In this podcast Priscilla talks about working for Rainbow Youth to do homophobia education in schools. This podcast was funded by a generous donation from Roger Smith.
Summary
In a 37-minute interview recorded in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand in 2010 for a podcast, Priscilla Penniket delves into their experiences as the education coordinator at Rainbow Youth. The podcast, which chronicles changes from the 1990s to 2010s and funded by a donation from Roger Smith, highlights Penniket's role in educating high school students about topics like sexual orientation, gender identity, homophobia, and coming out.
Throughout the interview with Wai Ho, Penniket shares insights into the generally positive reception of their educational efforts among students, noting a shift in societal attitudes towards homosexuality and a greater familiarity with LGBTQ+ individuals among the youth. Despite occasional resistance from certain students, Penniket finds encouragement in the openness and knowledge that some students already possess.
Penniket recounts growing Rainbow Youth's outreach from a handful of schools to distributing a flyer to every school in Auckland, expressing both the excitement over expanding the program and the daunting challenge given the number of schools in the region. They also trace their path to becoming an LGBTQ+ youth educator through their previous volunteer work and their experiences as a university student involved in queer groups.
Additionally, the discussion touches on Penniket's personal journey of publicly coming out and finding a sense of community at university. The narrative captures the complexities and sometimes paradoxical behaviors associated with grappling with one's sexuality in a less accepting environment, as Penniket describes dealing with homophobia during high school and the tactics they utilized to avoid being outed.
Penniket also illustrates the evolving support from family, with a nuanced history of their parents' engagement with queer communities as well as their own personal reconciliations. The interview paints a picture of a society still imperfect, where ignorance occasionally translates into homophobia, and individuals like Penniket labor to extend understanding and empathy both professionally and personally.
Concluding the conversation, Penniket expounds on the impact of feminism on their life, praising it as a powerful framework for making sense of the world and for finding strength in one's identity. They share their aspiration to eventually merge queer activism with feminist efforts more deeply, acknowledging the work that remains in battling sexism alongside homophobia.
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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