Nathaniel

This podcast, titled "Nathaniel - Beyond Rainbows", is an interview with a Māori individual identifying as takatāpui and transgender, conducted by Tabby Besley. Throughout the 23-minute discussion, Nathaniel expresses the importance of cultural and gender identity to their overall sense of self, with a particular focus on the intersection of being Māori and part of the queer community.

Nathaniel emphasizes identifying as Māori ahead of any other aspect of their identity and recounts a transformative experience at the Hui Takatāpui, where they met like-minded individuals who shared similar struggles of feeling marginalized within their own culture. Learning about the historical presence and role of queer individuals in Māori culture was a pivotal moment for Nathaniel, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of their cultural heritage.

Nathaniel describes the personal journey of navigating gender identity, which included moving schools and changing names to better align with a true sense of self. The supportive environment of Wellington High School, coupled with encountering other transgender individuals, helped Nathaniel feel affirmed in their identity.

Discussions around representation and role models reveal Nathaniel's perception of the current media landscape as lacking but slowly progressing. Nathaniel highlights a need for more authentic, diverse queer characters in media, including those who face hardships, echoing a broader call for increased visibility and normalization of the queer community.

Regarding community, Nathaniel details the significance of finding and immersing oneself in a queer community, emphasizing how critical these spaces were during the formative teenage years. However, Nathaniel notes a lack of transgender men within these circles, identifying a gap in representation and mentorship.

The podcast transitions to conversations about medical issues faced by the transgender community in New Zealand, particularly the challenges surrounding access to surgery and hormones. Nathaniel calls for systemic changes that would see surgeries for transgender individuals funded and not categorized as cosmetic.

Nathaniel concludes by advocating for more inclusive educational content in schools that addresses queer identities and relationships, emphasizing the potential positive impact on young individuals grappling with their gender and sexual identities.

The podcast encapsulates a raw and personal narrative that sheds light on the interplay between cultural identity and gender identity, the power of community and visibility, and the ongoing struggles of transgender individuals in accessing proper medical care and representation. It underlines the desire for growth and acceptance within the Māori and wider New Zealand society for those in the Rainbow community.

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.

unidentified voice(s)

2010s, aotearoa new zealand, ara taiohi, beyond rainbows (series), coming out, community, culture, dating, disability, education, friends, funding, gender identity, glee (tv), hapu, history, hormone blockers, hormone replacement therapy (hrt), hui takatāpui, hui takatāpui (2014), identity, iwi, lower hutt, media, māori, name change, non-binary, orange is the new black (tv), queer, relationships, representation, school, school's out (lower hutt), school's out (wellington), sex education, stereotypes, surgery, tabby besley, takatāpui, transgender, transphobia, tāmati coffey, tīwhanawhana, university of auckland, upper hutt, wellington, wellington high school, whitewash, youth

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