Fighting Homophobia

The recording captures a panel discussion from the Marriage Equality Conference held on 1st December 2012 at St Andrew's on the Terrace in Wellington. Titled “Fighting Homophobia in Our Communities,” it featured presentations from Bill Logan, Eileen Brown, Jan Logie, Nigel Studdart, and Steve Farrow (Rainbow Network), all of whom spoke on various aspects of homophobia and shared their experiences and insight on combating discrimination in schools, workplaces, and the broader community.

During the panel, there were references to Murray Riches' research, "How Do We Make It Better," which focuses on the safety of queer youth. A significant theme of the discussion was the prevalence and impact of homophobia in schools, particularly the ways it manifests through bullying, isolation, and the lack of supportive structures for non-heteronormative students. There was a strong emphasis on education as a means to foster respect and tolerance, highlighting the need for teacher training and policy reforms to ensure safe environments for all students.

Logan, a longtime queer activist, particularly emphasized the importance of grassroots organizations like Queer Avengers in addressing these issues and their focus on homophobia in schools, the oppression of trans people, and elder care in the queer community. Panel members highlighted the role of supportive education professionals and the dangers of unsupportive or silent ones, citing examples whereby teachers experienced prejudice at the hands of colleagues and school leadership.

Nigel Studdart shared a deeply personal account of being dismissed from Northland College for standing in solidarity with students against homophobia, which has garnered substantial public support and highlighted the urgent need for advocacy in educational institutions. The panel stressed the importance of continuing the fight and being vocal advocates for change.

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Bill Logan Eileen Brown Jan Logie Nigel Studdart Rawa Karetai Steve Farrow (Rainbow Network)

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