This page features computer generated text of the source audio. It may contain errors or omissions, so always listen back to the original media to confirm content. You can search the text using Ctrl-F, and you can also play the audio by clicking on a desired timestamp.
I'm really interested in the idea of Pacific representation here, and there's been some discussion about that. Could could you talk for a minute about about what's being said in the plenaries? I have a very, very strong view about this, particularly the the acronym LBGGT. Because to me that is a very European, uh, version. It's very hero. That's OK if you have European stock. But for us, uh, particularly for from Samoa is that we have existed well before the [00:00:30] LP GT came, or even Europeans came to this part of the Pacific. So we for the Christians and, uh and I think it's a reclaiming of that name because one of the key issue for me is if human rights and things is about identity, are quite clearly for us as specific people. And Simon is that our culture identity is first and then our sexuality, which is around the other way for a European, yours is a sexuality. And then you may [00:01:00] acknowledge your culture. I'm, uh uh I think, uh, uh, Chief has already, uh, has summed up, uh, all what we are, uh, in the culture. Uh, we do have a a, uh, like positional in our culture and that, uh, what we are in our culture. Everyone knows when the term is is spoken, [00:01:30] They they know what we are. And that's us, OK? And yeah, that and I, I I'm very, um uh, glad to be here, given the opportunity to participate in this conference, uh, and to learn, uh, about the, uh, LGTPT, which is, uh, a a new concept to us, uh, like, said, has been with us from the beginning, way, way, [00:02:00] way back before Christianity. Um, and it's we deserve to be with everyone else now and forever. Um, actually, I'm an official member of the Socia, which stands for society of In American Samoa. Um, our Vice President Sasha already elaborated more on the on the intentions. Why we are here just to clarify the what the is all about. [00:02:30] So, um, but I'm very fortunate to be here because I have learned so many new things about, uh, human rights and also about these organisations of LGBT because we were here, uh, presenting, um, about and how lives are affiliated with our own culture. Ok, thank you. What? What is the most challenging things been about this conference for you. [00:03:00] I think it's really getting people together, and particularly with the Asia, Asia and Pacific. Hence for me is that you know, I'm fascinated by the the Asian, uh, members because they have not participated in Rio. But you know, one of the connections I have with the Asians, of course, because if you look historically, our Samons, we they say that we originated from Southeast Asia. But of course, the other connections we have is the colonialism. And I think what we had to look at is where the terminologies [00:03:30] came after the Christians after the Colonial. But I believe it's looking your own culture is the solutions. I am very propelled by solutions rather than problems. And to me, that's where this conference brings us the voices. And I'm excited as somebody who this is the first time I from American Samoa or to here because for the most people here and not Tasha, but the others is that this is the first time ever in New Zealand, and that's [00:04:00] really exciting for me, the the most. The most exciting thing about this conference is the presence of, uh of a IA. I think It is a society of in American Samoa and challenges for you at the conference. Yeah, there there are challenges. Um, I I've now learned because still, uh, gay is is very much different with back home, uh, for one aspect, because [00:04:30] we we are sexually attracted to straight men. Not with, like, you know, gay, sexually attracted to to other gas. So that's a challenge, Uh, that I'm trying to, um you know, uh, learn more about It's our distinction from from the, uh, from the gay concept. The gay. Yeah, but I'm I'm learning a lot as we as the conference progresses, so [00:05:00] does the gay concept and lesbian concept exist in American? So, uh, but yeah, now, but but I'm I'm I'm speaking culturally, um, as we were brought up. Like, for instance, uh, we we we're attracted to the straight man in our own culture. You know, we we're not sexually attracted to other, and that's Yeah, but, uh, yeah, that's the, uh we [00:05:30] can we differentiate the from from gays and Chinese? Is is the, um, you know, other, um, content of of of the conference here? Yeah, I think. Yeah, mostly. Tasha touch most of those spaces. But one of the challenge, um, experience that I've seen here on the lesbians. There's the populations of lesbians here and those [00:06:00] from he to she. Yeah, we don't have the We don't have that in Samoa. It's my first time seeing this. And it was amazing because it was my first time and don't you? And also, by ages, so many old. You mean like older than six years old? You know, when I look at them, my gosh, because we're so close to our mom, they look, I look at them like they're my grandmas grannies. So it's all it's new to me. But in [00:06:30] terms of kay there yeah, like, yeah, but there is. But if we consider the gays, there's so many of them in the closet hiding in the closet. But games they're but they're hidden all over the places. Like self. I classify myself as a but I dress half half. I'm wearing a lava lava with a purse, but I [00:07:00] I I think one of the things that you really have to appreciate is the the paradigms. You know, it's the world view that people have. It's not the same you know, like, if I ask you what is the gay? I mean, you've been around for this, uh, world a lot longer. I know. Where the root of the word gay faggot. The the English terms for me, it tells me the context of where that came from and what society at that time they saw you very [00:07:30] negatively. Faggot. You know something you burn whereas someone like a or invert prior to that, that was the term that you use. But whereas it means like a male to me, the definition is first of all, it's and it's, uh, uh, physically male as said, but also as a spirit of the woman who is entrenched in the the with the family. And the spirituality is entrenched in that particular area. But to try and impose. [00:08:00] And we know we talk about lesbian, we know there's a Greek mythology that comes from lesbian, and so it's really about when you have that picture in your head. Now, the picture in my head having lived in New Zealand for some time, is when you look at gay, the concept of gay men is very American. In that you know, your abs, and it's a whole conversation, you know, the abs and how. But you're looking straight acting. And by definition, can I just say straight Acting to me is just a total anathema of, [00:08:30] you know, of a gay person. Straight acting. What does that tell you and and just go back to this history is the fact that and you know, this is what you see. We don't put on anything. This is how we live in our families. This is how we live in our society. These are very highly qualified people from American Samoa. They're teachers, they got degrees and things. But this is the way we are. You know this So people will say, Well, this is the norm for us, whereas you know the other. And I'm not trying to [00:09:00] integrate the because it's used to that paranoia. I'm just saying this is my space, and I'm claiming this space. You can claim whatever space, but don't try and put your world view on to me because it doesn't fit because you hear a lot of, uh And that was something fascinating me about the the Asian. Like I said, Well, what do you call yourselves and your are we and they can't come up with it. And that's, uh, that's quite sad because I think there's a loss of of identity, of who you are as that sexual, uh, human being that you are. [00:09:30] Can you comment on how the Pacific has been integrated into this conference? Um, I think in this conference it's been excellent because I think it's taken a whole new view because of the inclusion of American Salmons and this inclusion of other These are, you know, for Pacific. We know that these are very, very different people, and that's, uh, put it in a whole different sphere. There's a different role of views, different views about what is the contour that's really challenging. [00:10:00] I think the voice of is quite loud, not by one another. But it's because, you know, I think because we articulate it quite well and the more entrenched that you are in based in your families and things. That's the more articulate you are in and actually able to to say it. So I think that's the benefit of this conference. But the other thing is for Pacific participant, things should be better. It could be a lot better, but I You know, I think it's a It's a good start, and I but the conference itself, I haven't had much time to look at the out games. [00:10:30] Uh, well, I was more interested in the in the the Human Rights conference, so yeah. What would you like to take away from this conference? Uh, the wonderful for me personally, The wonderful for happy number one for me is the presence of, uh, the American. Uh, that's my number one. Yeah. Likewise, knowing coming over here, we do have, uh, our, um you know, big sisters, um, here and very, very happy, [00:11:00] uh, to have met him here, uh, and other sisters from the Pacific. Last question. If somebody hears this in 30 years time, what would you like to say to them 30 years time? I like a young person who were either born in America or Australia or whatever it is to know that this hopefully this voice is today started their absolute, uh, making sure that they will have a voice in 30 years time [00:11:30] and that hopefully they will develop it to the existence of the well to, um just like to, uh, share in, Um, that, um we're still continuing on with the foundation of, uh, in our back home and in international level and, uh, to ensure that they are on the right path now.
This page features computer generated text of the source audio. It may contain errors or omissions, so always listen back to the original media to confirm content.
Tags