Elizabeth Kerekere Chair of the Tiwhanawhana Trust has acknowledged the Latin American communities in the US, who are now having to deal with the aftermath of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting. She says “we must not allow this tragedy to obscure the fact that such hatred and self-entitlement has caused the murders, suicides and deaths of Rainbow people in indigenous, Black and people of colour communities in their thousands.” The mass shooting took place as Pulse nightclub was celebrating a Latin American night. Pulse calls itself “Orlando's Latin Hotspot” and around 300 people are reported to have been at the club. Kerekere says “Tīwhanawhana Trust was formed for takatāpui to “tell our stories, build our communities and leave a legacy.” We do this by working with whānau and across Rainbow communities here and overseas. “Today our hearts go out to the whānau and friends of those who were lost and harmed in the brutal attack in Orlando. We send our spiritual strength to the Rainbow and Latino/Latina communities there and throughout the States as they cope with this atrocity during their Pride Month. “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated act of so-called “senseless violence.” This attack has occurred in the context of systemised homophobia, biphobia and transphobia supported by religious and state structures. It has occurred within the context of a presidential candidate spouting his own brand of extremist rhetoric. Blatant - but more often insidious - discrimination is something many people in our communities face every day. So while we mourn the losses in Orlando, we must not allow this tragedy to obscure the fact that such hatred and self-entitlement has caused the murders, suicides and deaths of Rainbow people in indigenous, Black and people of colour communities in their thousands,” she says. Tonight Tīwhanawhana will open the Orlando Candlelight Vigil in Wellington. "We will remember those we have lost. We will acknowledge how much we still have to do. We will stand in our own mana, in solidarity with Orlando and each other.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 13th June 2016 - 4:05pm