Queer Youth Hui!!

Q-YOUTH LINK HUI

The Nelson based Q-Youth is a community organisation supporting queer youth in schools and in the community. This summer they are hosting the Link Hui, bringing queer youth and youth workers from across the country to link in with eachother and build networks to shape national support systems for one another.

The even is being held January 29-31 in Nelson, registration $50

Click on the link above for more info and to sign up!

Think Before You Speak

Think before you speak!

A really excellent site devoted to addressing the effects of homophobic and transphobic language in our community. It has a very specific campaign targetting the pervasive use of the phrase "that's so gay", and targets youth culture. Although it is, at times, American-centric, it still offers a really pointed, yet accessible, message addressing why phrases like "that's so gay" hurt. Plus it features a PSA with Hilary Duff (So Exciting!)!

TVNZ Spot

Good coverage of the results of the Youth '07 survey revealing stats on same-sex attracted young people.

http://http//www.3news.co.nz/Gay-and-bisexual-youth-more-depressed-than-heterosexual/tabid/309/articleID/126184/cat/64/Default.aspx

Assume Nothing Exhibition

"Assume Nothing is a challenging yet sensitive exhibtion featuring Rebecca Swan's stunning portraits and award-winning documentary footage by Kirsty McDonald. The exhibition reveals the extraordinary and often very ordinary worlds of New Zealand's transgender community."

The exhibition is moving around the country and is currently at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch from 4 July - 4 October 2009. After which it will move to the Waikato Museum in Hamilton 31 October - 14 February 2010.

OED Dunedin

DUNEDIN QUEER PRIDE WEEK

This years Dunedin Queer Pride Week is all about Dunedin Support for everything Queer and diverse. For everyone that is Queer to all those families and friends (Straight not Narrow) to come together in events set out over 9 days of Pride Week and show their support to the beautiful Queer & DiverseNation that is a big part of Dunedin. Its a week of non judgement, A week about supporting diversity, A week of showing our numbers, (There is strength in numbers) Queer and families and queer friendly supporters and a week of complete and utter fun.

There's a parade, a family friendly BBQ in the Octagon, a picnic and pet show in the Woodhaugh Gardens, Paintball, Mini-Golf, Indy Kart Racing, Lazerforce, a Mr & Miss Dunedin competition and a race around Dunedin planned so jump on board and help out or just show up!

Otago Entertainment Directors organises events around and about Dunedin such as Mini-Golf Speed Dating and other R18 parties.

For more info about this and other events by OED jump onto the OED Dunedin website.

Oh Perez!

There's a large number of queer bloggers out there in the world of the interwebz and quite frankly, I love that they can share their perspective on the world! Some, not all of them, like the infamous Perez Hilton are outrageously hilarious! I've sifted through the bunch to bring to you the awesome ones!

Perez Hilton-"Celebrity Juice, Not From Concentrate"

Girlfriend is a Homo-for the girls

feministing- for any activists out there (and they just got a wonderful new layout)

the new gay- "for everyone over the rainbow"

Queers United- US activism
I love their 'word of the gay' bits

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Word of the Gay: "Situational Lesbian"
A "situational lesbian" is someone who engages in same-sex sexual behavior in some instances but not in others. "Situational lesbians" may feel comfortable to act on their same-sex desires in affirming places such as a gay village, or a gay bar, but in more public settings will engage in heterosocial behaviors only.

GenQ- "for the not so straight individual (this one's actually a website but it's got a NZ section)

There's more but I'll have to find them first! Enjoy!

School's Out on Demand

Have no one to ask about queer stuff with and you don't like reading page after page of writing? School's Out is a Wellington-based youth group who have their very own radio show. They did a couple of interviews with some wicked people and have uploaded it up for your listening pleasure!

Mike (16) on coming out and being out at high school (13 min)
Rangatahi wahine Maori - talking bout luvin wahine (15min)

There will be a series of interviews, done once a month between April 2008 - June 2009. Jump over to School's Out On Demand.

To find out more about School's Out ---> Click Here or check out their Bebo

Q-Youth in Nelson

New Queer Youth organisation in Nelson

Q-Youth is a new social support network for queer youth in the Nelson area.

They provide a safe environment for queer and questioning youth to hang out, get to know each other and have fun doing all sorts of activities like watching movies, playing video games on a big screen, making YouTube videos, and heaps more! Their first meeting was held last Wednesday, and had an amazing turn out. At least twenty and thirty people were there all times during the three hour drop in time. This was a great and exciting start for Q-Youth and they can't wait to get even more out youth from out there in the Nelson region!


Q-Youth social group info:

Drop in between 4.00pm and 7.00pm every Wednesday, at the Independent Theatre on Church Street (beside Dick Smith). Check their bebo page to see what they'll be getting up to.

Trans?

Gender Bridge is a telephone and face-to-face counselling support service run from Auckland but caters calls from anywhere in the country. You can contact them for advice or support on transgender issues on 0800 TG HELP (0800 844 357).

For more info and plenty of resources: www.genderbridge.org

There is also a NZ Transgender Online Community. This is a summary of the site:

"This website has been set up to help bring the transgender community closer together and to offer mutual support and help. Here you will meet new friends, be able to see and speak to trans people from all over NZ , read and insert poetry and art, find up to date and relevant, information on gender problems and any questions you have will be answered with courtesy, some humor and much compassion."

For more info or to join the site: www.transgender.co.nz

Starting Gay/Straight Alliances

The Out There! website has a number of resources that can be really helpful if you're thinking of starting a Gay/Straight Alliance at your school and aren't quite sure how to go about it.

Have a quick read of the Student's Guide. It's a good starting point and tells you what you can expect from forming such a group. There's more information at the bottom of this page, under Queer Youth Groups.


You can call yourself anything you want! Be creative or being straightforward about what your group is there for will be useful for groups in different ways.

Depending on the size of your school and the size of your group, meetings can happen on a regular basis during lunchtimes or after school, maybe once a week, fortnight or monthly. It just depends on how committed you are prepared to be with organising the space and activities to do.

If you want any more help, feel free to contact one of the posters of this blog. We'll be more than happy to help out with any questions you might have!

Lastly, GOOD LUCK!

SAME DIFFERENCE

Same Difference is a social and support group for under 20's in the Dunedin area. They run a private support group for gay/straight/questioning teens at the beginning of the month and a social coffee group at a local cafe towards the end of each month for everyone including friends, family and supporters.

If you're in the Dunedin area and want to link up with other queer-friendly under 20's, txt 027 4 YOUTHS (027 4968847) or email youthlinecommunity@youthline.co.nz for more info.

Facebook Group
Bebo

Queer Nation episodes online

It's a series of videos made between 1996-2004 about and for Queer Kiwis around New Zealand.

Wellington Queer People, Queer Places, Queer Stories

An overview of the capital city's queer history. The literary demimonde is first up, where we learn of Katherine Mansfield's lesbian affairs and a scandal involving Norris Davey - who later became Frank Sargeson. We find out about the role of the Dorian Society (1962-1986) and its subgroup the Homosexual Law Reform Society, which helped pave the way to decriminalisation in the 1980s. The programme also introduces viewers to our most famous tranys, Carmen and Georgina Beyer (MP). Historic newsclips and footage help bring the stories to life.

List of All Episodes

gaynz.com

TAMATI COFFEY WINS AND DONATES IT ALL TO RAINBOW YOUTH!!!

"11.00PM: Two hundred Rainbow Youth supporters at Auckland's plush Langham Hotel erupted into cheers and shouting minutes ago as gay television presenter Tamati Coffey won the hard-fought final of Dancing with the Stars."

The full article can be found at http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_7350.php

GayNZ is a very actively updated website about all things queer going on in NZ as well as around the world. The forum is really useful for asking all kinds of questions or just to chat about different topics and make some friends!

I frequent the news page quite often!

http://www.gaynz.com