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I identify as a CIS gendered female sis being what I was born, as so I was born as a female and which I feel comfortable with identifying with What about your, um, sexual orientation? Um, I I identify as a lesbian when publicly asked, I don't go around telling everybody Well, I'm gay, but, um, yeah, I never hide my sexuality. I'm pretty comfortable with it. Um, I use female pronouns, and I get [00:00:30] asked like gender questions regularly, but I don't get offended. And my sexual orientation is lesbian, But I don't Yeah, exactly flaunt it around a lot. But when I get asked, I answer with that. Yeah, Um, I'm male. I Well, I'll just say that I like guys more than girls. Um, you two talking about how you kind of you say you were a lesbian? If someone asked, Is that do you use [00:01:00] that kind of language because you think people it's easy for people to understand, Or is that like something like a word that you feel strongly attached to? Or I think it's more understandable for people to say, lesbian, I mean, as a CIS gendered female, because if I say like I've told people I'm gay, but then they correct me saying, Oh, so you're a lesbian? So that's pretty much why I immediately say lesbian rather than gay or homosexual. I sometimes use the word queer in general, just as [00:01:30] an over, you know, like I use that word a lot in general. I mean, if people ask, I'd rather say I'm queer than, say, I'm a lesbian. But people, people seem to like that word, and they understand it a lot easier. You know, what does an equate mean to, um, it's I kind of use it as a word just for an overall word, like it's more happy. And it sounds. It's an umbrella umbrella word. Yeah. [00:02:00] Um, what do you guys think? It's like to be like young, queer people in Nelson. Specifically, I find there's not too much of an issue. I find that there there's probably a lot worse areas that we could be living in. Definitely. Um, I find even and Wellington has, like, a more hate I find like there's more hatred around around it there, and I've noticed on TV as well a lot more based [00:02:30] in those areas. But I find Nelson's a quite a comfortable place to live in being queer. Um, yeah, I totally agree. Nelson is a very queer, friendly place. And considering we're a small community, that's quite surprising because rumours around here spread like wildfire and, you know, a lot of the majority of them, like people, be secretive about it. But, um, yeah, it's pretty chill here. I mean, when I come out to people, they're like, Oh, cool. I've gotten a few high fives as well. From girls that are like, Oh, good job with it [00:03:00] And yeah, and going to an all girls school. It seems like one of those things. You want to keep quiet, but it's actually everyone's really accepting there. And, yeah, we've got our own QS a and everything. So that's, um, why why do you think that is like, Is there any thing you think that's different about Nelson? Or that you have here in the community that makes it feel like that? I find we're all able to express ourselves easily without getting like [00:03:30] I mean, there's hate everywhere and you get, like, judged every day. But there's not as much judgement here on the streets as there is in other countries, that's for sure. Yeah, I see that, um, this community here is very accepting with, um, difference, and they're very updated with change. So they, um, fit in easily with this, um, new marriage equality bill passing. So they're all very, um, about it, and they don't really judge on other people. [00:04:00] So, yeah, this is a very good community to be in for any queer folk. How do you guys feel about their marriage, equality, bill passing? I'm pretty damn stoked about it. Um, it's a great revolution for us all. And, um, it's it's good to have change because it's kind of been wallowing in the whole tradition of man goes with women for all that kind of stuff. So it's good that people accept the fact that people can love whoever they want to love, no matter what [00:04:30] gender or sexuality or sex or anything. So, yeah, it's pretty good. I'm God damn excited, too. I just astounded that I'm happy that we are now like I mean, there's still countries left to do it, but we're in there finally. So yeah. Um, were you involved in any of the Did you like, write a submission? Did you kind of get involved in any activism before the bill passed? Well, we [00:05:00] had done at my school QS a or Queer straight alliance. Um, gals, we, um, did a whole photo shoot where we took cardboard signs painted with, um, little word sign saying we support the marriage equality bill. And, um, remember, my one had a rainbow Pokemon ball on it, which was a small little anime. It said, um, gay marriage bill. We got to pass them all, which, you know, was playing on words for the slogan of the TV series. And, um, yeah, I got quite [00:05:30] a few likes on that one on the social network Facebook. And, um, yeah, yeah, I wasn't extremely involved, but I definitely sat on the couch and watched the whole thing. Definitely. And I Yeah, tears came to my eyes over a few few moments through that. So did the group feel part of here in Nelson? Um, did you guys do anything as a group? Well, we had a big party afterwards, which was extreme, [00:06:00] and, um, we had karaoke and everyone enjoyed the night. It was just awesome, like everyone was dancing and everyone met a lot of new people. And it was just nice to all be together again and to celebrate something definitely worth celebrating. Um, yeah. Previously last year, in October, around the mass parade, which is the big event we have for the arts festival. Um, our group marched down the road, [00:06:30] um, big street, where everyone was marching with, um, a whole bunch of queer pride things. And we were supporting everything. And, um, we had Stonewall, which is one of the first, um, queer pride groups. Um, during the 19 sixties and we represented them and yeah, it was more of a thing saying, Hey, we support you and you're not alone in this town. Every we have core support group. Yeah, um is having kind of a sense of community and belonging in this important [00:07:00] to you. Yeah, it is. It's, um it's good for people to know that, um, they're not alone. And it's more of having this community and being out there is also a sense to other people within the community that, um there are queer people here, and there are differences and that it's needs to be an accepted thing because it's very well known and it's we need to show people it's normal and for, um, the [00:07:30] younger queer people. It's good for them to know that there are communities out there that accept them. Like if I never found this place, I'm not sure if I would have come out or not. How did you get involved in Keith? Um, a friend of mine who was, um, very good friend of mine. Um, I met on the street one day who was doing a petition for, um, the passing of the marriage equality bill. And he invited me to Q youth one day [00:08:00] and I came with him, and then that's pretty much how it all began. So how about eating? I haven't been coming to for that long, but I find that it's an awesome place and to notice that young people can come in and be themselves and everyone can come in and be themselves and talk. Um, and, you know, ask questions and everyone can get anything off their mind and need to find out what they need to find out. And you know, everyone's welcome [00:08:30] and stuff like that. It's just awesome. Do you think being part of a group like this and kind of meeting other people has kind of, Yeah, has that made much of an impact on you? Or is it like changed how you feel about your identity, like being able to be in a place where you get to learn more about stuff? It makes us be able to be more open, I guess, and definitely know we feel safe and always have someone to turn to and especially looking forward to it each week. And, you know, like if you have problems during the week, you always know there's someone that knows the problems [00:09:00] and can understand what you're going through most of the time. And everyone's always, um, like here to listen most of the time, too. Yeah, it's, uh it's good to get a little more experience with people because in Q youth, we've got a variety of queer folk that, um, it's good to like, um, know what kind of things? A bit of queer educated, as I usually call it, Like, um, how to respect of those pronouns and, um, respect of those identities and accept difference. And, um, your difference can be accepted too. And if [00:09:30] there's something that you feel uncomfortable with, then that's perfectly OK. You don't have to go through with anything. And, yeah, it's It's a good community to be in if you're, um, very secretive or just out there. And, um, it's good for all ages. Um, what have your experiences at your schools kind of been like, as again, um, Well, at my school, it's pretty accepting. And which was, uh, like I said before, [00:10:00] quite a bit of a shock, considering I go to an all girls school. So I was really expecting girls to go around going Oh, you're a lesbian. I can't get dressed in front of you doing PE. Do you have a crush on me? Do you have a crush on everybody? And yeah, I was, um, accepting Everybody was pretty pretty cool with it. And, um, yes, we've got our own QS A. It's good to see that that started which, um my older sister, who was at my school previously was actually one of the founders of the QS A. And when, [00:10:30] um, I told her that I was going to be part of it, she was very proud of me, and she was proud that I would, um was so open about that kind of thing. And I wasn't afraid. And, um, it was good to be in that kind of community. No one. I never had any bullying problems with her or anything. I myself went to a college. Where? There it was. All types of people. Um uh, I myself was slightly in denial. Not not entirely, but more like everyone else was. I denied them [00:11:00] interest in my life, like I didn't let on anything. And they kind of just hush hush. And I was quiet through throughout college, really Until I left and that they they all realised I was I was getting And that was the end of that, Really. And But I felt, um, knowing that there was S a in the school was good. I wish now that I definitely got involved and probably tried to help a lot of people, even at my school, because I noticed there was definitely not enough people coming out, and they had a a struggle [00:11:30] at that school. Um, not so much bullying, but they definitely I think it was a hard school to come out, and and I wish I could have been there early and, you know, done something different, but oh, no. It was a good experience. That's cool. How about your dick? Uh, I don't really know, because no one really cared. Are you at school for one year, [00:12:00] And that was it. Are you a boy? That must be, like, quite a different experience to come after school. No one really wanted to mess with me because I'm huge. Have you seen much kind of bullying or anything happen? Not really. But that might just be because I'm over there and they might be over there somewhere else. So, [00:12:30] um, what was education kind of around sex orientation and gender identity, like in your health classes or other parts of the curriculum? Was there any or we had a fear, a small amount in health class. It was more like they wrote, you know, the words lesbian and that kind of stuff on board and was like, Look, this is they're out there, and that was more like it was more like that. It was It wasn't much of a broad, you know, they didn't really give us any information. [00:13:00] at all. It wasn't. It wasn't great. I'd say they probably should be clued up a bit, and the teachers should probably do their job a bit better. But, um, my school was pretty, um, pretty, right, considering we had a, um actual open lesbian, um, teacher for our health class. And she was, um, very open on the sexuality part, like she knew sexualities from all walks of life, but, um, not necessarily on the gender part of it. She was very discreet about it. Didn't talk too much. Um, And [00:13:30] she pretty much said, um, what is gender? And every girl in my class was pretty much just say male and female, and we didn't elaborate that much. And I just remember raising my hand and saying, Well, it's not so black and white. It's actually a spectrum and things like that. And then, um, a lot of those students were getting confused, and I didn't want to make a whole cascade out of it, and so I pretty much just kind of stopped over there, but, um, yeah, there was just It wouldn't be nicer to have a bit more of a wider variety [00:14:00] and not saying that you don't only have to be this or this there, are you? There are as many different choices if you feel comfortable with it. I was away quite a bit because I wagged a lot. But, um, the days that I was there, we didn't do anything on it. So there's nothing. Nothing. I'm just, um if you get talked about on other subjects, like to study like a don't [00:14:30] know, like, someone like biology or something, maybe. Or, you know, like maybe like an English, like a book about, um, characters or the queer author or anything like that. There was nothing much on any queer history of the world. Like there wasn't much on, um, like in English class when we were studying Oscar Wilde. Uh, back when I was in year nine. no one said anything about him being a queer supporter or anything about his, um, um [00:15:00] kind of association with, um, the queer folk. And it was pretty much just I mean, I can understand that that's a little trailing off what we were doing, but and, um, yeah, they're like, um, big rally groups of the 20th century. There wasn't anything on any, um, queer groups, even though they had quite a big part to play as in Like, um, like I said previously, Stone Wall, which was one of the big queer groups of the sixties. And, um, it would have been nicer to see that kind of stuff. Did either of you two notice me? Uh, well, in health [00:15:30] class when we were learning, you know, trying to learn about and stuff like that. We We watched the movie Philadelphia, which was an insight to somewhat of what Americans are like when it comes to gaming. And, um, starring Tom Hanks. And it's quite a sad movie. But I'd say it was it was more like a teacher just for forced because it was a group of girls. Most [00:16:00] of my health, um, class was girls, and it was it was hard to watch. And I think it was it wasn't really done for a reason. We just kind of watched it. And then that was that. It was like, Yeah, it wasn't much of a learning curve. It was just more like they just picked something just to we can get it out there. Um how do you guys feel about how current trends people are represented in the media at the moment. I guess you could also, yeah, think about different types of media [00:16:30] and, like, I mean, there's like TV shows, um, with characters. But there's also things like how maybe I I find documentaries are the best way to find anything you know, to actually watch. That would be the best thing, Um, live shows in general, like I love watching Ellen DeGeneres. But when it comes to shows that we have here in New Zealand, such as Shortland Street and, um you know, which are what we call soaps and stupid programmes that are on in the afternoons, [00:17:00] these have fake characters of what people somewhat think gay people are like and they try and they try, but they kind of just make a fool of themselves in ways. Yeah, what do you think about the portrayal of characters on? They try to They try their best, you know, and they more or less go by what they see on the streets or they think they know. Um, watching their own programmes, [00:17:30] I guess, or what they think is in their head. But they probably should think about getting characters that actually know themselves a bit better and maybe are what they are and going that way about it instead of, you know, making people out to be someone they're not definitely just for the just for the TV show. Yeah, um, I totally agree with the whole documentary thing. I mean, I've watched plenty of documentaries that are really good on, um, transgender and intersex and things like that. But, um, and not only do they do older people, [00:18:00] but, um, that are, like, sexually mature and things like that. But they also do, um, small Children that feel they have, um, questioning with their gender identity, which I thought it was absolutely phenomenal and, um, spectacular. But, um, when it comes to fictional shows like soap operas and things like that of good old stories, um, things like the L word and, um, lip service, all that kind of stuff as much as they are good shows and very interesting for the dramatic side of it when it gets down to the real queer thing. Um, it's very off the chart. It's very like [00:18:30] they are kind of more of oversexualized. It rather than actually telling you this is what it really is. And, um, it's just it's kind of sad, but at the same time, I mean, if that's what people want to watch, then go ahead. If it's media, it's media. Um, yeah, what do you think would make it better? I think putting in more realistic things like, um, I notice that a lot of the time when watching, um, all lesbian [00:19:00] soap operas such as L Word and Lip Services that, um, some of the women, um, find that, um, that their sexuality can be used to attract men as well as other women. And I think that's I mean, a little ridiculous like, um, they're kind of over sexualizing the whole lesbian thing. And, um, it's I mean, yeah, some people might do it, but it's a bit of a rarity. And, um, it's just kind of sad that they think that lesbianism isn't more [00:19:30] accepted than being gay and male. It's just more over sexualized and things like that. One show that I watched all it was was basically sex. That's it, which was a bit weird. Um, I think queer as folk, they just Yes, let's go find someone to have sex with. Yeah, good. On another show that I found quite astounding is, [00:20:00] um, a little Britain. A lot of the episodes on that they not so much over, but more like they tried to over, like, make him extra queer or something like and made him seem like he was the only gay in the villain. And I think they just and that I think they're trying to make it like a joke. And I think probably it would hurt a lot of people's feelings and some people do take the joke, But other people wouldn't be really, you know, like it In some ways. [00:20:30] Are there any queer characters in the media or even, um, queer people that you see in the media media, who are real people like, um and Nelson? We have, like, Marion Street, the labour MP. Or like you mentioned Ellen. Um, but yeah, especially in the media. Are there any kind of positive portrayals you have seen or like, characters you think are really kind of good? Whitney? That's all I can say. Whitney, tell us what Whitney Whitney on the she's just to die for. [00:21:00] She she um has recently gotten married to her girl girlfriend, Sarah. Someone I know. And I think in general it was on TV because their programmers are their lives on live television. So and in some way, they've done a cool thing by getting it out there. And I guess a lot of people do follow that show. And other than that, I wouldn't really know any other character. I mean, Nolan DeGeneres has done amazing amazing things. And Lady [00:21:30] Gaga another one. She's done some great things. Yeah, definitely. I have always loved the work of Tegan and Sarah Quinn, who are Canadian rock stars that are twin sisters. And they're both, um, queer and queer, supportive. They've done many things. They've done posters for, um, coming out and things like that. And, um, not only are they core supportive, they also, um, are activists from any other rights such as like, um, don't wear fur. Um, don't discriminate [00:22:00] against race things like that. And it's just lovely to see those kind of people are actually out there and not just focusing on one side, but a lot of others as well. I find a lot of, um um, musicians in the world, Um, that musicians are definitely doing a lot in the world. Um, there's some characters I find on TV, but definitely queer musicians are doing great things. Um, what other musicians [00:22:30] do you guys think you are doing? Great things. You can also talk about, like, books or comics and stuff that you kind of see, um, characters being portrayed better there than TV. Maybe this is a comic book that I once read once it was more of a web comic, but, um, which is a comic book on the internet. Um, but it was a little comedic and very fictional, but quite true. At the same time, it was called, um, lesbians from outer space. And it was all of these, um, humanoid alien women from outer space that were all lesbians. [00:23:00] But not only, um some of them were transgender as well. And, um, they had their fun antics within the comic and things like that. All their, um um, little stories. But, um, yeah, they also got down to some real stuff. Like, um, talking about some of the characters had problems with, um how they were feeling like, um, they don't feel male or female. They felt something else, and it was good for readers to look at it and see that, Um, yeah, it's just a wide spectrum of things. So I find myself listening to a lot of, uh, G punk bands. [00:23:30] A lot of them are mostly just feminist machine, but, um, a lot of them have a good a good word, like, just been about open about everything, really. I listen to, like, far as salt and, you know, like pussy riot. And they've got, like, some of the best words in their songs, mostly just They're just open to everything. And that's what I like and most musicians and, yeah, is there any kind of, um, things in the media that you really like about? [00:24:00] I reckon, uh, sports, sports people are definitely something where if they do come out, it's a great thing as well, because, um, a lot of people are more or less scared in sports when it comes to like coming out because it's I feel I feel like they have, like a worry because it's, um, you know, either a physical thing or people think it's a physical thing and you know when you're playing tackle rugby and you know people, people are a lot worried. And I've only heard of, like, [00:24:30] one of our I don't know if it was from our New Zealand team who came out or something, and he got a he got a lot of shit for it. And I find that's why a lot of people, you know, having a hide for so long and it's sad. But I like to see sports people coming out all over the world as well. The media quite a bit Is that, um we had a I think it was a council person here who was, um, in New Zealand. That was a, um on, um uh, the Labour Party. And he was, um, [00:25:00] you know, he came out as gay, and all in the media was all focusing on his sexuality rather than his political decisions, which I thought was extremely ridiculous, because that's really nobody's business, but his And, um, also, I'm going back to the sports thing. Um, I was reading an article the other day on these two women that were, um I think in some sort of like, um quiet. Um, National Olympic Sport that wasn't full on Olympics. But it was [00:25:30] in Russia alone. And these two Russian women that were sprinters and, um, one of them had won a sprinting competition or something like that. And, um, the girl that came second place, um, the two, the one that won and the one that came second place both kissed. And within Russia and then being Russian, it was a big deal because Russia recently has claimed war on homosexuality. And, um, it's very good that they're protesting against that because [00:26:00] it's ridiculous to claim war on love. And it's good that someone's speaking up and saying, I don't think so. Girl, how do you guys feel about, um, things like Facebook and Tumblr and Social Media? Do you think they play a big part in how you connect with other, um, young people feel community tumbler, Tumbler, Tumblr? Tumblr is one of the best communities I've ever been on. [00:26:30] I mean, this way. Yeah, there are a bit of the cyber bullying on there, but you get that with pretty much every social network. Um, but it's very minimal compared to, um, Facebook and YouTube and all that kind of stuff. But um, Tumblr, I've found, has so many queer, supportive, um pages and blogs and they're just absolutely, um, phenomenal. All these people that you can talk to and have a social connection with from all walks of life. And it's just so nice to see all that kind of stuff. And, [00:27:00] um, the creators and workers of Tumblr that, um, started the whole site are queer supporters, and they have many queer people working in their offices. And it's good to see that, Um, just everybody is so diverse and open to everything. Yeah, that's definitely one of my favourite websites. Um, I find a lot of other. The other ones are somewhat making the bullying worse because it's making it easier, you know, for everyone to attack other people with words. But, [00:27:30] um, Tumblr's got definitely by far the like, the least bullying I've seen on any website, and I find I can share a lot with the people on there, and they're all very supportive of me, and I'm supportive of them. But I find yeah, Facebook's one that I'd like to try to use a lot less, and I'd like to find bullying on all sorts of other websites cut down a lot. What do you guys think are the most kind of important issues that are still facing phone fans [00:28:00] in New Zealand today? Well, recently, a lot of people, um, haven't been very, like, open to intersex, which is the, um, child coming out with, um, both male and female genitalia. And a lot of people are very, um, not very open to that in the Nelson community. And recently we've had a person named, um, Marie that has come through, which is an intersex person that, um, did a whole seminar [00:28:30] on what intersex is. And they had gone to the States and interviewed heaps of people that were intersex or identified as intersex. And, um, it was, um I noticed that a lot of the people, um, including my own father, who came back from the, um, had, um, gotten so much education on what intersex really is and how it can be accepted. And it's not anything that, um should be defined as, um unacceptable or odd or should be changed. Things [00:29:00] like that. Um, what do you think issues are gonna be in the future? Like in say, 10, 2030 50 years. I think we're trying to have somewhat of the same problems, like people will still think it's a choice. And, you know, everyone has a choice. You know, to be that way they are. But most of the most of the time, it's not. It's just it's just the way we're all born, and I think people are still going to have problems with accepting. But I just hope it's going to get a lot easier day by day, you know, slowly but [00:29:30] surely it's gonna take quite a bit of time for, um, future generations to, um, accept this kind of stuff. Like, uh, I was, um, kind of going back to the North American, um, black scene of the, um, African Americans where, um, the whole slave trade thing, um, ended in 18 63 and still up until the 19 sixties, blacks were seen as the odd race. They were, um, seen as people were segregated and different. [00:30:00] But I believe that's what's gonna be for the queer people. It's like, um, it will take quite a long time for the entire world to accept all, um, homosexual marriages, and it's, um it's yeah, gonna take quite a bit, but hopefully, um, day by day, it will get better and people will be very more accepting. I find that in this town in General Nelson area, um, people have seemed to be more accepting [00:30:30] in the bisexual area. And I find that hopefully it's just going to get better with, you know, all folk and that people should just stop being rude in general and just accept everyone. Um, and do you guys have What are your kind of dreams for the future? Like, Do you want to get out of Nelson and the places you want to live? Do you want Do you want to get married? What kind of jobs do you want to do? I definitely want to go back home to San Francisco, where I was originally from, and because San Francisco is pretty [00:31:00] much the Republic of the Gays because, um, yeah, it's pretty much all the hustle and bustle happens, but yeah, I definitely want to move. I'm not too sure on the whole marriage thing, considering I'm still young and yeah, it's it's more depending on, like whether I want Children or not. And, um, it's good for the whole marriage thing because, um, not only is it a nice tradition thing, it's so good to get married. And because I love you and things like that. Um, but it's also good for the, um, [00:31:30] political and governmental side of it, like, um, the whole, um, having Children and all that kind of stuff. It's great to have that because, um, also adopting as a couple, not singular. Um, which is all good. I definitely I'd definitely love to get married one day. I'd definitely love to have Children. Um, I'd love to make a difference in other countries everywhere, you know, going over there, sharing stories, trying to help out as much as possible. Um, [00:32:00] but I'd love to live my life to the fullest here and make make a difference as much in my backyard as possible, you know? Yeah, I see. I don't know. And maybe to finish up, Um, What is your favourite or one of your favourite things about being a quite young person in New Zealand today? Being the C coopers in New Zealand, it's good to get into that kind of change thing. Like, um, like, showing people that [00:32:30] are especially being out, um, showing people that you're not afraid to, um, love who you want to love and that you accept the change in a lot of things like, um, the whole marriage and adoption and things like that and having Children and saying that No, we're not that different. We are like you. We just want to love who we want to love things like that. I love the fact that I can love girls freely without, you know, getting any hate. I love the fact that people see [00:33:00] me as someone they can talk to because I'm open about myself, and I find it makes you know, makes sometimes it makes people uncomfortable, and sometimes it makes them more more comfortable, you know? And I just love it. I love everything about it. That was it. The favourite rot. That's a Yeah, that's a really good question. Worst thing it [00:33:30] I don't know. It was just people wearing dicks. People wearing dick. It's hard. Um, is there anything any of you wanna? What else you wanna add on that? Thank you for listening. That's all. I hope you enjoying it. Yeah.
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