Evin Wood

The abstract summarizes an interview with Evin Wood recorded at the Wellington Town Hall in 2011, as part of an audio podcast. In the interview conducted by Gareth Watkins, Wood discusses experiences and perspectives arising from attending a human rights conference. From a small town in the northern part of the South Island, Wood is an active member in the local LGBTQ+ community, having worked with youth and other public figures in support groups.

Throughout the conversation, it is clear that conferences of this sort are deeply meaningful for Wood, providing a sense of empowerment and community connection that is less accessible in the small town milieu. The interview recounts an emotional response to seeing hero figures like Marilyn Waring and Kevin Hague speak at the conference, highlighting the personal inspiration drawn from their work and statements.

Wood reflects on past confrontations regarding LGBTQ+ issues, aware that progress often entails incremental steps with some resistance from certain quarters. Despite this, there is a narrative of acceptance and personal integration within the local community; Wood notes that being openly out, without needing to conspicuously display it, leads to a broad level of acceptance, albeit with ongoing challenges.

Teaching is mentioned as a significant part of Wood's past, including a pivot to retirement catalyzed by health issues and the stress surrounding being an openly gay teacher during the time of the Peter Ellis affair. Wood fondly recalls a creative moment in which teaching about being a pirate served as a metaphor for embracing true identity.

The interview indicates that the New Zealand and Pacific island cultures provide a colorful backdrop for LGBTQ+ discussions, reflecting on the diversity experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals in China and Vanuatu, among other places. Citing the absence of notable figures like Chris Carter and Georgina Bayer at the conference, Wood expresses a long-standing admiration for the latter's charisma and past collaborative efforts in the field of HIV and AIDS.

Wood articulates a transformation over the past decades, from the era of law reform to a contemporary setting where LGBTQ+ diversity is more broadly recognized and celebrated. The change in the police force, with openly LGBTQ+ officers, exemplifies societal shifts that have occurred over the years.

The abstract concludes with Wood expressing a desire to take renewed energy from the conference back to the community, alongside reflecting on initiatives like supporting Peter Ellis and endorsing important United Nations documents. Looking to the future, Wood hopes that acknowledging and embracing one's identity remains a central tenet for coming generations.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Evin Wood

2010s, asia pacific outgames (2011), evin wood, human rights, teaching

berlin, career, change, children, china, chinese, chris carter, class, coming out, community, conference, convictions, culture, diversity, emotional, events, family, family planning, film, foxton, friends, future, gay, government, health, hong kong, isolation, kevin hague, law, lesbian, listening, march, marlborough, melbourne, opportunity, other, pacific, parents, passion, people, pirate, police, public health, quakers, queer, retirement, school, sex, social, support, time, united nations, vanuatu, wellington, work