As part of Project Uplift (the refurbishment of the Rainbow Room) a documentary was produced by the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service to tell the story of the room. The individual interviews were also published online under a Creative Commons licence CC-BY 4.0. A special thank you to the Office of the Clerk/Parliamentary Service for allowing Elizabeth's interview to be reproduced. The mp3 files on this page contain just the audio element of the video interview.
Summary
The abstract summarizes a recording titled "Elizabeth Kerekere - Rainbow Voices of Aotearoa New Zealand", taken on the 9th of April 2019, in Wellington. Elizabeth Kerekere is the founder and chair of Te Whanau Whanau Trust, an advocacy group for takatāpui individuals, giving them a platform to share narratives, foster community bonds, and create a lasting legacy. With a firm belief that the trans, non-binary, and intersex community holds a valuable place within Maori culture, Kerekere emphasizes the importance of allyship from cisgender individuals in amplifying these voices.
The recording delves into the history of Māori society's attitudes towards sexuality, contrasting them with the views of European colonizers who aimed to suppress and criminalize same-sex relationships upon their arrival. Kerekere sheds light on how historical evidence, such as diaries, missionary records, and cultural artifacts, counters the colonizers' denial of pre-existing Māori sexual norms. The presenter advocates for the use of the indigenous term "takatāpui" over Western labels to honor the unique cultural context of ancestral Māori relationships.
Kerekere also discusses the challenges faced by the Māori LGBTQ+ community during colonization, detailing the resistance and resilience of those who defied heteronormative pressures despite grave consequences. Emphasizing decolonization, the trust in ancestral narratives, and the power of whakapapa (genealogy), Kerekere reclaims the history and identity of takatāpui ancestors. The legacy of resilience portrays the desire of many to live authentically, even if it meant facing adversity.
Highlighting the strides made in contemporary society, Kerekere points to the creation and refurbishment of the Rainbow Room in Parliament, which symbolizes and acknowledges the presence and significance of the LGBTQ+ community in formal political spaces. The presenter applauds the Parliamentary Rainbow Network, celebrating its role in advocating for progress and fostering inclusion.
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 (computer generated)
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