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Students from the University of Otago this year developed a special campaign aimed at promoting the representation of non-binary gender identities among young people. The campaign, which was organised by the queer support representatives of the OUSA Student Support Centre, featured the release of a special series of badges promoting awareness of non-binary identities.

The 6 badges, which were distributed throughout the school’s student body, promoted the correct use of pronouns, as well as awareness of trans, intersex and agender individuals. Messages such as ‘ask me my pronouns’ and ‘are you a girl or a boy? Yes!’ were designed with the aim of increasing the visibility of an often-under represented group of society.

Across the country the It Gets Better project helped promote the day through their international partnerships. The local branch, which works in New Zealand and Australia, released a special music video with Australian girl band G.R.L which helped to raise awareness of the day, as well as advocate for the aims of the group. The video was also released alongside a special live performance which was streamed online.

In Whanganui the sexual diversity charity Inside Out partnered with the Sexual Health Network to run a special regional Hui in the area. The event, which was similar in style to the traditional gatherings held by indigenous groups, aimed to promote diversity in the region, whilst also raising awareness of the LGBT individuals within native communities.

The event was run in three parts, an affirming diversity workshop run by Family Planning that aimed to provide education for health professionals; a special workshop for the parents and caregivers of young LGBTI people, and finally two days of youth-led workshops aimed at people from 13-24.

The final part of the event, which was run by young local volunteers, aimed to address the aspirations of young people, while promoting the roles of diversity and support within young people’s lives. The event was part of Inside Out’s ongoing commitment to promote the representation and support of sexual and gender diverse individuals within schools, communities and youth-oriented areas. The main aims of the IDAHOT events was the promotion of national diversity.

Support for the day was also seen from New Zealand’s international community. In Wellington the American embassy to New Zealand, Mark Gilbert, addressed the day in a special video released online. In the video Ambassador Gilbert praised the important work done by New Zealanders to address bigotry both at home and abroad. The ambassador also especially highlighted the incredible work being done by many young people to promote the shared ideals of tolerance, diversity and respect.

In New Zealand, events to commemorate the IDAHOT 2014 took place in six different locations, and included an art project and series of nationwide picnics.

Kia ora! Big Gay Picnics

Across New Zealand, communities came together for picnic events across the country which were organised to celebrate love, equality and acceptance, around the IDAHOT 2014. Everyone was invited to bring a rug and some food, and spend a great time with some great people.

‘The Big Gay Picnic’ took place in five different locations, including Dunedin, Rotorua, Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington.

Poster for New Zealand’s Big Gay Picnic for IDAHOT 2014 – held in five cities

I stand with you poster exhibition

A poster exhibition was also organised and took place in Otara, South Auckland, New Zealand from May 12-17 2014. ‘I stand with you’ is a collaborative project between final year Visual Arts majors, Tara Simon and Luisa Tora of the Faculty of Creative Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Timed to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the project and its contributing artists and partners stood in solidarity with MIT’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex students and staff, and their broader communities.

I Stand With You, South Auckland. Source: Out at MIT

The participating artists were Sharon Fitness, Tanu Gago, Rebecca Ann Hobbs and Thomas Fonua, Leilani Kake, Nicole Lim, Steve Lovett, Jo Mears, Richard Orjis, Molly Rangiwai-McHale, Sangeeta Singh, Luisa Tora, Pati Solomona Tyrell, and Kerrie-Anne Van Heerden and they were asked to respond to the IDAHOT 2014 theme ‘Freedom of Expression’.

The art work is in the form of posters, and many of the works explicitly blend political activism together with artistic creativity. I Stand With You was created to help foster a safe and nurturing environment for LGBTQI students and staff at the Faculty of Creative Arts and greater MIT.

I Stand With You Poster. Source: Out at MIT

The posters were installed at MIT’s Faculty of Creative Arts and at Fresh Gallery Otara in South Auckland. The events also included talks by the artists and LGBTQI youth service providers. For more details check out the project’s blog. More information about the Out at MIT LGBTQI students at Manukau Institute of Technology can also be found here.

This video was also created to give an introduction to the project:

The picnic is being coordinated around the country from midday until 2pm. Everyone is invited to bring a rug and some food, and have a great time with some great people!
The locations are listed below!

Dunedin → Botanical Gardens
Wellington → (will be held a week later, on the 25th of May)
Rotorua → City Focus
Hamilton → Hamilton Gardens
Auckland → Albert Park

If you like to know more about the event, please check their Facebook page.

Photo: Cover of the MIT LGBTQI Students

I STAND WITH YOU is a collaborative project between final year Visual Arts majors, Tara Simon and Luisa Tora of the Faculty of Creative Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT).

Timed to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, the project and its contributing artists and partners stand in solidarity with MIT’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex students and staff and their broader communities.

The artists are Sharon Fitness, Tanu Gago, Rebecca Ann Hobbs and Thomas Fonua, Leilani Kake, Nicole Lim, Steve Lovett, Jo Mears, Richard Orjis, Molly Rangiwai-McHale, Sangeeta Singh, Luisa Tora, Pati Solomona Tyrell, and Kerrie-Anne Van Heerden.

The artists were asked to respond to the IDAHOT 2014 theme which is ‘Freedom of Expression’. The theme was chosen by activists worldwide following attacks on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQI communities and their allies.

The art work is in the form of posters because posters are the preferred medium for political activists around the world whether they are large scale screen-printed affairs or hastily scrawled messages on pieces of cardboard.

The posters will be installed at MIT’s Faculty of Creative Arts and at Fresh Gallery Otara in South Auckland. Artist talks are scheduled for 1230pm, Room Z142 on Tuesday, 13 May, and an LGBTQI Youth Service Providers panel at 1230pm, Room Z142 on Thursday, 15 May at the Faculty.

I Stand With You hopes to foster a safe and nurturing environment for LGBTQI students and staff at the Faculty of Creative Arts and greater MIT. It also encourages open-minded attitudes amongst Faculty students and staff regarding diverse lifestyles and sexual and gender identities.

We hope that you will join us in person or in solidarity for what we think will be an exciting and historic event at the Faculty of Creative Arts and for South Auckland.

For more details check out the project’s blog.

More information about the MIT LGBTQI students at Manukau Institute of Technology you can find here.

Clark underscored that “Last month, my country, New Zealand, became the thirteenth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, and the first in the Asia-Pacific region. When the results were announced, lawmakers and onlookers to the historic vote in Parliament began singing a Maori love song in celebration.” The statement can be read in full here.

She was not the only high profile politician to highlight the Day’s falling exactly one month after the legalisation of same sex marriage in New Zealand, on April 17, 2013. Labour MP and champion of marriage equality in New Zealand, Louisa Wall, also used this coincidence, as a point for reflection on gains and challenges that remain for LGBT people in New Zealand and around the world.

Various other politicians in New Zealand also spoke out on the Day, and many wore pink as a sign of support.

Media Reports:

• Gay Express: The importance of the international day against bi, trans & homophobia

Activities included awareness-raising about IDAHO and New Zealand’s Pink Shirt Day – a general anti-bullying campaign – through social media; the targeting of schools to let them know about IDAHO, educating them about homophobic and transphobic bullying and how schools can create safer spaces; and distributing “It’s OK To Be Who You Are” posters to schools throughout the country.