Dougal(March 2012)

In the podcast titled "Dougal - Q12" from the series recorded in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, the speaker delves into their experiences of being young and identifying as gay in the 2010s. At the age of 24, living in Auckland, and working as a sales consultant in cosmetics, the speaker reflects on their journey from the southern parts of New Zealand to the more culturally diverse environment of Auckland. Despite the change in location, the speaker did not find the transition to city life to be a significant culture shock, describing it as a quite natural shift.

The podcast reveals that the speaker's awareness of their sexuality began at the age of 11 when they realized an attraction to the same sex rather than the opposite sex. This realization, however, brought internal conflict, as the speaker had once imagined a future with children and a traditional heterosexual family life. Coming to terms with their sexuality was a secretive process, confined to a close circle and not openly discussed, especially considering the desire for normalcy and fear of family reactions at that young age.

The process of coming out was a gradual one for the speaker, involving close friends like Nicky, who provided initial support despite feeling betrayed by earlier denials of the speaker's sexuality. Parents, too, were not directly informed, with the speaker's mother piecing together the truth through event posters and interactions with the speaker's flatmate during a visit home. While their mother stumbled upon the revelation, there was never an explicit conversation with their father about the matter, though it became an unspoken understanding.

Professional life intertwined with advocacy, as the speaker played an active role in the LGBT+ community, particularly through UniQ, a university association. They helped organize events such as club nights and acted as a liaison officer, offering support and information to queer youth in schools, working alongside community organizations. Their job responsibilities did not require formal training, but they engaged in mediation courses to bolster their skills.

Reflecting on personal relationships, the speaker notes that they did not partake in traditional romantic engagements, with only a brief and insubstantial liaison being vaguely acknowledged as part of their relational history.

When discussing reactions to their coming out, the speaker found responses to be mostly positive, with no severe cases of hostility. Nevertheless, regionally, there were differences: Auckland's cosmopolitan environment provided greater tolerance compared to the conservative and sometimes confrontational atmosphere of smaller towns like Dunedin.

The speaker also shared insights on the potential dangers of expressing queer identities publicly in less accepting areas, emphasizing the heightened risk for more visible members of the LGBT+ community, such as drag performers or individuals with flamboyant mannerisms.

Overall, the discussion illuminates the speaker's personal narrative of self-discovery, societal interactions, and activism. Despite initial fears and struggles, the speaker has formed a strong identity and an influential presence within their community, while still closely observing the varying societal attitudes towards the LGBT+ community across different locations.

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.

2010s, aotearoa new zealand, auckland, coming out, drag, dunedin, education, gay, homophobia, parents, performance, q12 (series), relationships, school, timaru, uniq (auckland), waiau, youth

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