In this podcast Mani Bruce Mitchell from Intersex Awareness New Zealand talks about the upcoming ILGA World conference in Wellington in 2019.
Summary
This summary addresses the key points of an audio recording featuring Mani Bruce Mitchell from Intersex Awareness New Zealand, conducted by Gareth Watkins in Waitangi Park, Wellington on February 24, 2018. The discussion centers around the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference, slated to take place in Wellington in 2019. Notably, this event marks the first time that the ILGA World Conference will be hosted in the Pacific region. Previously, the event was held in Bangkok, but the decision to bring it to Wellington represents a significant change, emphasizing the conference's outreach and inclusivity.
The anticipated conference is expected to draw about 600 delegates from across the globe. The host, Mitchell details, is making concerted efforts to ensure the event not only reflects global human rights discussions but also celebrates local culture, particularly Maori values, which is emphasized as crucial to showcasing indigenous culture worldwide.
Mitchell expresses a desire for inclusiveness within the rainbow community, aiming to create safe spaces for marginalized members and to progress as a unified and diverse collective. The focus is on moving all segments of the community forward, rather than only the privileged sectors. Additionally, local community involvement is highlighted, with local groups like Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand (ITANZ) and Rainbow Youth collaborating on logistics while ILGA oversees the broader conference apparatus.
Apart from the conference, the interview touches on broader community aspirations, such as Mayor Justin Lester's vision to create a rainbow precinct during the conference duration. The idea is to have the city adorned in rainbow colors, with illuminated shop windows and iconic LED-lit waka ama on the harbor, enhancing Wellington's natural beauty and leaving a memorable impact on visitors.
The interview also points to the historical significance of the conference's timing; it coincides with the 40th anniversaries of both ILGA and the Stonewall riots of 1969. These landmarks symbolize the long-standing struggle and activism within the LGBTQ+ community. The theme of honoring street queens and pioneers of gay liberation is discussed, ensuring that their contributions to the movement are duly recognized and celebrated during the conference.
Mitchell concludes by encouraging local and international individuals to get involved in the conference, whether through attending, hosting, presenting, or simply registering online. With the event sprawling over two weeks, there is an eager invitation extended to the public to participate in this historic occasion.
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.
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1960s, 2010s, aotearoa new zealand, bangkok, bisexual, conference, diversity, gay, harbour, host ropu, human rights, ilga oceania, ilga world, ilga world conference (2019), indigenous peoples, international lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex association (ilga), intersex, intersex trust aotearoa new zealand (itanz), intersex visibility, justin lester, kaupapa, kaupapa māori, lesbian, mani bruce mitchell, mayor, michael fowler centre, māori, out in the park (wellington), pacific, pride precinct, rainbow youth, safe space, stonewall riots (1969), street queen, transgender, tīwhanawhana, visibility, waitangi park, waka ama, wellington