Peter and partner reflect on life before homosexual law reform, their civil union and attending Out in the Park.
Summary
This abstract summarizes a poignant audio recording capturing reflections from two individuals, Peter and partner, on their life experiences relating to LGBTQ+ issues in Aotearoa New Zealand, spanning from the 1960s through to the 2010s. The recording, titled "Peter and partner - Out in the Park (2016)," is an interview conducted by Gareth Watkins in Wellington. It opens with Peter expressing joy at attending the 30th anniversary of Out in the Park, a significant contrast to the challenges faced 30 years prior.
During the 1960s, the interviewee recounts harrowing experiences of bullying and harassment, which were especially severe prior to homosexual law reform in the country. They describe the intimidation felt during marches and protests, incidences of public hostility, and personal attacks, such as having objects thrown at their home. The police, while somewhat understanding towards their plight, could offer limited support since the LGBTQ+ community's existence was deemed illegal at the time.
The interview paints a vivid picture of the social climate before and after law reforms that impacted the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting the particular adversity faced during the parliamentary process of the Civil Union Bill, where the couple had to endure "loud and awful" protests from opposition groups. The civil union of the couple is touched upon, indicating a long-term, committed relationship since 1980, and their decision not to convert their civil union into a marriage, viewing both as equally valid forms of partnership.
One of the individuals discusses the broader context of their life, such as coming out at the age of 12 and suffering severe bullying at school, which ultimately led to leaving education early. They reflect on the profound changes in societal acceptance over the decades, yet they still acknowledge persisting challenges such as queer bashing and bigotry. The acceptance and presence of young people at events like Out in the Park offer hope and stand as a testament to the progress made for future generations.
An intimate glimpse into their personal life is also shared, including their decision to not have children but to adopt abandoned and abused pets, thus creating their own family unit. The one cat they have becomes a significant part of their life and is affectionately named "little girl."
When considering current and future challenges for the rainbow community, the interviewees point out the remaining bigotry and the need for continued outreach and support to those still facing adversity. The conversation also turns to the particular issue of aging within the LGBTQ+ community and the need for safe environments and elder care facilities that are accepting and supportive, recognizing this as an important next step for inclusivity.
The recording ends with a hopeful note, imagining an ideal future where they can age gracefully and happily in a supportive environment, surrounded by caring individuals from their community.
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.
Voices
Tags
1960s, 1980s, 2000s, 2010s, adoption, ageing, aotearoa new zealand, auckland, bigotry, bullying, cats, civil unions, destiny church, elder care, elder issues, elders, fairy, harassment, homophobia, homophobic bullying, homosexual law reform, march, marriage, out in the park (wellington), out in the square (wellington), parade, pets, police, queer bashing, rest homes, school, waitangi park, wellington, youth