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My name is Ben Heideman, and my organisation is called Equation. And how's the cock print been for you? The conference has been really good because, um, not only, um we have some Asian faces out in the conference. Um, everyone also learned a lot from each other. Like we learned a lot from other Pacifica organisations and et cetera, And, um, and they also learned a lot about [00:00:30] Asians as well. So that's quite fascinating for everyone. What was your highlight? Well, there's quite a few highlights. Um, I think, um, during the next 15 youth leaders conference, um, one would be, um, the presentation that was talking about, um, the lost language. Um, well, the language of the LGBTI Q people. Um, as the nation [00:01:00] progresses, Um, part of the language was being lost. And also, um, we still want to retain our history, and we want the history to be documented so that the future generations can learn what happened in the past in New Zealand as well. Um, so all that hard work and discrimination and the lives that were lost with not in vain. Um, and there's also are the highlights such as, um, this the [00:01:30] gentleman, um, David from the Long Island. Talking about how he started an organisation called Legacy. And, um how, um, from one little branch, um, they open, um, two other branches across Long Island and the struggles that they had, um, putting those up when they have lots of oppositions, Um, against them having the centres open very close to churches and very close to very [00:02:00] traditional families. And they managed to, um, open several centres and encourage a whole lot of other people to be happy about themselves. And, um, and a lot of those members, um, it's kind of like in New Zealand as well. Like, um, how a lot of them were suicidal. Um, have a lot of depression, was not very happy. And, um, and suddenly they have this all these like, really safe spaces, and they could be proud of themselves and have marches [00:02:30] and parades and et cetera. So that's some of the highlights. And of course, um, and I did a presentation about, um Why it's important that other organisations, um, needs to include, um Asians as well, because with minority within the minority and, um and there's also a lot of problems in the Asian communities that not many people would [00:03:00] know or talked about, which is taboo in the Asian communities. What will you take away from the friendships? I've met a lot of really awesome people and future youth leaders, Um, from all sorts of different organisations, um, throughout New Zealand, um, and also throughout the Pacific as well. So that's very fascinating to to have people coming in all the way from cook Islands to, um, to Auckland just to go attend [00:03:30] this amazing conference. Um, getting to know one another. And, um, I'm Melissa Jansen and I come from I guess the organisation I came representing is called same sex female sexuality. Um, how's the conference been for It's been awesome. It's hard to articulate into one kind of sentence or theme because, like, I don't know, [00:04:00] at this stage, I'm a bit burnt out by all these kind of new ideas and lack of sleep. Um, so I think that people like, as we got into the conference, develop their ideas more, and the conversations got better and better. 2nd and 3rd day. What were your highlights? Um, it was great to have some strong women on the panel today on the Pacifica [00:04:30] panel. Um, I think meeting like networking and meeting with a whole bunch of new people. Um, well, me was a was a highlight in that he didn't He wasn't scared to, like, share himself and really kind of go there and ask questions and push those yeah, push boundaries that [00:05:00] I wasn't really expecting. Um, is there anything you'd like to see for next time? It wasn't at this one. Yeah. More talk about, um, bisexuality and sexuality. I actually counted the number of times people use the word gay and lesbian today. And it was in in one session, and it was 27 compared to seven times with the acronym LGBT [00:05:30] or LGBT Q. I, um But when it had to be in it, it was never actually bisexuality or pansexuality on its own. So I think I think we I wanted to raise this this discussion, Of course. We run out of time. I think there's Yeah. It's funny how it ends up being about mono sexual identities and like so, I think, [00:06:00] Yeah, I would like to see more of me represent out there. And what That what that means and more people. Kind of saying I'm bisexual or pansexual or just, um, yeah, talking about that experience, like coming up is that experience or just living life? Is that experience? He definitely went alone there. Um and what will you take away from the covering? It was interesting to see how people do things differently [00:06:30] in their different organisations. So that got me thinking because I do things one way in our organisation. Um, it was also great to take away an international perspective. Both the US and the Pacific. Um, I guess we sometimes think of the Pacific as part of us. But in another way, it is international, like it is more than just local. Like it's local [00:07:00] international. I don't know how to explain it. Also. Yeah, also, what one thing? That money. Mitchell said that we're 12% 12% like, yeah, our community makes up 12% and that What if we could have 12% of the funding to do to do things? So just that Yeah, there's a lot of us, which is the theme of the conference. Uh, my name is Andrew, and I'm from Auckland. And how has the conference been [00:07:30] for you? Ah, fantastic. Really, Uh, challenging and an opportunity for growth. So, um, it's been a lot of fun. Um, what have the highlights been for you? Uh, I think really being around or like, people who really take up the mantle of being authorities on their own identity. Um, and being able to sort of experience someone who really just [00:08:00] wields their their their gender and and their sexuality, and and with such confidence in ways that sort of are are inspiring. And and, um, you know, really good for self reflection as well. Um, is there anything you'd like to see at the next one that you felt was best? Uh, I think there wasn't enough discussion of the asexuals community, the a a gendered [00:08:30] community, Uh, a romanticism. Um, there's grey sexuality, and, um and I suppose, um, yeah, uh, sort of the the less sexually overt, uh, side of the of the queer community. Um, sort of doesn't doesn't often get represented because it's not a very loud voice in a in a, [00:09:00] I suppose in a in a community that has historically grown out of a struggle, not just not just to be able to love who you love, but it it grew out of a stigmatism around sex and specifically buggery. Um, you know, historically, in New Zealand and Britain, Um and so I feel like it's really important for the rainbow community to recognise that and to [00:09:30] make adjustments to to actually make space within within the the queer community for those voices. Um, rather than expecting them to to perform at the same decibel. Right. Um, what will you take away from the conference? I suppose, uh, the the really cool thing is to is to see all of these new organisations starting up and people starting to work together and, uh, to unite [00:10:00] their communities and and particularly with, like, equation and with, uh, Rainbow Youth and some of the more, um, you know, the more the more I suppose advanced, um organisations sort of coming together and starting to deal with those really, really tough issues at the intersections between racism and sexism, homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, [00:10:30] um, and having this this new generation of people with new ideas, looking to tackle these problems. So it's Yeah, I suppose, um, as as an academic, I think like qualitative research is a huge part of of my motivation, um, to actually be here to be present in the next in that generation and in those new voices See [00:11:00] what they want and what they have to say in the new dynamics of the queer community and take that away and actually try and produce something that reflects the current times, um, to stay updated because so often, so often, academia doesn't, um but yeah. So I suppose I'd like to take that away and use use that to give something back to the queer community that suits [00:11:30] them. Um, that they want that they've asked for that. We've got a dialogue and discourse around. Um, so it's not just this paternalistic analysis of of of queers, which so often is the case. Um, can you please tell me your name and organisation? Of what? Your role? Um, my name's Robbie Van Dyke. Um, and I was the conference coordinator for next 15 as well as next 14. That happened last year. Um, how's the conference been for you? It's [00:12:00] been really different this year, which was awesome. Last year was a lot more people, and it was really full on lots of speakers. Sort of talking at us a little bit more than with us. And so this year, we tried to make it a bit more conversational. A bit more youth, run a bit more, youth led. And I'm really happy with how it turned out this year. What were your highlights? Um, my highlights were saying all the youth come together and [00:12:30] really start to tackle and discuss the really important underlying issues. And I really enjoyed how we had representation from some of our marginalised communities within our queer family. Um, is there anything you'd like to see next time? That wasn't at this? Um, it's hard to say, really. Um, lots. But you can only fit so much into a weekend. I'd really like to see more discussion around how [00:13:00] to actively interact and associate and include all of our marginalised communities. I think that, for me is a big issue as well as working on a way to develop a national network for sharing resources. Um, what will you take away from the conference? Um, I'll take away a couple of things. Uh, one of the things which is, I guess, slightly negative that came out of one of the speakers was that nothing is certain and nothing is forever. So [00:13:30] our work is never going to be 100% done or guaranteed, which is a bit terrifying, but also, it gives us something to continue to strive for. I think that was probably the main thing for me. Um, can you please tell me your name and, um organisation and where you've come from? Clare from, um, UN Youth, which is a organisation that's focused on civics education primarily for, um, high school students, but also university students, and it's run across the country. [00:14:00] How was the conference for you? Um, it was really fantastic. It was great to meet people from so many different queer focus organisations. Um, and just make those connections and learn about what people are doing. Um, what were your highlights? Um, I think the the two panels the, um, Pacific island panel, um, and then the equation of not panel, but the equation discussion were both really valuable and interesting. What did you get out of this? Um, just a different [00:14:30] perspective and a reminder that the western way that we think about, um, sort of LGBT Q is not the only way of thinking about things and that there are these different cultural perspectives that are worth remembering. Is there anything you'd like to, um, see at the next one that wasn't at this one? Nothing that immediately comes to mind just continuing to get the, like, the really diverse attendance and different perspectives on things. Um, And what will you take away from the conference? Um, [00:15:00] lots of really great connections. So I think I'm definitely going to be able to go forward and get involved with some some more things. Having met all these amazing people doing amazing projects across the country. My name is Rama. I'm from Fiji. And I'm here for the next 15 conference on behalf of, uh, an LGBT Q organisation in Fiji called the Movement, which is stands [00:15:30] for well, in English. Term is, uh, rainbow. It's like a rainbow movement. And yeah, how's the conference been for you? Uh, it's been great. Um, I wasn't expecting this much. There was, like, a lot of, like, just open dialogue. There's some, you know, with the critical issues being spread across the room. Well, it's been great. It's been a good [00:16:00] experience. Yeah, love the people get energy. So much knowledge on the issue of LGBT Q. I'm like, Oh, my God. I'm just so happy that I came. Yeah, OK, um, what have the highlights been for you? Oh, the highlights. Yeah. The highlights for me would be, um yes, Well, to be part of the family that you know, [00:16:30] the LGBTI Q community. Well, I'll probably just say Rainbow. So yeah, the rainbow community here in New Zealand and from the other two Pacific island countries, I think it's the memories that we have all made. Um, the the very Yeah, the widespread, uh, spectrum of this, uh um for the minority group, like, Yeah, [00:17:00] that's I think that's the most. That's the highlight moment for me and, uh, yeah, probably being part of the battle. I think that was also a high highlight moment. I really enjoyed it. Um, yeah. Is there anything you'd like to see happen at the next one that wasn't at this? Yeah, um, in the next conference, um, well, um, I probably just, uh, include the other. I think it's a great [00:17:30] job that the organisers, together with the US Embassy of New Zealand have done, um, with other other organisers here in New Zealand. But I think, um, in terms of inclusiveness, maybe speaking in terms of like, the broader Pacific, it would be great to see other Pacific Island countries as well that were not part of this forum to be able to be part of the [00:18:00] problem next year, which will be really good, because I think, um, different countries have different ways of I mean, they have different issues of the There are different moments on LGBTI Q, and it would be really nice for them to share the experience. What will you take away from the company? Oh, I'm taking away a lot. I think I Yeah, it was this, like, a tangible [00:18:30] item in terms like the knowledge and everything. I'm probably going back with the 100 KG of what knowledge? It's been great. Yeah, I think it's the the experience alone. It has been great. Uh, but it's the issues. The issues that were made, uh given out the challenges and ways to counter these challenges. And it's been [00:19:00] really good. And this is what I'm taking back. I've learned like, a lot in terms of like, how to go and deal that, like, deal with LGBTI Q issues back in PG. I love a lot of, um, information that we've given out in terms of like, um, the different projects they are working on. And I would like to, like, do the same thing in Fiji, and it's Yeah, I think that's what I'm taking back. Yeah, and yes, with the friendship [00:19:30] as well. Um, hi, I'm Kevin. Kevin Schuster. I come from, I'm from Samoa, and I was actually I was actually just, um, selected by the US embassy to come for the conference. There's a Samoan association that I am not part of. However, I established the, um the association called various [00:20:00] artists for all the and the National University of Samoa. Um, interestingly, there were some straight guys and girls that joined the, um association, and it kind of died out. Well, that was my last year of the UN, um, of studies in uni. So I left straight after, and I knew it continued, but just the beginning of this year, we relaunched. Um, the association [00:20:30] and we're looking at everything like, um, Constitution, you know, everything. Like that. And how is the conference for the conference is was really eye opening in terms of um now, for the first time that I've been exposed to terms like LG TB Q. And then just today earlier today, I learned a lot of other new things, like asexuality and, you know, et cetera, [00:21:00] et cetera. Um, but also, um, in terms of, um, you know, gay men, lesbian women, We've never before come together under a roof and this and talked openly about our sexuality, um, gender identification and all that. So in the past three days, um, for the conference, [00:21:30] You know, I I can only hope that the world out there is just this these people. Yeah, because I'm talking about, um I was also uncomfortable in the first place to sort of discuss my sexuality because there were straight guys to me. But, you know, they're gay men, and also fantastic and lovely ladies that, you know, I just found, like, you know, they're, [00:22:00] you know, they're all interested in, you know, same sex relationship and that, um what were the highlights for you? The highlights was, I would say, um, the, um the parallel sessions that we had yesterday. Um, I was very, very interested in the, um, How our discussion was facilitated on the topic. Good governance. Um, and also, [00:22:30] interestingly, the, um, situations that were given us scenarios. Um, And also today, during when we were panel, we were panel members and, you know, been given the opportunity to talk freely and, you know, convincingly about against gay men not against, as in, you know, going against them. But, you know, the terms for and it's, [00:23:00] um, and the perception of it in Samoa and here in New Zealand and also vice versa. Yeah, I think those were the highlights. Is there anything you'd like to see at the next one, talked about or people there that were at this one? Um, I think, um, for the next conference, um, I recommend that the Pacific Islanders, [00:23:30] um, are sort of well briefed before them coming. And it's really, um I think the, um of the Western, um, members Or, um, I mean, the the they're very interested in hearing our voices, but preferably all together. So if we were to sort of, you know, dialogue, like a month [00:24:00] before the, um conference so that we sort of come prepared with something from so that we don't have real. We don't have disagreement or that kind of thing. Like we kinda, you know, have to really have a structured presentation. And we just keep talking about our culture, but nothing really, from us, sort of sort of really broke that out. That, you know, we do are we are really people from [00:24:30] from very, um, rich cultures. Like the presentation that we did today, Um, I think ideally would be, you know, it is It's our culture that we give. So it would have been nice if we all planned before the conference that we would give, like, little things for maybe all the participants. Not. I mean, you don't really want something of value, but you know something, because that really reflects our culture of giving. Cool. [00:25:00] And what will you take away from the print? Oh, the fact that, um, there's lesbians gay LG TB Q. Um, like I said, um, straight guys and girls actually joined, um, our association at the National University. Now, I know maybe maybe some of these men that joined and also women that joined are also gay themselves, Um, the lesbians. But, you know, they're just there's nothing to really discuss, [00:25:30] like, you know, Or maybe they're thinking that, you know, something is wrong with them, but, you know, that's why we need to have this conversation. Um, my name's Tanya Billingsley. Um, the organisation I'm with is inside out, and I've come up from Wellington for the conference. How did you find it? Um, I found it. Yeah. Good. Lots of really amazing people there. Um, and I think some discussions that we had that were needed to be had especially around, [00:26:00] um, like, um, I guess, like Pacifica, identity and, um, community and also, um, like Asian stuff. Yeah. What were your highlights? Um, just the people there. Yeah, they are really awesome. They are people that were attending. Yeah. Um, is there anything that wasn't happening at this conference? Um, that you'd like to see happen in the next one? Oh, [00:26:30] I think maybe more you a more young people speaking like it was a lot of the stuff was young people speaking, But I think that at a youth conference, like it's really important to like, um, like, look at actually what people are doing in New Zealand and how amazing it is and [00:27:00] hear from them. Like, maybe, rather than having people come like from the States, you know, the money that went towards that could have gone to getting gone towards getting more people to come to the thing within New Zealand or something like that. And, you know, you have, um, people in New Zealand who are able to deliver kind of this, like, equally as awesome like stuff. So, yeah, and one thing I would also suggest is that, um it's like things I've been to similar. Like, it's [00:27:30] really awesome if everybody is staying in the same location. So if we all did stay on the because it is a really awesome way for people to be able to kind of spend time together and, um, network and just kind of form more of a bond over the weekend. Yeah, and cheaper for them. And easier than finding like accommodation throughout the city and all being split up. And yeah, um, and what do you think you'll take away from the cockpit? I really enjoyed, um, [00:28:00] So one of the talks was on governance. Good governance. And I really feel like I got a lot from that and that I'm gonna continue, like, following up on that and learning about it. Um, and also, um oh, there's heaps. There's just heaps. Um, also on, like, engaging with community. Um, on the thing that presented I really like that and just heaps of stuff. And, like, um, just I think the biggest thing is to take away is kind of [00:28:30] the, like, amazing people that we met and, like, how to further work with them. Yeah, My name is Tabby Ley. Um, and I came from Wellington, and my organisation is inside out. I found the conference. Really? Um, good. It was really awesome to have that opportunity to get lots of our kind of, um, young leaders in New Zealand together to kind of meet and connect and learn more about each other's different organisations and things like that. Yeah, so it was a really cool opportunity, [00:29:00] and I wish it could happen more often. My highlights were probably, um, kind of meeting the amazing people that were there. And, um, some of the kind of workshops and speakers were really great. Um, there was a really amazing talk by, um well, beings kind of about the lost language of the queer community. And, um, lots of these words that, um, some that are still used in society and some that have kind of died out. But, um, we started in our community, [00:29:30] and, um, just kind of learning more about that and other, um, kind of history of, um I guess the rainbow community in New Zealand was really, um yeah, interesting. And, um, kind of looking at what happened, um, with the aids quote. And, um yeah, all sorts of really interesting stuff. Um, I also really like, um the talk and the panel from the, um delegates that came from the Pacific [00:30:00] Islands. Um, they got to kind of speak about sexuality and gender and their different cultures and, um, what it's like there and their experiences. And that was a really cool opportunity to learn more about that. And look at the differences, um, between New Zealand and places like Samoa and Tonga and, um, equation, which is an awesome, um group for kind of Asians in the rainbow community that started up in Auckland about a year ago. They got to do a really [00:30:30] cool talk. Um, about what things are like for people in their community as well. And I think that was a really, um, great thing for for everyone to be able to listen to. Yeah, there was heaps of really cool stuff, and I think just kind of getting our communities together, um was really great. Next time, I'd love to see more discussion around kind of bisexuality and other, um, kind of minority [00:31:00] sexualities. Um, there's a big discussion about kind of asexuality and a mental, um, but bisexual kind of the whole weekend, the only time it was mentioned was as part of the LGBT acronym, Um, which was kind of really disappointing. And there was kind of no, um, no out bisexual speakers or just kind of that was never talked about when bisexual people were kind of at some of the, at most risk in our community, um, kind of facing [00:31:30] at least within lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. They're facing kind of the, um, kind of worst mental health experiences. And, um yeah, another kind of those bad statistics. So, um, I think it's really important that we give some attention um, to bisexual and pansexual and, um, fluid identities. Um, in the future, what will I take away? Or, um, I think I'll take away the awesome connections I've [00:32:00] made with, um, some other organisations around the country. Um, and definitely kind of more learning about, um, sexuality and gender and kind of Pacific and Asian context. Um, and yeah, more about the history of our community and all sorts. Really? Um, yeah, it was really great.
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