NB  there WILL NOT be a group on the 1st of February it will be held on

the second Wednesday

8^Th Of February at Rainbow Youth  6:30 – 8pm 

We will get back, catch up have a cuppa and chat about Pride which is Auckland Pride Parade on Saturday 25^th February on Ponsonby Road to K’ Road

This session will be in lieu of our March group session.

Pride is a peaceful fun happy way to have a voice and advocate for our children, This is our moment to show our support, offer a light to those who need it, show our children we are proud and out as allies – no shame, no secrets.

It is the positive stand against discrimination of LGBT, it promotes self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increases visibility as a social group, builds community, and celebrates sexual diversity.   Pride, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBT rights movements throughout the world.

Joining, marching and supporting  shows the world we are a community, that care and we are proud.

See you there

Hi all

I know this is short notice but i have just returned and started recovering from an exhausting trip. I just wanted to say that WEDNESDAY is on and we have a confirmed guest speaker – Karen Ritchie

Karen Ritchie

Karen worked with the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective and was a driving force behind Prostitution Law reform, which empowered sex workers to make safer decisions while working and encouraged them to get tested. She founded the Cartier Bereavement Trust, a charity offering direct financial assistance towards funeral costs for people who have died from AIDS. In addition to her work with NZAF’s Burnett Centre, she was known as the ‘Mother of K Rd’ by key members of the Karangahape Road community with whom she sustained a close relationship.

Karen Richie received an Honorary Life Membership

award in recognition by the NZAF of an outstanding contribution to the NZAF’s mission and is the highest award that the NZAF bestows. This honour may was bestowed on Karen Ritchie by the NZAF Trust Board

This signifies an outstanding contribution to the NZAF’s mission and results in the NZAF mission being substantially and positively enhanced by that contribution.  It occurs over a significant period of time requiring substantial and commendable personal input. It involves service in particularly challenging environments and can be clearly documented and corroborated.

https://www.nzaf.org.nz/participate/nzaf-membership/life-members/#sthash.HaJRafn9.dpuf

Karen is a very well known, well loved member of K’Rd she is a strong trusted voice in the community.

I look forward to hearing from her and I know that what she shares will be a great deal of value to us all

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday at Rainbow Youth – 11 Edinburgh St, Auckland, entrance on Abbey street  please be there by 6:45 so we can settle in and have a great evening together.

Any questions, please give me a ring on 021 125 7775

See you there

 

 

Hi all

I am terribly sorry to cancel our October meeting but i will not be available due to my travels to South Africa.

I have however secured a wonderfully knowledgeable and very much loved member of our LGBT community. She is awesome and makes things happen she is a mum for the community who do not have one and she will be in to speak on the 2 November.

Please encourage family and friends to join us and lets start growing our lovely little group.

Short and sweet but indicative of the craziness i am dealing with right now!!

See you then
Big love
Amanda

This month after a lovely brainstorm, we are changing things up a bit!! 

We have some members of the LGBTQ community joining us for chat; they will share their experiences of being part of the LGBT community in NZ.  It might be nice to understand the good, the positive and the challenging aspects of being LGBTQ in our country.  Their perspective on world LGBT events and solidarity during those times.  Also their experience of positive and difficult whanau relations.

It is a also time for a change of venue

This month we are heading to Cezanne Café they are open late and we need a fresh approach. I need to book a table so please let me know you are going to join us.

Cezanne Café  – 296 Ponsonby Rd, Auckland 1011

7 September at – Wednesday

6:30 – 8:30

Radio NZ interview – follow the link  – 

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201812042/david-levithan-on-lgbtq-fiction-for-young-adults

Have a listen to David Levithan give his view of the Orlando shooting and ‘hate’ crime. He takes a look at Trump’s  rhetoric. He talks about  social change and how people sharing their stories of change

David Levithan talks about the  Q in LGBTQ  ‘queer’, or ‘questioning’, how LGBTQ+  ‘LGBTQ’ means identifying as queer and not wanting to label themselves.

He also talks a bit about the evolution of LGBTQ young adult literature with a number of amazing young queer writers who’ve written a variety of voices. It isn’t just the miserable story anymore.

(OffEASTERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | Te Aho a Māui | New Zealand – website – photo of Elizabeth Kerekere  May 2013)

This resource is based on Elizabeth Kerekere’s 35 years of activism and her doctoral research on takatāpui identity and well-being. This was a valuable Māori resource packed with positive, useful information and outlook.

The term ‘takatāpui’ embraces all Māori with diverse gender identities and sexualities.

“Elizabeth Kerekere’s    –  TOP TAKATAPUI TIPS

• Takatāpui embraces all Māori with diverse gender identities and sexualities
• Being takatāpui is based on whakapapa, mana, identity and inclusion
• We all inherit our gender and sexuality from our ancestors – it is part of our wairua
• Takatāpui are part of the whānau – always have been, always will be
• Whānau don’t need to get it, they just need to be there
• Discrimination (transphobia, homophobia and biphobia) hurts all of our whānau
• Mana Wāhine is the platform for fighting discrimination against takatāpu
• Being takatāpui does not foster depression and suicide, discrimination does • Takatāpui identity proudly celebrates our unique Māori selves without apology or shame
• The takatāpui movement honours our ancestors, respects our elders, works closely with our peers and looks after our young people
• Takatāpui well-being rests within whānau, friends and Rainbow communities
• Takatāpui allies promote acceptance and challenge discrimination wherever it occurs”

She explains that  “Whānau at our Best: It is the fundamental job of whānau to look after each other and especially their children and young people.”

Hongi – Ed Cocker (R) of Auckland is greeted by a Maori “HongI” before the National Rugby Sevens at Queenstown Recreation Ground on January 12, 2013 in Queenstown, New Zealand.(Jan. 11, 2013 – Source: Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images AsiaPac)

 

Always Pflag – great site, great info www.pflag.org

A Note to My Kid  – www.anotetomykid.org/    awesome responses, fab insights

David Leviathan on LGBTQ fiction for young adults – New York writer David Leviathan talks about LGBTQ young adult fiction since his first book Boy Meets Boy 13 years ago. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201812042/david-levithan-lgbt-fiction

Takatapui, part of the whanau   –  https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/assets/ResourceFinder/takatapui.pdf

Thanks Julia they are great especially the last one  – really great!!!!

 

I am hugely excited to share, the early baby steps start to, our new sister group of HOO Wellington!  Yay and congrats to Julia and Paul who have stepped up and taken on the role of support facilitators in Wellington, connecting our parents and starting the conversation of supporting and loving our LGBTQ children in their coming out and or transitions.

Please contact them on Hoowellington@gamil.com

Watch this space there is quite possibly more to come

Julia and Paul also highly recommend the service of Marion Kirker, who they saw to help them on their path.

Marion works with teens, young adults and adults.  Experienced in both short and longer term therapy that address distress, depression and anxiety. She also assists people with various issues around identity (sexual, gender, cultural).

Marion is a registered Clinical Psychologist since 1997  MA(Hons), PG Dip.Clin.Psych., MNZCCP

Wellington Psychological Associates

Email: info@welpa.co.nz    Phone: (04) 472 0710

Julia also recommended at talk on Kim Hill’s show with a lovely Author   David Leviathan who write LGBT fiction – have listen he had some great insights.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday/audio/201812042/david-levithan-lgbt-fiction

 

Hi all
See you on the 3 August
At Rainbow Youth
11 Edinburgh St, Auckland, 1010 entrance at the back in Abbey Street
6:30 pm

 

This month we celebrated a life changing 30 years since the Homosexual Law Reform Act was passed in 1986. Many reasons make me feel pleased and proud to be in New Zealander and one specific issue is how progressive NZ is in demanding equality. It may have taken a while to catch up with same-sex marriage only recently becoming legal in New Zealand on 19 August 2013 we got there and we have a wonderful LGBTQAI community who are safe and considered.
SkyCity and Rainbow Auckland celebrated with a colourful celebration

The article below shares the history often lost and the memories of a difficult time. The brave coming out and changes they , willing to be the voices for the greater good.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81616306/thirty-years-on-from-nzs-tumultuous-gay-law-reform-bill

Since we last met….

Sometimes I wonder if there is any value that the HOO group holds, is it enough, do I do enough, it seems to ebb and wane and I think ahh maybe people are getting it, maybe this is not necessary anymore but the something like Orlando Florida shooting happens and I know beyond anything that this advocacy is essential.

On June twelfth my heart broke for every parent who lost a child in the shooting, I was literally paralysed with horror, it was a chilling realisation to see the result of what others may want for my son, I was appalled and angered, I was very, very angry that anyone felt they had the right to destroy life because of their personal beliefs and personal failure as a human being.

Ignorance, religion, fear killed 49 people and terrorised and maimed 53 others, countless families, allies, friends, people are touched and impacted by such an atrocious act. I always think, we are sitting ignorance thinking our children are safe, but in fact it takes just one nutter to destroy so many lives.

Holding our own took part in a vigil on the 13th, I lit a candle on all our behalf, it was arranged very quickly ad suddenly – I apologise for not getting news out but working full time I simply did not have the ability to do so in time. However I did speak as parents of gay and trans youth, i lit a candle and prayed for insight, love and compassion. I prayed for equality, kindness and acceptance.

No sooner were we walking through this loss dis idiocy strike again it seems very few learned anything as the picture below – a fathers day tribute to love and affection – was deemed unfit because it was “TOO GAY!!!????”
seriously, do we hear anything we say? Here, in touching photograph, a father who presumably with his wife produced a son, who followed in his foot steps to achieve the same, is TOO GAY? Too gay meaning not good? Not right? Too Gay? where was the photo from? Jacksonville, Florida USA! – I weep in frustration and dismay.

In memory of the innocent lives lost … God bless

 

See you on the 6th at Rainbow Youths new diggs

11 Edinburgh St, Auckland, 1010 entrance at the back in Abbey Street

6:30 pm

Check out these posts, perhaps we can do more?

https://www.facebook.com/facespeakawake/videos/263715657318929/

https://www.facebook.com/GayTalkTonight/videos/1171925642859831/

 

 

Hi every one we are back on track starting 1^st of June

Holding our own meeting 1st June 2016!

Wow!! The year is flying by please join me at the new premises of rainbow youth.

11 Edinburugh Street   (Just off K Road)

Auckland

1010

New Zealand

We will as ususal  meet at close to at 6:30 as possible until about 8 / 830.

Please join us there are new parents keen on coming along who would value your experience and your history I know I can count on you to welcome them into our community of support and kindness.

Please let me know if there are specific issues you would like to chat about, if you have any new experiences or developments that might be helpful.  What changes have you experienced in the last month or two that you could share that will shed light for the rest of the group.  I look forward to seeing you next week , it’s been quite a break.

Just a couple of news stories in the media that I thought were worth sharing (first from the – Sydney Morning Herald on Stuff.co.nz  -Last updated 00:06, May 23 2016- the secondFamous @Live (Seven West Media) written by Tina B ) before I sign off, lets not kid ourselves the4se kids face huge discriminations and even when it is not direct, just hearing it twists a little fear into our hearts.  The messages of bring second rate are just unacceptable and we need to be speaking a positive message to all – we need to challenge the crap!

Lesbian couple arrested for kissing in Hawaii supermarket receive settlement

A lesbian couple arrested after kissing and holding hands in a grocery store while on holiday in Hawaii will receive a US$80,000 (NZ$118,000) settlement after suing for discrimination and harassment.

Courtney Wilson and Taylor Guerrero were enjoying a romantic holiday in October last year when they were arrested after a police officer took offence at their public displays of affection inside a Foodland supermarket.

The couple, visiting Hawaii from Los Angeles, launched a civil lawsuit against the officer and the city of Honolulu.

The officer, Bobby Harrison, was shopping in his police uniform, when he noticed their behaviour and told them to “Take it somewhere else”.

READ MORE: Hawaiian cop arrests couple for kissing

The couple complied and continued shopping, but when Harrison noticed them showing affection again, he threatened to have them removed from the shop.

He went and found the store manager and asked for written trespass warnings to be issued to the couple.

Meanwhile, Wilson and Guerrero had taken their groceries to the checkout where they were waiting in line. When Harrison approached them and directed them to leave the queue, Wilson pulled out her mobile phone and began to call emergency services to report unlawful harassment.

Harrison then grabbed Wilson by the wrist, preventing her from completing the call. When Guerrero moved to calm the situation, Harrison threw her to the ground, striking Wilson in the process, and restrained both of them, according to the lawsuit.

The couple were arrested and charged with assault on an officer and spent three days in jail. According to their attorney, they spent the next week sleeping in a park because they spent their holiday budget on bail.

A court threw out the original assault charges. The couple subsequently dropped their charges against the city and the $118,000 settlement was agreed upon. It is expected to be formally approved by the Honolulu city council in July.

The couple, who are no longer together, said they now wish to move on.

“I’m glad it’s over, but at the same time, we wanted the officer to suffer some sort of repercussion,” Wilson said.

Harrison, who has since retired, was cleared by an internal police investigation.

 – Sydney Morning Herald

 

Second Article

THIS GUY’S TWEET ABOUT HAVING TO TAKE HIS BOYFRIEND TO PROM IN SECRET IS GOING VIRAL

The internet is loving Myren!  –  23 May 2016   |   Tina B

High School student Myren is an international sensation today, after tweeting about his unconventional Prom experience.

Myren’s parents disapprove of his relationship with his boyfriend, and wouldn’t let him take his partner to Prom.

So, on Saturday night, Myren tweeted out to his followers about his experience.

“My parents told me I couldn’t go to prom because I wanted to go with my boyfriend so I had to go behind their backs 😅” he tweeted.

The tweet has gone viral, with over 17,000 retweets and nearly 40,000 likes.

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Myren revealed, “They wanted me to end things with him and they tried grounding me to keep us from talking, but no matter what we found a way to talk.”

“My dad said I knew better than to ask him. I knew I wouldn’t get a yes from them, but I thought maybe they would have a change of heart. They never did.”

The 17-year-old said he had nothing to lose by going against his parents wishes.

“My parents wont let me see him. It’s like I’m already living on punishment, so what do I have to lose by going to prom? Everyone’s mom was standing there taking pictures of their kids talking about how beautiful they looked and how they were so proud of them. I imagined what my mom would have looked like taking pictures of me in my suit. Everyone at the send off was a stranger to me except my boyfriend. None of his family came to his send off either.”

He also said he was grateful for the support, “I was surprised when I noticed that people were proud of me and that they respected the decision I had made.”

Myren followed up the story with a tweet about his parents, saying “They think I went to an ashawo party.”

 

Regardless of his parents upsetting views, Myren had fun at his prom and claimed “When we were dancing together I teared up some because there were times where I never thought we would go to prom, but there we were.” 💜

 

Hello HOO

Yip can you believe it we are racing up to the next meeting – it is crazy to me how fast the month flies by.

It has been a crazy busy time but it has also been a good month, I hope you have also had a good month.

6th of April is our next meeting and the reason I am sending it a little early is the venue is going to be really different this time.

We will be meeting at
Raye Freedman Library
788 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland 1050