The title of this recording is "Trans Awareness Week Gala". It is described as: Interviews with participants and stall holders at the Trans Awareness Week Gala. The event was held at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre on 16 November 2019. It was recorded in Newtown Community and Cultural Centre, cnr Colombo and Rintoul Street, Wellington on the 16th November 2019. This is an interview with Athena William, Jesse Porter, Kate Scarlet and Marian Clement. The interviewer is Gareth Watkins. Their names are spelt correctly, but may appear incorrectly spelt later in the document. The duration of the recording is 53 minutes. A list of correctly spelt content keywords and tags can be found at the end of this document. A brief description of the recording is: Interviews with participants and stall holders at the Trans Awareness Week Gala. The event was held at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre on 16 November 2019. The content in the recording covers the 2010s decade. A brief summary of the recording is: In this abstract, we summarize an insightful recording from the Trans Awareness Week Gala held at the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre in Wellington, New Zealand, on 16 November 2019. The event featured interviews with various participants and stall owners by Gareth Watkins, shedding light on the vibrant and engaging atmosphere of the gala and the wealth of activities, resources, and support available to the transgender community. Key aspects of the event included the visible celebration of transgender identities and culture, with the venue decorated with trans flags and bunting, and a diverse array of stalls offering everything from clothing and food to information on gender-affirming resources and craft items. The gala not only provided a platform for transgender individuals to connect with each other but also facilitated community engagement and awareness-raising. In addition to the gala, the recording highlights a series of other events taking place during Trans Awareness Week, such as the opening of an exhibition showcasing significant items related to transgender identities, the Transgender Day of Remembrance service, and gatherings hosted by various groups aimed at supporting the transgender community and enhancing public understanding. Interviewees discussed the importance of such events, emphasizing the growing visibility of the transgender community and the opportunity to confront misinformation through direct dialogue and representation. They also reflected on personal milestones and experiences within the LGBTQI+ community, ranging from social gatherings that offered a sense of community and normalcy to empowering moments of coming out or participating in support groups and creative endeavors. Furthermore, the conversations delved into the pressing concerns affecting transgender people in New Zealand, such as the challenges faced in legal identity changes and the need for broader social acceptance and access to gender-affirming healthcare. Various participants expressed a desire to address these challenges by waiving a metaphorical magic wand, wishing for systemic changes from governmental to societal levels that would pave the way for understanding, acceptance, and tangible support for the transgender community. The full transcription of the recording begins:  Hi. I'm Jessie Porter, and we're in the Newtown Community Centre at the Trans Awareness Suite Gala. Uh, so just coming up into the hall, there's, um, bunting all around with the trans colours. Trans flag stuff. We've got stalls, uh, clothing, food. Um, yeah. And just several stall owners and lots of people milling around people of all ages. Children, older people. Really nice vibe music play comfy chairs. Now, Jessie, this is, uh, the gala for win this week. But there are other events happening as well during the week, aren't there? That's right. And, um, So there's Papa. Have an event on tomorrow. So that's going to be from 4. 30 to 6. 30. And it's kind of a, um, opening event for a exhibition that they've got on. That is so, uh, people in the transgender community have brought items of significance to their identity as transgender people, uh, to papa have taken photos, little stories to go along with them. Sort of 15 to 200 words, and they'll be showcasing that tomorrow afternoon. And also, uh, ST Andrews are running the transgender day of Remembrance service as well. Yeah. No, I've heard that. And I think next Tuesday as well some, uh, messy university students are going to be running an event. A group called Beyond the Binary. Yeah, and that's just a sort of trans awareness, Um, get together, safe gathering kind of place this year. Seems like there are a lot more events happening. That's right. Yeah, last year I don't think we really had. We had a couple of things on Trans Day of Remembrance, as you know, like at Saint Andrews and that, but no gala like this. No sort of big gatherings like what's happening and certainly no exhibition at so you know, it's it's really, really cool to see, really. So why are these events so important? To be honest, we're just kind of at that tipping point of visibility where the community is starting to be visible. It's in the public discourse. A lot of that discourse isn't led by or even involving people within the community, so there's a lot of misinformation, whereas events like this we can come out, we present ourselves. We speak for ourselves. People can come. They can engage, they can learn they can get some nice food, just hang out, have a good time, you know? So it's just being showing that we are a part of the community. You know, we your neighbours, we your colleagues, we're just people getting by, you know? So when you when you come to these events what? What? What's the feeling that you get? Um, just that sense of community, Just that sense of not being alone, not being different, not being weird. You know, it's just you're just hanging out as a person with other people, um, you know, and just to feel celebrated, I guess. Proud of what you are and all of that. So can you recall your most memorable, uh, trans Rambo LGBTI moment? And why was it so memorable? Gosh, um, it was funny. Actually. It was a community event. Actually, it was the So I came out and I began transitioning medically before I actually engaged in the community at all. So at the point when I joined the community, it was I was already beginning to transition, and it was I had a lot of fear. I had a lot of uncertainty. I really had no idea, or I had some quite warped ideas of what my life was going to be like, and the very first event that I went to was just a sort of social gathering, a community gathering at Southern Cross. And it was just a bunch of Trans guys that just were hanging out and having a drink. And I just remember and I went along and I sat down and it was remarkable because it was it was just some normal people. It was some normal guys sitting around, you know, there was a lawyer, there was a student. I think there were two lawyers. There was a a nurse and they were just normal people living normal lives. And that was such a relief for me to realise that actually, like my life wasn't over because I had made this decision and all it was was just people sitting around being their normal Selves. And that's kind of what I think. Events like this do as well as it just kind of normalises our presence. Um, yeah, and just finally, if you had a magic wand that could be waved at anything or anyone, what would you wave at first and why? Oh, it's easy to say. The medical side of things. But to be honest, just social attitudes and things like that, because I think things like legal protections, medical access, all of that follows on from social attitudes. It follows on from understanding. It follows on from acceptance not just tolerance but acceptance. Celebration. So I think, yeah, it would be those social attitudes in education. Uh, so at the moment, we're at the trans awareness gala and we're at the inside out stall. Um, and it's representing an organisation that helps, uh, Rainbow Youth that, um, need anything at all from support to ideas to just have some fun. Yeah, it's a place to be yourself. It's a beautiful summer of inside out. That's cool. And can you tell me what's on your table? So we've got a bunch of resources, some of which we've created ourselves and others, um, that we've sourced from elsewhere and other organisations in the rainbow community. We've also got some lovely bookmarks with a lot of, um, rainbow content, including, um, trans and, um, non binary characters so that we can have a chat about you know, those narratives and bring them to the fore a bit more, and we've got some lovely merch, some totes and some t-shirts. So, um, what's the best part about being part of inside out? Um, I feel like it's just like a nice big family of like, everybody is allowed to sort of express themselves uniquely and then use that to help younger people and help other people understand the rainbow community that maybe aren't a part of it. So I feel like there's just lovely diversity that we're allowed to bring. Yeah. So how did you get involved? I, um, got involved with inside out. Probably when I was in high school. Um, they were still in conjunction with a few other, um, places, like schools. Out was a thing. And so once you know a few people who are organising and volunteering, you kind of get connected with everyone, and they were just really reaching out and lovely and at pride, they would also have stalls. And so it's just like a place where everyone's smiling at you and very friendly. So I thought, Yeah, I might as well join I had the right hair colour. Um, at the time, um, I got involved through which is, like, um, an annual camp that we have for rainbow people. Um, and then I got I was in high school as well. Running a QS a or quest straight alliance. Um, so I started going to, um, the, um annual QS A leaders. Who is that we annual monthly. Um, who is that? We have, um And I got involved through there, and now I'm here. I'm stuck here. Yeah, um, it's been a few years now that I've kind of been, um, involved in inside out in various different capacities, But, um, yeah, I started out just through, like, friends of mine who were doing this work. And, um yeah, my first kind of event also was Chef. And I just like it was this beautiful atmosphere and just like, unlike anything I had experienced, um, having all of these rainbow mainly rainbow in the in the same space. And just seeing how magical that was, it just made me like, yeah, want to do as much as I could with inside out. And now I'm the volunteer and education coordinator inside out, which I'm super excited about. And it's great. Yeah. Can you describe your first experience at shift? How How was that? Oh, um I'm in a who also has a DH D. So I'm, like, all over the place. And I was just making friends left and right. Um and then it was sort of like that thing of you walk in and you suddenly feel like you're home of like, it's super safe and you can just be yourself and you make it like the best friends I have. I made it shift the first time I went, Um, so, yeah, I would say it's just like it's safe and it's loving and you learn a lot and you're allowed to, like, change. Like you like, you know what I mean when I say change of like, you're allowed to explore yourself and explore like, you know, how you interact with people and those sort of things, Yeah, yeah. Every year that I went back to shift, I was sort of a different person. But every time it's magical to see the elder people in our queer community come together and sit and have stories, I remember when I went I think it was 2016 and we got, like, really privileged to be in that island Bay Um, unfortunately, that's not with us anymore. But, um, we were, like, in this little room and everyone was sitting in a circle and just talking about, like, the the Maori, um, history side of things. And it was just real magical to be able to learn from people who have so much knowledge and, um, also just to make friends. And even there were some, uh, workshops about, like, healthy relationships and healthy communication that we just never talk about and never think about in other spaces that was so valuable to learn. Yeah. I, I think that's also really cool. Like we learn about, like, the where we are and the we sort of learn about, um and it's sort of like we can explore our queerness away from, like, the super Western European setting that, like, tries to put everybody in a box and that sort of thing, which I think as well as super freeing Yeah, you mentioned earlier about, um Q SAS Queer Straight alliances. Are they more or less relevant in high schools nowadays? Are they needed more or less? I think that we're seeing way more Q SAS like we've been to quite a few Q SAS. I've just started this year. Um and actually that was just I remember that it was on RN. There was just like somebody did a study about how, um is a student achievement like achievement of rainbow students. Um, how, like, I think they're 14 times more likely to have yeah, better academic results if they know that their teachers and the faculty are supportive of their identities. So it's like it's, you know, positive in the, like the fact that they have a space to go to, but it also improves just like their general well-being. Um, and I think as well we're seeing a lot more development and how Q SAS are used. Like a lot of, um, Q SAS have, uh, sort of like activist groups and making wider change in policies and in their schools. Um, and like some groups are just like there of you can go once a week and you can just chill there and make connections and make friends and that sort of thing, Yeah, yeah, I think it's so important from a mental health perspective, especially in high school, There's never gonna be a day when you You don't need to make sure that high school students don't feel isolated. Because if you feel isolated in high school, it's a huge risk for not only you but everyone around you that, um, could be worried about you. So to have a place where you can feel like you're part of something and feel like, you know, people care about you, that's huge. I think as well I was chatting with somebody, Um, because I just went up to Tauranga for inside out, and, um, we were chatting with somebody who ran a QS a up there, and they were talking like, It's so awesome that it's getting to a point where, like, we don't have to hate ourselves for this amount of time before we can start loving ourselves that sort of thing. Yeah. Yeah. I agree that with Compass as well that, um, that the function of it has changed, I think, Um, but there is still a lot of yeah, a lot of work to be done, I think, um, in order to change the wider school culture, um, in a few, um, secondary schools especially, um, but yeah, it's just very like incredible seeing these young people. Yeah, do that self advocacy as well. Um, And organise yeah. Their own events and awareness raising like, yeah, it's a cool space for them to exercise those leadership skills through that passion that they've got for advocating for their peers. I think is really beautiful. Yeah. So, for each of you, personally, um, what has been the most memorable, um, trans Rainbow LGBTI event or moment in your life and why it's such a huge question. Um, I would say it was this really fun time in high school where I was about 13 or 14. I was really nervous to come out of the closet. I was identifying as a lady at the time or a woman. And I was just about to come out as lesbian because a huge crush on my friend. So I was sat down with, like, three or four of my best friends. I thought they would all hate me. I said, You know, this is the deal. This is who I I am, I'm I'm a lesbian. And then we went around the circle, and it turns out they were also all gay, but they had not told each other, and it was just really wholesome because we sort of found each other without knowing. And, um, just seeing the change in their growth over the years has been so meaningful. But knowing that, you know, while I was so scared there, there was a group of people with me that I could trust. Yeah, um, I think it's, like, super easy to just say like shift, because it's amazing. But I think, um, I when I was running my QS a I'm not in school anymore. Um, but I loved going there, and we would sort of, like, sit around and we would put chairs in a circle, which we called the Platonic circle of love. Um, and we would just chat about how our like our days were going. And if anybody needed to talk about anything, it was sort of like, OK to chat about things that were on people's minds. And that was just sort of lovely that, you know, there were people like in year nine that were able to actually, like, talk about some stuff that had been going on for them and being able to share that and, you know, have like that peer support sort of thing. Yeah. Yeah, I think, um, mine one that really sticks out to me is probably another moment at shift was, um, after Elizabeth had given her around. Um, like, the of the term. And, um, you could just, like, feel the swell of, like, gratitude in the room. And we all, like, stood up and and sung a and I was just, like, weeping. It was like, the first workshop of the day, and I was like, This is gonna be a long weekend, but, um, yeah, just to, like, be in a space where, um that facilitates that, um, as Hayden said as well, that connecting of generations and and like, cultural frameworks or with that shared vision to, like, create a space for, um, gender Diverse. Um, and Rainbow young people was like, I just was so grateful to have been in that space there. Yeah, it was real awesome. And just finally, if you had a magic wand and you were to waive it at anything or anyone, um, what would you do first? Uh, definitely, uh, from as a trans person who's trying to get surgeries, um, waive it at the whole government and just make sure that there's a safe and actually researched way for us to get health care appointments and for them to be cost effective and for the waiting list not be so long. So I can, you know, get my top surgery in a way that anyone else who needs an urgent surgery would get one. And you know, even insurance companies as well to not say, you know Oh, it's cosmetic, it's not, You know, it's really a matter of my life is drastically gonna be improved by this, and without it, I am going to suffer. So, um, hoping they can all get that together soon. Yeah, um, I would probably waive it at this thing that we need to, like, categorise ourselves, or, like, put everything like, instead of just letting people exist, having to make people explain themselves. I think I would just, you know, get rid of that and just let people exist. Know you feel Yeah, I think I would like to that and just say yeah, like, I wish we could just take people at their word and fully trust them and, like, know that they are the experts on their own experience and and their own identity and like we should never be. Yeah, feel that we have the authority to question that and to yeah, somebody by saying, No, you aren't what you say because I think that's yeah, we need to give as much space to that and celebrate that as we can. Yeah. Um, my name's Kate Skyler. She her pronouns and, um, we're at the tracor, and I'm here for naming New Zealand. What's naming New Zealand? Naming New Zealand is, um, a charity that raises money to help people change their names and passports and get birth certificates and everything when they are transitioning, whether that be within the binary or non-binary. We support anyone in the greater Wellington region to financially do that and also help them with their paperwork. So so So what are the costs involved in in doing those changes? Ah, well, the pricey ones are the name change in the passport, so they're It's approximately 100 and $80 each, so it's always going up and down. And then there's things like your new driver's licence, which will probably cost around. I think it's at about 40 something at the moment. Um, most of the time, when it comes to the birth certificate, the actual cost is quite low. But we do provide financial support to help get the medical evidence you need to go through a family court. And then we help you with all the family court process as well, which is more process trickier than financially tricky. So have the processes, um, got easier or harder over the last couple of years. The process for the passport and the driver's licence have gotten heaps easier after the Human Rights Commission released that report. Um, but the birth certificate process is still stuck. It's a legislative process that was set out in 1995 and it's still quite difficult. You still have to apply to family court. There's still a medical standard you have to show judge a judge All this medical evidence. It's very, um, shameful and intimidating process for a lot of people, and it also in no way allows your birth certificate to recognise. If you identify as non-binary, it only allows male or female identification. So it's very old. Yeah, and in terms of cost, I mean, why does it cost so much? Well, I don't really know. These are all government set prices in terms of, like, the passport, driver's licence and name change. So they just set that. Um, yeah, uh, I've heard it's to cover the actual cost of administrative process, but it seems it's a big bar for a lot of people. So so do you have, um, a lot of people coming to you for for, um, financial assistance? Yeah, we get a few. We we're not huge in terms of our fundraising. We always need more money, but we help who we can. And then even if we can't financially help, we're always happy to help fill in paperwork a trans friendly lawyer or justice of the peace to sign things. You don't have to answer any awkward questions, you know. So do you think the, um, the process has improved since the the new kind of labour coalition government has been in power, but it hasn't improved yet. There is a working group in place to try and improve it. But, um, there was a bill going before parliament which would have hopefully hopefully made it super easy. But it's currently delayed, and nothing much is happening. And what is the status of the working group? 00, my gosh. So I'm the chair of the working group, and we're still just in the process of researching and putting together our report. Yeah. So, today, um, can you tell me what's on your store? Uh, what's on your store table? Oh, cool. So we've got a whole bunch of, uh, cookies. We've got some vegan double chocolate chip with salt. We've got some white chocolate, cashew burnt butter, some regular chocolate chip, a whole bit knitting and crochet donated by some of our volunteers, a wine fundraiser and some free range chocolate. That's a lot of baking. There is a lot of baking. I was over 100 cookies. I was doing that last night. Tell me, W, why are why are these events so important to to to have in the community? Well, I think it's a really great opportunity for our community to come together and to meet each other. It's great for our broader community, like Newtown to know we exist and to have a chance to show their support for us. Uh, and it's just really nice to hang out and get to know people. Yeah, in terms of naming New Zealand, what are the what are the big, biggest kind of obstacles you face and what are the biggest opportunities as well? Our biggest obstacles are just the difficulty of the birth certificate process. That's a big thing for a lot of people and also the financial barriers. The biggest opportunities. Um, we I find Wellington's a really great place. A lot of people want to support us. We've got, um a lot of the broader queer community comes along to all of our movie fundraisers and really gets behind us. So we feel very supported and loved by them. And we're also part of outer Spaces, part of their umbrella group. And the Outer Spaces Board just provides so much administrative accounting and, like governance support, we couldn't do it without them. They're great just personally for you. What has been your most memorable, uh, rainbow LGBTI trans moment. And why so tough? Um, at the start of this year, we ran a really great quiz. Um, we raised over $900. Uh, that that really was really amazing. To see so many people coming together and being part of that quiz. Um oh, and also, just in my day job, I work for community law. And, um, we were involved in getting the driver's licence gender change thing, Um, so that you could do it by stat deck rather than getting your birth certificate done first. It was a pretty fun moment. Yeah, And just finally, if you had a magic wand, um, and you could wave it at anything or anyone who would you wave it at first? Or what would you wave it at first? And why such hard questions? I would just like to wave it generally at New Zealand and just, like get people to understand that it's OK if people are different, like it's not a threat. If you've got some power or something, it's not a threat to your own position to give trans people rights to let them in to make them feel safe. Like just let's all be nicer to each other called Gabriela and I am at the Scala because I am a volunteer at Auntie Dana's op shop, and they're run by G MA Um, and so they're the ones that have organised this event as well. And tell me about Auntie Dana. Um, Auntie is really cool. It's It's an up shop, but I feel like it's quite different from a lot of other shops because of the that is backed behind. Um, you know, the It's not just, um, for selling clothes. It's also about providing information, too. And I think that's a really cool angle. And, um, just something that's quite necessary. And how did you get to, um, to be volunteering there? I walked past the shop and I saw just a sign in the window and see volunteers needed. And I thought it would be a really fun thing to do. I've I've met a lot of cool people here, and I've become, um, a part of a pretty cool community, too, which I'm quite grateful for. So this event, uh, which is part of the Trans Awareness Week? Can you tell me why things like this gala are important? Um, I think it's it's really important to just bring awareness to a lot of things that people not only may not be, um, quite knowledgeable about, because I know that, um, even today it is quite new. information, um, of being non binary and being trans and, um, not conforming to a single identity. Um, but it also allows for a safe place for those people to just occupy and, um, express themselves freely because that isn't afforded to as many people as it should be. And so creating events like this allows for that to happen. Can you describe, um, what what we're seeing in the hall? Yes. So, um, at the gala, it's It's a really awesome event. There's a lot of, um, cool stores. Um, of course, because it's run by G MA. There's a couple of stores for, um, Auntie Down shop. So we've got a bag for $5 where there's a couple of tables full of clothes. Um, there's a lot of stores that are selling sweets and food and baking. There's a couple that have a lot of information around, um, the LGBT T plus, um, and community and diversity and things like that. Um, there's also a tarot card reading store, which I'd love to go to later. And yeah, a few other things. Um, and also there's some performances going on later on as well, which is gonna be really cool. And later on there's gonna be a reading of a book, which is gonna be really exciting. And I think, um, one of the things later on today is the launch of the counting ourselves report. Yes. Yeah, definitely. Um, there's later on in the evening. I'm really excited. In all honesty, I don't know very much about it, so I'm keen to be a part of it. Just to kind of sit back and learn, too. Yeah. So what do you think the, um, the biggest issues facing, um, kind of trans and Non-binary communities in New Zealand are at the moment. Um, there's there's definitely a lot of transphobia out there. Um, you know, I. I see it in a lot of different places in my family. Including, you know, I've I've got a little brother who has come out as Trans this year, and I see it in my family, you know, ignoring pronouns and, you know, using, um, his birth name and things like that. And then you see, obviously a lot more, because, you know, trans people being killed every single day and it's terrible. And so I think Yeah, this is This is a really big step in in terms of saying, you know, like Trans people are fucking people, you know, Um, the fact that you we need an event like this is kind of disheartening, because if if the idea of trans people in the LGBT Q a, um, community was normalised, then we wouldn't actually need this. Otherwise, it would just be a really cool gala. But, um, yeah, it's really important that this kind of is, um, pushed out into the community. So if you had a magic wand and you could wave that magic wand at anything or anyone, what would you go for for first and why? Oh, my gosh. Um, sticking to the I would wave it at anyone that had either no idea, um, who or what Trans people were and fill them with knowledge and kindness and love. I would just love to fill everyone with kindness and love. Um, I'm Marion Clement. Um, I'm here with my girlfriend. Um, we're selling the baking we did last night at the gala. I I'm Athena. Um, I'm Marion's partner. I'm here to help, um, with Marion's stall or set up in, um, the Gullah. We've got, um, chocolate and almond. Um, their cook their cookies. They're, um, actually kind of sables, which is this kind of French cookie that's very light and fluffy. There's the texture of a cake. We've got chocolate chip cookies with a bit of a twist because we brown the butter first, so it's got a really sweet toffee flavour to it. And, um, we also have nice little cinnamon cookies as well. This is mostly Marion's project. She's the one who, um, wanted to do this, and this was like her goal for it, I guess. End year, Um, I'm here as like a volunteer to help her out, Um, where I can just I've not really done the baking, but just providing what she needs, like markers and whiteboards and things like that. Signs that So So how did you get into baking there? Um, I started, um, I did cooking in school, the the cooking classes there, and I had a really strong interest in baking because, unlike cooking where it's a lot more of an art, baking is really easily done because it's kind of a science, so it's weighing things in proportion and putting everything together. And since I'm a bit since I'm autistic, um, it goes really, really easily in my brain. And I also, um, like cooking for people like at the, um, queer Strait Alliance that I used to that I ran at my school. I always tried to bring in baking every week to for so people can have something to snack on and stuff like that. And something happens when you're when you're actually sharing food with people. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's always enjoyable to, um, it's It's a good way to help my self esteem. I like people. I like seeing people eat my food and feel better and, you know, enjoying it and stuff like that. What was it like running a queer strait alliance? Um, it was quite interesting. Um, I I tended to try and make it kind of non hierarchical because I don't really like that. Um, because when the when the leader leaves, group foot can fall apart. So I tried to instil this, um, thing where everyone kind of came in each week and everyone kind of helped out and stuff like that. Um, it was immensely enjoyable, though. Um, we managed to, um, get change. We managed to, um, change some stuff like we managed to make get private, changing rooms put in the gym and stuff like that. And what did you get out of being part of a QS a, um, I enjoy the lot I got I just got a lot of personal enjoyment out of it. Um, I come from quite a privileged position, I would say economically. So I tend to try my best to fight for those who don't have the advantages that I have. Um, especially other trans people. I feel a very strong, I guess I would say kinship. Almost kind of familiar kinship for a lot of trans people, because I I've known enough to know how hard it can be for a lot of people. I've been quite fortunate, but I try to fight because I'm in the position where I I'm completely safe from that. Why do you think, uh, events like the gala are important? Well, I think it gives all the trans people an opportunity to have an outlet for their creativity. A lot of the time, sometimes sometimes they and also be able to easily sell it because you can't just set up a stall on your own in that screen and expect to, you know, recoup costs and stuff like that. So I think it gives people a lot of opportunity to express their creativity, maybe get a bit of money or raise money for their own organisations and stuff like that. Mhm. Can you, uh, describe for me your most memorable, um, trends, Rainbow LGBTI, um, moment or event and why it was so momentous? Um, I guess the most momentous event for me. Um most momentous, momentous, PO positive event I'm going to go with. Um But, um, it was kind of listening to a podcast done by a trans woman, and it's kind of hearing them. It was kind of that moment when you kind of realised how much you had in common with that person and kind of how much of a connection you had and being able to through them, realise who you are. Um, I guess it will have to be how I got into this sort of lifestyle, um, to really, outwardly start living as trends. Uh, would have been around my 20th birthday last year. Um, that's where I got to move in, um, to a house that's all full of trans women. And, you know, we were We were pretty close. Um uh, almost like sister like, I guess, Um, and, you know, we're just comfortable being us around them. You know, I, um every time I look back, it that's just I think why? Why? We're called to be the first time and the most distinct time. But it's also a time that I, um That I, uh, Miss, really. And and just finally, if you had a magic wand and you could waive it at anything or anyone, uh, what would you wave it at first and why? I guess the selfish side of me would, uh, would would want to do it for, uh, Marion, Um, possibly even myself. To be honest, we've not had a very good year. So we could really use as much of the, uh as much of the help that we can get. Um, like, not not saying, as you know, to be, like, selfish to get, you know, to get everything to ourselves. It's just that, um, to just get what we need, really, But also to, um the other side of me, which is just, I don't know, find out what, um, what people need and and see what it is. So it can do the really provide it? Um, yeah, I guess with a magic wand, You you You could provide exactly what it is, but yeah, it's always knowing exactly what it is that people need. Um, that's the issue. I guess I would, uh, wait for matric wand, and, uh, probably try to, uh, basically, uh, stop. Uh, stop. Um, people keep, uh, stop. People from, uh, keep, uh, hosting turf events all the time, especially in parliament. Fine. Because to me, they're the most harmful, awful people in the world. And I've seen where that kind of normalised bigotry leads. Not personally. But there are things that have happened to my friends, which are just abhorrent and supporting that kind of trying to, um, normalise. That kind of horrible thought is just monstrous. Really. So I'm Alex. I'm a volunteer for gender minorities at, and I work in a diner op shop, and we've just been setting up, uh, the G MA Youth gala, which has been a project like run by, uh, run by and for trans youth for the whole community. Um, and we're just setting up the event to start today. So how did the event, uh, come about? Um, we were kind of, like, brainstorming stuff that we could do, like as a positive community. Um, project. And we were thinking that, like, Trans youth in particular needed a space where they could publish, like, the amazing, like, creative stuff in their community and the produce that they make and and they wouldn't have to feel like they had to, like, give money to someone else. So it was just creating a space for that. And this is the idea we came up with. And you were saying that you were with, um, Auntie, Tell me. Tell me about Auntie. Um, So Auntie Danas is an op shop. It was based, um, up at 1 to 8. And it's moved, and I joined it when it moved about five months ago. Now, um, and it's just an shop based in Newtown. And I work there, sort of like 5 to 6 days a week, Sort of depending. Um, yeah, that is like a really great space. And obviously you get a lot of people coming in for the shop element. But it's also a really good way to, like, get some of our positive trans messaging out there. And so Auntie Dinas feeds into Is it gender? Minorities are? Yeah. So, um, the gender centre is based literally just above, um, So Auntie Dinas is about creating, like, literally a physical space so that we can have run the gender centre upstairs, which is open on Wednesdays and Thursdays and also create a space for, um, trans community events, which which run from the same building. So So, what kind of events do you run? Um, so we run raw sugar, which is, um, a event for, like, trans people in the community, which is, uh, I think it's on the website. It's on one Saturday, a month. Um, and that's a really nice one as well. Like, it was mostly about creating, like a alcohol free environment for trans people to just kind of, like hang out. And we can, um, like, just chat about stuff, and we sometimes watch movies and things. It's quite informal, but it's quite a valuable space. Um, and then there's also gender centre drop in where people can come and get, um, like free legal advice, for example, advice about like medicine and that kind of stuff. So it's quite a lot like serves the community in a lot of different ways. I think, What do you think the biggest issues facing trans communities are at the moment in New Zealand? Um, in New Zealand? I think that the lack of access to health care is one thing, definitely. It's an element of like being in a postcode lottery and, like compared to a lot of other developed nations like the surgery waiting lists, for example, are very inadequate. Um, I also think that there's a massive uh, it's not not It's not as bad in some ways is in America and Britain. But there's certainly like a domination of like anti transgender hate, which is quite normalised and mainstream, and that like allows, you know, and that can spiral out of control. And that allows and credits things like anti transgender hate crime and that kind of stuff, which is a real issue for a lot of people in the community. One of the things later on today is the launch of the counting ourselves report. Can you tell me about that? Yes. So I've been in contact with some of the people who founded that report, and we kind of like, asked them if they wanted to do the launch here. So that's actually really important because, like, as compared to a lot of other countries in New Zealand, doesn't actually have a lot of information about, like, trans statistics and like trans hate crime and things like that because the data isn't collected on trans people. So the counting ourselves report is really important to kind of in some extent confirm what you do, you know about the prejudices we face as a community, things like mental health and homelessness. But it also gives a validation so that we can get funding to address those problems. Once we've got sort of like hard numbers, which we now have, we can we can actually talk about it as a matter of fact. And that's that's going to be a really important tool for lots of different organisations working in the sector. So have you seen the report? And if you have, what are some of the issues and some of the recommendations. Um, I haven't read the recommendations element of it. I'm sure like Jack will be coming and talking about that a bit later. I think some of the more striking stuff is, you know, confirming things we already know about, Um, uh, transgender levels of of mental distress. So, um, I can't quote the exact figure, but, um, it's, you know, in inordinately about eight times higher than the levels of psychological distress amongst youth trans youth, compared to 8% for the rest of the population. And it's stuff like that that it really illustrates the personal effects of transphobia and exclusion and trans exclusionary policies and how that really affects us as individuals. And you know, the importance of you not around that as a community. And I think it's statistics like that, you know, which I'm sure Jack will be talking about later that really illustrate the need for positive action in events like this. Speaking of events like this for you, um, what has been your most memorable, uh, trans rainbow LGBTI event or moment? And why? Um, to be honest, I think the first the most memorable was the first time I saw Auntie Dana's up shop. Um, so I just came here, um, from from England and I was having real trans related legal visa issues, and I was really sort of like, very isolated and struggling. And I remember just walking down the street and seeing a shop that was full of trans flags and transport messaging and that really hit home. And I just went straight in and was like, Hi, I'd like to volunteer here. Um, and that was sort of five months ago, and I'm there pretty much all the time. And that sort of here now. So, um, you know, it's not. It's not the biggest momentous moment as a as a community, but for me, that was That was really important. And I think like it was really nice that we can offer that moment for a lot of other trans youth as well. And just finally, if you had a magic wand, what would you waive it at first and why? Um, let's think. I wish that, um, families and communities could rally around their trans people and trans youth better. Um, and I wish that, like it was much more acceptance was the norm rather than rather than the exception. I wish that every time someone told me that you know, a really nice story about their parents giving them a hug or using their new name and pronounce that that didn't surprise me. I think that would be that would be the best thing for our community and individuals. I'm homie. I bought some embroider and jelly that I made just as a hobby. And some of the embroidered are inspired by some drug makeup artist. And yeah, I sewed and painted stuff. Just make some artwork. So how did you How did you get into making the jewellery? I recently finished studying and looking for a job and not much else to do, to be honest, Nice to be unemployed. Out of all the story. What? What is your favourite piece? Think that one? I was, I don't know, Like canvas em employed it with some eye makeup on is probably my favourite. I use some stitches on pens and some makeup supplies to make it. What? What What inspires you? Uh, one of my favourite drug artist. So So why do you think these kind of, um um gala events are important. It would be great if we get a chance to, like LA some money both for, like, organisation and people who are doing, like, work on it. Uh, art is a bit hard to sell, and also, like, a lot of lame organisation, like basically everywhere is so bound up on it, and so much people are like working unpaid. So both for G MA and anyone who's here like it is nice to, like, give awareness and people are put into express themselves. But also, it would be really important if you can make some profit out of it, To be honest, Yeah. If if you had a magic wand and you could wave it at anything or anyone, what would you wave it at first? And why patriarchy? Because it's so toxic. I'm just here representing project youth from out in coast. Um, so, yeah, I'm just selling scones, hopefully raising money for them. Um, project youth is a group for teenagers on the coast. Um, they're part of the LGBT community. Um, I've been going there for about four years now, but I'm technically not a work facilitator or anything. Um, mostly I just like talking to people who have similar experiences to me, um, a few years ago. It helps me figure out my sexuality. Um, yeah. And everyone there is really friendly and nice to talk to, so it's just a good place to hang out now. Did project you participate in the, um, uh, pride parade a couple of weeks ago? Uh, yes, yes, we were at the Pride parade. Um, we made a few banners for that and just went down and had some fun. Um, yeah, we didn't do a whole lot, but just marched in the parade. So what was that like? Um, it was fun. There was a lot of people there supporting pride and all that. Um, yeah, it was just good to see how many people are so supportive. Um, was that your first pride parade? Yeah. Yeah, for me, that was my first pride parade. Um, I was planning on going to the Wellington Pride parade, but obviously that got postponed. And yeah, um, I'm looking forward to going to the Wellington Pride parade next year, though, so hopefully that's good. So can you describe, uh, what the feeling was like being in in that pride parade. Um, it felt a bit crowded sometimes, but mostly it was pretty good. Um, everyone seemed really happy and cheerful. Um, there were a lot of different groups that came along to support the parade. Um, I think there are a whole bunch of drummers at the end, and yeah, it was good to see that all of was getting involved. So yeah, it was just really supportive. Like I said, why do you think, Um, these kind of, uh, community events are so important. Um, it really helps raise awareness for the entire community. Um, especially in this case, it's for trans people who don't really get seen a whole lot in the media. Um, well, not in good light, at least. Um, so it just really helps to show people that we aren't scary. What has been your most memorable, uh, rainbow LGBTI trend memory And why, um, it was probably coming out to my mom just because it was really funny. Um, I came out to her, and her response was to say, Me too. Yeah, so yeah. So So how did you react? Um, I was a bit surprised, but she'd always been supportive. So it wasn't too much of a shock. Um, yeah, In general, my family is really good with the whole thing, but yeah, I know other people don't have the same experience. Um, yeah. So it's been really good. And just finally, if you had a magic wand, you could wave at anything or anyone. Um, what would you wave it at first and why? Um, I'd probably just try and help some people out, Um, maybe give people some money to get surgeries and whatever. So today we're at the Trans Pride Week gala. Um and, yeah, I'm really excited. And you're one of the stall holders. Yes, I am. So my stall is just basically made to look as witchy as possible. I've got, like, a spirit cloth down and moon paraphernalia everywhere, like a little fake raven. I'm basically just here to do some tarot readings, maybe offer some zines about, uh, moon magic. Quote unquote. Um and yeah, that's my story. So how did you get into tarot reading? I always like tarot. Tarot is one of those things that is always on the edges of society as especially growing up. Christian, you know, it's just like Oh, it's one of those things. And, um, the more that I looked into it, the more I realised it was a really fun psychological tool to examine your life. So I really enjoy doing tarot readings for other people, be it if they want it super witchy and like mystical. Or if they just want reviewing of, like, a problem that's going on currently. How do people react to tarot card readings? It's It's a wild mix because you've got some people who are just they get so swept up in the moment and they're so grateful and it's a wonderful experience to be a part of, And then you've got some people who are just like Yeah, sure, I guess, like, go for it and they don't really care. And that's fun. It's not as fun, though. So how does a a private reading differ from doing, say, a reading in a in a kind of public space, like like here we are at the. To be honest, I'm going to try and make it as private as possible for the people like I've got my accessories all set up so that I can turn towards the person and give them a private experience. Doing something in public is nice, but I think it's really like, especially when you're doing tarot stuff. It's really important to give that person that one on one time. Tell me why is it important to have something like a Trans gala or, um, a trans event? Um, within the community? I think it's important because I'm an immigrant. I'm from America and currently my country has gone a little bit insane. I don't know if you've noticed, but, you know, so being able to come somewhere and see support and love and other trans artists out there feels so deeply gratifying And like, maybe I'm just that much safer, which there aren't enough words to say what that feels like. If you had a, uh, a magic wand and you could kind of wave it at anything, what would you wave it at first and why? Ah, so many things. So many things. Um, I think first and foremost I would of course, wave it at my home and maybe erase the last four years. But that's just me personally, and something that's really important for me personally is as an immigrant I am. Currently, If I come out as trans to them, there will be a lot of invasive questions that I get asked. Currently, they see it as a disease, and that's terrifying. So, you know, I'm definitely a girl when I talk to them, and I'm not anything else. I can't be myself. I, uh So I make soaps, um, with my brand. And so they're all 100% handmade and 100% vegan friendly, and they smell amazing. They do? Yes. So So what is the process of making a soap? Um, basically, you, um, add fats and oils to a sodium hydroxide so lie and the chemical process of that turns it from fat into soap. And then how do you find the the the the flavours? Just fragrance oils or essential oils, and some of them work. Some of them you make, You're like, Oh, no, don't like that one. Not today. Yeah. And what what is your favourite? Uh, probably blue musk. So this one here, it's a nice, subtle smell, as well compared to some of them, like lavender is very strong. Yeah. Can you Can you describe some of the other other ones you've got here. Um, so I've got one called fresh grass that smells very much like grass as it's been cut. Um, I also have one called monkey fights. Um, which is a tropical fruit smell. Yeah. And yeah, a lot of kind of not the floral smells that are normally with handmade soaps. So how did you get into soap making? I was actually looking for Christmas presents a couple of years ago for friends and didn't find a whole heap of non floral options. Um, so I was like, I can do this. It won't be that hard. And yeah, it kind of expanded to being pretty much full time business for me. So being here at today's event, what does that mean to you? Uh, it's just kind of a a space to able to get out and, you know, offer things to the community, that I I used to live in Wellington when I just as I was starting my transition. So it's nice to come back and be able to show that, you know, I have done things in my life and, yeah, being successful with it, what do you think? Some of the biggest issues facing trans communities are today in New Zealand. Um, just the lack of understanding. I think like we can make all these laws. But if people don't understand kind of the reasons and like, are those laws necessarily going to make that much of an impact? Can you tell me just on a on a personal note, um, your most memorable, um, Trans rainbow LGBT moment And why, uh, probably would have been when I went to. So it was now a shift, but it used to be the very first one I think was quilt bag. Um, and that was my last year of high school where I just finished high school, and it was kind of a chance to finally be around a group of queer people and actually get to be me not kind of restricted by you know, where I was or who I was around you. Can you describe what that experience was like? Uh, a bit of an eye opener, like I always knew queer people existed, but kind of meeting a large group of people my own age. It was like, Oh, we are actually, you know, from kind of all walks of life and like we were all there with being queer and common. But we're all so different as well. Yeah. Now, finally, if you had a magic wand and you could wave it at anything or anyone, who would you or what would you wave it at and and why? Uh, it's a very good question. Uh, probably just the country as a whole and kind of make everyone be some form of, like, question some part about their identity, whether it be kind of their religion or even their gender. Like we all have different things that make up who we are. And just because someone's trans doesn't mean that's their whole life. And like, you know, we go grocery shopping like everyone else, so we, like, do normal things as well. And I think a lot of people don't necessarily realise that, You know, just because we have this part of our identity, it's not all we are. Yeah. The full transcription of the recording ends. A list of keywords/tags describing the recording follow. These tags contain the correct spellings of names and places which may have been incorrectly spelt earlier in the document. 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The original recording can be heard at this website https://www.pridenz.com/trans_awareness_week_gala.html. The master recording is also archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, New Zealand.  For more details visit their website https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.1089870. Please note that this document may contain errors or omissions - you should always refer back to the original recording to confirm content.