Welby Ings

This abstract summarizes a recording made with Welby Ings, interviewed by Gareth Watkins at Auckland University of Technology, which covers various topics ranging from the 1980s era, homosexual law reform, activism, and Ings' personal experiences and work. It begins with memories of attending a public meeting during a fraught time for homosexual law reform, organized by a church group yet infiltrated by organized queer activists aiming to disrupt the one-sided narrative. Ings recalls how elaborate measures were taken to gain access to such meetings, including posing with a makeshift family and leveraging religious pretexts to infiltrate the space often barred to queer individuals.

The narrative then delves into the heightened tensions and strategies employed during these meetings by the queer community, such as dispersing within crowds to amplify their presence and connecting with sympathetic individuals to demonstrate broader support. Ings shares a personal anecdote about attending one contentious meeting and the emotional cost it had on their partner, an accomplished athlete, wary of public exposure potentially harming their career. Despite the hostile environment, Ings spoke out, emphasizing the pervasive and ordinary presence of the queer community within societal fabric, challenging the perception of gays as aberrations.

The discussion moves to the professional risks faced by queer individuals, especially teachers like Ings, before homosexual law reform, which didn’t just criminalize their identity but lacked protections against job loss and discrimination in services and accommodations. They recount a significant public speaking event where they revealed their queerness on television, inadvertently inciting public protests but also solidarity among their students who recognized the injustice.

The conversation further addresses the police's habitual harassment of queer individuals and how knowledge transfer within the community equipped them with tactics to counter such situations confidently. Insights into earlier queer culture are revealed, touching upon the importance of seeing oneself as part of a community for the sake of survival and the shifting dynamics as gay rights gained traction.

Ings transitions to discussing queer vernacular and its evolution, noting gaps where a whole segment of language has been lost due to the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic. They emphasize the importance of oral histories in capturing these nuanced tales, which provide a richer view of the queer community.

Lastly, Ings touches on their creative work, including the short film "Boy" that encountered a mix of acclaim abroad but notoriety at home. They express a passion for storytelling that transcends being pigeonholed into queer narratives, striving instead to explore broader aspects of the human condition.

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.

Welby Ings

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