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So we were at the Amazing Waitangi Park here in Wellington, and the event we're at is called out in the park. And we had this most amazing welcome by today after a whole lot of young people from inside out marched here. And it's just the most fantastic vibe that I've ever think I've seen here and after 32 years. It's wonderful that this level of support from our community and and wider community because I [00:00:30] do believe there are more than just LGBT people here. I think the straight people have infiltrated our event. Now, just before we started recording, Um, there were some young people that came up to you and just said, Thank you for legalising us. It's been amazing. Actually, it is amazing. And especially when you think of this event specifically because it started in 1986 and in 1986 As we all know, we've yet to go through homosexual law reform. And so we were fighting, uh, to be [00:01:00] valued as citizens of our country. You know, in our past, we have been treated as criminals and some of us have convictions and have, um, been to jail and experience huge discrimination and trauma, Um, which has led to lives of drug, alcohol dependency, suicide issues. And I think, what have been most, um, heartened by. There's a lot of young people wearing intersex flags and trans flags and buy flags, and [00:01:30] it's just so cool like we are absolutely, um, a rainbow. You know, actually, and it's wonderful that we are able to come together. I mean under the umbrella of the Rainbow Team, because it's still a struggle in society for us not to be discriminated against and to be treated equally. So the fact that everyone can come express themselves is no judgement. We can be who we are, and all of our beauty is fabulous. [00:02:00] Now, one of the big things that's changed since we last saw each other, which was, I think, last year at Pride. Um, you're now in government. We are in government. So when we were not in government, we formed a a cross party group. And so myself, Jan Logie, um, Chris Bishop and David Seymour have been working together across the house to look at issues that are specifically relevant to our rainbow communities, and a lot of the advocacy has been writing to ministers. [00:02:30] It's been working with organisations like the Human Rights Commission and so last time I think we particularly managed, um, to advocate for our intersex community. And so we've had, um via the Paediatric Society, funded by the Ministry of Health. A group for that now will specifically look at best practise guidelines, issues of consent, uh, for the our intersex community. How do we support parents? What are the best practise guidelines? Um, around that issue. Um, so now [00:03:00] that we're in government, actually, a lot of the things we've been writing to ministers about, like aero and making sure that our schools are safe for our LGBT youth we can actually implement as the government. So do you have anything in the pipeline that's that's coming up in the next couple of months? Oh, we've got lots in the pipeline. So, obviously with funding for prep, um, there's been a big emphasis on our inability as a country to perform, um, gender affirmation surgery. Um, it's certainly been something that we're focused [00:03:30] on because, um, we know there's over 90 people on the waiting list, you know, and there's no relief for them other than possibly being sent overseas. But the government have been incredibly negligent in this area, I believe because we know that, um, people who are trapped in a body that doesn't align with how they see themselves, um, end up becoming depressed. And, you know, a lot of our young people, especially our our trans young people, attempt suicide at four times, Um, the average rate. So [00:04:00] those have been our big focus areas. And to say that we're not focused on them now is not correct. I mean, they've become more of a focus. Um and so, yes, we're doing everything that we can to make sure that we're in a position to, um, as a country be able to deliver those services ourselves and not rely on sending our young people and actually anybody on the list, because some people have been on the list for over 10 years, you know, overseas. And it's it's been a tragic [00:04:30] set of circumstances, to be honest, and one where we haven't prioritised the needs of our community. It's really heartening to see, say, in the Auckland Pride, where Jacinda, the prime minister is marching, so coming right from the top. You've got that support for LGBTI rainbow issues. And I think with Jacinda, her history within the party has been standing in our Auckland central electorate. So to say that she has an an affinity with our community is kind of misrepresenting the past. And now that she's the prime [00:05:00] minister, I mean, it was just natural for her to keep doing what she has been doing participating in our big day out, um, and bringing her caravan and, you know, being the hub for our Labour party store. Um, historically at our out in the park. So, yeah, I mean, we're very fortunate, I think, to have, um, at the moment, leadership who absolutely supports our community, values our community. And now we're in a position we have to do everything we can to make sure that our community needs [00:05:30] are as important as other communities and that we actually have resolutions of some of these long standing issues for you personally. What does being at something like out in the park mean for you? Oh, for me, it means I get to enjoy and, um, celebrate with our community, our diversity, and I've got to say that, Um it's wonderful. I look around and I see so many young people. I see a lot of young people, as I said before, who are proud to display [00:06:00] their trans flags, their flags. Um and there's a lot of harmony here today, like it actually feels like a celebration and it's busier than I've ever seen it before. So people who don't understand what it's like to be a stigmatised discriminate, discriminated against group, having the ability to be visible for people to collect the eyes. I never underestimate the strength and that ability for us to come together. So thank you to Justin and Wellington City [00:06:30] Council team. We couldn't do it without them. Thank you to the people of Wellington for coming out and showing support, but mostly thank you to our rainbow community who is no longer afraid to be out and proud. Now we we're not gonna hide away any longer. You know those days are gone, and that's what today signifies. For me. It's kind of the dawn of a bright brand new day.
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