An Auckland memorial service for the late and great Carmen Rupe will be held on the eve of the Big Gay Out. The service will be held on Saturday 11th February from 5.30PM-8.30PM at St Matthew-in-the-City. Carmen passed away peacefully in the presence of friends and family on 15 December and was buried, in accordance with her wishes, in Sydney's Rookwood Maori Cemetery. The Auckland memorial is open to anyone who would like to attend. Jordon Harris, a taktatāpui community member and one of the organisers, says the memorial is an opportunity for people to gather and pay their respects to one of New Zealand’s most respected and successful transgender legends. "Many whānau and friends were able to farewell Carmen in Sydney and this is an opportunity for people in New Zealand to do the same. Some of her close friends from Sydney are coming too and they will be bringing her portrait which was used at the tangi in Sydney." The service has been organised by Carmen's whānau, close friends, the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Mika Haka Foundation. It will be followed by a gathering at DNA from 9PM, then Family from midnight. A Wellington memorial for Carmen is being held this Sunday at S
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 17th January 2012 - 2:34pm