LGBTI* health plenary

The session delves into issues concerning LGBTI health, acknowledging the limitations of the term LGBTI in encapsulating the community's full diversity. The event opens on an introspective note, reflecting on the intensity of the conference and the intellectual and emotional landscapes navigated so far. The speaker underscores the importance of such gatherings, which aim to reinvigorate commitment and maintain visibility in the ongoing struggle for recognition and rights.

In particular, Kerekere pays homage to the rich relationships between Māori and Pacific peoples and honors the shared sacred spaces they come from. They recall personal stories and highlight the significance of glitter and glamor as forms of expression, using this as a metaphor for broader cultural visibility and pride. The speaker then makes a correlation between the conference theme of 'restocking the fires' and the traditional roles of individuals who keep the home fires burning, tasked with preserving the cultural hearth and, by extension, the community's rights and space.

In discussing youth experiences, Kerekere touches upon the issue of burnout, advocating for increased collaboration among community groups to prevent the exhaustion predominantly faced by those acting individually. They emphasize the symbolism of the rainbow, particularly in the Māori context, embracing inclusivity and rejecting the notion of a singular identity to encompass the entire spectrum of the community.

The conversation then shifts to specific initiatives addressing primary health needs, homelessness among LGBTI individuals, and engagement with intersex round tables, highlighting engagement in various sectors beyond health to combat discrimination and advocate for equal rights. Kerekere speaks about reclaiming the term 'takatāpui' from ancestral times to affirm the community's historical presence within Māori culture, asserting that discrimination runs contrary to cultural values.

The discourse also underscores the need for evidence-based research to leverage political influence and drive change. According to Kerekere, such empowerment is rooted in the knowledge and practices ('tikanga') intrinsic to Māori culture. They express determination to restore the sexual and gender fluidity that was diminished in the colonial era, reaffirming the innate place of LGBTI people within Māori society.

Jack Trolove's contribution emphasizes the urgent need for suicide prevention within the community, outlining the disproportionate rates of suicide and mental distress experienced by LGBTI individuals. Trolove notes the correlation between discrimination and these heightened risks, advocating for systemic solutions to enhance community well-being and flourish.

The session concludes with a QandA, where members discuss the practical application of resources designed to assist the community and the importance of cultural representation in suicide prevention. The participants express gratitude for the pioneering work and the powerful affirmation of unity and cultural identity that resonates through the community across generations.

The event stands as a testament to the vital work being done for and by the LGBTI community in Aotearoa New Zealand, highlighting the profound interconnection between cultural identity, health, and well-being. It serves as a reminder of the importance of advocacy, research, and education in forging a more inclusive and equitable society.

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.

Elizabeth Kerekere Jack Trolove Mani Bruce Mitchell

2010s, activism, ahi kaa, ancestors, aotearoa new zealand, ara taiohi, arts, auckland, black women's movement, burnout, butch, community, culture, discrimination, education, elizabeth kerekere, exclusion, exhibition, femme, health, hinengaro, housing, human rights, human rights act (1993), international lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex association (ilga), intersex roundtable, jack byrne, jack trolove, jan logie, language, mana, mana wahine, mani bruce mitchell, mental health, mental health foundation, māori, mātauranga māori, pasifika, performance, proud 2016 (wellington), relationships, research, resource, sandra dickson, shoes, social services, suicide, suicide prevention, takatāpui, takatāpui: part of the whanau (booklet), te whare tapa wha, tikanga, tinana, trans, transexual, transgender, tīwhanawhana, university of otago wellington school of medicine, wairua, waka hourua, wellbeing, wellington, wellness, whakatauki, whānau, word reclamation, youth

acceptance, access, accident, acting, actions, africa, agenda, artist, attack, audience, balance, barriers, bisexual, books, building, canada, change, christianity, circus, closet, conference, depression, difference, diversity, dog, elders, emotional, energy, face, family, fashion, fear, feelings, film, fitness, florida, fluidity, forum, freedom, friends, fun, funding, future, gay, gender, gender diverse, gender identity, god, government, grandparents, healthy relationships, heterosexual, high heels, history, hockey, homelessness, hope, identity, inclusion, individual, internet, intersex, interviewing, knowledge, legacy, lesbian, lgbt, london, love, mainstream, media, migrants, military, narrative, oceania, opportunity, other, pacific, parents, passing, people, pets, podcast, power, prevention, privilege, radio, rainbow, rainbow youth, reading, reclaim, recognition, resilience, revolution, sad, school, sea, self harm, sex, sex characteristics, sexuality, shade, siblings, singing, sleep, soap, social, soul, space, spaces, spark, speech, spirituality, sport, statistics, strategy, strength, struggle, stuff, success, support, therapist, time, tokyo, tomboy, top, touch, truth, united nations, visibility, walking, website, women, work, workshop, youth