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How do you describe your identity? Um, well, I'm gay. I identify as a lesbian. I don't go by the whole Oh, what are they called? The descriptions people use, like but sure, I don't know, identified by any of those. I'm just me. So do you think the language that we use to describe a sexual orientation has changed much over [00:00:30] time? Um, it has when you look at, you know, back in the old days, gay used to be, you know, being happy. And now it's There's a lot more offensive words. Like the word. Um, I think mostly gay guys would find that offensive, though. I think, um, I certainly don't like the word, but yeah, but yeah, it has [00:01:00] changed a lot over the years. Lots of new words have come out in the dictionary, and yeah, when did you first become aware? Um, that you were gay when I was 19, and yeah, that was a bit scary because I always said that I was never going to be gay, but well, that kind of changed and Yeah, but it was a good, [00:01:30] scary moment, I guess. Why do you think you said to yourself that you'd never began that career in denial. Or did you? Did society kind of teach you, baby, I think, Well, my father was home. A father? Yeah, I really homophobic. And I'd been brought up by him for 12 years, so I didn't wanna confront him about it when I did, he didn't talk to me for two weeks, so but he he's fine with it now. [00:02:00] And Mum was, you know, we are. We always knew you were gay. So what kind of reactions did you get from people? Um well, my mother and my grandmother, I mean, my grandmother, you'd expect from her that, um she was I mean, being a grandparent and lots of grandparents is at days were brought up in that generation where, [00:02:30] you know, being gay was not acceptable. But my grandmother, she's completely accepted. You know who I am, and she forced me to meet her lesbian friends. She did. It was really uncomfortable. Um, yeah. Mum was like we always knew you were gay. Dad didn't Obviously didn't talk to me for two weeks, so I moved away. And then he started talking to me again. And now he just gives me shit. [00:03:00] Where a bass to do grow up Mostly Dunedin. And then I moved to a with my mom and lived there for 56 years of my life. Now back to Yeah. Oh, I've been down here for nearly a year now. It's been great, but Yeah. Study. Did you experience any, like, at high school or anything like that? Um, no. [00:03:30] I had a gay friend in high school. He came out before. Well, before I did. And, yeah, I didn't. I had moments of our school where I was like, I think I might be gay, but I didn't really take much on board about that. Um, I don't know what the the attitude was like towards gays, but they did. [00:04:00] There was a lot of bullying. Um, from what I saw anyway, and it just wasn't good. And then we got a new principal, and then he kind of stopped the ground a bit. Put in harder roles. So the bullying kind of stopped? Not really, but most of it do you think it's harder to make wear the South island? Um, to be honest, I don't know what schools [00:04:30] up north are like, Um I guess it depends what area. Like if you're in Auckland or Wellington, then it's perfectly acceptable. But I don't know small towns. It will be a bit more. Yeah, down here. I think it would be the same. Like in the bigger cities. It will be OK, because the amount of gas that we've got, but in really [00:05:00] small towns, I don't think so. They might be OK. I'm not too sure. Um, So what's it been like, Um, coming out and going to university, and Yeah, it's good. I've got two gay friends in class. Um, three lesbian tutors, Um, and, yeah, that's a perfectly welcoming environment. [00:05:30] So yeah, I'm really enjoying it. Cool. Are you involved with, um any of the queer stuff that goes on? Um, I do go to Q four. So far this semester, I've only been twice. What's Q four? Um, Q four is the queer coffee at four I. I normally just call it Q group, but, um, that's what [00:06:00] they used to describe it. Quick. Coffee at four. So, basically, just chill out and no talk to people have a good yarn and social life. That's fun. Is it important to have to have kind of, like a sense of, like, community and belonging to that. Well, I guess because if you you know, I think we've got a couple of queer groups down here. Um, if you go, then you, [00:06:30] you know, make new friends. And, um, you know, if you haven't come out to your parents yet, it will just give you a bit of security, um, to know that you know, you're not the only one that's like this. And yeah, you have, like, gay friends, people of all different sexuality, you know, support you. And yeah, [00:07:00] if I I guess it's just I don't know for me. Anyway, just security knowing that, you know, I could have gay friends and all that, and Yeah, I think that's a good, like support group as well. So yeah. Um, have you had any experience of homophobia at university? No, I have not. Awesome. [00:07:30] That's good. Not eating enough. Um, how do you feel about the way career and trans people are represented in the media? Um, well, people don't really advertise that much on in the media, apart from when they have, like, big events like the big the Queer Day out or the Big Queer Out Big Day Out. That's the one. and I think there's a transgender [00:08:00] parade thing that happens in Auckland once a year. I'm not III. I don't know. I don't know a lot about Wellington's gay scene, but from what I've heard, they do have, like, a big, gay out sort of thing up there. Just from what I've heard from out in the Yeah, um, what do you What do you think about, um, the way [00:08:30] quick characters are portrayed on, like, TV shows and movies and books and music. And oh, some and cartoons. Some, you know, animators, directors, writers, whatever. They I don't know how to put it Pins like South Park. You know that you would come across as quite homophobic [00:09:00] with some of the remarks, But other than that I, I find it funny, I I'm a pretty easy oy person. So when it comes to like making jokes about the queer community I, I just I can see it from that point of view, but I can also see it from that point of view and yeah, but sometimes, yeah. Have you seen a cartoon called drawn together? Nothing. Um, [00:09:30] it's a rip off of Big Brother. Pretty much of, like, all these cartoon characters that are ripping off other reality show. Uh, not reality shows other cartoons like you've got the superhero. You've got a Disney princess type thing and the way they portray her. Oh, my God. Um, but there's a gaming character called Xander the gay elf. He's, like, the best character ever, but I don't know if they portray [00:10:00] him too gay or not, but it's things like that that will, you know that from my point of view, right is OK, but everyone has their own views on life. So have you, um, seen any characters or like, storylines that, um, reflect your identity or that you can relate to? Does it count YouTube videos? Sure. Yeah. Dinner [00:10:30] II I follow quite a bit of like, Oh, what's her name? Har. Yeah, I know, um, on YouTube as well as that, or whatever her name is I. I follow some of the bigger gay YouTubers but that they they're more comedy than anything else. So, um, do you follow them because [00:11:00] they're gay? Or is that he found out about them? or, um, I do follow them because they're gay. Um, but also because Hannah heart beat, as the YouTube channel suggests, um, she is She's got two channels. She's got one for, like, advice. And then she's just got, like, a plain comedy. You know, do whatever the hell you want sort of thing. And yeah, sometimes they can. [00:11:30] They can be really good advice in the videos. And, um, yeah, especially because they're gay. And you know you're gay. You You can kind of relate to it more. I like watching straight people. The beauty pie is awesome. Sorry. Um, do you think social media and things things like YouTube and Facebook and stuff have played a big part of the moment in how Korean [00:12:00] people, um, kind of connect to their identity or find other people who Facebook I? I There are a lot of support groups on Facebook. Um, I know I'm with a few pages, but I don't pay any attention. Really. Um, but, you know, you can talk to people from around the world, get, you know, advice from everyone. [00:12:30] Um, the groups are more. They're they're more supportive because But you sometimes you gotta be careful about, you know, some people joining the groups, and then they just bombard the page with homophobic comments and all that. And that's something. You know, people who are trying to come out to their parents. They don't need that, because then they just clam back up into their shell and yeah, so [00:13:00] And how do you feel about the marriage Equality Bill Passing? Yeah, right. Means we can get married. Um, yeah. No, I was quite proud when I heard that New Zealand gay thing in the past. And then I think it was early this year. England, England, Ireland, Scotland. The gay rights bill had [00:13:30] passed as well. So now they can get married. Some states in America are still getting their I'm surprised California didn't get it, though. Wow. Yeah, as soon as the bill came through YouTube. Um, so I'm referring to YouTube a lot. Um, the I can't remember the National Party. The national member's name. He's the one that made the big gay Rainbow [00:14:00] Williamson. I have no idea. But, you know, he was like the you know, though first person in parliament, you know, have a positive outlook like that. You know, It kind of turned into a joke as well. Especially with all the religious. You know, Ma kind of made lots of jokes about the homophobic kind of emails he'd received. Yeah, people, people. Kind of making [00:14:30] ridiculous claims about what was going to happen once gay people could get married. Oh, yeah, bad weather all the time. There are going to be more earthquakes. And and he Yeah, he kind of did this big speech making fun of that a lot. Um, it was funny. Um, what do you study now? What do I study? I'm at the Otago Polytechnic and doing design, So that's fun. [00:15:00] What do you want to do after that? What are your hopes for the future? Well, that's one thing I've been thinking about over the past few days. I want to do archaeology next year, but I don't think I'll get in. Um, but think positive. Um, no, I wanna I want to go on to do a bachelor of design, hopefully next year. And then, um maybe go into the film industry. Cool. Yeah, It should be fun. It looks like fun. [00:15:30] Um, are you interested in marriage and kids and travel or all that kind of thing. Yeah, I was planning because my girlfriend at the moment, she, um she wants kids in three years. Oh, yeah. And if I'm still studying, I won't be able to have time because the bachelor takes another 34 years, but I want to travel in 4 to 5 years. And [00:16:00] because my partner's from England, or I was going to take her back to England and so she could go and visit her family and all that, but lots of her family don't know that she's gay. Um, because apparently they're quite homophobic. Um, but yeah, no, But I also wanted to go to a little town in B or the Bordeaux region. Um, so I still got family there, maybe Austria to visit [00:16:30] my auntie, but, um, you know, mostly England. Um, friends suggested that you know she'll marry me just so I can get residency, But know how the misses will feel about that? Um, but yeah. So it's a toss up between whether to have kids or travel personally. I just want to travel. Kids can wait. Only Yeah. Have you talked about how you would have kids if that was, [00:17:00] too. Um well, she would have them. Yeah, because I always sit there. I don't want to give it because I'm being selfish. I don't want to ruin my body, but also, I don't want to give them my treacherous bloodlines and, well, we have, you know, diabetes, heart disease. Uh, cancer. Um, there was another one that I read online [00:17:30] because I had this condition when I was little, um, hemolytic anaemia, and apparently that's passed down through the gene pool. And, um, yeah, I don't want to get my kids there, so yeah, I'm passing on having the kids, so Yeah, I'll donate an egg. Yeah, sure. But I'm not carrying it air that, um how did you guys meet? [00:18:00] Um, through a friend. He was going to hook us up on a blind date, but I got really impatient and just went through his, um, friends list and it straight on. And the next day, she came over for a cup of coffee, and I was like, Oh, completely gobsmacked. But yeah, we We've been on and off for the past six. Well, since June last year, July [00:18:30] last year. How do you see people meeting other people for dating and stuff Indonesia. Um, well, depends if he's straight or gay. If you Yeah, if you're gay, he'll quick. Um Well, I, I guess where If you've got you know, enough gay friends, you ask them, they might know someone. Um, I would suggest Internet dating, but there are [00:19:00] some weirdos on there, like, literally. I know I've done it before. Um, that would go to Q four and, you know, socialise meet new people, you know, they might be someone single, um, or, you know, if you know, one of your good mates is another who's friends with other queer people. Yeah. Um, [00:19:30] what do you think are some of the most important issues facing current trends? Young people in New Zealand at the moment? Um, uh, it hasn't really made its way into the news. Um, the whole skin he factor thing. What's that? Um, I went to the ISO, the International Socialist organisation, and, um, yeah, they said that they were skinhead [00:20:00] or white power or some sort of gang. Um, we're moving their headquarters to Dunedin from Christchurch. Um, but luckily for most of the students, they are moving to south Dunedin, which for the is the dodgy part? Same with brought film kind of Moscow. I'm not sure. Um, yeah, it's just one of my, um [00:20:30] I have a gay Asian friend and that that's why I don't go into town anymore. Personally, Um, there's a white van that drives around town, beats people up. Um, yeah, they managed to pull on my old flatmate. She's She's gay as well. Um, they tried doing stuff to her. She wouldn't have a bar of it. She managed to get away, but, um, he was [00:21:00] the other guy, Um, he posted on Facebook. He had pictures of this big black welt on his face. He had been beaten up and I. I personally teared up and I was like, What's New Zealand coming to? And I mean, I know on Fridays and Saturday nights, there are a few white vans that drive around, so I just avoid all white vans at all cost. So they've got quite a reputation for [00:21:30] kind of homophobia and yeah, what A Or it's just the people they pick. I don't know. I heard that they're from Milton, but so you're not sure of this homophobia? It's just general. Kind of Yeah, exactly. I mean, for all I know, um, they could be the skinheads that, you know, we're gonna move this out or whatever. I don't know, but yeah, [00:22:00] in this, New Zealand was in US. So, um Well, um, a message that you would give to young people who might be struggling with their sexual orientation, Um, you know, is I don't know. Um, basically, you are who you are. No one can change you. Um, yeah. If if you know, you want to come out [00:22:30] to your parents and come out to your parents, it's not my decision. It's yours. So, um, yeah, basically, that's what I keep on telling everyone is, You know, if I was you, I would do it. But I'm not you. So you do it your way. Um, yeah. You are who you are. No one can change you for the world. Even if they try. Don't change for anyone. You [00:23:00] are who you are. Everybody's unique. Yeah, but yeah. Um, is there anything else you want to add or talk about? I'd love to say that, but I don't know. Russia sucks. Hm. It does. Why is that? what's happening in Russia. Um, the fact that it's pretty much illegal to be gay over there. I was looking up on one the other day. The rule, Uh, the laws, Um, [00:23:30] if you get if the government finds out you're gay, you'll get a $20,000 fine or yeah, or you get sent to a help group to, you know, like, what's that slogan? Pray the gay away. Um, stupid. But a $20,000 fine. And after that, you're not allowed to be gay. That's ridiculous. Yeah, but also, the fact that, you know, Russia has gone downhill. They, um, taking [00:24:00] over of the Ukraine. Um, one of my favourite artists is brush. And she, um, who was also gay? Uh, I don't know her last name, because it's really hard to pronounce, uh, be something. Um, some people will know who I'm talking about, though. She's, um Yeah, he's great. [00:24:30] Um, you know, she supports the Ukraine, which, you know, from if she was born in Russia. She's, you know, Russian, but no, she supports the Ukraine. Which is a good thing, I guess, because yeah, Vladimir Putin is real. Do you follow? Um, kind of International News International News is a lot more interesting than New Zealand news. I just said [00:25:00] that because New Zealand is so small it is. It's either, you know, here, there and everywhere, Um, or really bad political stuff. And it's like, Well, at least overseas they haven't. And news stories and BBC they're the ones to follow. I, I presume. Well, American American media twist [00:25:30] things a lot. Mind you, all media does. So it's like if you watch different aspects of the news, you know, especially if they're a big international story, then you can kind of they will all report it in different ways, and they will have different information. It's like, Well, yeah, I try and spot the fibs coming out. Um, so maybe just finish up. What's your favourite thing about being a, um, [00:26:00] Korean person in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand? Um, my favourite zone. Um, being I don't really know. I don't honestly know II. I would say, you know, being like the only gay one in the group. But I I've been called a network because I know so many gay people. Um, [00:26:30] I don't really know.
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