Thu 2 Jun 2016 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
Takataapui (Rainbow Community Māori) are, and have always been, part of the whānau - which is to say, part of Māori culture. Ahi Wi-Hongi speaking at C.L.I.T.fest 2013: a trans and cis women centred event We feel that under the treaty, the cultural position of Māori is to be upheld, so we're strongly in favour of uplifting the position of takataapui into the more common 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender' mix. Of course, there are many identities and we can't always list them all, but Māori do have a unique political position as First Nations peoples under the founding document. First Nations peoples in colonised countries tend to face high rates of discrimination, including employment, healthcare, and housing discrimination, so we are more likely to be poor and homeless than other Rainbow Community people. This also has an impact on survival or poverty related crimes, and we know that Māori are more likely to receive harsher punishments for crimes - like Mr. Tawha who caught 10 trout. We have a prison system in Aotearoa which puts transgender women in with male prisoners, and we have seen this result in sexual violence and trauma. So, we need to recognise that the high 'LGBTI' statistics being quoted about homelessness, violence, discrimination, and stigma - that is often takataapui we're talking about. We need to honour resilience and address structural disadvantage. That starts with naming our existence - we are takataapui. Many takataapui, like myself, face high levels of discrimination, stigma, and abuse. After leaving school at 14 because of homophobic and biphobic bullying, I had a series of short term low paying jobs, and became a homeless teen, living in vehicles, squatting derelict buildings, stealing food, and being vulnerable to abusive relationships. I didn't have ways to support myself, so it was hard to leave - even when my 28 year old boyfriend assaulted me because he was scared I would leave him for a woman - which is a common story for takataapui who are attracted to all genders.'' Traditionally and today, indigenous genders and sexualities are often very different to western concepts of gender, and monogamous, heterosexual, nuclear family models. We need to be part of the conversation, and our traditional practices of accepting and loving our whanau who are takataapui needs to be part of the conversation. It's vital to remove the barriers so takataapui can thrive as part of vibrant communities. Ahi Wi-Hongi is the National Coordinator of Gender Minorities Aotearoa. Gender Minorities Aotearoa is opening an op shop in Wellington this summer to raise funds for supporting takataapui and other sex and gender minorities. Ahi Wi-Hongi - 2nd June 2016