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Is, um, Joey King are here tonight. It's joy making way to the stage. No, um, I'm going to acknowledge Joey King, um, who has been put forward by a from the trans Body rec reclamation project. It's a, um it's a peer support group for trans people. And, um uh, he wanted [00:00:30] Joey to be recognised for the work that Joe's been doing. Not only with, um, trans folk in the communities, um, bringing people through Queen Queen, um, the work. The work that's been done with young people in the communities. And also Joe's, uh, has a project with schools around, um, around breakfast, Uh, for young people in schools, [00:01:00] the young people in our communities are fantastic. They work, they work across, Uh, you know, LBGTFIQ. I never go there. There's a new name quilt bag for it, But I'm not I'm not sure about that quilt bag. Um, and Joe is one of those people who works within our communities and also with other communities and bring us out. It makes us visible within other communities, [00:01:30] too. I think there's a whole lot of us here tonight who do that. And so for Joe and for all of us. Can we have a round of applause, please? Ok, Yeah. I'd like to, uh, invite one of my favourite people here tonight. You're all my favourite people, George Maple. Beck, can you come up, please? [00:02:00] Speaking on behalf of Queer Trans Fight Club and they invited me to be part of that, but yeah, I don't know. The Clash went with for a while, and then it stopped being my excuse, So thanks, Favourite. Wow. Um, I just want to sort of reflect that the swimming guys were on here before and they were talking about how sometimes [00:02:30] you're not that much of a sporty guy. And how sometimes, like, if you're queer or trans sports can be challenging. And I think that's kind of what Queer Trans Fight Club is about a little bit as well. Um, for those of you who don't know, it's kind of like a DIY Wellington based fight club. Sort of self-defense. Really, um, in Masha's group, and we're not your Tyler Du fight club, So we're not just there to hit each other, so there is a bit of that, but [00:03:00] it's kind of a more of a fun friendly place to share skills and learn new techniques. So we do everything from pro wrestling to kung fu to boxing to Brazilian jujitsu to Yeah, we'll give. We'll give it a go if you if you're out there and you have a have a thing that you do, but, um, yeah, uh, I just wanted to ask, So why tell us if you would like to come up? [00:03:30] Awesome. So, um, Sue kindly ran a workshop for us, Um, on self-defense, um, at the Newtown Community Centre, which is really awesome for you to volunteer your time. But, um, we had really positive feedback from the session and opened up a dialogue to talk about the stuff that [00:04:00] makes us feel afraid or attacked and what to practically do in those situations as well as how it makes us feel in those situations. And I should mention that Sue has decades worth of some similar work in self-defense. Basically, there's, like, a whole, like a whole movement of Sula thas. Really? Yeah, but people out here who have she's run workshops [00:04:30] for back in the eighties and stuff when I was yeah or something. I don't know how old are you. Oh, don't ask. But yeah. Anyway, basically your fearlessness and your confidence. Despite your small stature, despite the shoes, we're basically an inspiration. And thank you so much from our group. [00:05:00] Do you want to say something? What an amazing night This is. Um I can barely see anyone from here, so I don't know how you do it, you two. But, um, when I was asked to do this particular workshop and I've done a few interesting ones [00:05:30] in my life I did some anarchists in London where I had to go through the hole. They grab your piercings. This is what you do, uh, right through to sex workers and punks And, you know, from the 30 odd years since I was 10 and then on my wonderful student, who I honour you and your journey asked me to do this [00:06:00] fight club. I like the idea of the whole fight club thing. I think we need a dike club anyway. And then I, I thought Oh, yeah, OK. And it was a really weird day for me. I'm not sure why, but I showed up and it was a bit of a weird space, and suddenly there was, like amazing people and energy around me, and I was like I was thinking, Oh, shit, my binary around male attacks female had to be challenged. And it was around all the different ways that the alphabet [00:06:30] community I really like that term is challenged and hurt and verbally and physically and psychologically crushed, tries to be crushed and how we can crush that. So within a moment, it was like, Wow, this is great because there was this beautiful energy of these different people around me, and so I just I had a great time and I I think the group did. And let's do [00:07:00] another one. So thank you very much. And today is a special day for me, not only for this, but it's the one month anniversary of Heather and Helena's one year wedding anniversary. Thank you, Melissa. For six weeks, me and my wife, we did the wedding thing. So you know, it's just really special. Everything about tonight is special, and thank you for nominating me, and we'll keep on fighting. [00:07:30] Come on, let's give a pig head just like fabulous When, um, when out in the park, we're talking about having this event tonight and I was sent forth to find the people that I needed to speak to to get it going. Um, the first person I spoke to was, um, in fact. And, um, the next person I spoke to was Kevin [00:08:00] and Kevin has been the person at the end of my Facebook messages where I've gone. Kevin, should I do things in this order and and he's just come back, um, really promptly and given great advice and just been so helpful pulling together tonight. So I'm really grateful to Kevin. He is invited to the stage now on behalf of lesbian and gay archives Gans to present for their two [00:08:30] nominations. Oh, did you hear that? 00, no, I'm the same. I'm totally the same creek Creig. Oh, he didn't creek. He didn't creek, though. Cos you play tennis. Yeah, OK. Um, yes, Kevin, [00:09:00] who is my name? I'm the chair of the, uh, Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand Trust. And we're honoured to be a part of this occasion alongside all the other community community groups. Um, that have spoken tonight and those that will follow. Um, before I talk about the nominations. Um, just a little bit about lay. It started off as an initiative very similar to the way that this night has started [00:09:30] in terms of, uh, you know, a group of people, um, who were, um, together in 1977 that developed a research library, and that was a national gay rights coalition in 1977. And they, they, uh, created the Lesbian and Gay Rights Resource Centre and that was placed into the care of the trust. In 1984. An arson attack in 1986 highlighted the need for secure accommodation [00:10:00] because people were always going to attack our stories. So play games, um, came out of that that trust, and it hoped to secure safe and secure accommodation through the Alexandra Turnbull Library and the National Library. So that's a little bit of the background. And and I guess the the reason why we have, um, it was formed as a result of, [00:10:30] um, lesbian and gay communities in New Zealand who wanted an archive repository for personal papers of lesbian and gay individuals and also for organisational papers of lesbian and gay groups. Um wanted to actively collect records and facilitate the access to the the same records in order to advance learning about ourselves as a community, uh, on the subjects of sexual [00:11:00] orientation, behaviour and identity. And in 2015, you know that, um, or purpose of lake ans includes all the alphabet communities that we have here in New Zealand. So, um, again, I'd like to to just stress how things like tonight start from the initiatives of people like ourselves here. The nominations that we have tonight are are are people [00:11:30] who, um, lay against on us because of their active advocacy and working and highlighting to our communities. You know, the the importance of having a place to preserve our memories and also a place where these can be accessed and used by our communities and new Zealanders so that we can improve the world we live in. The first person, uh, that are, um, going to nominate is Alison Laurie. [00:12:00] Now, I'm just going to say a few things from the CV of Alison. And that should really highlight um, the tremendous amount of work, uh, that she has done and still does for our community. She's been chair of the lesbian and Gay Archives [00:12:30] of New Zealand, or UH, from 2005 to 2011. She's been chair of the Armstrong and Arthur Lesbian Community Trust for over 13 years from 2001 to 2013. She's been a member of the National Advisory Group on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Policy and the Ministry of Social Development. Um Wellington 2005 to 2008. She's been a founder and a coordinator with others [00:13:00] of the lesbian community radio programme Wellington Access Radio from 1984 to 2001. She's been part of the National Gay Task Force in 1984 to 1986 part of the homosexual law reform campaign. So she's an activist in human rights and been an activist in the civil Union campaign. She's been a founder with others of the Sisters for Homophobe Equality um, she New Zealand, New Zealand's first lesbian organisation in [00:13:30] 1973 and she was a founder with others of the Circle magazine, New Zealand First, New Zealand's first lesbian magazine in 1973. And the other thing which is really important is She started the first lesbian and gay studies courses in Australasia in 1991. Um, so these became later study. What more do I need to say about Alison Lowy, our nominee from Lake Ann for community honour? [00:14:00] Uh oh. Would I get a microphone? I get a microphone. Yeah, uh, I'm very honoured to receive this acknowledgement. Uh, it's been a privilege to work, [00:14:30] uh, to improve circumstances for our communities. In many ways, it gave my life meaning, and it was important for me to make a difference and to see change when I came out in this city in 1957 when I was 16. Because I'm just gonna I'm gonna be 74 next birthday. I'll tell you what. It was a very different place. It was [00:15:00] not good, but we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and there were people who went before me, and their task was hard. Uh, and many of them did not live live to see the reforms they fought for. Uh, and their names are not known to most of you, but their names are recorded in the archives of Gans. And that's why organisations [00:15:30] like Lagan are important because it is important that we know our history because we don't know our history. You know that to tourism, then you you doomed to repeat it. But too often that has been the case that that our communities have established a decent way of living and that's been smashed and destroyed and forgotten. And then we've had to reinvent the wheel and let us hope. And when I look at the young people [00:16:00] now and I think about how when I was 20 in this city, uh, a group of us sat and said, People are being born right now and those babies being born now, they're not gonna have to go through what we've been through. Well, that's two generations ago, and I think a lot of things have changed, including the fact that we can be here tonight and we can have a parade on Saturday and all of those kinds of things. I'm sorry that some of the people whose names we should [00:16:30] be remembering, and I hope that if these awards continue and I do want to thank Jack and the others who put these awards together, But I think It is a wonderful idea. Um, I hope we will remember some of those names. Um, you know, I, uh I would like to, for example, um, say that Jack Goodman, who fought tirelessly for homosexual law reform but never lived to see it happen. Uh, Barry Neal's, uh, [00:17:00] and and Paul McGill. Uh, Barry wasn't especially a friend of lesbians, but we were invited, always to his parties, and they were. And they were the founders of gay liberation in this city. And I would especially like to acknowledge, uh, Diana Sands because Diana negotiated with Carmen to to get the premises for the first Lesbian Club club. 41. That Pauline was one of the founders of, uh, [00:17:30] Diana was a good close friend of Carmen. And Carmen is somebody else whose whose contribution to Wellington can't be sufficiently acknowledged. Car Carmen with Carmen's, uh, coffee bar and the balcony. Always making everybody welcome lesbians, trans gay men and Diana, who who had parties [00:18:00] who did everything and who really, really thought there should be a club and negotiated with with Carmen that we could have those premises. And also, uh, my dear cousin like myself. Uh, E water. Uh, who had wonderful parties here? Uh, so many people coming from the country through Wellington, holding parties, believing always that things could be better somehow, even if we were in the closet then. And even if everything was against [00:18:30] us, somehow it could be better. And it has become better. But you know, the bottom of my school. Well, it needs to take the light and pass it on. We stand on the shoulders. I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. And there was a future generation who will stand on our shoulders. And we must fight to keep these reforms. And this, uh, society, this community we have established now which I think is wonderful and I think the young people are such a marvellous [00:19:00] hope for the future. But vigilance. We must be aware. And we must be certain that we keep these reforms. Do not let it slip away. Alison Second nomination as [00:19:30] a person who is a documentary maker, oral historian, writer and photographer. You know, he spent over 20 years, um, in audio related industries, producing numerous award winning radio documentaries, including portraits of composer Douglas Li and Carmen Lupe, along with documentaries on homosexual law reform and diverse UH, things such as The Queen of the Whole Universe. The Very Queer Beauty Pageant. [00:20:00] He has undertaken rainbow related oral history projects, including Recording the Life of Histories of People Born Post Law Reform, documenting the beginnings of the AIDS Support Network, now the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and recording the history of the AIDS Memorial Court Project in New Zealand. I'm talking about, uh, Gareth Watkins. [00:20:30] Yeah, yeah. Has set up an organisation called Pride New Zealand dot com. And the aims are to document rainbow lives in New Zealand through audio interviews and event recordings, to make those recordings easily accessible to the public and to help preserve rainbow heritage by making the collections available to archives in the future. Lagan had no trouble at all in nominating, uh and honouring [00:21:00] Gareth Watkins for community honour. Um, for somebody who's 6 ft four, I'm quite shy. So, um, bear with me. Um, I had three thoughts. Um Well, no, I had two. I had five thoughts. First two thoughts are, um thank you. Um um, for having this event, this is really fantastic. And also the, um the the the parade [00:21:30] and the festival on Saturday. Um, and thank you for, um, for the nomination. It's really humbling. And especially to be here with, um with a, um the other three thoughts I had were one was that, um for me. Um, I get a lot of my identity from listening to the recordings. Um, that pride NZ does, um, I. I find that listening to other people's stories and trying to work out where I fit in, Um, and just trying to get understanding, um, is really important. Um, [00:22:00] often, it's the quiet voices that have the most profound things to say and and often in large situations, you don't actually hear those quiet voices. Um, so I think it's, um it's it's really nice to be able to hear, um, particularly on a on a website or, um, in the archive, Um, these voices because, um, sometimes they get lost. Um, the second thing was I. I often think, um, what would voices What would rainbow voices have sounded like 100 years ago, You know? What would they have said? What language would they have used? [00:22:30] How would they have described their daily lives um, and to think that in 100 years time, um, people are actually going to have the opportunity of hearing rainbow voices. Um, they're gonna be able to hear this event, um, tonight because, uh, it will go into la ans and it's through organisations that like la ans that, um, allow our voices to travel across across time. So, um yeah, big ups to to and and hopefully it it thrives. Um, and the third thing I thought of was, um there was a documentary [00:23:00] a couple of years ago about HIV a ID in San Francisco called. We were here. And that title, um really, uh, just stuck in my head because I think it sums up a lot of what I do in terms of, um, putting markers and sign posts and querying archives Not only but also places like Papa making sure that the Rainbow Voice this is actually present in those archives. And I think that's a real challenge for all of us to, um, to to make sure that our voices [00:23:30] are actually in these institutional, um, institutions, um, so that someone in 100 years time can look back and say that we actually were here, Um, and that we are here, so thank you. Oh, wonderful. We are getting through it, Ladies, if you are, how about standing up? Just stand up, stand up and [00:24:00] turn around. It's really quite difficult. Those seats, isn't it? And stand up. Yeah, Just turn up and just stretch. That's it. OK, now you can sit down. Now again. Speaking of rainbow Voices, can I ask Mark beer from the glamour phones to the stage, please. Many of you [00:24:30] here will have heard the glamour phones perform and some of you are part of the choir or have been part of its previous incarnation, the homophones. The crime began, uh, in 2007 and grew out of my experience with Auckland's Gay and Lesbian Choir, which I've been part of for 10 years or so before I came to Wellington. And it was such a fantastic experience that when I got here, I decided to try and get a men's voice, [00:25:00] a gay men's choir together, and that began in our lounge room. In 2007. The choir grew. We had our first public performance in 2008, sang in well in Auckland as part of an Australasian, uh, choral festival in 2010 in 2011. Uh, we hosted the sing out, um, coral festival and workshop here as part of the, uh, the out games. And [00:25:30] and it was at that point that we decided to become a mixed voice choir. We welcomed the women to join us, and we became the glamour phones. The choir's really gone from strength to strength. We've now got some 50 members. A group of the choir went to Dublin last year to sing as part of the, um, various voices Coral Festival. We've had, um, [00:26:00] uh, concerts in Wellington and Riki. We've sung at events like the AIDS Memorial Concert we've been part of out in the square. We've sung at the Outtakes Film Festival. So the choir is established as part of our, uh, Wellington queer community. From the outset, our conductor, Jean Malcolm, has been a played a key part of, um, [00:26:30] leading the choir of being the person who was at the front of our musical direction. She's an old friend of mine that I've known for many years, and sadly, she's not able to be here tonight to receive the award that we've nominated her for. But Jean's commitment over seven years to leading the choir to growing with the group, growing from something that started as a very small group to something that was a very large group and much very different from [00:27:00] what she initially set out to lead dealing with the changes in the choir's, uh, Constitution with Grace and, um, and AAA and always seeing herself as a servant of the choir rather than putting herself forward, uh, as a as someone, uh, a personality. She saw herself as the servant of the choir she bought into [00:27:30] our vision of in inclusivity, openness and participation. The musicianship is, um, really of of a very high standard, And even so, she was able to welcome all come to the choir, which was part of our, um, our ethos. So Jean stood down at the end of last year, and we farewelled her with sadness and also with great gratitude for the, uh, seven years that she put into leading the choir. So it's Jean Malcolm that we're honouring [00:28:00] tonight. No, do not forget. This is I've just been reminded that by that Hamish that this is still at the door for $10. I think $10 is a fabulous book. There's only 80 of them. And, uh, I think one of them will go to one day. But, [00:28:30] uh, for ever more I'm actually looking straight at you. Alison, I should be looking at, uh uh, Kevin. Yeah, you know, so there's only eight of those place. There's only $10 for the booklet, right? $10 cheap. And if you notice the, um, logo here, that's by someone in the room called Ray Y going to designer [00:29:00] head to road. I'd like to invite Ellison, Laurie and Ray Moana Taylor up for one of our favourite groups to I don't know. I don't know Me, Uh, when we, um we look at a group like [00:29:30] it is a very inclusive group and the people who are there, we come to enjoy ourselves. We come to actually share knowledge we come to share if you like what we call light wisdom. And in Maori, we are the only people in Polynesia who built houses with verandas. And the reason was, quite simply, [00:30:00] this In Polynesia, you stand outside to acknowledge the earth and the sky. Once we get here, we get the first winter and we thought, Oh, we'll build a veranda so we won't quite be outside, but we won't be inside the other thing on those on the on the shape of the houses on the front The right hand side is what we call. Um this is what we call, I suppose in English [00:30:30] um, the male element And this is knowledge And the other side is that you know what? The female side is not knowledge. This is wisdom and we don't get them mixed up by bringing them together. Hopefully we have, which is a greater understanding [00:31:00] and a greater knowledge of all peoples and of all thoughts. So that is what I want to say but also to, as we heard tonight, those people who have lost people [00:31:30] to all of those young people who are up here today You are the hopes for us. We now say you with us. We are here. But for [00:32:00] those who have become a little older but we still have things to give. You may not think that we do, but that the old net will keep coming. But we need the new net, which is you to go out and gather those things which we need [00:32:30] yes, to right here. And on behalf of I want to, uh, call up, uh, our first nominees. Uh, Elizabeth, [00:33:00] I'm coming down. I'm coming. Hi, darling. There you go. A and Elizabeth, uh, were both active members of the lesbian communities in Wellington before they [00:33:30] met at the Laugh Festival. And that is the Lesbian Activities and Recreation Festival in 1992. A is best known for her sense of humour and love of games and sports. Those of us who were at the civil union in 2006 will remember the quiz that ran throughout the day rather hard for some of us, uh, who didn't know the answers [00:34:00] to a lot of those questions. Uh, Alo played for Amazon softball and Amazon basketball for many years, uh, and has been a leading light in the development of lesbian, uh, and lesbian sports in Wellington. And actually, uh, yeah, further than that, too. Uh, and, uh, with Elizabeth, Uh, she was actively involved in Team Wellington for the Gay Games in Sydney. And that [00:34:30] was a A very important event, uh, with uh, many of members of our community, uh, taking part in the games. And they've also attended games in Amsterdam, Chicago, Montreal and Cleveland. So they've been tremendously important, especially a lot in the development of sport. Yeah, and still playing. I think I [00:35:00] can't hide it honestly. And Elizabeth, uh, is known for activism, uh, particularly for and with queer and trans youth. Uh, and, uh, she was one of the founders of trust in 2000. Uh, and that's been, uh, a very important, uh, organisation, uh, which has, uh, continued on. And she's also, uh, both [00:35:30] of them have been very active in, uh and running and organising conferences, conferences, uh, and putting many of those kinds of together, especially for young trans people and young activists. And that's been a tremendously important, uh, work that they've done. Um, and they've both been at international conferences around the world, including doing some work for the United [00:36:00] Nations. They make a great team, Uh, and despite living in Gisborne, uh, because they've gone, they've gone back to, uh, to Elizabeth's home area, but they still remain connected to the Rainbow Communities of Wellington. and usually here for every, uh, major event. And yeah. And, uh, soon, uh, Elizabeth is going to be flying [00:36:30] off to New York. Uh, yeah. Tomorrow. Yeah. And, uh, she will be, Uh uh, She's part of a national weaving project and some of her work. She'll be going off to New York for the opening of her work at the United Nations. In fact, uh, and after that, she'll be taking up a scholarship in the in the United States, and that would be the longest that they will ever have been apart. [00:37:00] But as they say, what's three months in 23 years? But they have they They have been so active and so important in our communities here in terms of so many things that they've done. And I'm I'm very honoured to be able to speak to their award tonight, and it's absolutely a joint of bow, [00:37:30] and they're gonna have to walk down holding it together. Stay together. Yeah, that's right. OK, and so now I'd like to invite Oh, Oh, yeah. Um, my name is, uh everyone knows me as a um but I've never been acknowledged this publicly, so my mother is telling me to use my full name. [00:38:00] Um, and just briefly, uh, to all the young Pacifica. Um uh, people that came before me. Wow. Uh, I'm I'm one of the middle aged ones now. So, um, I I know our community is in safe hands. So, uh, lover, uh, carry on. And, um, to my partner, I'm a bit of an impostor. I'm her groupie. I am her number one fan, And I am gonna be, um, a little bit lost for three months. But, [00:38:30] hey, like Alison said, three months in 23 years is around about half an hour. It's never been mass. It has never been a strong point, but I just briefly Sorry. I know. You know, there's only around about 20 of us left. Um, thank you to everyone who organised this. Um, but a big shout out to our best, um, Carry and Casey, who have to travel back to well past their bedtime. Thank you, uh, to our best Michelle and Phoebe again. Well, past their bedtime, [00:39:00] they had to go and tuck in their little one. Um, you have to travel back. And, um, to some of our old mates, Uh, Val and Jack, Uh, love you guys. Long time. So, um, I'll, I'll hand it over to these guys, and, uh, we always love, Uh, firstly, I want to do a shout out to everybody who's been honoured tonight. I feel in very, very good company. [00:39:30] I also a shout out to my sisters out there. Thank you. And even though I am in a monogamous relationship with this one, I would just like to acknowledge how much I enjoy the butch aesthetic. Thank you so much. And I want to acknowledge all of that. Many of the people who have been acknowledged here tonight [00:40:00] have been our organisers. Our activists, I want to send, uh, to acknowledge all of our butch women and all of our trans sisters who for many, many years before that, leading up to they put their bodies on the line because they chose to live their lives. So I want to particularly acknowledge Dana and Jennifer and any of the rest of our and sound and and all to all of you [00:40:30] who are still here. Way to go hanging in there. This is the problem with an inclusive community, people, other people and this, even in this country, would have had a youth night. They would have had a Maori thing going on over here. They would have had a Pacific thing over here, and then somehow the rest of the community doesn't include all of us together. I think Wellington is a way of operating that when I go and I talk at things and conferences all around the world, that's something that I talk about because I'm really proud of being part of that. The fact that I'm from [00:41:00] and live in Gisborne seems irrelevant to my connections here with all of you, I wanted to just say this dress I made this, um, it's It's a tribute to who was the is the goddess of women's arts and also of childbirth and was sung to her and said to her at the birth of Children. And so this here is about I want to to acknowledge the weaving together of our communities, and that has been such [00:41:30] a big part of that and has three main goals to tell us to build our communities, to tell our stories and leave the legacy. And so when people have talked about our young people here. Uh, you're not separate from us. We are thankful that you can keep up with us because it's not like we're going anywhere. Oh, yeah. So I'm gonna go to quickly go to New York tomorrow. [00:42:00] Um, yeah. Uh, I wish everybody an awesome year, and I just will never, always, always be proud of the model that we create here in the city. I think it is unique. And I think what does? And the way that we work and to weave our community together as a model and a that I feel compelled to tell the rest of the world about anyone who wants to come with me and do all those things. Let's all do [00:42:30] it, you, holder. You both hold her. Yeah. She doesn't hold anything I do with the car. It's not the point. Yeah. Yeah. [00:43:00] And now I'd like to invite up to the stage, uh, car and to. And I should perhaps begin by saying that period [00:43:30] and Karen actually started their relationship in my bed. What? Where? Perry was house sitting And what? And that was the beginning. That was the beginning of a wonderful relationship and a relationship which has been so important [00:44:00] for the Trans communities, not only in Wellington, but for New Zealand. So I'm very pleased to have been able to facilitate a small contribution. Yeah. So, uh, Gryphon, the foundations of, uh, their previous support work with FTM and on top, which is, uh, ongoing transgender [00:44:30] outreach project for the NZ PC in the late 19 nineties. And it grew from conversations within the Maori trans communities, as well as between themselves as an ageing trans couple. And even though I think they're quite young from my point of view, uh, they they are ageing, you know, they're not as young as they were. That was amazing. [00:45:00] So it became evident, uh, when organising the black and white ball in 2005, which was a fundraiser for that wonderful, legendary, uh uh, icon of our communities. Uh, Chrissy We Yeah. And the and the black and white ball in 2005 was a fundraiser for the Chris Memorial Trust. And that was a huge gathering of Maori trans, Uh [00:45:30] uh, communities attending that event at the and some of the conversation among uh, the community was about isolation, lack of support and connection so that in February 2010, uh, Karen and Perry launched their website, and the meaning of Tara is triangle. Um [00:46:00] and the goal was to correct and communicate with, uh, with trans people and the vehicle to do that was and the meaning of that is we or everyone. And this is a bimonthly online magazine, Tato, which became an instant success and now has a global readership. It's very significant. In 2011, uh, produced their first Maori [00:46:30] trends calendar, which was a lovely calendar. And yeah, um, which I used throughout the year. And, uh, it was a promotional resource, uh, for the uh second Asia Pacific Art Games. And due to the success of this calendar, launched a second calendar in 2012 in commemoration of Carmen Taris long term dream, um, to have a community of LGBTI people [00:47:00] similar to a papaya where members of ageing communities can live independently under the guiding principles of love, respect and these three guiding principles have been present throughout the work of since day one. And what's unique about is they receive no funding and they're driven by their passion and they have selflessly worked and done so much for the trans communities and therefore for all [00:47:30] of our rainbow communities. Thank you. You what? I will speak on behalf of us both. Here, Um we do what we do because we love our and you're our Ah, [00:48:00] for us. It's about love. We love our and love we use. We're referring to more So it's about support. It's about support, It's about empowerment. And mostly it's about respect that we use every opportunity to include those and everything we do with. And [00:48:30] we're a proud couple. We're proud of who we are. We're proud of our Maori trans community and we acknowledge our at the back and Jennifer in this as well. For us. We acknowledge what's been said tonight that a lot of work has been done. But we also hear, like from our dear friend Marty Mitchell. There's a lot to be done, and we'd like [00:49:00] to be in that mix as well. We thank you, and we acknowledge, uh, this award. Uh, we'd also like to take the opportunity to acknowledge two people who are very close to our hearts who have mentored us and who have supported us in our personal lives and in the goals that we're striving to do. And they are again, and [00:49:30] every now and again you meet someone who is quietly works. They don't say much, but they do an awful lot in the community and one of those people. For me there's a very wonderful person called Chanel Hui. She isn't [00:50:00] she is there for everyone. She works with the New Zealand prostitutes collective. She goes out, she works with people. She works, she advises. She helps. She is selfless in her work. She goes very quietly, but she goes to just about every event where she feels she is needed or when people ask her, Please, [00:50:30] can you help? Chanel will go there. She also swings a mean point, I'll tell you that, and I've never done this before, But when you're in you boys, you're gonna learn the Poe and you're gonna do haka as well, and that's fantastic. Chanel is really shy and she is also very busy, and so she couldn't be here [00:51:00] tonight. But I'm going to ask another member of the to please come and accept this award because Janelle has asked you, Dianne, If you will please come and accept this award for Janelle. [00:51:30] They're not great to all right. Um um, Diana is another one of those shy people. She doesn't want to talk, but she also does a lot of work. No, this next man does. He is pretty good. Let me just tell you just a couple of things first. Now, do I [00:52:00] Too far at all your home, Not you. No. That's just his connections with the Maori people. Yeah, Kevin Holy really is one of those people who is a stalwart, And he he is one of the few people you know has a gentle strength. [00:52:30] He doesn't raise his voice, he listens to people. He listens to what is needed. And in the 19 mid 19 nineties, this young fella joined in the first LBGT sort of dragon boat race, and he was one of those young ones. Or 2001 comes along. And then he's in and by he's still there today. He also has worked for Lisa. He also [00:53:00] is at university, um, completing some of his studies. Now he has worked in both businesses. He has also worked for nonprofit organisations. He is for us as many groups do. People come and go. People go away for a while and come back. And Kevin always welcomes you every time. His patience [00:53:30] he willing to learn his willing to listen to people is one of his great gifts. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for Kevin Ho. No, my how I how I how I how much? [00:54:00] Uh um I also, uh, am honoured to to accept this in the presence of our, uh, the elders in our community that are here tonight, the elders in our community who are not able to be here tonight in front of the youth of our community who are the strength of our community, Uh, in the years to come, um, for us [00:54:30] who are around the ages that we are now, um, who will become the pillars from which others in our community can leverage off and can leap frog off to do the things that they want to do. So, um, I remember when I first started to associate with within Wellington. Uh, and I remember and there were people [00:55:00] of that ilk. Um, and we all mixed up really Maori Pacifica. Um, having a good time? Uh, the first time I met, uh or, um, was was back in those days. So we're all of that. I'm of that era. Um, but I'd also like to acknowledge, um, my other, um, cohorts that have been acknowledged tonight because they really [00:55:30] are the strength of as well. Um, they had the vision and the foresight to to think that we, um we do have a place in this community, and this community needs us. And so that's why we're here. Um, at that time, [00:56:00] Alright. Some of you will know this song, and we would like you to sing it with us. But let me explain to some of you who don't know that all the people stand together together let us seek light. Let us seek wisdom [00:56:30] and respect and love for one another. We can do it together if you wanna stand and say no. So [00:57:00] I did have you all [00:57:30] you so know Yeah. Yeah, time. [00:58:00] You Yeah, We Yeah, as we say in Maori, when we say to you, we mean have life, have energy. So we're gonna say to you and don't go out back don't. You were, [00:58:30] as Elizabeth said, you know, it's been part of inclusiveness is the fact that we want to everybody to be part of the ceremony. And so we're a little bit over the time, but, you know, we can see or catch up [00:59:00] tomorrow. Out in the park has hosted tonight's event. They partnered with community groups to bring it together. We now like to invite Virginia Parker bombs, a driving force behind the fair permits. From there to the state, I've spent most of the evening in tears. Actually, I'm [00:59:30] so proud to be part of this community, and it's because you're fighters. You fight for your identities and you fight for your place to stand. And I'm in awe. Just beautiful, beautiful evening and a wonderful reminder of how much we mean to each other. So thank you very much. Um, I would really like to thank all the groups that nominated recipients of the honours [01:00:00] tonight. Um, we acknowledge all of your and it's not always a party being queer, even in Wellington. We understand that, um, particularly for our young people, they need all the support they can get. It's been really important to acknowledge people making their significant contributions to our communities. My congratulations to, um, all of the recipients of the honours tonight, and especially to Pauline and Pat's, um, chosen [01:00:30] W and blood. It's quite an historic occasion has, And that has been drawn upon, um, earlier as well. It's gonna be the first of many more honours events, particularly for 2016 when we have, um, the time to celebrate 30 years of homosexual law reform as well as 30 years of the fair. One more plug for the booklet. Please buy the booklet at the, um, at the door. It's gorgeous. And it's [01:01:00] also gonna to commemorate the fact that you were here at this very moment making history in Wellington. Yeah, a huge thank you to all the volunteers as well who helped make the event happen. DJ, Bullet, Sarah Toia, Johnston, Mary Jo, Karen, Adrian or Kadri as we're now calling them, um, the performers Jackie, Catherine and Taren and fit as well [01:01:30] a huge thanks to Damien and James and his team at me. Um, and we so owe you. You guys have been great and I loved how you've been tapping along and grooving as Well, it's awesome. Um, and of course, to our fabulous hosts, the graceful car, The gorgeous Amanda, who's down the down, the back there and, um, the handsome Jack. [01:02:00] Thank you all again and see you at out in the park on Saturday. OK, Jeff, you need to stay up here. Um, can Karen Adrian, basically, I just go there. Adrian, can you come to this stage? So these two are behind the parade if you're organising yourself to be part of the parade Outstanding, Outstanding [01:02:30] self. Ok, um, this evening we would also like to make sure that we have honoured Virginia Virginia Park bowls this evening. The Junior Packer Bowl is so famously fabulous that she really only needs one letter to be known by. That's a V. We're out in the park. We like to nominate our leader, the head honcho, [01:03:00] the boss, the big cheese. Or as we like to think of the one person in the meeting who bothered to wear fabulous shoes. We would like to recognise Virginia for her ongoing time, commitment and support to numerous events in the Wellington queer community, but particularly to the annual out in the square. Now park event and the out games out in the park has grown and expanded over the past few years, and this year will be the event's biggest year. Yet [01:03:30] this sustaining and growing of the event has been managed and driven all along by Virginia. Virginia generally shares her time, and she shares her skills of project and people management to ensure that a large community event such as out in the park is professional, yet retains its sense of fun, sparkle and community spirit. It's never an easy task to manage community groups. Yet Virginia does this with a relaxed, passionate, warm and engaging style, which allows others to voice and grow their skills and ideas. [01:04:00] Virginia fully encourages new ideas, although right now I think she's, I suspect she's kind of regretting the day she said the words, Karen, do you really think we could do another parade? Virginia has an amazing ability to hold and manage a huge amount of information, um, and to to have a never ending to do list. I've got to know Virginia over the past year, um, of [01:04:30] being in Wellington and can comment on her passion and commitment to the out of the park event. But really, there are numerous others who know Virginia a whole lot better than me. So I asked others in the out in the Park Group to comment on why we feel it's important that she's being recognised tonight. And these are some of the comments that I received Virginia. A person with sparkle who brings communities together with a magnetic personality, tenacious drive and a love for people. Virginia is wholly dedicated to and passionate about growing communities [01:05:00] in positive ways. Virginia, an amazing, hard working team player who is always full of energy. I honestly don't know where she gets her energy from, who always incorporates everyone and who has advanced out in the park to a whole new level. This year. I only have one word to describe Virginia. She is a superwoman. It's actually four, and that was from the person who runs our accounts. Um, Virginia has a special way [01:05:30] of being in charge without being in charge. She has a handle on every aspect of that in the park, while also being kind, encouraging, lodge fun and fabulous. She's really got it going on Virginia, she's hot. I'll check who put that one in, Jack. So all in all, all of us out in the park, we have no hesitation in nominating Virginia for an honour tonight. She is an inspiration to everybody in the queer community [01:06:00] and to anyone involved in organising community events. So, Virginia, you rock you. Oh, [01:06:30] and we have one other surprise nomination. Um, so I'll just say a few words about our contribution to the, um, starting the parade this year. So we haven't had a parade in nearly 20 years in Wellington. And, um, I heard about the parade from Virginia, and she told me that Karen was going to be leading the parade. And when I started, when I heard that, I said, Oh, I need to I need to join. I need to help. [01:07:00] And I thought I would be on a team of maybe five people running the parade and it turned into two of us, um, leading the charge on the parade. Um, and now we're known as Adrian. Um, but there are 20 or so people on the committee for out in the park, and we all work really hard on our different aspects of the parade. We meet almost every week and have a lot of really good meetings. And and everybody [01:07:30] really deserve to be deserves to be thanked and honoured tonight. Um, but there's one person who has been really, really amazing for Karen and I for the parade. Um, and, of course, that is the fabulous Amanda Lahore. Please come back to the stage. Amanda. Yes. And to honour [01:08:00] Amanda, Karen is going to don a wig. No, no, no. It needs to go to the left of it. Yeah, I'd like to say a few more words about Amanda. Um, Karen and I really started parade planning in September. We're both from out of town, out of country and [01:08:30] Virginia hooked us up with Amanda and said me, Amanda, she would probably like to get involved, and from the second we contacted Amanda, she has been behind us 100% more than 100% if it's possible. Um, and she has just been amazing. She's devoted her time, her energy. She has done fundraising. She's fabulous, as you can tell, but behind the scenes, she's even more fabulous. She [01:09:00] has just done so much for this parade. Um, and for her in the park in general and for us, Adrian. Um, and she's inspired our fashion since. So So we really, really, really couldn't do it without Amanda and those wings. Did you see those wings tonight? [01:09:30] I almost fainted. I don't know what I'm gonna do on the day, um, Karen saying I'm not fainting. Um, we have five amazing leading ladies that Amanda will tell you a bit more about, um, maybe, um, but she pulled together and invited to be to lead us in the parade. Um, some of them are here tonight, and they will all be wearing amazing outfits. If you saw the photo shoot, Um, [01:10:00] the photos from the photo shoot recently. Amazing outfits with those wings that Amanda was wearing tonight. So you do not want to miss the parade? Um, so that's all I will say. Thank you very much, Amanda, for everything. Do you know what? I was sitting there and I was thinking, God, is it getting hot? She's wearing PV C, and I tell you what I'm leaking in places that you just don't want to know about. [01:10:30] This was such a huge surprise. This is Honestly, this is such do You know what? It's very rare that I'm lost for words, but I'm actually lost for words. This is a privilege to work with you girls, honestly, to be part of Virginia team to be part of our Wellington gay community. I think that we see precedent in our country for dignity, style, class and sophistication. Thank you. [01:11:00] But like Adrian was saying with the parade, when the girls come and talk to me about the parade, I thought about our drag history, our transgender history and the from where we come from, the attributes are many. I talked to Donna de Milo, who was sitting at the back, but her bum got sore, so she went home. She is now 72 years old. [01:11:30] Is that right, Karen? 72. And congratulations to you, too, too. Um, Dana Mino was 72 years old and she was instrumental in leading the walk. I always look at it like this Donna, Carmen and all the girls from that era. They walked in the shadows so that I can walk in the sun. Yeah, I had a conversation with [01:12:00] Donna once, and she was telling me how she bleed on the streets of Wellington. That's not figuratively. That is literally bleeding on the streets because of her blood and many others in the transgender community. I now walk and glide, actually, along the streets of Wellington because of the confidence, the mana and the car that Carmen had. I now walk in her footsteps. I now can bathe in the sun as we all can. History is changing. So [01:12:30] what I decided to do was get part of our from the past. Come and I asked Georgina Baer, We all know her. Yes, and I said to them, Let's make history. Let's get people from our generation. So we've got Donna, who is in her seventies, who is in her sixties. I myself am in my fifties. Then we have Lee, who's in his forties, [01:13:00] and we picked a young girl new to the drag community. Fabulous. So when you see us coming down in the parade, it's not just five people from our community. These are five different members from our gay history, and we are carrying the mantle and the flag this year for Virginia Karen and Adrian's vision of how fabulous Wellington is. They say that Wellington is absolutely positive. [01:13:30] And we celebrate diversity. And with this you've celebrated my diversity. You've celebrated who I am as a person. And I thank you so much. I thank the committee. I thank Carl for goodness and for standing next to him. I was quite nervous, actually. Really? And another person I would like to pay homage to this evening is a beautiful jack [01:14:00] for him, her integrity to bring forth some amazing people from our community so that we can all celebrate. Now. Can I ask you all a favour? Can you please be standing? Yeah, I am. Can we please be standing? If you look to the back of the room? There's a young man called Angelo Genois. Where are you, my love? Angelo has been tireless in helping the girls with the parade. He was our official photographer for [01:14:30] the photographs that are on my page with me and the girls. He also photographed myself, Donna and Georgina. But for you audience Could you place your right hand on your stomach? Right hand on your stomach. Your left hand on the lower part of your back Lower. Are we standing up straight? Everybody now lean forward. Ever so slightly. And give yourselves a hand. Thank you so much for being [01:15:00] for staying the whole night. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen. Happy 2005 and happy out in the park. Thank you. Thank you, Amanda. Thank you. Now we are coming to our close, but we have one more thing to do, and that is to draw the name of one of the recipients. And they are to, uh they have one accommodation. This is the the price accommodation and dinner at the Museum [01:15:30] Hotel, which has been support of the Queer Communities of Wellington. So thank you to the museum hotel. And I thought, Well, you know, this is gonna be a bit, uh, her. So I'm going to ask Dame Doctor Margaret Sparrow to draw the name of the person out of here. Let's give her a very and to doctor. And we know my doctor Margaret SP, of course, is [01:16:00] a pioneer. Of course, in sexuality with family Penny. Welcome. And do you want to say hello? I ever ever come. Ok, well there, Margaret. You know, you're very special to us. Very, very special. And I'd like to ask you if you could draw the winning number or the name of the person. Karen Towell. Wow. [01:16:30] Well, Karen, Karen, Mother. There is not a more deserving couple in Wellington. Congratulations! Lord has spoken. Honey, you need to accept. Ladies and gentlemen, can I just say thank you very much for the state? We now come to our conclusion of our evening. Can I just [01:17:00] pick up? I started by sending the greetings from the Pacific, and I just want to to pick up what has said when people say Maori says to you, Is they wishing you life? Because the word order. If a cook Islander says to you, the operative word is saying it's or which means life and when a tonne says to you or says [01:17:30] they're saying and Fijian with and means wellness or goodness. And finally, when the and says to you or a person from the Rock of Polynesian says, or a person from Hawaii, he says, the opposite words in those greetings are a A which means love. So from us dear to [01:18:00] you, from Jack and on behalf of me, Jack and and A we like to send you those greetings to wish each and every one of you. Well, a life that is wrapped in wellness but always delivered in love. Good night, ladies and gentlemen. Oh, dear.
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