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I'm Katia, and I am raised in Auckland. Um, I come from a Croatian background, so I have a very, very big, loud, amazing family. Um, came out, I guess, in the process. So I kind of when I was at high school, I was dating a girl, which was pretty cool. She was an amazing woman. Still friends with her now, But, um, I guess it wasn't till a few couple of years ago, Really. I kind of really admitted to myself that I was definitely a lesbian. [00:00:30] So it took me. It took me a few years of kind of tossing and turning and coming from a Catholic background as well and all that kind of, um, installation of those kind of morals and mindsets that kind of took me a while to break down those walls and kind of realise that you can have a family with, um, a partner of the same sex and yeah, so it was Yeah, it was pretty cool when I kind of came to that realisation and yeah, I made some really good friends and support network around me. That kind of allowed me to do that. So [00:01:00] how was homosexuality? seen in Croatian culture. Um, good question. Um, it's not really something that is, um, accepted. Really? I'd say it's a very, very, very strongly Catholic culture. Um, I guess in terms of my family network I, I really I don't think that it's not really something that's brought up, if you know what I mean. It's just kind of not really mentioned that my immediate family that they're quite accepting, So that's fine. It took them a little bit, but [00:01:30] they got there. So at the end of the day, they love me. So don't really have a choice, I guess. But, um, yeah, it's definitely something that's not, um, accepted in the in the foreground, I guess. And did you pick up on that when you were when you were at high school? And and I guess when I was younger, it wasn't really something that I even thought about it because I didn't know any any, um, out gay people. I, I guess. Um, yeah. So it was kind of [00:02:00] and I don't really think it's much of the the culture. I think it's more of the It was more of the religion side of it. I guess so, Um, definitely. And I went to Catholic primary school and all that kind of stuff, So it was very much kind of your typical nuclear family Was the mother. The father married, and and then they had the Children. So that was definitely something that was instilled in me, I think, on the avenue, so Hm. So how did you feel when you were having a girlfriend in high school? That was very secretive. [00:02:30] My parents didn't know about that or anything when I was at that age, but, um, how it came about I I It just happened. I I met, um um, girl I was at school with and yeah, it it just happened. So I was very, very secretive of that. And I guess, um, a few people at school knew II, I think, Um, but there was a lot of bullying, a lot of kind of teasing and stuff around it as well, So it wasn't really something. I was out and proud, and I think a lot of [00:03:00] the teasing and bullying I received at high school, um, kind of made me a bit wary of coming out in the in the future. years. I guess so. So when did you first realise that you were attracted to women? Um, I guess when I met this girl at school I I wasn't really I didn't really date prior to that. I didn't have boyfriends or girlfriends or anything like that. So, um, yeah, I just I I've always kind of thought Oh, yeah. No, I could. [00:03:30] I thought when I was younger that I could admire the beauty of a woman or so that I never really kind of clicked that it was, um, more there was more to it than just admiring. I guess so. Yeah. When I look back now, I can definitely see, um, times where? Yeah. God, I played. I played soccer. I did all the typical things when I look back at it now and all that, but, um yeah, I. I guess it kind of fully came to fruition when I met. Um, that woman. Yeah. So that must have been a bit of a mind shift in your own head. [00:04:00] Was it? Yeah. Um, I think I don't know. I've always kind of been a person that I would definitely give anything a go once, so it wasn't. I wasn't kind of, um got to not give it a go. It was very confusing, I think. Just when you're at that age, though, there's everything is confusing, You know, you're finding out you need to know your body getting to know, um, where where you are in the world. And that's just it's just another thing. I guess so, Yeah. It was pretty. It was pretty mind jolting. It was pretty. It was I don't know, it was weird. [00:04:30] And so how did that affect you after that kind of first experience in terms of, you know, being out at school, or you were mentioning a wee bit of bullying at school? Um, there was yeah, quite a bit of bullying and stuff like that. A lot. And so I But I was quite I was quite a loud person at school. I was I. I guess I was quite forthcoming in the sense that I thought you if you're getting bullied, you fought back. I guess so. I um yeah, I had It was I remember some [00:05:00] really pretty nasty comments and stuff made. There was there was never any any physical bullying, and it was just more more, but I guess that kind of stuck with me. It still stuck with me now. I guess so. It, um it it made me kind of stay definitely in the closet for a few years after that. After that kind of experience after I left. So, um, school. Yeah, it was pretty pretty terrified. I was. It was just more of a thing that just, you know, if if what's the point of getting that much abuse and ridicule if you're gonna, um I just wasn't [00:05:30] really, I guess strong with myself. Strong enough with myself to deal with that at that stage. So what kind of school was it? It was a pretty It was a pretty open school. Um, was yeah, it's quite hard to explain with that kind of, um, it, like, I had amazing teachers here. Who, um, they were so supportive and brilliant, but it was just I guess, um, there was a coed school, so it was a lot of the guys that gave us a lot of grief. Definitely. Were there [00:06:00] any completely out students or teachers or support in the school? Um, there are a couple of gay boys. I remember I was quite good friends with a couple of them. Um, but they weren't They didn't have partners or anything. They were just kind of quite quiet boys who kept himself, Um, not not our teachers, but very supportive teachers who had an amazing, um, deputy principal at the time. And she was very, very, very supportive. So I remember her. Everything she did there. But, um, yeah, [00:06:30] that was kind of the only, Really, It wasn't really a, um, support group or anything like that at school when I was there. So, yeah, it wasn't really much, um, in terms of sex education or anything. Like there was there was sex education. But it was pretty much If you're sitting with a guy and a girl, this is what happens. And this is how you protect yourself from being pregnant? Pretty much so. There wasn't anything, um, in terms of, um, education at all. Yeah, that was pretty much the to that. You kind of just learned from from what people told you and [00:07:00] getting involved. I guess so. So you were saying it was a couple of years after that, and before you actually kind of came out? Definitely. Definitely. Probably five or six years after that. So, Yeah. So what happened in that period? Um, I was dating guys. I was really unhappy. I was drinking a lot. I was, um just Yeah, kind of biting my time I? I don't know. I wasn't I wasn't in a good head space. I just didn't I wasn't happy with it myself and I Yeah, [00:07:30] I tried to live a life that wasn't me, so Yeah, it's pretty, pretty tough time, but got through it in the end. So how did you get through it? Um, I It was kind of a process. I kind of got to this. I was in The last relationship I was with with the guy was pretty horrific. I was, um it was a pretty abusive relationship. So that kind of, um yeah, that kind of put me off people relationships in general for a while. And then I was very lucky. I've got amazing, amazing friends who just kind of helped me through. [00:08:00] And then, um, I met someone one night and yeah, it was a pretty cool woman, and yeah, I just kind of guess I was ready to give that avenue a go again. I had amazing friends. I knew that if I could tell them anything and they wouldn't judge me or turn me away or anything and yeah, I think just having that support around me allowed me to kind of be true to myself. I guess so. Yeah. And he was amazing. I felt like 1000 weights [00:08:30] to be lifted off my shoulders. It was just Yeah. So why did I waste as much time? But I guess I was just Yeah, it too wrapped up in, um, societal ideals that I assumed were the correct ones and things like that. So, yeah, it was. Finally I decided I was going to be true to myself, and yeah, it was pretty cool. So, what age were you then? 22 21 22. And you talk about societal ideals. What? I mean, what were the things that you were kind of receiving [00:09:00] from society in terms of what should you have been? Um well, as I said earlier, I was raised in a Catholic kind of, um, environment. So the ideas were you got married to a man and you had Children after you were married. Um, the whole nuclear family ideal that I had was my probably my biggest thing to deal with, because I always I've always wanted Children. I always wanted to be a mother and all that kind of stuff. So that was something that I kind of struggled with for a while. And then I guess I [00:09:30] after getting more education and and learning things, I realised that it's actually pretty easy to do if you are in a relationship with those on the same sex. So that was definitely my biggest, um, obstacle, I guess, to overcome. So with this new found kind of just openness and freedom, Um, how did that impact on you? I guess I was a lot happier. Um, I kind of got involved in in workwise. That kind of, I guess I've been [00:10:00] I felt like I'd been, um, under a blanket, I guess, for so long that I wanted to help others and that in a similar situation and kind of yeah, support people who are going through similar processes and celebrate that you can't just be who you are, and don't be ashamed of it. It's you can just waste so much time being too scared, but yeah, So I wanted to kind of get into that environment, and I did. So, um, I was actually, at the time I was at uni and then I. I was doing my postgraduate [00:10:30] in PR and communications, and I got assigned to do some, um, work with and couldn't have been a better match again. Um, it was amazing. Absolutely amazing. And, um, with him and another another gentleman, Julian Cook. Um, we, um, work together and does the festival, which was so exciting. And it's something I just completely, um, completely fell in love with when I was working, doing it. So it was really exciting. And, yeah, so [00:11:00] is this part of the, um, the foundation? So I was at the foundation at the time, and basically, when I was with my dad there, um, he does a lot of work with, um, underprivileged youth and things like that out in the in south Auckland kind of area. And, um, through that we wanted to do something that was, um, kind of a youth inspired, um, festival, but also a festival. That's basically it was celebrating diversity. So, um It wasn't just a queer festival. It had obviously queer elements in, but, um, different cultures different, um, [00:11:30] Sexualities different, um, beliefs and everything. So it kind of just encompassed that. And because obviously, we're in such an amazing city that here that in Auckland there has so many different, um, diversities. It's pretty much it's, um it's key. So, yeah, we wanted to celebrate that and explore that. So it was really exciting. It was really exciting. So what were some of the things that you were doing as part of that? Um, I was the event coordinator, so we had something like 50 something events. It was it was a like, um, but I kind of I mainly oversaw [00:12:00] a majority of them, but, um, the main ones had most involvement. And with the things like, um, the ladies, um, events. So we did a couple of, um, did one, which was a singer songwriter night. So it was quite cool. And then we had another, like, kind of more dance party thing, and yeah, there's lots going on. So but, um, I kind of took over that that aspect. Yeah. So it was very exciting. It's interesting you use the word queer? What? What word would you use to describe yourself? Um, I'll probably say queer. [00:12:30] Yeah. What does that mean for you? Um, I guess it's a reclaimed, um, reclaimed word. Um, obviously, it's had its negative connotations in the past, but, um, I, I guess it's just kind of it's it's a for me is defined as not having a typical straight sexuality. So, um, I, I do see sexual sexuality as being quite fluid. Um, with people especially, um, Well, with myself, like I. I know that there was times where I wasn't I. I [00:13:00] identified as, um, just a liking woman. But, you know, it took me a process. So it's queer is kind of, I guess, an umbrella term for all all that. I guess so, Yeah. So with the the festival, there were a number of kind of queer elements. Are there any different issues than doing like, a mainstream event? Um, yeah, I guess so. Um, in terms of things like, um, getting sponsorship and stuff, it's, um, a lot [00:13:30] of marketing things. You have to. I guess you can't. You can't lie about it, but you got to kind of, um, play the play the card of the queer card because if they if it's in their marketing plan to, you know, um, that said demographic, then obviously you've got to do it. So I guess it's not just, uh, say, for example, a dance party, not just like that's the kind of case. Say, it's a queer dance party or a gay dance party and you generally will get, um, sponsorship with people who are obviously trying to hit that demographic. So there are. [00:14:00] But it's not too different, I guess. Like there's at the end of the day if, um, if you're organising something at A at a venue, I think I've I've never really come across any any place that's, um, been homophobic or anything, Um, but then again, I have mainly focused all my kind of work around the road kind of area. So obviously that's kind of more of a, um, a area that's more accepting of of gay people. But I've never really had anything any kind of homophobic, um, response to venues or, um any [00:14:30] people that are going to be working involved, and it's just it's majority of the time being pretty positive. So, yeah. What about in terms of attracting audiences? Uh, do you find that there are specific things that will attract a queer audience and or repel a queer? Definitely. Definitely. Um, and definitely. And, um, the sense of the a lot of the women's events I run, Um, it's I've had, uh, do a night called Proud Mary, which is kind of a female. Um, a musical night. [00:15:00] Um, and I've definitely come up. We've had times we've had I've had to get, like, a male sound guy or something like that. And there's been a a few kind of, um, what's a guy doing here kind of thing? It's generally I've found, um, the older generation have more problems, but, um, it's I. I completely I respect to understand what they went through in their time. So I can I can see that, Um, but yeah, it's. And when, When advertising and stuff, um, you're gonna get a queer more of a I'm I'm talking in terms [00:15:30] of of the girls at night here, because that's generally what I've done. Um, if you have, um, queer performers and stuff, you're definitely more likely for them to come. And because they can relate, they can identify with these people. So, um yeah, that's kind of how I've attracted that kind of audience and how I hit their mark. So and is it wrong with me to to try and identify things as, like, queer shows? And that I mean, do you when you're putting on events, do you say OK, well, this is actually a queer specific event. Or do you say Well, actually, anybody can come to this. I am. I've [00:16:00] always believed that I don't, um my event open to anyone so you can come along as long as you respect the environment and you don't, um, hold any rough judgments or reservations. And if you cause trouble, you have to leave, obviously. But, um, I don't see why. If you're if you're out, you could You can't go to an event with your girlfriend and your brother can can't come along. Who's supportive of you? That's I think it's ridiculous if if that can't happen So I've always made a stand saying that it's, um it's a queer space where you can bring like minded [00:16:30] individuals as well. So people and people who support because it's all about having your support and, you know, it shouldn't be. Have those lines that you can't. It's like it'd be It'd be the same as saying that, um queer people can't come to a straight bar. I guess that's how I see it. So, yeah. So what are the biggest things that you've learned working with the the the Mika Haka Foundation? God, I learned so much there. It's not funny. Um, I was extremely lucky to be working with her and Julian, and they're phenomenally, um, talented and wonderful individuals [00:17:00] who taught me a lot. Um, I Yeah, I learned pretty much a lot in a small amount of time I was doing, um, things I was doing budgeting. I was doing, um, a lot of event stuff. I I was lucky to have. I guess there were a lot of frameworks in place from previous things they had done, so they could teach me a lot. I learned how to, um, to set up a lot of meetings. I. I made a lot of networks through there as well, which was brilliant. Um, yes, they were kind of the main main kind of things and also how to how to approach the queer community as well. Because there [00:17:30] are different. Um, it's not just, I guess an umbrella is approaching the the trans community approaching the lesbian community approaching the, um, the beer community that there's a lot of different kind of protocols and things as well. So I learned all that through through those guys, so I was very lucky. So what are some of those protocols? Um, I guess. Well, for example, I'm going to, um if you're gonna make, um, be I'm, like, going to You can't just walk in as a woman. I wouldn't have known that. It's, um, kind of, um, a space [00:18:00] and, um, things like, just little things like that Little, um, rules of the of venues and things. So, yeah, it's quite it was cool. It was really exciting. And, um, I got to meet people I probably wouldn't have met through if if not so. Yeah, it's great. So, actually must be quite easy to kind of put your foot in it. If you're not careful and time. I guess it's just being I guess I had to keep in mind. You have to be respectful at all times. You got to be careful what you say. Because not everyone has obviously the same views as you. And especially when we were doing a festival that was pretty [00:18:30] provocative and, um, provocative. Um, and I guess we we could have still not even agreed with everything that we're doing. And it's so hard to please everyone. I guess so. So why was it provocative? Um, there are a lot of, um this is not just in the community, I guess. And and, you know, there are a lot of quite, um, exciting, um, kind of sexualized kind of things as well. So we had beautiful dances from, uh, Malaysia and stuff, and, uh, we had drag [00:19:00] performances on a lot of nights and things like that. So it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, and some of the events were a bit out there, but, um, I guess not every man and his dog would would kind of enjoy it. It's Yeah. So did you actually get complaints from from the community about what was in the festival? No, no, not really. Nothing. Um, nothing kind of formal. Um, I just guess that and a lot of the time with the events I've organised and been involved in, there's with, with all the positive criticism [00:19:30] of you're gonna get negative as well. So not everyone's going to agree with what you're doing or how you just It's just little things like how you go about where the where venues are held or where, um, what time of day things are. It's just little silly things. So but at the end of the day, um, people support it, and it was fantastic. And it's gonna happen again this year. I think so. It's really exciting, too. So yeah. Yeah. So in doing that work, did you feel that you were, uh, giving back, uh, or or or helping younger, queer people? Was that one of the driving [00:20:00] things for you? Um, definitely. I think there was. We had a lot of youth elements in it as well. Um, Jay, um did, um, kind of a glam boy. It was called glam boy Youth showcase. So it had a lot of the great thing I loved about his, um, shows. It was straight kids and drag queens and queer queer kids all together doing this most amazing talented show and they were kids. They were anywhere from, you know, 8 to 16. I guess so. It was phenomenal, and it really just it blew my mind. And it was so cool seeing them all working together and doing things. So it wasn't just kind of [00:20:30] having one night, which is drag night and one night. It's kind of all encompassing together and all kind of working. It was, uh I get Goose now, thinking about it was so cool, but, um, yeah, it was just great being able to provide platforms for kids to actually express themselves and be who they are, I guess so. It was really cool, because it must be quite easy to get wise or or put into a niche like, say, this is a queer festival or or whatever. And I guess that's fine if you're out and about. But actually, as as as kids growing up, that maybe aren't and they're looking for stuff. Definitely, [00:21:00] um, completely agree. There's you. I think if you're still questioning, you're a lot more likely obviously, to go to something that's not just labelled this as a gay event, as you say, it's, um and it's great and it just it opens kids. Mind as I say, you could have, Um, I don't know, Couple, 33 straight girls doing a dance at this event, and their boyfriends or cousins come along to watch it. And then they get exposed to kind of, you know, some some drag queens or other kind of quick kids, and it kind of becomes normalised. I guess it's not. It's not [00:21:30] a taboo to them. It's kind of they've seen it and they can relate and kind of cool to expose those kids to different, um, people in different, um, cultures and stuff as well. So it's cool. So was it around this time that you started working with Rainbow Youth? Um, it was just a little bit before that. I was doing obviously a lot of a lot of work with and was quite heavily involved in the gay community at that time. Um, and I heard that they were looking for a new board member at Rainbow Youth because someone had left. So I, [00:22:00] um, applied and yeah, got voted on, which was really cool, and yeah, I'm really glad I did it. So yeah, it's a busy time though. So what is Rainbow Youth? Rainbow youth. Um wow. Where do I start? It's an organisation for, um for queer youth. Pretty much, um, that provides support. And, um um you have pretty much support for, um, questioning youth and their family and friends. And it's [00:22:30] you, It's you. You run. Yeah, completely. Youth. Run. Um, all the boards, um, 27 and under, um, all the all the facilities and everything, or I, um youth. Yeah. 2700 as well. Um, we have the executive director who who isn't, but he he's amazing. If it wasn't for him, I don't know where we'd be half the time, but, um, yeah, we've got a couple of adult, um, advisors, um, who come in and basically [00:23:00] give give their wonderful, um, world of knowledge that that they have on certain issues and things. So but, yeah, it's pretty much a youth run youth participation organisation. So it's Yeah, it's awesome. So why did you want to be on the board? Um I. I guess I wanted to. I've always wanted to. I remember learning about a couple of years ago, and I thought it was a really, really, really cool, Um, organisation that is so vital. Um, and in in this country. And I just kind [00:23:30] of wanted to get I've always wanted to get involved and I never really knew how. And I saw the opportunity, and I knew that I had skills that I could offer and yeah, I guess that's kind of why I wanted to get I really wanted to help and be involved in such a cool, um, cool community thing. It's not. It's Every day I go, it's amazing, like I just I love it. What's the most amazing things? Um, seeing kids who come through and and and you'll sit there and they'll tell you if you're in the centre and you'll get stories of, um, you know, I've I've I've got my first girlfriend and my first boyfriend, and [00:24:00] I like telling stories about how you know, I went to school today and I'd get bullied once. And, you know, I did what I did. What you guys said to me to do. And I, you know, and also stories. There was one last year of, um around the school ball time where a girl was at an all girls school in Auckland And, um, wasn't she wasn't able to, um, take her her girlfriend to this. They denied her and said, No, you can't. So she decided to, um, take it to the Human Rights Commission and things like that. And these are kids that have, um, who have been associated Ra youth and you know, who have got the support there, just like this is like 15 16 year old. It's fascinating. [00:24:30] And it's so cool that these kids have got a resource and in getting the information that allows them to to know that for one, it's not right that you can't, um, be be out at school. It's it's it's just ridiculous. It's that basically, yeah, just them. And we've got a, um, an education officer Now who, um, a young lady who goes through high schools and is basically doing queer, um, education, too. So, yeah, well, that's that's in the in the stages, so getting through to a few schools, But obviously there's [00:25:00] still a bit of, um, walls up around, like all the all boys schools won't let her in yet, but, um, we're trying, but it's just it's cool things like that that You know, I, I could only dream of having something like that in high school. You know, I've been taught that what the difference of, um, you know, gay, lesbian, bi transgender is and how things work. And it's OK to have those feelings for people. And, yeah, it's really exciting. So when you were in high school, did you have any knowledge of rainbow youth? Um, not really. I have. I heard I remember [00:25:30] a couple of things, but it wasn't I didn't really have the resources, I guess to, um, to to go, um, for further. That's why I think this thing of, um having going into high school is actually talking to kids is amazing because it basically outlines exactly what they offer. And I guess when I was that age as well, it's you kind of put that thing. If you go to someone like that, it just automatically. If someone sees you there, they're gonna think you're gay or whatever, and it's quite a big, big deal at the time. So, yeah, I just don't really have the information or the yeah, the [00:26:00] knowledge of what it was. So I think we're starting to have more a presence now and then. It's not as scary as it as it makes out to be sometimes. So when you're sitting in the centre, what are the issues That that the kind of, um, kids are coming through now with what are the what are the big things for? For personally, I probably am not the best person to talk to. I'm kind of the overview. But what we have done recently is, um, we did a undertook a, um, a research [00:26:30] thing over, um, New Zealand Point research that did a thing for us. So basically, we asked what, um, queer youth need what? Um, what they what they want. Um, if there's a need for a, um, more network through through the country and stuff like that, and pretty much thought it was, um, education voice. Um, it's the same old stuff, pretty much that I've heard. I've spoken to the LED, Tommy in the centre and things and it's, um, kids coming through that, you know, dealing with family dealing with, um, friends. It's it's the same kind of I don't [00:27:00] think it's really changed too much over time, but, um, that's on the kind of the ground on the ground here. But when it comes to more of a high level, I think, um, what we're trying to do is, um, give queer youth a voice and and bring it to a higher level. So it actually get kind of respect within, um, you know, policy changing and and and laws and things. So because there's a lot of work to be done and we're trying to work towards it because at the moment it's all a bit fragmented throughout the country. So that profile raising must have had a huge energy [00:27:30] behind it. When it was, it was to CO. When dancing with the Stars. And he donated all his proceeds to Rainbow Youth. What impact did that have on the organisation? Huge. Um, it allowed us to basically do what we're doing now. And that is, um, to to undertake this point research study, which we did. And we've now, um, got a, um, employed a person who is basically a net a National Youth Court network coordinator. I guess [00:28:00] so, Um, basically, his role is to go through, um, the country and go talk to all these these queer youth groups um, throughout New Zealand and see how we can build these amazing support groups and networks and get us as one voice together. Because if we if we have one national, um, Power, then we can actually do some change, which is so exciting. It's really cool. So I guess because youth is at the moment just an Auckland based um organisations. [00:28:30] So having that money allowed us to basically reach out to a national level and give support to people in small town stuff that need it the most. Probably out of, um, you know, So it's it's really exciting, and it's just allowed us to do so much work, which is really cool. There's a lot more to go, though. It's good, though. It's good little stepping stone. What are what are the next big things for? For you and Rainbow youth? Um, definitely. The the biggest thing is, um, that we're trying to get a together around, I think Queen's birthday weekend, Um, and that's we're trying to make it accessible [00:29:00] and affordable for any queer youth that want to come along and be part of this. So, um, it's basically getting everyone together to go right How can we move forward? What do you guys want? What's the, um what do you What? What do you guys foresee for queer youth in the future and work towards making things happen? So, yeah, it's really exciting. It's gonna be pretty cool, I think. Yeah, it's really interesting that you say that it it's the similar issues, you know, from maybe 20 years ago, that are still current today in terms of, like, you know, coming out to family and stuff. How do I mean? How do you develop resources that, [00:29:30] actually I mean, do you think you'll ever get beyond those issues? Will they always be there? I hope so. I really do. I think it it obviously does depend on on families, um, that you were brought up in and how every case is different. But, um, it's definitely a cultural thing. So hopefully with, um, with more if more education and, um through all, it's not just educating you. It's educating parents and schools and getting into those kind of things. Um, if if they If the if the foundation start to change, then obviously people's [00:30:00] thinking will start to change. So just educating people It's gonna take a while, I think. Um, but, um, what happened in my generation, I don't think might happen one or two time, maybe. But it's just all about changing education, how people think and making, um, being gay and and, um, majority of terms not a not a bad thing or not a not a frown upon thing. It's just another thing, you know, Just make it. It's so it's the same as, you know, I don't know everything else in the world. It's not. It's not an issue. It [00:30:30] should be, um, have prejudice against, So but yeah, we're we're working towards it. So where did you get your kind of world view? From where does that come from? My world view? Um, I guess I I've got a pretty open minded family. Um, immediate family. I've always I was lucky that I was brought up to never, um, never judge anyone or not, um, have any reservations about anyone because of their race, colour, gender, whatever. That's not not, um, not something [00:31:00] I was ever race believe and always treat people how you want to be treated. So I guess it was quite good, um, to have a foundation for that. So I don't Yeah. And I guess I've I don't know. I've always kind of attracted just interesting people into my life. I don't know how I do it, but I Yeah, I've got some pretty cool friends, but they're all very different. And they've all got, um, Yeah, I wouldn't say they're your typical mainstream line people, but that Oh, God, I love them all. So I don't know. I just I guess I've always been I've allowed myself to be exposed to a lot of different [00:31:30] areas of of the world. And yeah, I just kind of take everything in and yeah, don't really judge it. Keep it on a judgement level at all. There's no point, isn't it? Yeah, definitely. Definitely. So, what do you hope to achieve with rainbow youth? Um, pretty much with rain youth. I really want to see it go to a national level. I really want to see, um, things happening so we can do policy changes in the government. I can. I really want to see that. I think I think it can. [00:32:00] I really do. Um I just want to see like I do really want to see this national network happening. So there's, um, just a one voice that we can all push together. So there's there. There are kind of changes that need because there are so many changes that need to be made and especially things like in high school, like actually, should I should be in the curriculum that, um especially with education and stuff, that it's not just, you know, straight education. It should be because we asked, you know, schools are most are one of those 400 places for, um, they that's where [00:32:30] they learn. So there, there, things that need to be put into place and things like, You know, you should If you if you're out, then you should be able to take your partner to the ball if you want and things like that. So it's all those little things that we're trying to I really want to see start to happen. We're getting there. We're doing baby steps. Hey, so this, um, this series of interviews is all about kind of making a difference in the community and and also kind of personal development. And I guess, would you have any advice if somebody was sitting back listening to this and thinking, Oh, I want to get involved. I want to do something. But I'm not sure [00:33:00] you know where to start. What would you say? Wow, there's so many things that you you can do. Um, if you want to get involved in things like, um, with youth queer youth? Definitely. Um, if you're in Auckland, I just get, like, ring us up around you is we've got events happening all the time. When you volunteers for if you want to get, um, involved in, um we do so many things that we we've got groups that have It's about eight or nine groups. Um, that happen every week. Um, we've always open for ideas [00:33:30] and volunteers and things like that. Um also, um, definitely things if you're older, um, giving out outline, a call, and places like that they're always looking for help anywhere. Just just call up and and ask on the website and have a look. I'm sure there's, um, um, contacts and stuff, but all these organisations need as much help as they can get. And even just if people volunteer for one day and help out giving out Flyers or something. It's It's every every little bit counts. So yeah, and I guess even just turning up to queer events [00:34:00] just being out there, I guess. Exactly. And supporting. Um, obviously, there's no people at these events. They don't They don't last. So, um yeah, just supporting, um, queer run initiatives and things like that are really important as well. So we actually do have a voice, and we can continue.
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