Nelson’s Q-Youth is paying tribute to the work and advocacy of its Patron Maryan Street, who was the queer youth group’s first ever Chair. Street has not made it back to Parliament, after nine years as a Labour list MP. Rosemary Linde has, like Street, been with Q-Youth from its formation in 2010. She recalls Street agreed to fit being its Chair in along with her other responsibilities. “We were extremely fortunate and grateful to have Maryan on board as not only was she experienced in matters of boards of trustees and running meetings, but being gay she was very attuned to matters affecting the glbti community, including youth, and had many contacts in the gay community - a huge bonus for a fledgling organisations like ours.” Street has been a regular at Q-Youth events Linde says Street has always made a point of joining Q-Youthers at events. “She marched with the queer youth in the annual Nelson Masked Parade. She attended the first ever Q-Youth ball. She came along to the Relay for Life and supported the Q-Youthers as they walked the relay. She spoke at workshops for young queer people. “There are many other examples of events Maryan attended and the support she provided to Q-Youth. As well as providing support to the Q-Youth group, I know she provided lots of support to, and advocated for individual youth.” When Street stood down from the board, she became the first ever patron of Q-Youth, and Linde says she continues to support and take a keen interest. “We wish Maryan well for the future, and rather selfishly hope she stays in Nelson so we at Q-Youth can continue to benefit from her vast knowledge and experience in glbti matters, I know that wherever she ends up, she will continue to support Q-Youth.” Street often shares the story of what drove her to be an out advocate for youth. When she was a teacher she had a gay student, and they never spoke about their sexualities. “As a gay school teacher myself, it was difficult to be as supportive of him as I wanted to be, because of the vulnerability of gay and lesbian teachers in those days,” Street has recalled. A year after the boy left school, he committed suicide, and Street vowed she would always be as supportive and as brave as she could be for young people.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 29th September 2014 - 10:09am