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I'm Debbie Bisley. And, um, I'm at the National Library, Um, for the kind of queer community show and tell event. So we've got heaps of awesome, um, community groups here doing little stores and talks about what they're up to. And so I'm here with inside out, um, National Youth Organisation, Working with, um, young people of diverse sexualities sexes and genders and schools and communities. Um, yeah. So I think the last time we talked about inside out, um, was at was it at Cuba, or was it about six months ago? What has happened [00:00:30] between then and now? Um, yeah, Things have really kind of been growing and taking off for us, which is really exciting. Um, yeah. As you know, I got the, um, Queensland leader award, which was really awesome, because that's, um, given us a lot of kind of publicity and lots of media attention and kind of helped us get our brand and what we do out there and, um yeah, creating lots of more opportunities. Um, we ran our national in April, which had kind of 100 young people from all different parts of the country come along to which was um, yeah, [00:01:00] such an incredible event. And we're hoping to make that kind of annual. And, yeah, I've been up to lots of stuff. So you've attended quite a few youth who over the years has the kind of atmosphere changed over that time. I mean, are there things that kind of stand up to you that have changed? Um, that's a good question, I think. I think the ones we're doing now, uh, they're also organised by young people, which I think is really cool. And it kind of makes a difference in the way that the content and the workshops and what we're learning about, um, in those spaces [00:01:30] is really relevant to us. Or sometimes, um, if they're not organised by people directly in that community, they can be a little, like, not quite the right context. Um, but I'd say that still still for me when I went to kind of my 1st 15 the the environment and the kind of the family community feeling that you get when you're in those spaces is yeah, it's the same. And such a beautiful time. Yeah. You mentioned the the the the The Queen's Award. Tell me about that. How How did that come about? Um, [00:02:00] yeah, I was nominated for the Queens Young Leader Award, which is, um, given to 60 young people from different Commonwealth countries who are kind of leading change and transforming lives in their community. Um, and it involves getting a trip to the UK where you get to meet the queen, um, and take part in a residential programme. Um, you also get to do an online course at the University of Cambridge for a year. Kind of around leading change. Um, And you also get a personal mentor to help with your kind of work and organisation for the year. Um, which is? [00:02:30] Yeah. Been really awesome. And so you were the only person from New Zealand that that that that one? Yeah, I was the only person from New Zealand and the first because this is the first year that they've run this programme, which I think is going to go for four years. So, um, not only did you meet the queen, but you also met a whole lot of other people. Tell me about those those days in in London. Yeah, it was incredible. I think for me the highlight was just meeting all these other amazing young activists from around the country working on such different issues. Um, there was one other young person who got, [00:03:00] um, an award who lives in Barbados, who is also doing work, um, with our rainbow community. And so it was really interesting to hear the challenges that, um, she's facing in her organisation. And, um, they're working in a very different context to New Zealand because it's still illegal to be homosexual, and they're trying to get that law stuff changed. Their group is a lot more about advocacy and kind of just that visibility. Um, as one of I think the only or very few organisations like that in their country. Um, but through being visible, they're getting a lot of [00:03:30] people coming to them for support. Um, and there's no support services available, so they're having to, like, look at whether they start to do that kind of thing as well. Um, yeah, it's amazing to kind of Yeah, get to learn about things, um, in different cultures, um, to and the struggles that people are facing, Um, but also to talk about kind of LGBT, um, rainbow issues with with people. Like, Did you meet David Cameron as well? Yeah, I didn't. Unfortunately, there was a lot of questions I didn't get to ask him. [00:04:00] My my question about, um, the LGBT community. Um, but one. Yeah, One thing I was kind of worried about going is because there's people from the majority of people were coming from countries. Um, where it is still, um, criminalised that they would maybe be some homophobia and the other award winners. Um, but actually, everyone was completely the opposite. They were, Yeah, so supportive and wanted to come and tell me what it was like in their country and that they were ashamed of their laws [00:04:30] and stuff like this and just yeah, having that support and kind of it was really great to see that in younger generations, that is changing. And so, hopefully in time internationally, the stuff will really start to change. So who was the person there that inspired you most? Can't think of one person. And I think just all of those other young people there were so many of them doing incredible things, so that that whole just meeting all of them and hearing their stories. Lots of them have overcome, um challenges to be in their position and [00:05:00] doing what they're doing. So that was really amazing. Um, outside of the residential week, because I stayed a little bit longer in England, I got to visit, um, an LGBT centre and cafe, Um, in Manchester. That was really inspiring for me, because just to see the setup that they've got there, um, they have a run. A cafe that, um, is mostly run by youth volunteers who are getting work experience. They go all their own, like fruit and vegetables on an allotment and also volunteer run. And they've got, um, lots of services and groups that work out of the community centre. Um and [00:05:30] I've I've often thought about something like that, um would be so amazing to have in New Zealand. So, um, to see that physically working in practise was really inspiring. And to meet the people kind of working there, and, um yeah, so that's something I'd really love to kind of bring to Wellington at the moment. I will probably never get to meet, um people like David Beckham or the Queen or or or the Prime Minister. of the UK. Um, what is I mean, how How did you feel on that day? Like meeting Her Highness. It was pretty overwhelming and surreal. Like, especially we had [00:06:00] a really full on day. So we had, um yeah, meeting with the prime minister. First thing, like breakfast. Um, a visit to Twitter, A visit to BBC world. Um, and we only had half an hour to get ready before we had to go to the palace and kind of do a little walk through of what we were going to do. Um, And so and of course, everyone was quite jet lagged. So it was just Everyone was so tired and we were just like, What is going on? Are we Is this real like it? Yeah. Did did feel quite yeah, quite like a strange experience. And then after they all outside to, like, do [00:06:30] TV interviews and stuff. And it was Yeah, it was kind of hard to capture a moment to just breathe and realised that it was real. And we were in that situation. So did you actually get a chance to talk to her? Um, yes. When I received my award, we went up on a time, and she asked what work I do. So I said that I work in the, um Lisbon Gay, bisexual, transgender youth community in New Zealand. Um, and she said, Oh, how wonderful. Um couldn't quite tell from her expression, if that was really how she felt. I think, [00:07:00] um, yeah, not too sure what her opinions really are. But I guess nonetheless, this was one of the first times that the queen has had anything to do or recognised any kind of stuff within the LGBT QI a plus community. Um, so I guess whether or not her personal feelings are supportive, um, even doing that is a really great gesture. Um, especially for other. I guess Commonwealth countries that, um, see something? I guess So. We're in 2015, and we're we're, um in [00:07:30] starting the the 30th anniversary of the homosexual law reform. How do you think? Uh, it is in New Zealand now for rainbow people. And are there things that we can be improving on or looking at? I think we we've come quite a long way in a in a small time, and it's, um, really awesome to see the changes that have happened, and we're very lucky and progressive compared to a lot of places around the world. But, um, in spite of that, [00:08:00] I still feel like there's a huge, huge road ahead or a lot. Yeah, a lot still to achieve, um, for quality. And I guess, safety in our community, Um, especially in the transgender community, Um, especially in our youth communities. Um, for me, I'm most passionate about that kind of bullying and work in schools because every young person has the right to be safe at school. And that's really not the case at the moment. Um, young people in our community are five times more likely to attempt suicide. And, um, yeah, just [00:08:30] facing discrimination. That is really not OK. And, um, yeah, so a lot of the work that inside out does is trying to trying to change that and trying to make schools pay attention and realise that that is going on under their kind of head, I guess. Um, yeah, and I think health care is another area in New Zealand where we still, um, need to do a lot of work to make that accessible. And, um, for people to get the support that they're kind of entitled to, especially in the community. Um, it's so [00:09:00] so hard for people to access, um services and find people who are trained and understand what they're going through, Um, who can get them the help that they deserve. And when you get into rural communities, especially, that just gets so, so hard. And I think it really is kind of a matter of people's lives and safety. So, um, those are just a couple of issues. I think we have a lot of work to do on yes.
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