issues relating to, um, the communities, the different communities throughout the Pacific. Um, now, the reason why I'm here is actually I now reside in the Gold Coast in Australia. Um, I decided to come over and assist, uh, being a volunteer, but also to attend some of the sessions at the conference, [00:01:00] which I have particular interest. Um, what I had, actually, my impressions of the conference itself are quite varied. I think this is This is actually a a an historic moment in the in the fact that it's been able to bring Asia Pacific regions together on a more intimate, um, basis, Um, [00:01:30] before we used to turn conferences in, um, Australasia and and and further, a field in in Asia and the Pacific Representatives was very few and far between because of the fact of the geographical implications. Um, financial implications are just too far and too expensive to get to where the conference has been held. And I applaud the conference for [00:02:00] the initiative they've taken to identify funding to bring over participants from the Pacific because that has been one of the overwhelming challenges through travel and accommodation. Um, but more on on issues to do with human rights, it is really good to to share, um, various achievements and challenges on certain issues such as human rights throughout the [00:02:30] region. Now, um, it has been really inspiring to listen to to keynote speakers. And I compliment the organisers on on on identifying, um, excellent speakers from various and varied backgrounds and who have expertise in on the issues that they spoke about. Um, so I, I really commend, [00:03:00] um, the the conference organisers on on that account. Um, but we need to have some of the recommendations I have in mind is, uh, these are just suggestions. Um, you can do what you want with them, but I do believe, as was brought up by one of the keynote speakers this morning, that there needs to be equal representation throughout the region, from Asia, from Pacific from Australasia [00:03:30] to ensure that there is a balanced, um, perspective from the different regions in order to ensure that the the issues pertaining to those areas are well addressed and and aired in this open forum. Um, I have another recommendations which I feel is very important. There should be a continuation of this [00:04:00] human rights conference. Uh, I don't know what the future of the out games are there. They're looking for the next host country and also possibly to, um, move further field and amalgamate out games for the Gay Games, which which hopefully in 2018 this this occurs. But I'd like to suggest that there is a continuance of the Human Rights Conference irrespective [00:04:30] of the out games, um, mechanism, because we don't know exactly what the future is and if possible, they can be maybe, um, by annually maybe every two years that we hold conference. But it's important that the Asia Pacific region are constantly updated on what has been done with human rights in the respective countries. So that's that's one of my recommendations regarding the conference. [00:05:00] Um, there, there, there are also other issues. It it's good to come and get together and and and talk and discuss about these issues, but I'd like to see a bit more action done. You know, this conference ends up to be like a talk fest, and we need to address certain issues. Um, such as persecution of the authorities in certain [00:05:30] countries of the region. We need to be more proactive and and and and and in ensuring that there there is a continued activism of human rights throughout the region. And there needs to be a database also for a network to be, uh, set up. So we can actually, if we're not meeting at conferences, we can [00:06:00] be constant dialogue through through, um, through online, um, and other means of communication. But I think that that we need to share, you know, not see each other every two years or so, but constantly emailing information throughout and have one big database that we can actually share our our thoughts on the issue. It was an interesting discussion this morning. I don't know whether [00:06:30] you were there. I was there Pacific people saying, Well, a speaker saying, um, that there are half a dozen words at least, Or names at least, that people have for a range of approaches to sexuality, gender, spirituality, position in society. Um, can I ask how how you identify yourself? It depends what context that you're referring to. [00:07:00] Um, so as a as a as a sam or male man, um, I consider myself very much a, um that word is encompasses. Um uh, to me encompasses a lot. I don't dress up as a as a woman. Um, and like one speaker said before, I mean, you know, I don't look good and drag, [00:07:30] but I do embrace the the whole concept of it, uh, realising that in in Samoa or in other Polynesian countries, this is very much a cultural and a spiritual, uh, entity. Um, So in that in that in that, um uh, stance, I think we need to respect. Um, exactly. Well, I feel is very, very dear to my heart. Um, [00:08:00] so, yes, that's That's how I would look at it in that respect. Yes, that's a That's an important statement. It's attained a pro A prominence. Yes. Because of this morning. Moderation of the last couple of days. Yes, Well, it identifies who are We need to define ourselves in light of of of the world we live in, and especially with the gay world. I know there's a lot of, [00:08:30] um, definitions and a lot of groupings within with 11 big group. But I think each grouping deserves their own place in the sun, their own. And we need to respect that. Um, like, I was at a session with intersex. Personally, I have I have not, um, had a lot of experience with that, but just, um, attending that it actually made [00:09:00] me more aware of their situation. So we need to understand that sometimes we glibly state Oh, we're all gay. But we're not. There are different divisions. I mean, transgender, for instance. Um, that itself is is is quite complex in itself. This conference has brought people here. Yes. Do you think people believe what they read? Or do they need people to tell them straight to their [00:09:30] face? Definitely. Definitely. I mean, we're all proud of who we are. We're proud to be gay. We're proud to be lesbian. Uh, we need to actually assert this this pride and and and all our all our definitions and I think it's important to to ensure that we although we come under the one umbrella as one speaker said the under the rainbow, we need to to feel that we do belong in that sense. And this world is diverse [00:10:00] and and colourful and so we need to incorporate this and and ensure that everybody is is treated equally. So yes, yes, I feel this is very important. Great. Are you going to take any one thing away with you personally or in terms of your volunteer involvement? Oh, yes, Yes. II. I thought it was great to be a volunteer. Sometimes, as as a delegate, [00:10:30] you only see certain things. But I've seen a lot of things like I was at the the football soccer tournament and it was good to see the, um the different countries, the spirit of competitors was there. But overriding all that it was a camaraderie and and coming together the different, uh, areas. But it wasn't about winning. Everybody's a winner. It was just coming together and being a whole [00:11:00] spirit of unity that I sense in in that sort of field and volunteering, I think everybody should do that. It's it's not. You're actually giving back, um, to your community, and I want to thank the organisers for accepting it, because I I don't I don't live in Wellington, but I just felt that I was richly blessed by being part of of the, um, whole out games [00:11:30] and especially the conference. And it was just been a real joy. There's the three pillars that talked about, Um, I can't actually remember all of them, But there's the human rights And, yeah, there's the sort of, um, the recreational sporting Yes, um, they do seem to share those two. Yes, if you if you can be decent and together and share on the playing field, Well, there's there's to me. What I I have experienced, [00:12:00] uh, has been the the the recreation of the sports. There's been the social, um um aspect, and then with with With the conference has been the knowledge that's that's been shared. But there's also there's one thing II I really like to emphasise that needs to be the spiritual. You know, we can look after the physical and the mental, and but we need to look after the soul, and I think this is This is time, [00:12:30] You know that we need to have activities surrounding, you know, the whole emphasis. I know we talked about in some aspects of the, uh, the, uh the conference, but there also needs to be activities. Um, that that really looks into, um and this is what I am really interested in on a personal level. Such as? Well being, Um um, knowing your karma yoga, [00:13:00] Um, ensuring that that your whole attitude is right, so you can actually share this. And so these are one of my recommendations to to the games is to ensure that we cover all aspects of our being not just the social, the the recreation and, you know, your your head knowledge, but also our spiritual side of it.
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