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Uh, my name is Sara from Queer Avengers. I think the conference, um, was really successful. It was nice to see some different faces involved that we haven't seen around and seen before. Um, and I think it's a good step towards what needs to be done beyond the marriage bill and looking at the issues that we need to keep addressing in our wider communities. Yeah, thanks. I'm, uh I'm an Anderson. I'm a queer Avenger and a socialist. And, um, yeah, I really [00:00:30] enjoyed the conference. It was exhausting. But there was a lot of sort of productive discussion we had. I think on the opening night it was good to have the big public event. Have Ian McAllen sort of greet us and get sort of get that across and also have that actually, that apology from from mckinnon that the the human rights reform didn't didn't include, um, didn't include trans folk. And so that's that was sort of an indicator of the struggles that we really need to take up. So we were trying to get into some of those discussions over the weekend. Um, so I think Saturday Saturday [00:01:00] was a great discussion. We um we covered quite a lot of ground. And, you know, I think it's worth people looking into that. We'll have records of it, um, you know, audio records and some written records. Um, and I don't think I can sum that all up here, but, um, so yeah, And Sunday Sunday, which we've just concluded was was definitely was definitely good. Um, but yeah, I think it's mainly The thing is, what do we do next? And if we on the on the I think quite likely chance that we win this particular reform. Uh, what are we laying a basis for in the long term? You know what? What struggles [00:01:30] are coming up? That's kind of the key question for us in Queer Avengers, so yeah, thanks. Uh, cheers. Um, she Howard, I'm a queer Avenger, and I guess summarise as a humanitarian. At least I like to think of myself as such. Um, I found, uh, the opening of this conference, uh, to be quite inspiring. Um, the history that we've been through, uh, to get to where we are. [00:02:00] Um, as I mentioned is indicative of the struggles that we do have ahead and, uh, in that regard. I think there was some, uh, certainly wide reaching discussion throughout the, um throughout the conference, at least from the Career Avengers stream to with which I was mostly associated. Um, I guess if I was to say that there was a disappointment, um, it might might be that, uh, we [00:02:30] have a long way to go yet before we develop a, um a strategic view on what we achieve. We seem to be dealing with isolated pockets of ideas and issues, and there are numerous of those and, uh, I think for these organisations to continue to be are effective in the long term, we need a leadership that does have a strategic outlook that does have a strategic overview and looks at a multi layered approach to dealing [00:03:00] with those including the involvement of other associated groups of all natures and all types. The involvement of Nigel and Studdard and our discussions is indicative very much of how that can happen and that this is not the struggles that we're on is not a uniquely queer campaign. It's a campaign for the human humanising, um, New Zealand Society and hopefully through that, um, the global [00:03:30] my name's Kay Jones. I'm Wellington born, and I've been campaigning on human rights issues probably since I was about nine years old, off and on. And I found this conference really, um, enlivening. But it's midway through a process. It's a lot of people who've travelled along way to get here in terms of their own struggles for human rights. And there's achieving marriage. Equality is just one sort of step along the way. What I appreciated in the conference was the open discussion and engaging with some people [00:04:00] that I've met online before. What I thought we could have had more of was that individual story sharing and the personal connections that we didn't start each session with names and where we were from within two days with so many people, that was probably, you know, would have been an unrealistic thing to do. Um, but I look forward to next steps, and I think back to when my uncle was growing up, who never came out and sort of, you know, who died alone and my cousin who, um, came out but went to Australia for a better life. And now [00:04:30] that the world that we're living in where we see queer people on television every day where people are actually openly discussing these. And I'm really sort of positive about those things. But we've still got to save the planet. We've still got to do everything else. So, you know, it's really good to be part of this. Thank you. Ok, well, my name is Joseph. He I'm the communications officer for Legalised Love Wellington. And I thought it was a really awesome conference. I think it was really healthy to have those discussions, Obviously. You know, there was a lot of disagreement, but I think that's actually an incredibly positive thing. And it really you know, it was a great experience [00:05:00] to finally have this discussion, I think, um because I think getting everyone in one room to talk about things is the first step. And, yeah, I think it's been a long time coming, but, you know, the discussions were really, really fantastic. And I think everyone got a light light out of it, so yeah. Hi. I'm Jim Whitman, and I came here, um, on my own, though I might have actually found in the process. I've joined another group, and, uh uh, yeah, I enjoyed a lot, actually. I caught up with a whole bunch of stuff and, [00:05:30] um, caught up with, um um a bunch of young people as well that this kind of this campaign has This campaign may well have drawn more young people in possibly, um, which is wonderful. Really? Because I think you take you have to catch up, um, with young people, really? And sort of work with them. I let them take the lead, Actually, truly, um, I mean, that's really important. And I've seen a lot of [00:06:00] that, actually. A lot of very enterprising aware, very sensitive young people from different campaigns across New Zealand all related to similar causes. And, um, it's very heartening. Oh, I'm David. Do I am a young gay Asian male based in Wellington. Now, uh, and I've been involved with helping organise the conference and been going on to some of the [00:06:30] community meetings, and I'm really pleased of how it went. It was really good to get people together and, um really good to good, to have not just a discussion of other ideas associated with marriage equality, but also what we're gonna do next. Um, so I was really pleased with how it went. And I definitely enjoyed a lot of the discussions, especially, um, issues such as transgendered, um, issues. And also, um, just make sure we reach out into other parts of the community faith [00:07:00] and also Pacifica and Maori communities especially, um, So I was really heartened that, you know, a lot of people came together and we had a good civil dialogue. Um I mean, the other thing also, is that because I was involved with the civil unions campaign as a volunteer and I was only in my my second year at uni in, 04. And, you know, I don't think people really talked about marriage equality. Back then. It wasn't really on the agenda. So it is really nice that it's come back again as an issue. [00:07:30] Um, and really pleased that this conference has been a part of that. Um, my name's Sam Humphrey. Um, I've never really been, although I'm openly gay, and I've always supported gay rights movements and things like that. I've never actually participated in a public sort of campaign before. So this was my first real experience of that. Um, but yeah, it was just great to meet people from all sorts of different backgrounds and hear their views on issues especially, um, issues like, um, the the Faith Forum yesterday with with Margaret was [00:08:00] really interesting, um, talking to a whole range of different people that I wouldn't normally encounter in my sort of day to day office job. Life was great. So, yeah, that was it. Hi. Um, I'm Cameron Hoskins from, um, from Christchurch. Um, and, um, this conference for me has been mainly about, um, learning. Basically learning a lot of new skills that I I didn't know really existed before us. Um, such as, you know, um, we didn't actually get to go through [00:08:30] the, um, how to run a community group, which would would have been nice, but, you know, I was there to help me with that. No, um, it's been it's been very informative. Um, I've learned a lot that I didn't know about beforehand about specific things such as, um, how to deal with media, um, lobbying MP S. And how to go about that The correct way rather than, um making them angry, um, doing things at the right times. No, it's, um it's been for me. It's been more informative and informative [00:09:00] thing more than anything else. And that's led me on to fortunately, um, one pathway in which I can actually give back to the community for once. So yeah, that's that's it for me. Hey, I'm Tay from love. Wellington and the network. Um, the conference has been really great. I think it's been really, um, good for bringing lots of different people. Um, together, Um, and we've had lots of diverse conversations. Um, I guess we've kind of scratched the surface [00:09:30] on a lot of things and entered the start of a lot of topics. But there's a lot more, um, discussion to be had on them. Um, I was really excited the conference that the conference was able to look beyond just marriage equality and to look, um, at homophobia and transphobia. Especially things in schools. Um, so, yeah, I've had a really good time. I'm I'm treasurer for legalised love. Wellington. And I thought the conference was overall fantastic. It was very inspiring for me. [00:10:00] I had got it in a few ideas from it, especially the night at Parliament on Friday and the Saturday day time. Uh, my name's Andrew Cunningham. I'm from the Campaign for Marriage Equality and for the conference. I was in charge of logistics and volunteer management along with Merv Ransom. What I took away from the conference is that there is a distinct need for intergroup cooperation and communication seeing us through to the end of the campaign whip. [00:10:30] What was also seen was an immense amount of ideas that came between each other, generally focusing on improving the quality for LGBT people in New Zealand. Uh, some of these focuses included um Taku struggles, trans struggles and also looking at why marriage equality is such a desire, desirable aspect for New Zealanders, [00:11:00] particularly focusing around youth. The thing that I really took away from it is that we need to have continued discussions. But overall marriage quality is a very desirable thing in New Zealand, and that's going to greatly benefit our community and our loved ones. So, me ransom I was overseeing the volunteers for the campaign. Um, it took a lot of energy to get the actual conference to a place where everyone, um, agreed upon. Um, [00:11:30] I'm quite content with the conversations that that come out of it Now, of course, it's all about implementing those action points. Now he's talking about, and we don't do anything with it as, um things progress. There's obviously some things that we need to sort out internally, so that what we do desire, uh, will manifest. But I am optimistic. Well, Bill Logan's my name and, uh, yeah, I've enjoyed the conference. It's It took a lot of work to get [00:12:00] together. A lot of work from a lot of people, Uh, but, um, it's been well worthwhile. It's been useful in and of itself as an exercise as part of the Marriage Equality Campaign. But it's also been good in building community and in preparing ways for the future, for campaigns that might be about anything else and other community building activities. My name's Chris Coker, and the conference just [00:12:30] exposed me to a lot of points of view, a lot of different points of view, something I hadn't considered before, And I'd come here hoping to go away with some uh, practical action steps that we could take to further the campaign, which I think we have done, and also the complexity of bringing uh, disparate groups together and working together and what that involves. It's more complex [00:13:00] than what I might have thought, but a very interesting process nonetheless, Kilda. I'm Rosie Jimson Healy. I found the conference really exciting. I thought it was really wonderful that we're beginning to have conversations, Um, about our trans community and our intersex people, um, and involving Pacifica, and and, um, the wider discussion around, um, our goals as a queer community, um, and the wider issues [00:13:30] not just marriage equality, but, um, the things behind marriage, equality and the things such as homophobia that we're all kind of looking to, um, to affect with this kind of political and social change. Um, so I found it really exciting opportunity for us all to be together. Um, and it felt like quite a historic moment. Being able to, um, talk together about where we're going with this bill and just take a moment to acknowledge our our history and who's got us here. Um, [00:14:00] with the work that's been done in the past with the homosexual law reform bill. Um, yeah. It was really exciting to see a diversity of people. Um, and different genders. Um, yeah, I really enjoyed it. So we're at the end of the conference after 2.5 days. Um, what are your thoughts? It's been brilliant, actually. Great to have a conversation. Great. To have everybody here and great to see, um, good fresh faces. Ready to go beyond and [00:14:30] do something about marriage, equality and queer politics in general. And, um, great to have so many new networks. Yeah. Is it what you thought it would be? More? It was definitely more than what I thought it would be. Um, we've had deeper discussions about other areas that wasn't quite on the agenda, but we had room for that. So we kind of predicted that we might, but we weren't really too sure, but, uh, the level of engagement has really stunned me. Um, the amount of people [00:15:00] who are willing to have open frank discussions or ask questions or, you know, the people that did turn up to the keynotes asked an amazing story. You know, questions and stories were told. And there's something to really reflect on any highlights for you, Nigel Studdard standing ovation. Um, French press. Um, the key note on Welcome for Ian. That was awesome. And, um new friends too [00:15:30] many times, I suppose. Yeah, but that would be my summary. Is there anything that you would like to say to people listening to this? Um that maybe couldn't attend the conference? Um, I suppose. Really Try to find like minded people out there, get involved, um, and find out what it is that we are doing. Um, try to make a difference in your community, because you do matter. You do count, and you can have your voice heard. [00:16:00] Um, it's all about it. All it is is organising yourself and, um, doing something about it. Don't sit on the couch, get up and do something. President Obama.
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