A partnership with the New Zealand Aids Foundation has resulted in the creation of a plan to reduce discrimination and prevent HIV and STIs in Tonga's queer community. The Tonga Leitis' Association (TLA) unveiled the document at the Miss Galaxy pageant. Leitis is an inclusive term for transgender, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. TLA Executive Director Joey Mataele says the TLA Strategic Plan 2010‐2015 means the organisation now has a clearly defined mission to reduce discrimination, and prevent HIV and STIs and clear goals to be achieved by 2015. "By working with the NZAF, the TLA will achieve its vision of a Kingdom without STIs and discrimination," he says. NZAF Director HIV Prevention and Communications Simon Harger‐Forde says the strategic plan is an extraordinary achievement for the TLA. "The TLA is an organisation with small resources but big energy and it has developed a plan that clearly establishes the priorities for improving human rights for Leitis in Tonga. Tonga should be proud of the TLA." The partnership between the TLA and the NZAF is part of a broader three-year programme to reduce the discrimination faced by Leitis in the Pacific, and is funded by the Pacific Islands HIV and STI Regional Response Fund. The document was launched on the final night of the Miss Galaxy pageant by the Hon. Frederica Tuita, daughter of Princess Pilolevu and Lord Tuita. Miss Tara was crowned the 2010-2011 Miss Galaxy Queen. The pageant included a condom parade and attracted crowds of approximately 2000 people each night. The three night celebration of sexual and gender diversity was held at the Four Seasons Resort in 'Umusiwith entrants from New Zealand‐based Tongan communites, the USA, and Australia, as well as local talent competing for the title of Miss Galaxy.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 14th July 2010 - 6:20pm