This page features computer generated text of the source audio. It may contain errors or omissions, so always listen back to the original media to confirm content. You can search the text using Ctrl-F, and you can also play the audio by clicking on a desired timestamp.
Yeah, hi, I'm Craig Watson and we're at the PSA offices, uh, in Wellington. Yeah, so today, um, Rainbow Wellington is holding one of our professional networking events and we've partnered with PSA, who, uh, or out. psa actually, which is the LGBT group inside of the PSA network. And we're going to listen to some, um, MPs, some candidates who are standing for election, um, to talk about.. What's important for them and that are in the rainbow community and get to meet them and also just meet other people from the rainbow community [00:00:30] So rainbow wellington have done these can meet the candidate events for a number of years now Why is it important for you to hold these events? The rainbow wellington's kind of motto is about connecting the lgbt community in wellington Um wellington's a bit of a powerhouse when it comes to politics and and and policy and so we really feel it's important our place as a, as the kind of LGBT, um, one of the LGBT communities here to actually, um, connect our community to these candidates, these [00:01:00] people who we will see in the street who will be standing up saying, I'm gay, I'm queer, um, I'm standing for you. And we actually want to. Meet them and talk to them and find out and tell them our story and say these are some of the things that we are We're struggling with and this is what we expect of you if you're going to Be a part of our community and use that as a platform to stand on So what are some of the things that? Members are struggling with at the moment Yeah, I think, um, today I received a phone [00:01:30] call from, um, a health care provider in the South Island who, they were looking to, um, help a young person who is transgender move up to Wellington, and we were talking about transgender, um, housing for transgender people, um, for queer people who are suffering from mental disabilities, um, and there's a real shortage, I think, for, or there's a real sort of lack of care of established systems to help these people who often, um, um, Come out of traumatized environments, um, [00:02:00] low self esteem, low self worth. How, what is the, what is the, what is the, what is out there to help those people? And I don't think we've quite got that right yet in New Zealand. Um, the specialized sort of care that these, these groups need because, you know, um, and this, the case in point for this person was Um, they can't go back to their support networks of family because those family are the ones that are rejecting them. And this is unfortunately what this, what the, a very, I would say, specific need for our queer community is often whānau is not a safe [00:02:30] space. And so they actually need to leave their, um, support network. Traditional support networks come to a place like Wellington, where we are a lot more inclusive. But what are those systems and practices? And when you look around to community groups, they're often overstretched, overworked, underutilized. And so we really think that it's a, uh, an opportunity for government or, um, central government to stand up and actually put some processes in place. You know, there should be some support out there. The trans community is very much in the [00:03:00] media spotlight at the moment, uh, because of, uh, a lot of anti trans sentiment, um, particularly after Posey Parker's visit here in, uh, March. Thankfully not to Wellington. Um, are you getting a sense of that from, from your membership as well? Yeah, absolutely. I think, um, the transgender community, I think, are really, really feeling it at the moment. They're, they're under a lot of pressure, and I think, um, potentially under a lot of pressure. Unknown or unnecessarily aware pressure, um, the, the, you know, this, the, the rhetoric we receive from the [00:03:30] states and other conservative countries, um, it, it, it filters through and it does get through to the transgender community and the, the people that I speak to and who are, and my transgender friends, they are feeling it. And I, and I'm really worried about them. Um, And really want, and really want to, um, see government and I suppose health providers do a lot more for them, um, and, and, and to find out what we can do. I, I sort of, my hope is that they are able to find people and places [00:04:00] and community groups that they can reach out to and ask for help. And my fear is that the only people that they trust to reach out to are already snowed under with these requests and, and underutilized. We're coming up to a general election, obviously, while we're talking to the candidates tonight. Um, last election, the last parliamentary term, saw a huge amount of rainbow MPs in Parliament. What do you think it's going to be like in the next term? Yeah, I think, um, I mean, [00:04:30] you know, if you look at the polls, that, um, I think we will probably see slightly less. Um, queer MPs in, in Parliament, um, it's, I, I still feel our LGBT Parliamentary members are not doing enough for, for our LGBT, uh, most vulnerable, yeah, um, and would like to see more, I think, you know, and I think we've seen, we've seen a few indications from um, people like Elizabeth Kerikeri where, you know, she's been pushing really hard and got Probably her hand slapped.[00:05:00] Um, and I think that's a sign of, um, how government really is handling our LGBT people. So what are the key messages that you want to, to give the candidates tonight and then in the future give to the, the, the new rainbow politicians? Yeah, I think, um, yeah, this is something I have been thinking a lot about because we, one of the events we often hold post the election is, hey, let's meet all the rainbow candidates. And so one of the things I often think about, what would I like them to do? What would be their top [00:05:30] priority as an LGBT person in government? And I do come back to a, a ministry or an agency or a, or a group that is set up to support the healthcare and the wellbeing and, and other things for rainbow people. And I think that's still. It's still a need in this country. I don't think we're there yet. We've still got religious organizations which discriminate our people. We've still got healthcare. We've still got our prison systems that are still discriminatory. We don't, we're not there yet. And I think an agency needs [00:06:00] to address all of these agencies and get them up to a level we're happy with. And just finally, if If there is, uh, if there are community members hearing this, uh, tonight, and, uh, they are feeling more vulnerable because of the kind of atmosphere around at the moment, um, what, what, do you have anything to say to them? Yeah, I, I would, I would ask them to reach out. As I said to the person I was speaking to today, we don't have the answers, I don't, I don't know the things, but I'll do my [00:06:30] damn well hardest to try and find those answers, and I spoke to two of our board members after that conversation, and I used the words, I am mad that I don't know The, the solutions to these problems, where we are a significant LGBT community group in Wellington, and we should know, I should know who the housing providers are, I should know who to turn to, and I don't. And so I've asked them to go out and find these things, with the aim of creating a website or a resource that I can point people to that has all of those answers [00:07:00] there. And I think that as a minimum, that's what we should be doing. Kia ora, my name's Gina, my pronouns are they, them, um, I'm a Green Party candidate for Mana this election, um, and we're currently at an event with Rainbow Wellington in Aotepehese. Kia ora, my name is Ricardo Menendez, I'm a Green Party Member of Parliament, and what genius said about where we are? Why was it important for you to be here today? I think it's a really awesome opportunity for, like, general rainbow people working in the public service, but similar spaces to come together, [00:07:30] but also of course it's election year, and as a rainbow candidate myself. I'm awesome to talk to other people who are, you know, working in similar spaces or just rainbow people working in their spaces as well about why it's important to vote generally but what we're proposing is the Greens as well. So as rainbow candidates, what are the biggest issues this election for, for rainbow communities? Hmm. I think, uh, supporting the rights of our trans, non binary, and intersex communities who are facing increased vitriol, [00:08:00] um, as a result of the rights and far right rhetoric is a priority for us, um, and that includes greater access to public services, but also, uh, ensuring that any legislation on hate speech actually includes some rainbow communities as well. Um, yeah, Taitoko Ricardo said I think also, um, the access to, um, healthcare and mental healthcare for our rainbow communities, particularly as we know, um, that a lot of us, particularly our younger ones, are experiencing poorer mental health outcomes, and also, um, ensuring that we all are having that livable income, that warm, [00:08:30] dry, safe home, that.. We need, because our rainbow communities often are, um, not exceeding in those statistics either. As, kind of, public figures, you're meeting a whole lot of people in a whole lot of different places. I get a sense that there's a lot of negativity around, kind of, particularly around, kind of, um, trans communities at the moment. What's the feeling that you're picking up from communities when you speak to them? I'll, I'll start by saying that, actually, a lot of the vitriol, um, like, we [00:09:00] have to remember that overall, and pulse around different places, I've shown that an overwhelming majority of people support our trans community, and it is, and it is a, a very vocal, and, and unfortunately, yeah, dangerous minority who are, who are driving that hate, and it is dangerous because it, it does result in violence. But overall, my experience campaigning is that.. People do support our rainbow community and our trans community, and they want us to be focused on how we can enhance their rights and improve well being for everyone. [00:09:30] So it's not a thing that's coming out in the election campaign, but it is concerning to see more and more politicians who are acting irresponsibly and wanting to make it a focus of the campaign. And that is the main concern around the lack of political leadership who are tapping into a, um, a minority who wants to divide us. Um, I think as a trans candidate myself, like, campaigning out in the community, everyone just sees me as another candidate and, you know, supports or maybe doesn't support me because of the green values [00:10:00] rather than because of who I am inherently. I think some of that, um, hate and that harassment and that stuff has particularly been online. Um, and, you know, with. Some changes in the leadership of certain social media sites, um, has become not so good, um, but I think that unfortunately it is, um, yeah, that vocal minority, but also a lot of them who are actually from overseas who are attacking us, not necessarily people, um, here in Aotearoa itself. So why did you both get into politics? Um, I got interested in politics, um, kind of my whole life, but particularly [00:10:30] got involved to the Make It 16 campaign to lower the voting age, um, because I was really interested in voting and I wasn't going to be able to vote. Um, and thought that we should be expanding that, um, that franchise, um, and then kind of over time decided actually if I want to see people with similar backgrounds to me, um, values to me in politics that I'm going to have to stand up and do it myself as well. Hmm. Uh, there probably wasn't a singular moment in time that, um, got me involved, but I do have to credit, speaking of politicians, speaking of hatred, um, Winston Peters comments around migrant communities. [00:11:00] throughout the years, I think, really make me, uh, want to become involved because the way that he spoke about our communities as a migrant myself, um, did not reflect my realities. And I did, I did feel that, um, uh, it was important that our experiences were represented, but it was also just rising inequality, having worked in hospitality for many years, um, just that feeling that there [00:11:30] was. There was a feeling of uncertainty based on political decision when it came to climate as well. In terms of rainbow issues, what are the things, if you do get into Parliament, what are the things that you will be pushing for? If you get into Parliament, I'm already there, so I guess that feels like more for you. Well, I mean, for example, we recently did succeed in putting an amendment to better protect rainbow people as part of the sports integrity legislation. And, uh, what that will ensure is that rainbow people [00:12:00] are and are Better represented in decision making board. And so that's one element where I do think we can Continue improving upon but I think there's also more that we can do to resource access to health care And that needs to be across the whole of the range of health care that is gender affirming so primary care but also secondary care and improving the competency of our health care providers so that if they serve the the By various rainbow peoples that exist in Aotearoa.[00:12:30] I'm really keen for us to finally, um, be prohibiting the medical intervention for intersex infants and also supporting our intersex community, um, more widespread. Um, even though I'm not personally a part of that, um, throughout Mahi, within the rainbow communities and working for, and working kind of adjacent to some of those spaces at the moment. Um, it's really clear that it, like, they've been advocating for a long time and actually we just need to get on with it. Um, and support them in what they've specifically been calling for and total with that in Parliament as well. And just finally, if somebody couldn't be here tonight and [00:13:00] they are just feeling a bit got at because of all the kind of negativity at the moment in the media, do you have a message for them? We have to remember that there's more than unites us than divides us, and, and I guess from, from our end, just know that the Greens are, are, are with you, and that, um, despite the few political leaders who are being irresponsible and, and spewing hatred, that there's also people that have got your back, and including people who are coming to this [00:13:30] event tonight, and so we will be working very hard to ensure that, um, um, Aotearoa continues to be as safe and as safe as it can be for our, um, rainbow people. Yeah, I would say that, you know, the Greens have currently do and then will continue to be supporting our rainbow communities. Um, and not only in terms of like words and the things that we put it out of and our manifesto and that kind of thing, but we've got people who have those lived experiences among our candidates, among our campaigners. Um, and it's not. Just [00:14:00] about what's happening out there. It's what's happening to us too, and we're really, um, yeah, concerned, but also supporting and wanting to push forward in those spaces as well. My name is James Christmas. I'm running for the National Party. I'm on the list. I'm number 28, and I'm here tonight representing the party at the public service. It's an event run by the Public Service Association and Rainbow Wellington. It's an informal event so that people can meet candidates and we can just have a chat. Why was it important for you to be here tonight? It's quite important to me that the National Party is actually represented at these sorts of events. Um, [00:14:30] we, uh, we haven't traditionally had a high level of rainbow representation, uh, even though we have quite a few rainbow members of the party, so I'm quite keen to see that side of our party emphasised, and to make sure, uh, as our leader, Christopher Larkson, he, he's said he wants to increase diversity in our caucus, and he means it. And part of that is Rainbow Diversity, I think. So why, why do you think there hasn't been so much representation in the past? Do you know what, I'm not sure there's an easy answer for that. I mean, if you look back through our history as a party, you can look back to people like Marilyn Wearing, back right into the 70s. Um, [00:15:00] you've got people like, uh, uh, Ven Young, who was the former MP for New Plymouth, I think, First person to try to, um, decriminalise homosexual, uh, do the homosexual law reform in the seventies and he failed. So you've had a bit of a liberal strand running through the party, um, but for whatever reason rainbow people just haven't bubbled up through to the top. So they're represented quite well in the party, but we have historically not had high numbers at the parliamentary level. Um, so I'm hoping to come in so I can bring my expertise in the law treaty settlements, but if I can also help, uh, to put another notch [00:15:30] in the wall in this regard, then that's something I'm looking forward to doing. So, what drew you to politics? Uh, I've always sort of worked on the sideline of politics. I used to work for, um, Chris Finlayson, who was the Minister of Treaty Negotiations, and then I worked for John Key and, uh, Bill English. I guess I just, uh, you know, I worked with some pretty good people early in my career and people who sort of get things done. Uh, and one thing I think is sometimes we talk about things too much and should just do them. Uh, so you look at treaty settlements, I want to see treaty settlements finished. Uh, I want to see law reform carried out. I think good governments are reforming governments, and [00:16:00] sometimes that's just putting your foot on the accelerator and doing it. And in terms of, uh, rainbow issues, what do you think the biggest rainbow issues are at the moment? It's a really interesting question, I mean, if you look back over the last few years and you look at the victories we've had, you look at things such as, you know, marriage equality legislation, that went through, I think it's now largely accepted, um, it hasn't been one of those issues that's carried on, um, I think, um, I look at some residual law reform issues, the big one's probably adoption, um, so the Law Commission reported on [00:16:30] that a couple of years ago now, it's been with the government, uh, that act was passed in 1955. Um, so we're dealing with law that's nearly 70 years old, and we're trying to apply it to a, you know, a world now which is completely different. Um, laws like that, I think, uh, are spread across the statute books, and they put roadblocks in the way of people wanting to get on with their lives. And I think a good government's a reforming government. You need to look at those. to look, are they putting, you know, are they putting roadblocks in people's way? And if they are, you need to change them. When we look back at some of the earlier [00:17:00] politicians like Marilyn Waring and Chris Carter, they had a really rough time in Parliament as being out themselves. How do you think it will treat you? So I mean, I was born in 1985. So one year before. The, um, the homosexual law reform. So, I've always been conscious that I have been pretty lucky in terms of the generations that went before me. That they went through a lot, so I've had a pretty easy run. In historical terms, I've had a pretty easy run. Now, sure, there's challenges and all that sort of thing that go with it. Um, [00:17:30] I think our parliament now is quite a different place. I don't go in there with any feeling of concern in that regard. Um, I'm conscious I'd go in there as, um, if I'm elected I'll probably be the only openly gay National MP. Um, you know, sh That doesn't feel like as big a deal to me as maybe it would have 10, 20 years ago. Um, so I go in quite confident, uh, in that regard. But I also, this is if I get elected, I'm not, I don't want to sound too certain, go in quite confident in that regard, but I also go in, you know, with the knowledge of those people who have had to go through those [00:18:00] struggles before and some of the stuff. You know, Marilyn, where, and Chris Carter, you hear these stories, you hear what they had to deal with, and it's only 'cause they actually stood up for themselves through there that I get to go in, in this situation now. Yeah. So who are your political heroes? Uh, so my, I've, I've got a few political political heroes in, uh, the National Party. So there's one, there's the, the. My main one is a guy called Ralph Hannon who I'm writing a book about at the moment, I'm writing his biography, so I'm, I'm trying to write it in a, uh, I'm writing it as an historian, and, and being as neutral as I can, but I do admire the guy, so he was our Attorney [00:18:30] General from 1960 to 1972, CMP for Invercargill, He had a conservative upbringing down there, but for whatever reason, um, he decided that the law should be liberalised to help people live their lives. So he was the guy who got the capital punishment abolished in 1961, despite the majority of the National Party being against it. He fought through and he actually got 10 National MPs to defect, including Sir Robert Muldoon, and vote with him to get rid of capital punishment. Um, he was another one [00:19:00] who really wanted, uh, to get homosexual law reform. Form done early. Um, there's a letter from him actually in 1967, uh, when he wrote saying that it's actually not a criminal issue and if he could do anything about it, he would, his view at the time was it was too early for him to be able to get the votes. So I admire those people who have gone on with their principles, um, and have fought as hard as they can to get progress. And, and actually when you think about what was happening in the late sixties and early seventies, the National Party were quite in support of, of law reform, weren't they? [00:19:30] So it was a real, I mean, the Holyoke government was a really liberalising time in general, um, and I suppose, um, when we had a first go under Vin Young in, I think it was 1974 to do it, and that failed. Um, so it's quite an interesting point. I mean, it illustrates to me people can come on a journey. So even Keith Holyoke was the Prime Minister, you know, generally quite a conservative, populist guy. Hansard, it's really interesting, where he says, I've spent my whole life really against this. You know, [00:20:00] the view they used to have, you know, the, the view that this is not something that we really want to tolerate in society. And yet, in the last year or so, thinking about it, I've realized, who am I to judge? So, to me, people like Holyoake illustrate that a number of our friends and colleagues are actually on a bit of a journey. And if you look at the party itself, you know, you look at Homosexual Law Reform 1986, John Banks, uh, One of our MPs I mean, if you go through Hansard, railing against it, I mean, just terrible stuff. I mean, John Banks voted in favour of marriage equality in 2011, so he'd been on a journey of his own. [00:20:30] My old boss, Bill English, voted against marriage equality in civil unions. He said when he became Prime Minister that it had been a mistake. So, I suppose looking at those people and working with those people and knowing those people, it does build a bit of a tolerance in you that some people are making their own journey. to destination. Um, I've always hesitated to write people off for their views even if I don't agree with them. Yeah. Currently there's quite a lot of negativity, um, around, particularly around, kind of, transgender communities, uh, both here and overseas. [00:21:00] If somebody was listening to this and they couldn't be here tonight and they were just getting bombarded with all this negativity, uh, what would you say to them? I think what I'd say is that I want politicians, regardless of what party they're in, um, I mean, I come from a tradition of, you know, I'm an individualist. responsibility, personal freedoms and rights. I think anyone, and our leader said this really recently actually, Chris Philipson, got asked about, um, I mean we're seeing some parties at the moment like New Zealand First is trying to stir up and make political issues out of this, so the first thing we do is completely [00:21:30] reject turning people's lives and identity into culture wars. You've seen what that's happening in the United States. We're much more pragmatic than that, and I'd hate to see us go down that path. But what Luxon said is that he doesn't want any New Zealander to be in a situation where they can't live their lives authentically and free from discrimination, and that's where I'm at on that. I hate to see people's identities politicised in any way. Um, that's just completely counterproductive. Kia ora, my name is Glen Bennett and I am the Labour Party MP for New Plymouth. I'm here tonight at a joint event with, it's [00:22:00] Rainbow PSA and Rainbow Wellington. And it's the election special, so we've got representation from the Green Party, from the National Party and myself from the Labour Party. Why was it important to be here tonight? It's important because the rainbow issues, although we've come so far in it's 2023, there's a lot at stake this election. You look at our inclusion and diversity that's That's gone in leaps and bounds in recent years, but in many ways, you come to an election and you see some of the rhetoric, some of the division, some of [00:22:30] the, uh, dismantling of some of the systems, uh, that are really important for our rainbow communities. Uh, so it's important for me to be here tonight, and I think for other candidates to be here tonight, uh, to be able to share our visions, our views, uh, but also to talk about what's at stake in terms of, uh, post election, depending on who gets into power. And when you say dismantling, what's being dismantled? Well, you've got things like, if you look at some of the ACT Party policy, when it's things like the, uh, Ministry for Pacific People or the Women's Ministry, you look at, you know, the Human Rights Commission, [00:23:00] things like that, which, which you might say, well, that's not a rainbow space, but the Human Rights Commission definitely is. That's something we've had to fight hard to, to be in. So in terms of dismantling of those things, uh, they're a challenge. But in that, saying all of that, I'm really hopeful that, you know, we've done a lot in this term. Uh, you look at, uh, you, you look at the, um, the banning of conversion practices, you look at the births Deeds to marriages. The ability of people to change their gender on their birth certificate. You know, you can see all these amazing things happening. And so it's important for me to be here tonight to talk about what's been, [00:23:30] but to be hopeful about what's to come for our community. What has it been like being an out rainbow politician over the last term? It's, I'm, I live in New Plymouth, and I'm the MP for New Plymouth, and I remember my first thing when, um, I was asked to run for New Plymouth, I said, you know I'm gay, right? I thought, like, I felt like, you know, is New Plymouth too conservative to have a gay MP? Obviously they, they're not conservative, because they voted me in. It's, it's been, uh, it's been liberating, and it's been empowering. I got to get married. in Parliament [00:24:00] to marry my husband, uh, just after I got elected. And for me, that was a really symbolic, uh, and I think it set me up for my term as a Rambo MP because I was standing in Parliament, a place that for more than a hundred years had oppressed us, and was able to stand there and to marry the man I love. In the halls of Parliament was really empowering to me, and I think for the last three years that's been, uh, front and center of everything I've done and realizing there's a fight to go. Like I meet young people and children still and teenagers at high school in New Plymouth [00:24:30] that are still afraid to come out, that still don't have those networks and supports to help them. So it's, that's always front and center in my mind in terms of policy we do and decisions we make. So what are some of the biggest issues that, that, that people are talking to you about in terms of rainbow issues? Uh, very much obviously the trans, uh, discussion. Uh, whether it be toilets, whether it be sports, uh, it's how do we actually make sure we include our trans community. That is really big. Uh, and then the other one is, I guess is around, um, health. and [00:25:00] mental health, in terms of, again, statistically for our rainbow communities, for our young people, for our older people, our mental health, uh, is, statistically we're far higher than many others, so that's been something else that's often talked about. I'm glad we put 4 million into this space when it comes to mental health, when it comes to supporting things like, in, um, Inside out and rainbow youth to ensure that there are the support networks around to help particularly our young people What are you most proud of? [00:25:30] 100% it is the banning of conversion practices. So I come from the Christian world. I was I was blessed, fortunate enough not to have conversion practice performed on me, but the fact that we were able to go through that and we were able to stand tall and strong through what was the most submissions ever made for any piece of legislation in the history of the New Zealand Parliament. And there was so much, uh, There was so much hate and, uh, awful rhetoric and fear mongering from [00:26:00] that. But the flip side, there was so much inclusion and love and support. And, again, for myself coming from the Christian community, uh, to stand tall, uh, as someone in the rainbow community, to stand someone tall who's in a faith community, and to say, we can walk forward together. And we as government can legislate to ensure that no one ever has to go through that abhorrent practice ever again. That's my most proudest moment. When you hear some of the just really nasty, uh, stuff that's happening at the moment in terms of, uh, people talking about [00:26:30] transgender communities, and, and more broadly the rainbow communities, um, what do you say to somebody that is kind of.. You know, somebody, what do you say to somebody in the rainbow community that's kind of taking all that in and just, it's, it's, it's kind of inside them, like, like, like, how, do you have any words of encouragement, I guess I'm asking? We've come so far. I look back to my eight year old self, uh, and, you know, I, I, I remember homosexual law reform, and the victory roll, and [00:27:00] the, the awfulness and the challenge, but it was actually the solidarity, and, and the coming together of, Of a strong rambler community that ensured that legislation like homosexual law reform was passed, like marriage equality was passed, like we were able to ban conversion practices. Those are the things. So, find your community. Uh, I always say to people, turn off or don't look at your comments on social media. Um, find safe places to go. You don't have to put up with, uh, prejudice. You don't have to be put up with being [00:27:30] treated badly. But you just must find your community because your community is out there and they're looking for you. But you need to put your hand up so they can find you to support you. Um, kia ora tatou everyone. Uh, ko Michael Gibbs toku ingoa. I'm Assistant Secretary Strategy here at the PSA. You're very welcome here. Uh, this is a great event for us to host. It's one of many, um, election events that we're hosting up and down the Mōtū. So, uh, uh, we're very pleased to have you here. Um, we are not [00:28:00] 80, 000 strong. We're 90, 000 strong as of last month. So we're in, uh, Aotearoa's largest. and we have within that our PSA group which is currently around 2, 700 members. So, um, we're pleased to again have you here. This is a great opportunity for us to hear from some of the key candidates from, some of the candidates from the key parties standing at the general election this year and thank you very much to the candidates for your [00:28:30] attendance. We'll ask you to introduce yourselves. Um, and there'll be, uh, the candidates are going to speak to you, uh, about their policies. Hopefully there'll be some time for questions as well. We do know that some need to get away promptly at 7. 15. So, uh, that'll bring a nice close to, um, to our proceedings. Just to say that this is obviously a very important election for, uh, Um, and this is an important election for [00:29:00] everybody. Um, we've made a lot of progress over the last six years, particularly most recently with fair pay agreements, which is finally a chance to improve standards, terms and conditions. across sectors of workers, which is hugely important and a big gap in our industrial relations legislation. So we, we have our own campaign this election, which is around a fair and progressive Aotearoa that we, we, uh, invite you all to support. But, uh, most [00:29:30] importantly tonight, we're here to hear from, uh, the candidates from, uh, we have Labour. National and the Greens here this evening. So, so again, you're very welcome and I'll hand over to Craig from Rainbow, uh, Rainbow Wellington to introduce our candidates. Thank you so much Michael and thanks to the PSA for, uh, hosting tonight. Um, it's really important, um, so Rainbow Wellington is a, uh, it's been around since the 80s. It's taken different [00:30:00] forms, different, uh, different namings, um, but The history of our group is we were right there, um, back with Fran Wilden, um, when we started doing homosexual law reform, um, and so it's been around a long time, and, um, we did a bit of a rebrand two, three years ago, um, so we've developed a new logo, um, and a new kind of, um, co papa for our group, which is just We want to just connect, uh, Wellington's rainbow communities together. And so one of those things was, [00:30:30] um, how do we reach out to our, um, many, many queer folk who are working in Wellington? Um, and bring them together. And so professional networking is a, is something that came out of that as an idea. Um, so we now run these and we've been running these for two years, um, different, uh, different industries, different workplaces, and so, um, I'd encourage you to, if you, there's some of these around on the tables, um, please have a look at them, we have, we are a member, a member organization, um, And so we, like, an individual [00:31:00] membership fee is 50 a year. It lets you come along to these professional networking events. The funds from all of that go into a grants fund, so we, all of us are volunteers. Um, the, the, but the grants pay for things like we've, uh, funded the youth ball, the, um, and there's some stalls for out in the city. So it all goes back into the community, so it's a really fun way of, um, meeting new people, turning up, having a few drinks, having some nibbles. Um, meeting. Great people, people that you may not have met before, and then [00:31:30] also knowing that you're supporting financially, um, some of the communities that actually can't afford lots of things, lots of these things, so that's really great. So please have a look at one of these pamphlets or talk to some of the board members that are around here tonight if you want to know anything more about Rainbow Wellington. Um, yeah, we're, uh, we're involved in, in, in also lots of things, we, um, do a lot of campaigns, so we're really at the moment, um, talking to, uh, I suppose the transgender community, saying what are some of the things that [00:32:00] are most, most required for you, and we know that they're under a lot of pressure at the moment, um, with some of the rhetoric coming out of the states, and so we really want to try and support that and do what we can, um, and, and a number of the things we do, um, um, Is to put the pressure on the, on the, um, on our MPs. So we do a lot of work with MPs in Parliament. We do a lot of work putting in submissions. Um, so please do, do speak to us if there's things that, um, you want to see changed around your city. We meet with the Mayor quarterly. [00:32:30] Um, so we do get, we get involved in lots of things and we, we get, you know, we're privileged to get access to a lot of the key, some of the key movers and shakers around Wellington. Um, so, if you're not here to listen to me, so I'll introduce you now to the candidates. Do you want to come up and join me, Glen, Ricardo, James? Um, great. So, what I might do first of all, um, what I want to do, I've, I've, I've got one question to ask them, uh, which I'll ask them in a minute. Um, I'll ask them to introduce themselves. Um, but what I want [00:33:00] you guys to be thinking about is that we're going to throw it open to you. We want you to ask questions, right? This is, um, and we're going to work in the popcorn way, so we don't know when popcorn pops. You just stick your hand up and ask a question. Don't even stick your hand up if you want to, just yell it out. It's quite alright. We're all relaxed around here. Um, but, um, what I'll do is I'll get you to, James, and you can start this. Just introduce yourself if you don't mind. A little bit about where you come from, um, would be great, so yeah, over to you. Okay, um, [00:33:30] well, uh, my name is James Christmas. I have the weirdest last name of any candidate, um, standing for election. Unfortunately, I'm not standing for a seat, I'm just on the list, so my name isn't actually on any, um, billboards. I'm standing for the National Party, I'm number 28, uh, on our list. This is my first campaign. Uh, I'm a lawyer based in Auckland, but I spent the first 10 years of my life down here as a, uh, public servant. Uh, so I spent a lot of my early career working for, uh, Chris Finlayson as Treaty Minister. Uh, and then I worked for John Key, uh, Bill English, did a bit of [00:34:00] legal work at some ministries and then headed off as a barrister. So I'm hoping, uh, if I am elected, uh, to Parliament, uh, one of the things I'm looking forward to is getting back down here to Wellington, uh, and being able to work with our, um, public servants again. Because I was very lucky early in my career to work with some of our best public servants. And that's where I learned really what I do. Huge respect for our public service and for the innovation that comes from our public service. And, uh, if I look back at some of the greatest achievements with treaty settlements, the genesis of [00:34:30] all those ideas came from people working in government departments. So, that's really important to me. Um, I want a productive relationship with public servants, uh, and a respectful relationship. Uh, should I return to other stuff later? Uh, yeah, yeah. Okay, I'll shut up now. Thank you. Welcome. Ah, kia ora koutou. Ko Glen Bennett tōku ingoa, and I am the Labour Party MP for the beautiful city of New Plymouth. Which stretches from Waitara in the north and all the way around to Opunaki, uh, around the coast there. Uh, this is my first term as an MP, [00:35:00] and looking forward to, uh, kicking off my second term in six weeks time. Fingers crossed. Um, I just want to acknowledge.. Um, in terms of the representation on our panel this evening. Uh, and although, um, there's three guys up here, just want to, uh, acknowledge, obviously, the diversity of this room and the div diversity of our rainbow whanau. Uh, and you look at Parliament, we are the most, uh, diverse rainbow Parliament in the world right now. And we're also 50%.. Uh, [00:35:30] male and female, and that's very much thanks, um, you know, I'll say the Labour Party, but let's say team effort, team, team effort from, from this side of the house. Uh, but for me, myself, uh, looking at a place like New Plymouth, you may think it is just this little tumbleweed town, uh, on the west coast of, of New Zealand. Uh, what possibly could, uh, how could they possibly elect a queer MP? Uh, but they did. Uh, because there are many roads that lead to Taranaki when it comes to, uh, issues, uh, of, of our rainbow communities. Uh, you look [00:36:00] back to the 1920s.. And our prison, uh, in New Plymouth was sanctioned through law here, uh, at Parliament just down the road for, uh, for the homosexuals, uh, and for the deviants. And that's where hard labour, they were, had hard labour there in New Plymouth through law made in this place here in Wellington. Um, secondly, uh, the first, uh, person to die of AIDS in New Zealand, uh, was from New Plymouth, uh, in 1984. Uh, and it's a horrific story, uh, in terms of, of, of the challenges we had. [00:36:30] Uh, at that time, and I think still we do have around prejudice, uh, but in New Plymouth. So there's, there's many connections and places, and often people say to me, why do you still wear the rainbow badge, or why do you still sort of speak so strongly about rainbow issues? And that is because we still have a lot of work to do. Uh, when I go to our high schools, uh, when I'm out and about in New Plymouth, uh, there's still fear, there's still prejudice, uh, there's still, uh, there's, there's still treatment, uh, of many of our communities, uh, that isn't okay. I'm a member of the Labour Party because [00:37:00] as an eight year old, I remember, um, going through the process of homosexual law reform, not knowing what was going on within my own internal self, but knew something wasn't right in terms of what was going on externally, not internally. Uh, and then again, when it comes to things like marriage equality, when it comes to those types of things, the Labour Party has always been at the forefront of diversity and change. And so I look forward to continuing to serve. And open up the spaces and places that we can live our best lives and the next [00:37:30] generations coming through. Uh, don't have to go through what many of us in this room have been through. Kia ora. Um, kia ora koutou. My name is Ricardo Menendez March and I'm your, uh, one of your Green MPs and I'm your Rainbow spokesperson for the Green Party. I'm based in Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland, and I'm a migrant from, uh, Mexico as well. It's been a pleasure to serve as a Green MP this term, and what I've gotten to see in my time in Parliament has been that while we do have the queerest and most, uh, [00:38:00] I guess that's when we use, like, gender binary balance, like, um, uh, there's still a lot to do. Um, and why I'm in the Greens is because It's at a time when hate towards migrant communities and rainbow communities, we have the tidiest and cleanest track record and voting in parliament for the rights of rainbow communities. And I think that sets the foundations really, really strongly, um, for us to continue that Mahi. And for me as an MP, it's all about making sure that we're working at the [00:38:30] intersections of different communities and, uh, acknowledging that, um, there is diversity within our rainbow communities and, um, and that we get to have, for example, um, And the Greens, well, we may have, uh, like, we started a term with like 40% queer people. We get to have, um, openly non binary or trans people in our caucus, and so there's more work that we can do. Um, but I think what I'm really proud that we've been able to do in this term of parliament has been to also, um, Put pressure on our Labour colleagues, um, to improve the [00:39:00] rights of, uh, rainbow athletes, and particularly at a time where hatred towards trans athletes is rising, um, I was really stoked that we were able to, um, strengthen some legislation around that. And so keen to continue that, Mahi, and this election's going to be really, really important because we have a few political leaders who are stoking the fires of hatred and fear. But I know there's more of us and there's more than unites and divides us. And I think the trade union movement and our community organizations to serve the remote communities are in a good position, um, to ensure that we continue having [00:39:30] a progressive government. Thank you. Right. Thank you very much. Um, we're just going to turn up the temperature a little bit and ask you some questions. Um, Gareth is sitting down here and he's recording everything, and I, and I like this because it goes on public record, right, so we can, we can go back to the website, we can find out what you said and hold you to account, so this is good. Um, so one of the questions that I think is there are, um, there are lots of things that we think, uh, are issues for the LGBT community, and, [00:40:00] and you guys are potentially going to be our leaders, um, representing us in Parliament. So I'd like, um, for you, and maybe we'll start with you, Ricardo, and we'll come back this way. But what are the, what are the, what are the top, top issue or the top thing that is in your mind? for the LGBT community, and if you're re elected, what are you going to do? That's a big one, but I think, I mean, like I said, I'm, I'm really concerned about the increased visibility of hateful rhetoric towards, um, our trans community, [00:40:30] and I think part of, um, what we need to do is to.. do is a range of interventions around having fit for purpose hate speech legislation that includes our rainbow people, um, having, for example, in this, in the realm of sports competency around, um, rainbow people resourcing our rainbow organizations will also be key to that because they're the ones who are at the forefront doing that mahi and they're doing it on the smell of an oil rack and there's far more we central government can do to support our rainbow organization. So I think Um, Prioritizing the groups that are [00:41:00] currently feeling, um, the hatred, I think is key to ensuring that we're actually serving, um, all of our member community. It's interesting, and thanks Michael and Craig for hosting us tonight, and everyone here. Um, but Michael, you mentioned around, you know, the, the trade union movement and, you know, workers rights in terms of what's at risk this election. Uh, but also I think very much it's around diversity, uh, and it's around, uh, inclusion. And I think that's really, I think what Ricardo [00:41:30] refers, you know, sort of alluded to in terms of for myself, uh, how do we continue to build diversity? Uh, I've thought a lot about, uh, what it would mean, uh, in terms of, of having a, a rainbow. We, we throw things around like a Rainbow Commissioner, or a Rainbow Ombudsperson, or we throw the thing around, or a ministry, but I actually don't think, I actually don't think a ministry would be right, personally. I'm trying to figure out how it could be. Where we have some kind of rainbow representation across all government agencies and departments. Uh, how that could actually, uh, be checking over, [00:42:00] double checking what comes through. Um, when it goes upwards and when it comes downwards through that. Um, I haven't landed on yet how it could be. I need to think about it over the next six weeks. Nothing much else to do. Um, so, I will continue to think on that. But I really am strongly about how do we ensure those rainbow voices. are there because it is around the diversity, inclusion, and bringing those on the margins in. And often, um, yeah, for me it's how do we actually support that, how do we fund that, um, but how do we be creative about how it looks? Um, well [00:42:30] this answer might be a bit dry, um, I'm quite, I'm a lawyer, I'm quite interested in law reform. Um, I think we've got a lot of law reform that could be done on a pretty non partisan basis. Uh, the major example for me is the Adoption Act. Uh, 1955, Law Commission's looked at that about two or three years ago now. I really want us to put our feet down on, foot down on the accelerator, is that the metaphor? And actually just get some of this stuff done. I mean, the Law Commission looks at these issues, they receive a lot of submissions, and I acknowledge Rainbow Wellington as well, and the submissions you make to select committees, [00:43:00] which are really important. I really want us to have a good look at the statute book. We're governed by so many old laws, I mean you go back to Covid, those initial lockdown orders were made under the Health Act 1956, no wonder it got a bit messy. Go back through, look at where the barriers are, the barriers in legislation that have put it, you know, when we go through a 1950s lens, which wasn't necessarily looking at two dads or two mums or whatever, why is it still there? I want us to go through, almost take a stock tape. Go through, find the barriers and get rid of them. And that's solid law reform work to it. [00:43:30] Yeah, great answers, thank you. Um, okay, so, have you guys, has people out, anyone got out here um, questions, are we preparing questions? Simon? I've got a question, it's not really Rambo regarded, it's more about, um, Small community, local, uh, media outlets and radio, uh, what do you know of them and what would you do to support them? I'm happy to start. So I was prodding, um, Willie Jackson, actually, the Social Services and Community Select Committee around this. I think we could, [00:44:00] central government could resource them better. And having worked with, um, Planet FM, for example, and other radio stations, um, including, like, Coming from the Latino community, like, I acknowledge that for smaller communities, they actually play a key role in, in, um, disseminating information, particularly in non English languages, and, like, with many organizations, they do it on the smell of oil dragons, so I think, um, Changing the funding, like, reviewing the funding mechanisms is key and that's something the Green Party has supported for quite some time.[00:44:30] Because we do believe in strong public media and community radio stations, including student media, plays a massive role in that. And we continue to invest heavily in Access Radio across New Zealand, which I know very much can be niche and that type of thing. I think in the last three years what you saw with the 50 million that went into, um, particularly local democracy reporting, has actually been significant. Uh, and is actually, I think, like, for example, in New Plymouth, we now have a local democracy reporter. Their one job is to report local democracy, which is, you [00:45:00] know, what's on the tin and what's in the packets, all the same. And I think that, that's actually shown that it actually can work. Um, that fund has now ended, so what is it, can we, what is it we can be doing around funding, um, Taranaki. Uh, where we are smaller, uh, and you turn on the radio on Wednesday morning in your car, and you basically are listening to Auckland or Wellington. Um, how do you actually, how do we actually change the nature of that, uh, and I think something like that local democracy reporting and other funds would actually support that.[00:45:30] Uh, well I mean, I am just a reasonably low ranked list candidate, and I've been warned that if I start announcing policy on the hoof, it's a good way to end my career before it starts. But we, we will have a broad.. I didn't announce any policy, Well, I mean, we will have a full broadcasting policy out before the election, but let, let me say, and, and speaking in general.. Uh, terms, you'll see no disagreement from me about the importance of local reporting, especially, and I come back to the legal side, uh, when you look at reporting on [00:46:00] issues that won't necessarily pull in all the apps, you know, like we, we need what's happening in our courts, in the, in the local papers, we, we need, we need, uh, local, well funded local radio stations. I mean, all I would say is that speaking from my position of no influence over this area at all, uh, I would certainly. favour, uh, a system which takes full account of the importance of local media. Great, thank you. I saw another question, yeah. Called Sarah Toke Engua. So you've mentioned working with [00:46:30] schools and both athletes, but is there initiatives or talk about the minority rainbow group, such as the homelessness, Pacifica and Māori? I think, yeah, worth, worth acknowledging that, um, our rainbow community, and then if you do intersections between like, um, Takatapui and, um, Pacific Rainbow groups, like they are disproportionately affected by homelessness. I know Marama has been working to, um, [00:47:00] as part of her home associate, um, housing role to try and divert some funds to organizations that may work specifically with rainbow people. I think a huge part of that is also about. reforming the welfare system. And I acknowledge that, for example, within MSD, there's been some efforts and some spaces to create greater competency. And it's about building upon that, because there's things like the way that, um, even we have our relationship rules in the work and the income support system that I think actually are anti queer in many ways [00:47:30] and, uh, box people in incredibly heteronormative, uh, ways of living. And so I think this interventions we could do in the income support system while also just beefing up the work that community organizations are doing on the ground to, um, create competency within the public service. And as what's been said, yeah, work with Marama Davidson around that, particularly the homelessness action plan, uh, around acknowledging in terms of, you know, rainbow young people are particularly high in terms of homelessness. Um, secondly, last year we put in, I think it was just over 4 million, uh, in [00:48:00] funding into our school system around and side out. Uh, and Rainbow Youth, uh, and Taranaki again, sorry to keep talking about Taranaki, but it's a really cool place, come and visit sometime. Um, and it's, uh, again, to support actually the work on the ground working, um, at the Coalface with, you know, young takatapoi, uh, trans, non binary, intersex, uh, and our gay and queer community. So there is work being done in that space, uh, and there's.. Um, I mean, look, totally acknowledge the [00:48:30] importance of that. It's all very well talking about these issues in the round from, from, from Wellington, but if we actually want to get results on the ground, we have to work with the people who are at the, the cold face, work with the NGOs, the people who know the challenges that people are facing. Uh, so I think you will see, uh, from us, if we are in, you will see a, uh, more of a, an emphasis on working with those NGOs, um, I'm not going to bore you all going on about our social investment approach, but actually looking at the data on the ground, looking at who you're dealing with as people and trying to target those, those results, so I totally accept [00:49:00] your point. that we need to know the challenges that are being faced by people on the ground. James, I'll just, um, point out one thing. So today I received a phone call from somebody who was wanting to move somebody to Wellington and they were a transgender person with some, um, mental, mental health issues and, and I was trying to think who are the people on the ground and the problem is that they're so under resourced they don't even have a phone number. And They don't answer your Facebook pages. They've got nothing. So [00:49:30] you you're gonna try and find the people on the coalface. They're not there. They need resourcing first to actually make them be there. Um, so I you know and you're gonna go out and you're gonna try and find these people to talk to they're not there. Because they're too busy working their asses off trying to trying to help the people that they can they need a resourcing first And then you can make them. Got it. Totally hear that. Any other people got a question? Yeah, Joe. So this is around surrogacy in New Zealand, which might not be [00:50:00] queer related, but it does affect a lot of queer people who want to have children. Um, so New Zealand's surrogacy laws do not currently recognise the intended parents of a child as the legal parents. There's a whole legal battle and everything that goes on. Um, so they actually have to adopt the baby after it's born. So, as um, Justice Minister Kiri Allan has said, this process is discriminatory, uh, causes unnecessary harm, and stress, and reflects how outdated the system is. Is there anything that's going to be done to [00:50:30] fix that for anyone, including queer people who want to become queer? Yes, and the work is being done right, well the House has just risen this afternoon, but the, so Tamati Coffey had a members bill, uh, completely around this, uh, this piece of legislation that has to change, and must change, um, head to go and adopt. His own baby a month ago, uh, back in the Rotorua. Uh, the awesome thing is that, yeah, we've now picked it up. So now it's government, uh, legislation we're working through. So it's currently sitting, uh, I was on the health select committee [00:51:00] recently, and we had a conversation about it when it was Tamati had it, but it's now come through as a government piece, and so the Health Committee will continue that work, and so it will be passed into law, um, as long as, uh, that Labour is in government in the next term. And it's halfway there, so we're really close to it happening. But I hope we can get cross party support, eh? Of course! Of course! Um, no disagreement for me, I mean, that's the sort of thing I want to look at, I mean, why should the law discriminate in that regard?[00:51:30] Yeah, I just, you mentioned about looking at people who write policies, so across the public service where queer is being considered and I'm just wondering whether you guys have heard of the cross agency rainbow network and whether tapping into that Has come across your mind. I mean, as an MP, for example, I mean, I do, especially in the Rainbow portfolio, I do try to tap into as many [00:52:00] groups as I can, I think. But to the earlier point around setting a ministry, like our position is that we do need a ministry that serves specifically the needs of Rainbow people. And why I was disagreeing a bit with what Glenn was saying is that, I mean, we do have ministries for other population groups. And it is about having that designated structure that can then actually work across. Um, other parts of the public sector to just have that lens applied. Yes, we could be building greater competency across the, like, you know, the public service, but it's. In my view, it will never be as strong as [00:52:30] building the in house structure. But yeah, keen to engage with that network as much as we can. Acknowledging I carry like ten plus portfolios. I went to, recently, to the first, um, It was the first Pride at MSD event. They had a full day training and it was their first time, you know, MSD, Ministry of Social Development, had built this part of their group. So I think.. Yes, um, can I talk to you afterwards just to kind of find out a bit more, and so we can kind of lock that [00:53:00] in. Yeah, I mean, I've been out of Wellington for the last few years, I'm not across the work that's been done, but certainly interested in hearing more about it. Great, thank you. Um, one of the things there, there, there around, um, Um, they're around here for another, at least another half an hour, um, and I want to give you the opportunity to kind of have a good conversation with them before they run away. Um, has anyone got a burning question that they, they must ask or can they just ask it to them direct? Yes. [00:53:30] For our national, um, candidate, um, with kind of recent talk of, um, of potential coalition partners at, or New Zealand First and their kind of homophobic, transphobic dog whistling thing. Is that something of concern to you? I mean, I think the first thing I'd say is, I mean, I'm only able to talk in my capacity as a National MP, right? So, I mean, we all see what's being said by different parties. We're all going to have our views on those. Potentially very strong views on them. [00:54:00] Uh, all I can tell you is that, for me as a National candidate, and also for our leader, Christopher Luxon, who was the one who encouraged me to stand, Uh, you will see an absolute commitment against any of that rhetoric, and you will see an absolute commitment that we don't want to see this country, uh, turn into a situation like we've got in the States, with people's identities being caught up in culture wars. Uh, yep, completely aware of the concerns about what some other parties are saying, uh, but, you know, I can only, I can only plough on as a national [00:54:30] candidate. Can I just add onto that, because I mean, just, um, you may need to talk to some of your current MPs. When we were going through the sports integrity legislation, I mean, it was really concerning, right, that like. There were sitting National MPs who were pandering to the, um, transphobic rhetoric and I think to me what it is really important is, and I hear you, you know, take your point about it as an individual, you've announced that, but it does need to come at a political leadership, um, level and, and I do want to say that it is It's like, it is one of those things [00:55:00] that one of the most meaningful thing a political leader can do is just actively denounce it, um, and, and because otherwise we're just ceding space to the hater generic. And I do want to say that polls around the world do show that there are minority of people, but the more political leaders. Seed space, the more that hate can grow. Um, so yeah, I encourage you to talk to Louis Upton, um, and Melissa Lee potentially around some of this . Um, yeah. . Um, before we get into a bit more of a debate than we want to, I just wanna say thank you very much. Um, [00:55:30] James, I've been doing these sort of events for, as I said, four, five years political events. Mm-hmm. , and this is the first time someone from National's showing up. So, can I, can I say one quick thing on that? Yeah. So can I say it is really important for me that the, the National Party of, and look, I've been a member of the National Party since I was a teenager. I was a nerd at school and I liked Jenny Shipley for whatever reason, . So, um, it was basically pull me in, but so many jokes I know , um, that it is important to me that national is here. And, um, I think that. Yes, um, I hear what everyone else is saying, [00:56:00] but at the same time, I want, uh, people to know that if there is a national government in, that at least people can see themselves represented, uh, somehow in there. Um, we should be turning up at these things. Uh, I acknowledge that we haven't done amazingly, uh, with the rainbow representation in the past. Um, I just got asked before, I was trying to work out who we had. You can talk about Marilyn Wearing, you can talk about my old boss, uh, Finlayson, you can talk about Paul Foster Bell who's here in Wellington Central. Um, the party itself, uh, especially with our younger members, we have a [00:56:30] number of rainbow, rainbow community coming through. Uh, but as a, one thing really, uh, that made me decide to throw my hat in the ring, having said I'd never ever go into Parliament, and made this uncomfortable step of going from the back room to standing in front of you, um, is that that's important to me. Because I don't want us to be sitting out there left behind by the, as the world moves on. So all I can do is turn up and listen. Great, thank you. Um, and, and to Glenn and Ricardo, you guys have been holding this space and fighting, and, and so I, I, you know, [00:57:00] um, am really thankful. We had, we had an event at, um, in the Rainbow Room, and I remember the, you know, just reflecting on all of the MPs who are current and thinking, wow, this is fantastic that we've got this massive group. Um, and so thank you for what you've done for us in the last, um, in the last term and, you know, wish you all the best, wish all of you all the best for the election. Um, Yeah, but thank you very much to you two particularly for fighting for us. So yeah, thank you. Can we give them a round of applause?[00:57:30] So I am a policy advisor with the PSA and I've also been for the last little while organizer of Out At PSA. Which is the network for LGBT plus people within the PSA. Um, and we're at a joint, out at PSA, Rainbow Wellington, drinks, meet the candidates, type event. Um, just before election 2023. Why was it important for out at PSA to organise an event like this? Often times union work is very much about, you know, [00:58:00] fighting for things that you are under threat about or, you know, being Um, trying to achieve social change, which can be quite serious. And so, sometimes it's nice to just socialize. Also, nice to be able to build relationships with other organizations within the kind of LGBT community. Because, um, I think, you know, like, talking to people here today kind of made me realize, oh, we could be sharing stuff in terms of submissions we write, and that kind of thing. Um, so that we're all kind of stronger [00:58:30] in supporting each other. And you don't form those kind of relationships unless you have events I, I was, I was really impressed to see, um, the three candidates. So we had a Greens, we had a Labour, and we had a National. And just thinking, you know, like, maybe 15, 20 years ago, it would have been very hard to be an out MP, but, but now it seems a lot more, um, available as a, as a kind of career, yeah? Yeah, so, yeah, most, um, rainbow friendly parliament ever, right? Well, not rainbow [00:59:00] friendly, but like, the most rainbow MPs in a parliament, so. I guess, yeah, that would have been unthinkable a couple of decades ago. Um, I hope it stays that way. Or, you know, we get even more representation because, um, I always thought that this kind of progress was a given because it's always been like that throughout the time that I've been out myself. Um, but the last year or so and seeing events overseas made me realize that it's actually not a given. It's not always progress in one [00:59:30] positive direction. It can actually just all.. Fall apart. And so I think, yeah, so I think it's, I'm really hopeful that the next parliament is looking like the current one in terms of representation, yeah. So in terms of your, uh, out at PSA membership, have you, have you, um, sensed that there is a bit of a, um, a feeling of apprehension in terms of the negativity that's happening at the moment? Yeah. Yeah, our committee met just last week and that was one [01:00:00] of the things we kind of talked about is that kind of rising climate of tension and Yeah, just kind of hate everywhere. We also, like we had someone from Inside Out come to talk to us and they talked about how they had just, you know, been getting more and more abuse and kind of threatening stuff in their email inbox all the time. You know, it definitely seems like it's on the rise. So what do you think can be done about it, particularly like from organizations like OutUp PSA? [01:00:30] I think, uh, not standing for it. I guess being loud and outspoken and not just trying to be respectable and hope that if you're respectable enough people will keep being nice to you. You know, like I think, um. From what I see overseas, there's, uh, it seems like, you know, there's a, the people who want to be respectable and have the approval of straight people are [01:01:00] willing to throw other parts of our community under the bus, um, and it won't save them in the end. So I think for, you know, it has to be the entire community all sticking together and showing solidarity.
This page features computer generated text of the source audio. It may contain errors or omissions, so always listen back to the original media to confirm content.
Tags