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Welcome to the launch of Wellington's Rainbow Crossing. Now, First things first today was as Carmen Rope's birthday. She would have been 82 today. Now, just a couple of things about Carmen. Uh, I wanna mark her and the wonderful life she led. She was well ahead of her time. She campaigned for things like decriminalisation of prostitution, abortion [00:00:30] and homosexuality. She opened the International Coffee House. She set Wellington's entertainment alive. She campaigned with the best campaign slogan I've ever heard Get in Behind and I. I loved her famous quote, she said of her competitors of Sir Francis. She said, Well, I'm more attractive than him. I'm more charming than Michael Fowler, and I'd certainly beat Tony Blunt in a fight [00:01:00] and given she was 100 and 30 KG Maori and from I don't doubt her, but thank you for all everything you did for Wellington, and in part, that's why we're here today. I also want to thank a couple more people. Grant Robertson that now Grant that's got a beaming smile today because he's happy to be here for the Aberg Crossing launch, but also because he's found a $5 billion surplus and and business [00:01:30] confidence is booming, Uh, to the City Council. So all the staff worked so hard putting all of this together. You know who you are at Urban Design Team. Thank you for your support And congratulations on a job well done to all the all the counsellors for all your support getting this project under way. Thank you. And I want to say to the rainbow community, Look, this is us standing in support of you. This is a show of our solidarity. This is the type of city we want to be [00:02:00] in. We want to express these values in a tangible way. We know that we need to work with you to make Wellington safe, to have safe spaces. And we want our entire city to be safe. Thank you. I'm not even sure if this microphone is working. II. I just wanted to say really quickly on behalf. Um, if I can speak briefly on behalf of Wellington's rainbow community to say a huge thank [00:02:30] you to the Wellington City Council and Justin Lester, we've got a big range of the councillors here. Deputy Mayor Jill Day. Brian Dawson, Fleur Fitzsimmons. Uh, Chris Kelby Freeman Wellington City Council genuinely backs and supports our community. So can we have a big round of applause in the chair for the Wellington City Council? Oh, and from my perspective, I. I love seeing this here because for me, Cuba Street in this precinct is a big part of what makes Wellington Wellington a place [00:03:00] where we do genuinely welcome everybody. We don't judge. We embrace diversity. It's not about tolerance, it's not about acceptance. It's about embracing. Diversity is giving us strength. And that's what I see in Wellington ISS every day. I didn't know Lupe, but I did know somebody I want to mention today. And that's Chrissie. We, um when I first came to Wellington, um, I did go to the Evergreen Coffee Lounge only for toasted sandwiches, and Chrissy [00:03:30] was there, and she represented the spirit that Carmen had brought forward and others who have carried that on. I want to acknowledge Scottie and Mel and people who still make this part of Wellington really important, our diversity. So to me, this is a great day. I hope when people come here and they walk across this crossing, they think about what a great city Wellington is what a brilliant place we are. There's always more to do in the agenda for equal rights and equity for our communities. But this is a sign that Wellington values all of [00:04:00] us. No, I understand. How are you? First of all, just happy birthday to time. And I just want to acknowledge all of those that have come before us to make something like today possible. That's amazing. And we can't underestimate the struggles that our ancestors have been through. Um, and even people still alive today, Um, for [00:04:30] us to be able to celebrate something like this in Wellington, I think this is an incredible, uh, start of some really awesome work for Wellington to become a safe place for Rainbow Communities. And I think, um, something like the rainbow crossing. While it might seem small for new people coming to Wellington for international visitors, um, for young people growing up in the city, I think, um, this really big, bright rainbow crossing on Cuba Street will make a difference. I do wanna say that I think it's the start. It's the beginning. And I think there are so many more, um, awesome [00:05:00] ideas, and I also just want to let people know because not everyone may be aware that the City Council, um, they also consulted with Rainbow community groups. They did an amazing job of bringing um, groups from across the community together for a with their urban design team to say It's not just about this crossing, what else do you want it loud and clear that we want a physical space, a community centre we want to bring. We wanna break back times where, um, where Carmen um and her friends [00:05:30] had that cafe and those kind of things. A space that we can meet that isn't just, um filled around alcohol. So I also just want to acknowledge, um, all the hard work of the organisations that are currently they're doing such a hard job to, um create safe services and spaces for, um, young people and older people and all sorts of people in Wellington. Um because without them, um, something like this would not mean anything. It's really, um those services and support organisations that support people to be here and to walk on the crossing. So I just want to shout [00:06:00] out to all of those and to Wellington City Council and to Wellington for coming out and making this, um, such an incredible celebration and occasion. And let's let's keep going. Um, next on the agenda, I think, is like gender neutral bathroom rollouts across the city. So I'm 29 Rainbow Wellington. We've now got multiple generations of people who have a rainbow [00:06:30] identity out there. What I really like about this it's a tangible symptom. It's a tangible symbol of that council commitment to the rainbow community. I'm a little worried by the look right on one side. I'm a little bit more pleased by the look left on this side. But I'll tell you what. I adore the multi colours that go from one side to the other and the recognition of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, [00:07:00] transsexual, intersex, asexuals, pansexual and anybody else who's not quite straight in the middle of our city. And that is great. Oh, yes. Cool. Uh, we're now officially, uh, going to, uh, cut the river. And could I ask everyone just to move away from the crossing? So we're gonna do from either side from that side and from this side, and we'll meet [00:07:30] in the middle. I tell you, the one.
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