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Launch of the Wellington Pride Festival 2019 [AI Text]

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So I'm one of the co directors of the Wellington Pride Festival. This year. Myself and Paula, along with a few supporters, have been pulling us all together. Um, we're pretty excited. We're about to launch. We've got a bunch of people from community sponsors, Um, other volunteers, the people organising in the event. Some of the venues coming to join us tonight. And the mayor will cut a big ribbon and, um yeah, and then the festival will be underway So all those sleepless nights will suddenly [00:00:30] seem so worth it. Pretty excited. Now, Now I've had a sneak look through the programme and there are so many events. Yeah, we counted up 100 and 28 things you could be doing over the next 17 days after the launch will be down to 100 and 27. We're super excited. The first event in the festival this year is a youth only event organised by inside out. It's a quiz night. They've, um, called it Who wants to be a gay zillionaire, which is fabulous. Who doesn't want to be a gay zillionaire, right? Yeah. So So So why is [00:01:00] it important to to have youth events in these pride festivals. I think that it's super important to have youth events throughout the year, but particularly to celebrate our rainbow youth, our LGBT QI a plus youth throughout pride and to make them a priority. Or there's going to be the youth ball towards the end of the festival, along with the other events. It's just gosh, why, I guess I have to personalise it for me. When I was growing up where there [00:01:30] was no visibility, there was no one like me. There was no support and for these guys, they've got a whole lot of the same issues and then a whole lot of issues we didn't have, um, the world's a changed place, but that they can come together and have youth only spaces, that they're welcome in other spaces. The they're important, you know, that horrible cliche, but it's for real. They are our future. And what are some of the other events that are that are coming up on the programme? Um, we're [00:02:00] pretty lucky that we shifted the dates to coincide with the World Conference this year because that's meant we also coincide with the Fringe Festival. So we've been able to to to our GB a A plus who have got shows in the fringe. So we've got a really awesome theatre line up better, you know, bigger than we could have expected. We're also it's pretty neat that a number of other events have done their very best to be youth friendly and, if not in a completely accessible venue, [00:02:30] have one where accessibility can be organised prior so that people can, you know, go to as many events as possible. Obviously the 16th super looking forward to the pride for the youth and young at heart. Looking out the window today, I don't think we'll be having our youth picnic tomorrow. But we haven't called that yet. We're waiting till after the six o'clock news Check the weather report properly. Um, there has just been so much fantastic support from the city organisations Community staff are on board doing some features. [00:03:00] The Met Service website are going to be doing some ads for us and just Yeah, it's all really positive and supportive. I think one of my highlights is gonna be, uh, an event that was in the old devotion festival and it's going to be on the last. It's pretty much the last event of this year's festival on Sunday, the 24th for Garden tours out at Des and John's definitely worth checking out. They are just always fab, and apparently I'm baking for that because they're fundraising for [00:03:30] a gender. Minorities with it. There's yeah, out in the park. Of course, everything that goes with that really looking forward to that, too. Um, just the diversity. You know, there's there's a little bit of something for everyone. We've got a fishing outing, you know you can if you've never been fishing before, or you're a seasoned Fisher and you just want to go fish with some other queers. We've got that in there. This time around. There's tonnes of history running through it. Of course, the Pride NZ Walk Tours, um, one on each of the three weekends to Papa have jumped on board. They're doing two behind the [00:04:00] scenes tours, one at Cable Street and one up at the Tory Street facility. They're also doing a Pride 101 panel through Friends of Te Papa, so that's pretty exciting stuff, too. So how far in advance? Um, do pride festivals? How how far in advance are they planned? We started, um, talking about it when at Wellington had their a GM in April May last year. And then the committee started to meet once a month. We put, um, [00:04:30] expressions of interest up on the website, possibly not with enough lead in time, but we're a bit short on team members, and there's nobody really managing the website. But just through our networks and talking, this has probably been coming together for about six months. The actual what's going to be in the festival and scheduling it all fair to say the majority of it came in in the last six weeks, Um, but it's been really exciting to to be able to fit in as many different events for, you know, different parts of our community and for everybody, [00:05:00] really to celebrate what's the most stressful part? Wow, The most stressful part. I don't know. I think things may seem a little stressy because you do a lot of late nights and you know, we're all working day jobs as well. So not getting a lot of sleep may make it feel a lot of stressful. It is something akin to hurting cats. It really is, um, but I don't tend to get too stressed about it. Just, uh, wanting everything to kind of line up, I suppose, making sure, Yeah, working [00:05:30] as hard as we could to make sure there weren't too many events that were clashing with one another that might be of interest to similar audiences. But no, not stressy. It's just fun. And it's exciting to be able to volunteer and do something like this. That means our community can be out and proud and all over the dam city for a couple of weeks. One of the really exciting things for me is to walk down Courtney Place or walk around the waterfront and see all these rainbow flags, go out to the airport and see a huge rainbow flag on the front of the airport. I mean, what kind [00:06:00] of feeling do you get from seeing all that kind of stuff in town? I think it's the biggest pride visibility that Wellington's ever seen. Even back when we did devotion, there wasn't all of that sort of level of support, and I've noticed a bunch of stores have been doing their window fronts and and that kind of stuff too. It feels awesome. It feels really visible and validated and just gives me hope that next year and in future years, we can get them to put up some of the other flags like the trans flag, the intersex flag, the flag, the lesbian flag, the bears, [00:06:30] everybody's flags and sorry for those I missed out because, you know, we've only got a short interview for you. What makes a successful pride festival for me? It would be an email. I got a Facebook message. Rather I got Today was somebody who said they felt really disconnected from our community for a few years now. And they were looking forward to attending as a few events or as many as they could over these two weeks and really wanted to have that sense of, like, wider [00:07:00] rainbow connectedness. And I believe they're coming here tonight, So looking forward to seeing them. Alright. Thank you. Bye. [00:07:30] [00:08:00] [00:08:30] Done [00:09:00] the last. [00:09:30] [00:10:00] Ok, [00:10:30] I'm now going to hand over the reins to to Greek. Yeah. Welcome to the Wellington Pride Festival [00:11:00] 2019 Launch. Wonderful to have so many people here this afternoon. Um, we have got 100 and 28 events this year in our festival. It's the biggest festival the biggest pride festival Wellington has seen And you can see it on the street. There's rainbow flags We've got the rainbow crossing We've got the big rainbow stripped out of the airport and you can feel the energy. And I'm sure the next two weeks is gonna be something that this city will really enjoy. That [00:11:30] certainly been very, um, awesome to be to be to be part of it all and to be on the board. Uh, that produces such an event. It's with great pleasure. Um, that I get to introduce, uh, Justin, our mayor, who's who's a great supporter of ours. Justin's here to say a few words and, um, and and cut the ribbon and officially open the Pride festival in 2019. [00:12:00] Greg, uh um, great to see you all here this evening. Uh, thanks, Greg, for breaking the microphone. I think he was officially our office microphone as well. So, uh, I am not sure what I'm gonna do for the rest of the year. Uh, but we'll work it all out. Fine. Uh, look, It's a real pleasure for me to be here tonight. I'm here with, uh my, uh, Councillor Brian Dawson and Peter Gilbert. And we are at the council Are just huge supporter. The Pride Festival. I do [00:12:30] want to acknowledge, uh, MP, uh, green MP. Jan Loy has a huge support of the festival and the rainbow community generally. Jan, great to have you here. Look, I'm really excited for the next couple of weeks ahead. It's going to be busy, but it's just gonna be so much fun. Uh, the Rainbow community has been putting on the Pride Festival for a large number of years and always said the city support. Uh, but we're just showing that with a little bit more investment with a little bit more support how much more? Uh, we can do. It's great to see [00:13:00] all of Wellington coming right on board. We're gonna have 100 and 80 events over a couple of weeks. We're gonna have, um, out in the park. We'll have the biggest pride parade we've ever seen in the city's history as well. And the first time that Australasia is going to be hosting. And I can't wait for that, too. I mean, why is it so important to me and to the council and to all Wellingtons? And look, I have to be honest, There are a large number of big parts of the job, but are really tough on, you know? Could [00:13:30] be a real grind on a day to day basis. Um, but just last week, I got an email after talking to a father of a young Wellington, and he wrote me this email to say that his son was transitioning to become his daughter. And just at an early stage going through college and how much it meant to their family and to his daughter to have the support and the embracing of the city to see things like they may be seen as tokens or symbols like the the new [00:14:00] airport, a rainbow, um, symbol as well. And it means so much to them. And it meant so much because we we all know the statistics around youth, um, as they're coming out, and we know how difficult that transition could be, but just how much it meant to their family. And it makes my job so worthwhile. Like I read that, that was the same for the next couple of years. Uh, it's really good to see, uh, the the the important impact that little things I can have on people's [00:14:30] everyday lives. So really happy to be a supporter. Well done to all of you. Uh, given the thank you for your support. Thank you for everything you've done with looking forward the next couple of weeks to go 54. Ah, [00:15:00] very small. My name is Greg Wilson. I'm co-chair of, uh, Wellington Pride Festival. And today we've just had the, uh, Wellington Pride Festival 2019. Launch, uh, with Mayor Justin Lester coming down to cut our big long rainbow ribbon to officiate the opening of the festival. Um, that we have 100 and 28 events over two weeks with our, [00:15:30] uh, flagship events, um, out out on the park on the 16th of March at down at Civic Square. Uh, and also, uh, a youth ball, um, which is held to this year. Uh, and there's of course, there's the Wellington International Pride Parades don't court any place next Saturday. So a lot happening over a two week period. Is this the biggest festival we've had in Wellington. It is absolutely Yeah, absolutely. I've been involved in this organisation for about six years, and this certainly is the biggest. The town is is painted in rainbow [00:16:00] flags. We've got the airport. They come on board with the big rainbow stripped down by the by the runway. Uh, we've got the, um, the rainbow crossing. So there's a real energy and feeling in the city when people are walking around the city, especially our delegates that are coming over for the conference. They're going to see and feel the the rainbow atmosphere of Wellington City. It's very exciting. And that's the first time that the bags have gone up and the airport has been painted. What is that like? Can you describe that feeling when you're walking through the city and you see all those rainbows? Yeah, it is one of our goals at the start of the year when our board formed was that we wanted [00:16:30] to, um, increase the visibility, um, of our festival and and our pride festival. Um, visibility is really important because it represents what we stand for in terms of diversity and inclusion for people. And so, um, getting the city covered in rainbow flags was, uh was, you know, one of our one of our goals, and we've achieved it. Um, I think that when people walk around the city, whether they're from our community or, um, other communities, they will, um they understand what it means. And, um, hopefully [00:17:00] you know what it represents. Now, there's been some fracturing in the Auckland communities around the pride events up in Auckland. How can you compare and contrast Auckland with what? What's happening here in Wellington? Yeah, sure. I think you know, a number of people have said to me over the years, you know, Wellington has a real community, not just the not just the gay population. We have a community here in Wellington, and that's a really great um, diverse, Um um, community and we We seem to band together and just get on with it. Um, you [00:17:30] know, being involved on the board, we've got a very diverse board and, you know, a little bit like like a coalition of the the Greens and the National Party and Labour Party and New Zealand. First, we all come together all different backgrounds, and, um, we all get on. Well, and we We all know why we're on the board, Why we're there and we focus on that. And the outcome is this festival. And what are the events that you're looking forward to the most, uh, out in the park is, uh, one of my favourite ones. Great opportunity to catch up with [00:18:00] friends that you haven't seen for a long time. You know, it's, um it's a special day. It's a real mixed, um, mix mixed crowd. And, you know, um, I'm just hoping the weather's gonna be good. Jessie, we're here at the launch of the Wellington Pride 2019. Um, what do, uh, pride festivals and pride events mean to you? To be honest, it is a chance for a community that often doesn't get to be visible in a, um [00:18:30] positive and especially in a safe way, to be able to come together and be visible, be themselves, not have to be thinking about how they dress, how they walk, how they talk, whether someone's gonna take it the wrong way. And funnily enough, it is an event where we can actually just be ourselves and be normal. We don't stand out. We're not different from everyone around us. You know, we can just have fun and be seen. Um especially for people who may not have that community yet They may feel alone and they can see there is this community [00:19:00] and there are people who are happy and healthy and just having a good time. There's certainly a lot of happiness and good times happening at the moment. And I, I wonder if you can You are you able to, like maybe, um, contrast? What maybe happened in Auckland in terms of the fracturing of community to the kind of inclusive kind of community I'm feeling kind of here in Wellington? Yeah. Oh, there's a um let me just think about V. To be honest, I think a big advantage Wellington has Yes, we are much smaller. We are much more close knit. Everyone [00:19:30] knows everyone. And I think that makes a big difference because even if you disagree with someone you know them you hang out at you see them at IV. You see them at S and Ms you see them at events like this. I think to be honest, we had the advantage of being forearmed we saw what went down in Auckland. We were prepared for it and we thought, OK, so how do we learn from that? And how do we do this differently? Um, so I think it was a bit of both. What events are you looking forward to? The most. Oh, well, so out in the park. Definitely. Because our gender minorities will have a store there. Shout [00:20:00] out, um, that I will be helping out with. There is an event that I'm helping run on Sunday the 17th, which is the Trans and Allies, um, event at the Southern Cross at 4 p.m. Awesome. Come to that. Um and, uh, there's another gender minorities event. Um, I'm keen for the crossover with I was just saying I just noticed that the actual pussy riot are coming, which is super cool. And I want to come to that. And I will be coming to your yellow walk. Yes. Tell me, if somebody couldn't attend, [00:20:30] for whatever reason, Um, the Pride festival this year. What would be the the message that you would give to give to somebody in Wellington? Um, like that community is there all year round. You know, we've got two weeks where we have an awesome festival. We all get together. We're very visible. But if you need to reach out, if you need support, if you're fling alone or isolated, you know we're around these gender minorities inside out outer space, there's Rainbow Wellington. There's a lot of groups out there, you know, So you're not on your own now. Justin Lester, the [00:21:00] mayor, was talking about all the rainbow flags in Wellington and also the airport being painted in rainbow colours. What does that do for you on a personal note? I love it. I love it, and I've been enjoying it for the last few weeks. The out in the park post is the rainbow things, and it is just I mean, it's nice and it's pretty and all of that. But to be honest, I feel safe walking around the streets. I feel safe and I feel accepted, and that is just a huge thing. Do you feel unsafe when it's not pride time? Not to the degree that a lot [00:21:30] of people do, So I'm transgender. I have basically transitioned into a middle class white male with a stable job. As privilege goes in my community. I'm right up there. But I still know I don't feel safe. Um, a lot of the time. I am lucky because I'm not visibly trans. Um, but, you know, every time I especially if I go to a bar, if I use a public bathroom, there's just that voice in the back of my head going. What if someone clocks you? What if they have a problem with it? You're gonna be stuck in an isolated room or you're [00:22:00] gonna be on a dark street with a bunch of drunk guys or, you know, you just don't You don't always feel safe, Unfortunately, and often, um, these things happen at the most unexpected times. Like, uh, me and my partner were walking the other day and a guy was abusing us, calling us fucking faggots and stuff like that. And you think, Well, this is a Sunday afternoon at one o'clock, Really? It wasn't even at night. Yeah, and that's it. And it's like you say, it just comes out of the dark like a lot of the time. You're kind of braced and things are fine. And then suddenly it comes out of nowhere, literally someone punches you [00:22:30] in the back of the head or something like that. And what do you do? Because what? That guy a couple of years ago got punched in the back of the head on Walcott Street and that was at the reporter and he was He was dead. You know, it's it's It sucks, you know, And that's not even getting into employment discrimination. You know, not being able to keep a roof over the head because you can't get employed. I've been bullied at work. I've had people gossip at work. Call me it, um, and things like that, you know? So it's it's Wellington is a great place, but there's it It's still not an [00:23:00] equal equal field. So something like this for two weeks a year where it is about us and where it is OK to be us. And it's celebrated to be us, and also to to celebrate organisations like gender minorities, which is so important, hugely, hugely important. And all of those groups Yeah, gender minorities inside out Rainbow Wellington all do so much good work for our community and need a lot of money. So please give us money. I'm Justin Lester, mayor of Wellington. We've just been here for the Pride [00:23:30] Festival launch. It's kicking off. Uh uh, more than 100 and 80 events over the course of the Pride Festival. Uh, we're going to see the biggest festival we've ever seen in Wellington's history. Uh, we're gonna have out in the park. We have the Wellington International Pride Parade. We're hosting the conference here for the first time in Australasia's, uh, history. And we've got all of Wellington embracing the Pride Festival. So it's great to see organisations like Wellington Airport come on board the rainbow flags flying all around the city and Wellington ends is getting right in behind pride. [00:24:00] Why do you think pride is important? Uh, we want to show that we're a progressive, inclusive city. Uh, we embrace and celebrate all of our diversity. Uh, and the and the movement as a real key part of that, uh, for all people, Um, want to make sure they feel very welcome in Wellington. And we make sure we do the multicultural communities, uh, new people coming to Wellington and Pride's been a key part of it. [00:24:30] You mentioned that the there's a huge, uh, painting on the embankment of the international airport and also the rainbow flags. What kind of feedback have you had from those? I've had absolutely brilliant feedback. Uh, I. I mentioned the story just previously when I was speaking about, uh, a young individual who's transitioning from, uh, from a boy to, uh, to being a girl and just in terms of how much it meant to them and to the individual's family, uh, to have that symbol of support, uh, that that, uh, that [00:25:00] gesture, that Look, we're there for you. We support you, and and we care for you. So it really does mean a lot to a lot of people. Now, last year, you were in Wellington's Pride parade. Um, what was the feeling like? Oh, it's fantastic. Um, I think it's gonna be even better this year. This year I'm looking forward to having, uh, the commissioner for the police, uh, marching alongside us as well as the defence force here, Uh, and we'll have an even bigger parade. More groups coming on board. Wellington Orchestra will be there. [00:25:30] Uh, the Royal New Zealand Ballet is going to be performing as well. Uh, and so hopefully we'll see throngs of people coming out to to support, uh, the pride parade. If there was, uh, an LGBTI a person that couldn't make it to the Pride Festival or the Pride parade this year, Um, would you have a message for them? Uh, look, we're right there for you as a city. Uh, Wellington really does pride itself as being a rainbow city. And, um, come check out the capital Bill. We're at the, uh, [00:26:00] launch of Wellington's Pride Festival 2019. Can you describe what the feelings been like today? Um, it's really exciting, and it's really positive. Um, it's really cool that we've got, um, Mayor Justin Lester here and we've got Jan Loy. Uh, it's a little disappointing that it's an invite on the event and that there is hardly any young people here. Um, which is a shame, because pride should be for everyone. But, um, it's a good start, and I'm sure that there's gonna be a lot more youth friendly events. It sounds like a jam packed programme this year. [00:26:30] I it does. It sounds like a really big programme. Um, and I think it's even more exciting that we've got Elga world coming this year. And as one of the 12 delegates who went to Thailand, um, in 2016 to bring it here, I think I know exactly the excitement and, um, what it's like to be a part of that. So I'm really excited that that's going to be here in our little city and Australasia for the first time. Can you describe what it was like actually attending an conference? Yeah, so it's really big, Um, and I think it goes beyond any scale that [00:27:00] I've ever seen here in New Zealand. But, um, at the same time, it's really, really beautiful seeing all these different communities come together and all our international delegates from around the world. And I've met one of my really good friends there and who I saw in Philadelphia last year. Um and so it's a really awesome opportunity to meet new people, learn and get, um, a bigger sense of sort of the issues that everyone's facing because the issues that we face here are nothing compared to other countries where it's it's illegal to even be gay. [00:27:30] So um yeah, it's it's really diverse and interesting and of course, This is a big year for Elga. It's their 40th, but it's also the 50th of Stonewall this year. Yeah, yeah, it's really exciting. It's the 50th anniversary of Stonewall, and I think that it's really important to remember that that movement started with transwomen and also trans women of colour and showing the strength that our diverse trans women, um, and our trans women of colour, um, hold and the places that they hold within our community and it it really puts into perspective [00:28:00] how far we've come but also how behind we are, particularly with the birth death marriages, um, update being deferred. So small things like that. Uh, it's a real shame. Are you doing anything special for Stonewall? 50? Uh, I may or may not be going to New York to celebrate it at New York. Pride and world pride, Um, which I'm very excited about. I will take an empty suitcase to bring back lots of shoes. I think it's going to be a really awesome opportunity, um, to meet [00:28:30] lots of people to network. There's a human rights conference that I'm gonna go to, Um and I think last year when I was in New York City. I got to go to the LGBT Centre and the building there is incredible. It's a four story building and it's got, um, a theatre. It's got a library, a bookstore, and it's just incredible. So I'm really excited to see the scale of pride in another country and knowing that here we could very easily get ourselves up to those sort of levels in the next 5 to 10 years. So [00:29:00] So having that international experience of, uh, various rainbow communities, how does it, um, how how how does it compare to, say, Wellington and New Zealand? I think that here we're a lot more divided. But I think that I only notice that here because I'm so in amongst it. And I'm sure that there's an international feeling. I think that it's really important that we as a community take stock, and we look at where we're at, how far we've come and [00:29:30] look at those minorities that really need to be able, uplifted and included in these events and these these spaces, you know, like our young people and our, um, our cultural communities that aren't even in the language that we use for pride. You know, um, our communities, they all should be a part of this, But there's there's no engagement, so we're quite divided. But there's people that really care, and there's people that are doing the best that they can with the opportunities that are provided to them. And so [00:30:00] that's really exciting. One of the things I've noticed in Wellington this year is there seems to be a lot more kind of, um, support from, uh, other organisations, both kind of commercial, but also government organisations. So you've got flags around the city. You've got the international airport painted in rainbow colours. What? What are your thoughts on that? Um you know, I think it's really exciting that we've got more support. I think that it's really cool that councils jumped on board, but at the same time, we would acknowledge that it's really disappointing that they're supportive. [00:30:30] Yet they've known that pride is going to happen this time and they've known that the world was coming for the last three years Now, Um yet they've still put other events in amongst our pride, massive events, which means that out in the park, you know, has to move back to the square and just get a lot smaller in size than it once was when this could have been such an incredible year. So I think that it's they've put on a beautiful show. But I think behind the scenes, it's like pulling the curtain back for The Wizard of Oz. You know, there's [00:31:00] quite a lot of machinery there that could have done better. But, I mean, I don't want to be a negative Nancy about it, because it's still really awesome that, you know, the mayor is a part of it and that he is supportive. I think it's just acknowledging that you could do better. So you've got a really big year with New York and and other events. What are the things you're looking forward to the most this year? Uh, definitely going back to New York. Um, I'm also going to Cape Town in South Africa with a delegation [00:31:30] of New Zealand women for the International Lesbian Buy and Queer Feminist Conference. Um, so I'm really excited for that. It's the first one that's happened, and I'm sure that that will lead to some really cool projects and networking and opportunities. Um, and then just looking after myself. I think this year has already proved that it's gonna be very stressful and difficult for trans people. So it's really important to take a step back and to look after me for myself. First, eat the food that I want and listen to what my body is saying. So, [00:32:00] um, and not get too caught up in, um, the hate that is going towards trans women at the moment. So, yeah, how do you stay strong? Uh, champagne food. Uh, Netflix and good friends and good family. I'm really lucky that tonight my mum is here with me, um, and that I've got such beautiful friends and behind me to support me in the endeavours that I do that are always there to listen to me and to vent with me and [00:32:30] to offer me more champagne. So I'm really lucky in that sense. And I think that it highlights that there are so many that don't have a lot of that support behind us. And I think that's where we really need to focus our attention. And that's where I think Council and government should be putting more money and time into it. Supporting those that don't have the support at the moment through our youth organisations like outer spaces and inside out. So my name is Stephen. I'm the secretary for the Wellington Pride Festival. Stephen, how much work [00:33:00] goes on behind the scenes for a pride festival? A lot of work, A lot of work. Um, so we run a number of the events, uh, for the festival. So the big ones out in the park, um, we organise the after party at pride picnic tomorrow, Um, a youth ball. But, um, in addition to that, we coordinate the whole festival, the two week period or the events, Um, getting them all together, um, scheduling them, putting them into a programme. [00:33:30] And, yeah, this is this is the the product of all that work. What's the most stressful part? I think it's It's getting a lot of people together. Who? We're all volunteers. Nobody's paid. We've all got day jobs, Um, and getting us all together to talk about the hard issues. Some things you can do offline, but you do have to get together and meet and discuss the difficult issues. Um, and and yeah, it's it's a matter of getting the the [00:34:00] team to, um, develop a report so that you do function as a team because, you know, to you, you do need the unity there to really deliver a cohesive product which we, we hopefully this this festival will will show and you say difficult issues. Um, give me examples. What? What? What are some difficult issues? Um, there's always, um, difficult issues. Um, confronting the the rainbow community. Um, one, that one. That's sort of been in the headlines recently is, um, what [00:34:30] they call the turf? Um, it's it's, uh, a lobby group, um, of women who don't like trans women. And, you know, we have to think about Well, how do we respond to these sorts of things? And, um, if if the and the the risks, I guess that they pose to events like this, um, how how do we respond? Yeah, so So, yeah, there's that's just one example, But there's every year something happens. Are there other big issues this year? [00:35:00] Well, we had to work through, um, how we wanted to respond to, um, the issue with between the police and the Auckland Pride Board. Um, we it it it was a tricky, tricky set of issues. Um, and there was a diversity of views in in in the committee, but we had to come together and and work through that, and, yeah, we I think we came out with a pretty good result. The police are, um, gonna be a part of out in the park, but [00:35:30] they will be there in, um, more of a capacity to engage with the community. Um, so, yeah, I think I think that we've got a good, um, result out of that. And did the committee kind of, uh, take any lessons from kind of the the the fractured nature of what happened in Auckland? Yeah. Yeah. Um, I, I think we we really thought hard about, um how we responded. Um, we we worked hard at talking to the police, um, at every every step, Um, [00:36:00] and and we we really worked hard at working through the issues together. Um, we also we we also, um, like the Auckland board. Um, talk to the community about it as well. And And that and you know that that really is our guide. Like we're here to represent the community. We're not here to do what we want to do. So, yeah, but looking at the really, um, large programme this year. What? What What are the things that stand out to you? Wow, [00:36:30] I could tell you about, um, my my choir's performance, Um, at the end of the conference with the top twins, that's going to be a highlight for me. Um, I'm also gonna go check out some of the drag shows. And, um, there's a special screening of the Stonewall movie. Um, that we organised. Um, and I'm I'm excited about that because it's the 50th anniversary. I was only in New York last year at the Stonewall place, so I'm really excited about seeing that movie, too. [00:37:00] One of the things that really struck me about Wellington this year is that the, um there are flags all around town rainbow flags. Uh, there's a big rainbow painting on the Wellington airport. What does How does that make you feel? Oh, amazing. Amazing. So I was, um I was away on a trip a couple of years ago, um, around Scandinavia and every big city. It was around pride times, every big city. It was just rainbows everywhere. I was like, Wow, this has never happened in Wellington. And, [00:37:30] um, I just thought, Wow, wouldn't it be great if if something like that happened here in Wellington, But I think it's just a coincidence of all these great events that are happening where we were responsible for those drop down banners. But actually, it was a, um the conference that got the the big, um, rainbow at the airport. Um, you know, um, sorted. And then, um, the Wellington Pride parade, um, international pride parade. They've organised, um, the shopfronts to be decorated with rainbow. So it's a it's it's [00:38:00] a It's a big joint effort from across the community. And it and it it's great seeing seeing, um, the symbol of of queerness and acceptance here. So, yeah, it's wonderful. So, dear and John, you've seen many, uh, Rainbow celebrations in Wellington. How does this one compare the the one we're about to embark on? Well, what's extraordinary is the amount of events and just how it's grown. And it's just so wonderful [00:38:30] to see so many young people willing to be out, be proud and just be part of the rainbow community, which is so important The visibility because that is how we stop homophobia. My impression, I think, is really that there's been such a tremendous involvement by the whole community. It's not just the gay lesbian LGBT, whatever it is, plus, uh, that are involved, that the City Council, the airport, the [00:39:00] whole range of sponsors, and the city itself seems to be relishing to be part of the Pride Festival. And I think it's very exciting because going back 30 or so years, there were just 10 stalls and a fair in Newtown school, a fair for a fair law. And it's come a long way. Thank goodness. Just remembering the very first fear and the battle I had to hold in a Newtown school hall. The headmaster said no. But there was a woman on the, uh, on part of the administration of [00:39:30] the, uh, Newtown School and she said yes. And so I remember that well, the battle. And then, first of all, it was going ahead. Then it wasn't. Then it was. And then we got it, and it was all held in the hall. And then it expanded to the grounds. And now look at this. It's expanded. Wow. All of Wellington from the airport to the other side. I know it's amazing. And did you ever imagine that you would be able to walk down Courtney Place or on the waterfront and see Rainbow flags and go past the airport? I didn't see [00:40:00] a huge big rainbow on the front. No, no, I didn't think I didn't even think about that. It was bad enough trying to get our flags and things around the Newtown, and I remember the taking the posters around to different shops to display and the flack I got from some of them, including ST Vincent de Paul and then the next fear. I did exactly the same route, and it was more accepting and then the next one, because I don't [00:40:30] know if you know it, but I ran it for 10 years and I just saw this progress and this is progress. So can you describe the feeling now when you see all those rainbow flags around Wellington? Oh good, Yeah, I. I just feel that there's so much Wellington's got going for it, and this is really part of a city that's diverse and accepting tolerant. There is just so much and also pollution free. It's [00:41:00] not just a surprise, I guess. Total amazement. There is so much public evidence of a rainbow community at this time that the flags on the poles, the airport is astonishing. Uh, I mean to paint the grass. I don't know how long it took, but it's going to last for four weeks. It's a wonderful site for the people coming to the conference to fly in and just see that at the end of the runway. Wow, it's great to have a mayor who's so supportive [00:41:30] and I really hope Auckland get a a mayor that is gay. Supportive. Now, John, you're wearing a T shirt that says Civil Union poster Boys tie the knot. Who could that be? I wonder it might possibly be John and his way. Way back in 2005, we had the first civil union of Wellington, and it was an amazing experience, and it's continued to be an amazing city for me. Been so supportive. Um, I didn't realise the [00:42:00] picture was still lasting on the T shirt. It's getting a bit elderly now, like me and, um, but, you know, since then, we've had, um, not just civil unions. But we now have the right to same sex marriage, which I think is absolutely stunning. And, uh, it's It's fabulous. It's a great city, and it's a great country. And so will you both be marching in this year's Pride parade. We will. We will, definitely. Oh, yes. We'll be there. We did march on the first one. We got, [00:42:30] uh, rotten tomatoes chucked out. When was that? That was about 1987 and I'm very, very happy to march with any policeman in uniform. I don't think we're gonna have the sort of fractured community that they seem to have in Auckland. Um, why did they do that in Auckland when we fought against discrimination for years and they suddenly turn around and start discriminating crazy? [00:43:00] I've got a police hat to wear on the parade and a new a New York Police Department Jockstrap. So that's all you're wearing? A jockstrap and a hand. Uh, no. No one wants to see an old guy like me, But what? What? Good idea. Yeah, I right.

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AI Text:September 2023
URL:https://www.pridenz.com/ait_launch_of_the_wellington_pride_festival_2019.html