Outgames Launch at Mark Hutchins Gallery 12 March
Garden Party to mark the 25th Anniversary of the NZAF 28 March
Lesbian & Gay Parenting Study
The Homophones – Wellington Gay Men’s Chorus
Health in Difference 2010 Sydney 29 April
Kapiti Gay Radio

 

Launch the Countdown to the 2^nd AsiaPacific Outgames in Wellington.

 

 

Kia ora!

 

It gives me pleasure to invite you to One Year Out, a function to launch the countdown to the opening of the 2^nd AsiaPacific Outgames in Wellington. Celebrate this milestone with us and with some of our local VIP supporters.

 

As you probably know, the Outgames will be held 12-19 March 2011, just a year away. Over 2000 participants and supporters will come from throughout New Zealand, Australia, Asia and across the Pacific to compete in 16 sports, to attend a major human rights conference, and to enjoy a very full programme of arts and cultural events.

 

When: Friday 12 March 2010. Mingle and enjoy refreshments from 6pm; speeches at 6.30; entertainment after 7

 

Where: Mark Hutchins Gallery, 216a Willis Street, Wellington

 

There is no charge and no tickets required. Please feel free to bring friends with you, and to pass this invitation on, but please RSVP to wellington2011@inbox.com if you plan to come so we can make sure we get the catering right!

 

 

David Hindley

Co-chair

2^nd AsiaPacific Outgames

www.wellingtonoutgames.com

 

Garden Party to mark the 25th Anniversary of the NZAF 28 March

 

In the 25 years of the HIV epidemic in New Zealand the landscape that the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) works in has changed;

 

You are welcome to attend the following event to commemorate 25 years of NZAF history, knowledge, commitment and passion.
You are warmly invited to join with friends and supporters at a garden party to mark the 25th Anniversary of the NZAF.

 

Wilton House
Wilton Bush Road
Wilton
Wellington 6012

 

Sunday 28 March 2010
2pm – 4pm

 

The NZAF welcomes a red dollar donation ($5 or $100) towards the cost of the event.

 

For more information on this event or to RSVP please contact contact

 

Don Barclay, NZAF A-

whina Centre. Email: don.barclay@nzaf.org.nz or 0800 80 AIDS.

 

www.nzaf.org.nz will be regularly updated throughout the year with information about the NZAF 25th Anniversary.

 

25 YEARS OF NZAF 1985-2010

LESBIAN & GAY PARENTING STUDY

My name is Nicola Surtees. I am a lesbian and a lecturer at the University of Canterbury. I am studying towards a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) at the University. My research project is investigating both how queer youth imagine family and the intended and actual parenting of lesbians and gay men who have teamed up to produce and raise children together. Previous research in this area has focused on single households led by lesbian mothers and to a lesser extent, those led by gay fathers. Studies exploring how lesbians and gay men are working together to create and ‘do’ family in innovative ways are scarce. I think this project is timely given legislation fails to recognize the family relationships of some lesbians and gay men.

I am currently recruiting for participants across two categories throughout New Zealand. If you are interested in participating and fit (in some way, shape or form, no matter how loosely) one of the two following groups, I’d really love to hear from you. If you are not interested in participating or don’t fit either of these groups, please feel free to forward this information on to others who might.

Potential co-parents
Lesbians and gay men who consider themselves to be potential co-parents actively planning to create family with other lesbians or gay men in the immediate future. Members of such a prospective family might, for example, include two intending lesbian mothers and an intending gay father who will act as a donor. Or, it might include an intending lesbian surrogate and a gay couple who are planning to parent with one another. There is however, no restriction on the shape prospective families might take.

Actual co-parents
Lesbians and gay men who together conceived and now co-parent children, either within a single household or across households.

Participation in the project will involve two interviews to be conducted during 2010. A range of topics will be explored. Potential co-parents will be asked about the sorts of family they are hoping to create and how they came to be planning for parenthood. Actual co-parents will be asked about how they planned to become parents, the relationship between what was planned and what actually happens and day-to-day arrangements.

Participants’ real names and other identifying information will not be used in the study. All data will remain confidential.

If you want to learn more about the study or participate in it you can ring me on: (03) 345 8349 or email me at: nicola.surtees@canterbury.ac.nz

I’ll look forward to hearing from you!

Nicola Surtees
Lecturer
School of Maori, Social and Cultural Studies in Education
College of Education
University of Canterbury

Homophones burst into song

Wellington's gay men's chorus, the Homophones, welcomes new members as rehearsals begin for the start of 2010. The group was formed in 2007 as a community male-voice choir open to all who wish to participate. "We enjoy singing and strive for the best standard we can achieve, while putting a strong emphasis on inclusiveness and community," says convenor Mark Beehre. Like the choir itself, whose members range in age from their 20s to their 60s, the Homophones' repertoire is a varied one. "Our inaugural concert featured songs in six different languages," Beehre explained, "and we continue to explore a wide variety of music." Previous programmes have featured composers from Brahms to the Beatles, alongside Maori waiata, traditional African songs, and our signature tune, We're the Men of the Chorus."

The gay choral movement is a world-wide phenomenon and is a tremendous opportunity for gay men to meet in a social setting and enjoy making music together. A highlight of the Homophones' programme for 2010 will be taking part in the Out and Loud festival in Auckland at Easter, where gay and lesbian choirs from around Australasia will gather for a weekend of fun and harmony. Also on the agenda are the Homophones' own concerts in Wellington and a repeat of last year's very popular and enjoyable weekend 'music camp'.

The Homophones' year begins with two new members' nights, where anyone is welcome to come along, meet the guys, and sample our songs. You don't need to read music to take part, and our musical director is proficient at helping you find your place in the choir.

Website: www.homophones-wellington.net

E-mail: mail@homophones-wellington.net

 

We invite proposals for presentations to

 

HEALTH IN DIFFERENCE 2010: DOING DIVERSITY

 

Sydney, 29 April to 1 May 2010

 

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we will come

together, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay our respects to their elders

 

Health in Difference is Australia’s premier conference on the health and wellbeing of

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and other sexuality, sex and gender

diverse (LGBTI*) persons.

 

While many LGBTI people live healthy happy lives, as a population LGBTI people are known to

have significantly poorer health outcomes than other Australians in several key areas, including

mental health, suicide, general health ratings, alcohol and other drug use.

 

Health in Difference draws together community organisations, health practitioners, researchers,

academics, policy makers, advocates, community members and others who are interested in

improving the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing of LGBTI people. It is a

unique forum for those interested in health, gender, sex, and sexuality to come together and

share their knowledge, network, learn, and laugh.

 

Contribute your knowledge to Health in Difference!

 

Present a paper or a workshop!

 

The conference is organised around 5 core themes relating to sexual orientation, sex and

gender identity:

 

. Social Inclusion, Exclusion and Resilience:

 

A Social View of Health

 

. Indigenous Health and Wellbeing:

 

Culture, Context and Colonisation

 

. Sex and Gender Diversity:

 

Differences within Diversity

 

. Community:

 

The Changing Natures of Our Relationships

 

. Politics, Evidence and Practice:

 

Creating Change

 

Health in Difference 2010 aims to “do diversity”. This means bringing together the rich diversity within “LGBTI communities”, and others who work with them, proactively including the diversity of LGBTI issues, and using our collective insights to make a contribution to the health and wellbeing of sexuality, sex and gender diverse people.

 

Health in Difference will

 

. be a forum for discussion, debate, sharing, learning, networking and organising around issues relevant to LGBTI health. showcase the work, experiences and learnings of those working in the field of LGBTI health and wellbeing build connections, collaborations and alliances between practitioners, researchers, policy makers, advocates and community members, and provide an inclusive, participative, empowering and fun conference experience!

 

We seek

 

Paper presentations and interactive workshops that contribute to the aims and themes of Health in Difference 2010.

 

Other formats will be considered.

 

We welcome presentations that seek to explore issues together with participants and contribute to shared knowledge, thinking and experience. They do not necessarily need to be on completed projects or research.

 

Submission deadline: 29 January 2010

 

Late submissions cannot be considered.

 

How to Submit

 

All submissions are made via the web.

 

For more information, including full submission guidelines and the submission form please visit: www.lgbthealth.org.au/Health-in-Difference-2010

 

Registrations will open early 2010. To be put on our mailing list, please email info@lgbthealth.org.au

 

* Health in Difference uses “LGBTI” as a recognisable acronym to refer to a diverse group of identities that includes but is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender and intersex people. We also use it as an invitation to think across identity labels and consider sexuality, sex and gender diversity in all their facets and communities. We call on queer people, queens, straight people, sistergirls, brotherboys, fa’afafine, femmes, transsexuals, takatapui, bois, bears, and toms, all those with an interest in sexual orientation, sex and gender identity and how these relate to health and wellbeing to be part of Health in Difference 2010

 

 

Kapiti Gay Radio

 

There is now a 30 minute gay slot on Coast Access Radio on the Kapiti Coast, at 104.9 FM.
Apparently parts of Wellington can get it too.

It is run by Steve, and is on once a month, usually on the third Sunday afternoon at 3 pm, and repeated on Tuesday at 9 pm and Thursday at 5 pm.

Your editor is to appear for a second time on the programme on 1^st November, to give a report on gay events of 2009. Avid readers of this newsletter will not be surprised at most of the items planned for inclusion!

http://www.coastaccessradio.org.nz/Welcome.html

See also this story about the programme on GayNZ.com : http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_7395.php .