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So here we have someone from Utopia, which is a group in Christchurch here to have a yarn with us. Can you tell us a bit about utopia? Um, Utopia is a youth group that's sort of set up independently from schools. Um, we have a range of ages from 14 to 25. It's facilitated by a group of sort of seven core facilitators. Um, we are overlooked by a board, [00:00:30] and we also have supervision once a month. Um, it was basic. Yeah, The idea behind Utopia was basically set up at a time when it was a really crappy place for queer youth to be in schools. So we want. So how long has it been around? Um, has been around since, like the early nineties. In one form or another, um, it's had, you know, sort of several names. And as with any youth group or group, it's gone through peaks and troughs. But at [00:01:00] the moment, we've got about 50 people registered as members and maybe between 10 and 20 of those turn up to an event on a weekly basis. So you guys are based in Christchurch. There's a there's a stereotype about about the South Island and about Christchurch being really redneck and homophobic. How have you found? Is that true? How have you found it down there? Um, I think for the most part, Christchurch is the conservative [00:01:30] of all the main, the most conservative of all the main centres. Um, in saying that, you know, there are parts of it that are totally un homophobic. And then there are parts, you know that you just don't feel that safe. And, um but, yeah, there's still a lot of work to do, and I mean, Christchurch in general just isn't as diverse as Wellington or Auckland. So there's always gonna be those sorts of issues until we get the population up and get some more interesting people [00:02:00] in there. And did you grow up in Christchurch? And how did you find coming out? And, um yeah, speaking for me personally, school was quite I didn't feel safe coming out in school, so I waited until I was in my first year at Christchurch Polytech, Um and yeah, that was just a personal choice. And because, you know, growing up in Christchurch and knowing what the lay [00:02:30] of the land was, Yeah, it is quite a scary place at some times. And so you work with, um, a whole range of young people now who are, you know, queer or whatever has has that changed? How are they finding life now in school and with their families? I think what's, um, really heartening is that people who are coming along to Utopia are younger and younger and younger, and they're out with their maybe not at school, [00:03:00] but at least with their families, younger and younger and younger. So there's definitely, you know, headway being made and kind of changing people's attitudes to homophobia and those sorts of things. It's happening slowly but great. And how did you sleep last night? Lots of people say there's lots of snoring and talking. I, um, actually took a little blue pill and I was out like a light. [00:03:30] Thank you very much for talking to us and enjoy the rest of thanks. This audio was brought to you by out there. For more information, visit WWW dot out there dot org dot NZ.
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