Mon 16 Jan 2017 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
For the first time, a specialist sexual violence agency is moving towards creating safer spaces for LGBTI communities. Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence is supporting the community hui. Wellington based peer support group for male survivors of sexual violence, MOSAIC, is hosting a community hui to discuss how peer support groups can be more welcoming to queer, takatāpui and gender diverse men. The hui is open to all genders and will be held at Evolve Youth Health Service on 26 January. “We will explain a bit about what we do, and we will be asking for help around what people think about barriers for queer, trans and takatāpui men,” says Richard Jeffrey, Co-Ordinator of MOSAIC. “And we’re doing this with the support of Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence.” Project manager at Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura – Outing Violence, Sandra Dickson, says she is happy to see survivor agencies talking to LGBTI community. “The gaps for Rainbow survivors at the moment are pretty horrifying. It would be great to see similar conversations happening with other survivor agencies all over Aotearoa because we know that trans women and non-binary people are also, too often, not getting the help they need. “Richard and I have been talking about how to improve this for queer, trans and takatāpui men in Wellington, so I’m looking forward to being part of the hui, and super pleased too that one of the most knowledgeable takatāpui working with male survivors has agreed to help us out.” Alexander Stevens (Ngapuhi, Ngati Kahu) is a clinical health professional in the mental health and addictions’ sector who has worked with Māori and Pacific communities for over ten years, and will be one of the speakers at the hui. With extensive experience in the sector, Stevens is also an adult educator and Kaupapa Māori researcher active in Māori community development, specialising in sexual violence recovery. He is currently completing a PhD in MāoriHealth focusing on creating e-health resources for Māori men sexually violated in childhood and will be presenting a range of his research and work to supporting Māori men towards recovery and healing. MOSAIC Goes Rainbow Thursday 26 January, 6pm-9pm Evolve Youth Health Service Lvl 2, James Smith Building Corner Cuba
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 16th January 2017 - 2:51pm