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I like to be slightly different and call myself a self identified dyke. So I know that that sometimes can be a negative word to use. But I like to claim it as my own, so that mainly identifies as lesbian. But also, you know, includes outliers because you never know do people. Um what reactions do you get to saying that to people? Um, most people are just like, Oh, yeah, OK, and couldn't really, like, just kind of write me off [00:00:30] a little bit, which isn't great. And then other people are like, Oh, you're that way inclined. Um, so when a kind of a mixture in between the two, I guess Do you think people will have a hard time trying to understand what that means? Or do they make like, assumptions about your identity? I think it is a little bit difficult to understand. I do have to explain it quite a lot. Um, and sometimes I have to explain it to myself, even but as so they kind of make assumptions to not assume, I guess [00:01:00] which is actually kind of good. So, yeah, they just kind of put me as a big question mark which I don't mind. Yeah, um, when did you first start becoming kind of aware of your sexual orientation? Um, well, I never really was opposed to the idea aside from when I was really small and couldn't understand it, but kind of when I was about 14 years old, I started to get romantic feelings for one of my friends and started questioning it all and everything, and then kind [00:01:30] of went from there and became this huge queer activist. So, um, did you have to come out to people? Yeah, I did. Yeah. And I mean, I still have to. You always have to. Um but I don't really mind it, just as long as they don't react badly. What kind of reactions have you had? Um, Well, mostly good. I think I'm just personally, I'm a very out there person. So [00:02:00] they're already, like, if they're gonna be in, if they're going to be intimidated by me, they already have been, um or sometimes I get negative ones. Um, but I usually don't continue that association to be honest, so I have pretty good relationships in regards to it. Do you think people will always have to come out? Yeah, always. It's just a continual cycle. I mean, at my high school, everyone was completely aware because I was very obvious about it. I was leading the QS [00:02:30] a so that was, you know, kind of in neon letters. But then now that I've got a full time job, um, I've, uh one of my coworkers is a lesbian, and she's quite quite obvious about it because she's very butch and she's a lovely person, and I really enjoy her company. But then we were talking about relationships the other day, and it just kind of got written off as, oh, so who's your boyfriend kind of thing. And I didn't get the opportunity [00:03:00] to kind of add that in. And they still haven't had the opportunity to be like, Hey, I actually would prefer the company of girls and, um and so it's just it's still assumed. And yeah, do you think that's to do with the way you like appear? And I don't know if you identify with feeling at all. Yeah, it was absolutely to do with how I appear because I'm quite feminine. I will take a skirt over the pants. Even though I still like pants. Um, so, you know, I've got Well, it's not very long anymore, but I've got long hair that I love to do up and do my makeup every day, [00:03:30] and so that kind of puts me in the oh, she likes boys category, which I think is rubbish. How do you feel about that? Especially when you get that from the other people in the quick community. Um well, in the queer community isn't so terrible because they're quite aware that not everyone is butch, but then sometimes, and I'm not saying this is a group, but Butch and Kline people would just assume that which, um, you know, you think they'd be a bit more open minded, but it's also kind of nice [00:04:00] to when confronted with it, I'll be like, Hey, I actually no. And then they'll be taking it back, and they're like, Oh, I wouldn't have picked that. I was like, Well, that's your fault, not mine. How have you found it? Um, at your school to be at my school. It was actually pretty good. It does have its rough moments, but I think that's just in the junior years to be honest because you still get juniors who, you know, use gay as a bad word and all the rest of it. So we're still working on that. But then when you get on, [00:04:30] um, in the years and everyone's kind of older, they've either made their peace with it or they leave you alone, which is good. I mean it. It'd be good if they just didn't care at all. But they still they still are leaving you alone. So, yeah. Um, what impact do you think having a queer alliance is makes on the school or your experience? Personally, I reckon An absolutely huge one. You know, you look at the high schools that don't have them, and it's just there is absolutely no support there for [00:05:00] the queer kids, which is so horrible. So every single day, they just don't have anyone supporting them. But then, for example, the high school I went to and we've got a big group that's kind of at the forefront of Nelson's Q SAS. It's been fantastic because we all stand up for each other and even people who aren't in the group. If someone says, Oh my gosh, that's so gay. Then someone will turn around. And you can't say that we have a QS a. And you know, that doesn't happen every time, but it still does happen. So even that tiny, tiny influence right there is still enough to really change something. So it does [00:05:30] wonders. What's it, um, like in your health classes at your school? Where did the classes talk about sexual orientation and gender identity at all? I didn't find that they did at all. Now, um, back in my year nine when it was brought up, I wasn't exploring that option. So it just got completely washed over by everyone, really including myself. But then in year 10, I, um [00:06:00] kind of like, questioned why there wasn't more, because even though I was only questioning to begin with, I was completely aware of it a lot more than I was. And I was like, Hey, why is it only gay, lesbian bi? And how come they are one page on this 40 page booklet that has only got the titles and no information? And then when I did Year 11 health, I ended up myself getting up in class and speaking for an entire period on the on the different, [00:06:30] um, sexualities and just kind of a bit of an education that was not provided and wouldn't have happened from the teacher if I wasn't there. And the teacher said, Hey, that was really good. No other classes have had even five minutes on the subject, and we got a whole period. That was cool. Um, but there was also no continuation of that. Like she didn't say, Oh, I'll get you a camera and all the other ones or or we can do this next year. It was kind of like, Oh, that's nice for them, but yeah, so it seems like everything's really student led like, [00:07:00] well, only because I volunteered and said, Hey, can we talk about this more? And the teacher said, I don't have anything to talk about that I don't know what to say and I was like, Well, I'll do it, Um, but I really shouldn't have had to do that like, I mean, I'm quite educated in it, so I mean, it's one thing that the teacher isn't educated and can't pass on the information, but it shouldn't be the student's responsibility. Um, is having a sense of belonging and being part of the queer community important to you? Absolutely. [00:07:30] Yes. It's just brilliant to be a part of it because, um, with any community at all, when even when you're starting to get into it, you can feel quite on the outside of it. So when you're on the outside wishing to be a part of it, and then when you are a part of it, it's such a huge change, and it just gives you this great feeling and you have new friends, and you always have somewhere to go back to. So, like if you get other commitments or aren't around for a while, you can, you know, it's not like they'll, [00:08:00] um, not take you back so you can always just show up years later and be like, Oh, I used to come here all the time. I'm gonna do that again and go like, just jump right back where you were before, which is great. How are you part of the quick community At the moment, I haven't got that large amount of involvement involvement because I'm not at high school anymore, but I still like to come to Q for local QS A whenever I can, and unfortunately my work does conflict with it, so it is quite a minimal involvement at the moment. But whenever there's [00:08:30] different events going on, I always do my best to go to those like the that just happened. And I've had quite a large involvement in the past, being a previous QS a leader. So I like to think a big one. How did you get involved in the group? I got involved through a friend who was a member of my high school's QS. A. He was just a personal friend like he wasn't even a queer related friend, and he was really, really passionate about this group, and so I started [00:09:00] going just to spend time with him. But then when I was questioning my own sexuality, it was a really good place to go. And then I made my own friends through there and just kind of never looked back because they're such amazing people. And there's such a comfortableness and, um, kind of what's the word like, really on? There's like an honesty amongst that kind of folk because they are being honest for possibly the first time in their lives [00:09:30] amongst other people. And you know, it's different when you're you can be hanging out and having a good time with friends, but you're still kind of hiding stuff that you don't want to be judged on. So it's a judgement free place, which is just brilliant. How is, um, being part of Q and the QS A at your school, um, changed how you feel about your sexuality or how you, um, that maybe, well, it's made me feel like it's 100% OK, because [00:10:00] I mean, obviously it is OK, but when you're first questioning it, it's it still is. It's different. You know, being gay or being lesbian or anything else is different. And, um, you know, now I look at it as not different, only different in the way that blue and green are different. If that makes sense, not as in one's a colour and one's a fruit I don't know. So it's really just like this whole acceptance instead [00:10:30] of being conflicted over it, because you also can get some complexions and stuff. But just letting yourself know, or everyone else letting yourself know that you're normal and just because you're different doesn't make you normal. Have you had, um, some, like highlights or, um, really cool experiences being part of those groups that you'd like to look at? Um, some highlights. Probably the events that we do. They're quite cool, like it's great to just come [00:11:00] any week, especially when you're having a bad week and for them to cheer you up completely. But the events we do are really awesome. Like the will go up to Wellington and are just in a room with about 100 queer kids, or I'm not sure how many there is. But that's, um and they're all we're all. We all have something in common, which is fantastic because, you know, when you're at school, you're not guaranteed to have something in common with everyone in the class. And so it's just choosing to be there is fantastic. And [00:11:30] then things like the mass parade where we get to dress up in rainbows and walk down the main street and be together, but in a massive crowd and not terrified at all, it's also brilliant. What impact do you think the que who, um, have on a community and young people have a team or for you. I think it's great because it sets up a network and it also helps out kids who don't have a massive group to go to like I do, because with me, I've always had, you [00:12:00] know, at least 10 queer kids I could call on at one time, you know, and they change. Some of them move away or do different things, and that's fine. But then with you get kids who live up in Auckland and they're the only quick in their high school or the only out one or and they want to set up a QS a. But they don't have anyone else and then they get to come and meet. You know the rest of us and see Hey, there's so many more of us and we we do stay in contact and now you know, when I go to Wellington, I see all of them go down to Christchurch. [00:12:30] Same thing. We even involve each other a little bit in different QS a running things like I've helped plan things down in Christchurch and Dunedin and the rest of them, which is just great because it's a resource for them as Well, you know, when they don't have someone else to help them out and they need that help can help them. How do you feel about queer and trends representation in the media? Um, well, it's not exactly great, is it? I mean, there is. It's It's not as [00:13:00] tippy toed around anymore as it was, which is fantastic, I reckon. The past few years it's stopped tippy toed around, but it's still they still don't enjoy discussing it, if you know what I mean. So when you see something on the news and there's been great publicity for the past couple of years with the whole marriage equality bill going through, and that was brilliant. But, um, something that actually really struck me when that was going through was watching the Parliament debate it and [00:13:30] everything from being in debates that sure they were high school and not Parliament. But being in debates at high school, where it's like, Oh, should we give more rights to um, um, you know, other identifying people? Or is homosexuality a sin and sometimes how blunt they can be? Um, it's usually you get. You get positive responses from, um, people like me but But you also get the really negative ones. So when I saw Parliament and I know [00:14:00] there's quite a few people who were quite against it, you know, for religious reasons or whatever reasons, I was expecting a lot of negativity and being like, Oh, no, this is a sin And they kind of they did. They did get toward it in the final debate, but for the first two debates, it they just completely did not step on homosexuality at all. Like they just said, Hey, we don't want this And hey, marriage this and religion that. But they didn't actually bag on homosexuality, which [00:14:30] I wasn't even expecting that. So for that to actually happen was fantastic. And, you know, you look at it and it's like, Well, I shouldn't have even been expecting them to, but I was, and they didn't. So do you think, What do you think that shows? I think it shows that, um, we're just we always have to put up with that. If I was expecting it, that's kind of the status quo, A little bit, which isn't so brilliant. But then also for it not to happen shows that it doesn't the status [00:15:00] quo doesn't have to stay the same. Because a couple of years back when they were debating the same issue, it would have very easily been like, Oh, no, that's a sin. And now they don't like, even if they still believe it, they won't be that public about it because they, you know, realise that it's not OK to say that, because it's not. Were you involved in any kind of activism around marriage? Equality Quite a bit. Yeah. Um, I me and my fellow, um, QS, a leader at the time, anyway, [00:15:30] did quite a few petitions because we got sent some down from people in Wellington to just show people support for it. And so we petitioned the entire of Nelson for quite a while and would just wander around town getting all the signatures we could. And we supported the lush campaign, um, the kiss and tell event and their petitions. And we also set up a day at our high school getting all the signatures we could, which we had to get the school endorsement for that. And it was just really cool to see. I mean, there was some [00:16:00] negativity, but we actually got quite a lot like more signatures than we were expecting. So it was just really fun. Because even though you did get bad reactions, sometimes you also got to see the hundreds and hundreds of positive reactions, and that really lifted your spirit. So I'm so glad I did that. Did you make a submission? I did make a submission. Unfortunately, not a very good one. Just from other different reasons. But we also all sent in photographs of us with marriage, [00:16:30] um, equality signs saying I support marriage equality because I believe that every new Zealander deserves to be with the person they love and other various things. Um, we all sent those in together, which was really cool to do a group one. so the submissions really cool, but yeah, I didn't actually do that kind of one. I'm not very good at writing. Um, marriage and adoptions are they, like, issues that are quite important to you. Like, are they things you're interested in personally? Personally, Um, well, personally, I don't [00:17:00] hold much to marriage, but that's just personal experience. But for me, that's not the issue at all. I don't feel like someone was asking me, Do you want to marry a chick? It was like Good chicks have the right to marry each other and they absolutely should. So it's not, You know, it's not saying that every single, you know, now it's, um Homosexuals even are sinning even more for not being married before sex or whatever the hell they want to say. But, um, it's that they should be able to have the right to Anyone who wants [00:17:30] to is someone who does want to be traditional and get married and have a family that should absolutely be their right because you can't say, you know, it's you can't have it for some citizens and they're not others on for something like sexuality. I think that's just plain stupid. What other issues, Um, now that we've had that bill passed, do you think are really important for queer people in New Zealand today? Particularly maybe young people? I think education will be one, because when you don't teach about [00:18:00] something, it's like you're pretending that it isn't there. So definitely education, um, at high school level or whichever level would be really important and just, um maybe more awareness But to be honest, marriage was kind of a huge one. So, yeah, at the end of that, we were kind of like, OK, so what's the next thing we fight for? And that was kind of the big issue for all these years. But, [00:18:30] I mean, there always is something because it used to be totally illegal. So, um, what issues do you think there might be in the future? Like in 10, 2050 years? Time like, will there be issues? Uh, hopefully not. I understand. It does take quite a while for change, so we can expect that, um, all these issues will go away in the next 20 years. 50 maybe. I don't really know. Like, it is great to see so many things changing, I think with everything changing all over the world with, um, Doma and America and [00:19:00] all the other different countries. But then again, you've got places like Russia, so that's kind of going in the exact opposite direction. And I know we're just focusing on New Zealand, but all the different international issues do really feed into each other, so it'd be good to see more of, um, you know, states in America getting it passed and less of Russia. Do you know much about, um, queer history in New Zealand or internationally? Uh, I've done [00:19:30] a bit of research. I'm sure there's so much I don't know. But then I also think I know way more than most people because most people wouldn't have had the opportunity to look into it. Um, this year I was doing social studies with my class, and we actually decided to focus on the social issue of marriage equality, which was so fantastic because it didn't get passed over, which was just amazing. Um And so we did lots of research, and I found out, like, all the different times that it's tried to go to Parliament with different things [00:20:00] and some stuff about, like, Stonewall and the rest of it, which I didn't know about till last year. But that's such a huge thing. And now it pops up all the time on my radar. I'm like, Ah, but before that, I would have just completely fallen off of it, So, yes, I know a bit, but also no, not really. Should be teaching it in schools. Yeah. Yeah. Um how do you see things like Facebook and Tumblr and social Media playing into, um, our community and the way we connect with each other. [00:20:30] Um, well, Facebook is really good for one on one connection, and that's usually how I network with people that I've met at that are all over New Zealand. So I think that's really good for one on one connection. So I think it's actually a really good asset. And then Tumblr, I'm I'm not even sure there are straight people on Tumbler. To be honest, there's it's a it's a great It's a really, really inclusive, just absolute Yay! We're gay. Explain a bit more about what Tumbler is. OK, [00:21:00] yeah. Um, well, it's a social network that just I'm not sure if I can explain it because it's so so broad. Um, it's just people all over the world. Kind of enjoying the same things is probably the only way I could describe it. And whether or not that's just pictures of hot chicks or pictures from doctor who or funny puns, whatever it is that floats your boat, there is something [00:21:30] out there for everyone. And then you start to kind of, um kind of network with those people as well. So if you look at all the people that I follow and who follow me, we're all kind of the same genre of blog. And I'd say at least 50% of us are getting at minimum. So the fact that it's more likely to be with the the fact that it's more likely to be in the majority the minority is really fantastic. So, yeah, [00:22:00] what do you think about how? Yeah, how things like Tumbler have become such a big kind of thing for queer young people. Um, especially when things like that really didn't exist, even like a few years ago. I think it's good, because just anyone can say, Hey, this is what I think And then other people will have the confidence to back them up. And it's not even like Facebook, where you've specifically got your face to it and your profile and all the people you know seeing it. Tumblr [00:22:30] does have that, but it also can completely not. You don't have to put your name. You don't have to put a picture. You can just be some person, and it's like you never want to try to assume anything about people like you'll see a post from someone I'm like, Oh, OK, they're probably female and that's not like That's only if you want to think like that. But then it could be the exact opposite. And there's you really should never, ever make assumptions because it's usually the exact opposite. And it's just great because when someone posts something that says, Hey, it's really shit when people use that is so gay as an insult And then someone will be like, Yeah, I agree with [00:23:00] that And it will kind of snowball from there as opposed to one person, kind of standing up in the crowd like you would have in real life or even on Facebook, because most people are like, I'm not standing up with him. Then there's just the two of us standing up, but it's really different on places like Tumblr. It's really awesome. Um, what do you think about the way queer and Trans are represented in things like TV shows or films? Um uh, they're all I [00:23:30] don't they're not. They're usually not incredibly realistic, but sometimes they are, I think, to be honest, the queer characters are usually a bit of a gimmick, which sometimes that's good. Like, I suppose, if my life was a TV show, I would be a gimmick. But it's also would be nice to see something a bit more serious. There is also serious things out there. See, it's anything I'm going to say there will actually be out there. Anything I'm gonna ask for there will be there. But it's not, um, [00:24:00] as popular or circulated as other things. So maybe not. The issue isn't creating more. Maybe it's circulating what is created. So, yeah, Are there any, like, particular characters or, um, things that you watch that you can relate to or you think you've done really badly? Um, well, I mean, I've got my personal favourites, like from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Willow and Tara, of course, um, classics like that. And, um, I really love, um, modern [00:24:30] family. The gay couple on there. I don't watch that show very much, so I'm not even sure of their names, but I see them pop up all the time to short videos, and I think they're the most hilarious things. Um, and just ones like that. But I I there's always. There's always the two sides of the argument when people want a character who's not kind of shoved under the rug with their sexuality. And then there's people who want them to be a normal character that don't have it as, Hey, this is my main identifier so you could have both sides of the argument. [00:25:00] But when you get characters like Dumbledore, I really feel like that was swept under the rug far too much. And it was kind of meta knowledge about him being gay because it really wasn't touched on. Like I'm actually, I asked people to hint out, Point out the hints and I can't see it. So, um, but then it's a widely known fact that Dumbledore was gay and go for Dumbledore, but it just didn't show up in the movies. So, But then again, no one even questioned it for a second whether he was gay, because [00:25:30] everyone says he's gay. But under the rock. So do you think there's lots of, um, stereotypes that get kind of repeated and yeah, and things like TV, um of queer character? Yeah, yeah, and that's where you get the gimmick coming in. There's definitely the, um, the gay best friend is quite a common one. Super flamboyant. Um, super butch chicks. Uh, there's always like that girl who's super. [00:26:00] Um, what's the word? Can't think of the word, but it's, like, quite feminine and always, like, draws the girls in And then, just like, surprised I'm actually a lesbian or something, which, Yeah, I actually enjoy that one the most. But like I've seen it a lot. But then it's also kind of good that you see them several times, I guess. But variety, because there's so many more stereotypes than that, I guess, like if we're going to call them steroids, maybe archetypes, I'm not sure whatever word do you see any kind of identities or parts of our [00:26:30] queer community missing from what's in the we can get? I definitely reckon more, Um, Trans people need to be shown because I can't claim to be an expert on trans people myself, but like you see quite a lot of, um and tell me if I'm using the wrong terms, but for anything but like transsexual people who have had, like, surgery and all the rest of it, and like that's great. But then you don't see people who just want to identify a different gender without, you know, changing all the [00:27:00] rest of it. And I think it's absolutely up to the person whether they want to do that or not. But usually, if you see someone who's switched genders, it's like completely switched instead of an in between. So I think there needs to be way more in between than just Oh, my gosh, I used to be a man, But then I decided I wanted boobs. Um, yeah, yeah, I think the media has a long way to go. Yeah, yeah, so that's definitely something we could agree on. Are you [00:27:30] part of any, um, groups outside of the queer community, like or are you part of, like, religious communities or sports groups or anything like that? Not really. No, I used to be, um, but nothing's really stuck. And that's why I really like youth is because it's always stuck. I used to be religious, but then when my sexuality changed, they weren't really tolerant anymore, which sucked. But to be honest, youth is way better than they were, um, and then other things. They've been good at times, like different sports groups [00:28:00] or even debating club. They've been really fun at the time, but Keith has always been like a steady one that I can come back to as to I'm not always in the mood to argue or play sports. Why do you think that is not the why are you not always in the mood to argue or play sports? But why is there this one group of community that you've stuck with? Do you think, Um, because it's so fluid itself? I reckon so. It's it's it's consummate fluid, so it because [00:28:30] it accepts everyone. You don't have to be a certain type of person, like with debating. You have to be good at speaking and able to think quickly and an actual enjoyment for it just as an example. And I mean, you can be part of the group if you're not those things as well, or you can not be part of the group if you're those things, and I guess the same for you. If you don't have to be part of the group, if you're gay and you don't have to be gay part of the group, but it it does it kind of There's no box that we don't tick? [00:29:00] I guess so. It's just or And if if you create a new box, Q does it at the same time? Cool. Um, what are your kind of plans? Dreams. Hopes for the future. Like, Do you want to move out of Nelson? What kind of things do you want to, like, study or do for a job? So yeah. Well, as far as the future goes, I'll probably be here for the next year. But then I plan on actually moving over to Ireland just because it's so foreign and different. And I kind of don't want to go to any place that I know because [00:29:30] I know it. So that's my plan. Um, but I haven't really decided much of it, to be honest, aside from just so not hold back at any point, I reckon. And that's definitely something that I've gotten from Q youth is that I've always, um, you know, call it planning or whatever else. But I've always like had I've been holding back something for the right time or for the right situation. But then, with Q, it's [00:30:00] like, Well, you could just not hold that back and enjoy everything, I guess, um and it's actually been really, really fantastic. So, yeah, I plan on just going to Ireland and doing whatever it takes me as opposed to thinking Oh, no, I need to go. I need to stay in New Zealand, and I need to be doing this, Um, maybe to finish up. What's your favourite thing about being a queen person in New Zealand? All of the rainbows. It's like I mean, [00:30:30] I've always been a fan of rainbows anyway, because I'm quite, um, bright colours and girls and all the rest of it. But now, when I wear lots of rainbows, everyone's like, Oh, yeah, it's it's because she's a lesbian and I really love it. I'm like, Yep, this is me wearing about 50 different rainbow things at the moment. And it's just great because, yeah, cool. I have finished that off.
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