Lesbian heritage walk

In this podcast episode recorded in Ponsonby, Auckland, titled "Lesbian heritage walk (Auckland)," Miriam Saphira leads a tour group to historic lesbian sites in the city, particularly focusing on central Auckland. The recording, 54 minutes in length, is a rich exploration of the lesbian community's presence in Auckland from the 1970s to the 2010s. Saphira, with extensive knowledge of the subject, narrates the significance of various locations associated with the lesbian heritage of Auckland.

The narrative begins at the corner of Pons Road and Collingwood Street, where Saphira speaks about former lesbian bars such as 161 Club and discusses the challenges faced by lesbians in owning and operating such establishments. The difficulty in sustaining these venues is attributed to economic and social pressures, including financial constraints due to the lesbian’s lower capacity for alcohol consumption and regulations preventing women from acquiring licenses to sell alcohol in the 1970s.

The walk continues with the acknowledgment of the discrimination and medical mistreatment lesbians faced, shed light on the reality that lesbianism was considered a mental illness until 1973. This historical stigma resulted in traumatic psychiatric treatments for some individuals even after the classification was removed.

Saphira then discusses the Auckland Women's Centre, a significant site where lesbians gravitated towards and formed connections. The walk addresses the intersection of feminism and lesbianism, highlighting conflicts that arose within the community. The historical context given by Saphira includes the establishment of the KG Club, a venue important for socialization and community bonding, despite police raids and financial difficulties.

The guide also talks about the first New Zealand meetings on homosexual law reform in 1969, the influence of AIDS on public perceptions of the queer community, and the varying degrees of feminist and political involvement within lesbian groups. The narrative includes anecdotes of police discrimination, and also personal stories that illuminate the complexities of the lesbian community, revealing a picture of resilience and camaraderie born from shared struggles.

The tour delves into publications like the Tamaki Lesbian Newsletter and broader connections in the arts, such as the founding members of theater in New Zealand, Amy Kane and Daisy Isaacs. It also touches on the rich tapestry of lesbian life, framed by the backdrop of an evolving political and social landscape that witnessed the emergence of spaces celebrating queer culture.

The walk concludes at the Stark bar, named after prominent historical figure, Freda Stark, and Saphira suggests the possibility of viewing Stark memorabilia at the Civic Theatre for those interested in the continuation of their historical journey.

This recording provides a multi-layered narrative of Auckland's lesbian heritage, integrating various aspects of socio-political history, community dynamics, activism, and cultural contributions. It’s an informative and compelling journey through the places, events, and people that shaped the lesbian community in Auckland over four decades.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Miriam Saphira

161 club, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, aids support network, alcohol, amy kane, aotearoa new zealand, auckland, bitches witches and dykes (magazine), books, broadsheet (magazine), bruce burnett, butch, chain anklet, charlotte museum, children, community, daisy isaacs, discrimination, dna (auckland), drugs, education, feminism, femme, freda stark, gay liberation movement, hero (auckland), herstory, history, hiv / aids, homosexual law reform, identity, kamo (auckland), karangahape road, kg club (auckland), kiss (auckland), language, les girls (auckland), lesbian, lesbian feminist circle, lesbians in print (lip), lew pryme, makeup, mental health, mental illness, midnight club (auckland), miriam saphira, oakley hospital (auckland), police, politics, pride, safe sex, sapphic star, sinners (auckland), social, tamaki makaurau lesbian newsletter, teaching, the box (auckland), the women's bookshop, tuesday club (new plymouth), violence, visibility, wedding, women, women's centre (auckland)

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