Drew Hadwen

This abstract summarizes a podcast featuring an interview with Drew Hadwen, focusing on their involvement in the development of Devotion dance parties/festivals and the Beacons of Hope services in Wellington during the 1990s. Hadwen's engagement with the LGBTQ+ community events began around January 1993, when they volunteered as a coordinator for the Devotion dance party, a significant event on Wellington's waterfront started by a member of the AIDS Foundation in 1991. The event, which included a parade, aimed to raise funds for the center and was a response to the significant impact of AIDS in New Zealand. The interview delves into Hadwen's experiences and observations of the AIDS crisis and its profound effect on the community, including the ignorance, fear, and discrimination faced by people living with HIV.

Hadwen recalls the challenging conditions in preparing the venues for Devotion and reflects on the influence of Sister Paula Brettkelly, who was a driving force in community advocacy and support. Hadwen also speaks about their own role in organizing beacons for the local AIDS Candlelight memorial, describing the thoughtful process behind these acts of remembrance for those lost to AIDS-related illnesses.

The recording showcases how community-led initiatives like Devotion and Beacons of Hope served to create solidarity, visibility, and hope during a time of great fear and grief, and how these events evolved over the years in response to the community's needs. The Devotion Festival expanded to include a wider range of events, catering to various interests within the LGBTQ+ community and leading to the eventual shift from large dance parties to more intimate settings.

The podcast touches on the issue of corporate sponsorship in contemporary pride events, contrasting the commercialized aspect of these events with the deeply community-oriented nature of earlier parades and festivals. It concludes by reflecting on the legacy of devotion - not necessarily a tangible outcome but a testament to the LGBTQ+ community's resilience and unity in times of adversity. The recording emphasizes the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ culture and history, advocating for continued celebration and recognition of the community's unique identity and experiences.

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.

Drew Hadwen

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