Lesbian Wellington

2nd Asia Pacific Outgames Wellington March 2011

The 2nd Asia Pacific Outgames are being held in Wellington on 12-19 March 2011. Visit www.wellingtonoutgames.com for more info including:

• registrations now open - with an earlybird fee that can get you up to 35% off the standard fee
• how you can volunteer - they need all sorts of help!

2nd Asia Pacific Outgames Human Rights Conference

This Conference will be held in Wellington on 16th - 18th March, in association with the Games. The Conference organising group are inviting individuals, groups and organisations to indicate their interest in contributing to the conference streams. Information about conference registration is also available on the Outgames website.

Fundraising events

• Chocolate and wine evening at Butlers Chocolate Café - 103 Willis St, 7pm, Friday 17th September $25.00. Tickets limited ...more
• Quiz nights at S&M bar, 176 Cuba St, Wellington. Prizes, great company and laughter every Thursday at 7pm. It costs $5. Bring a team or join a team there.

Gay and Lesbian Help-Line

Providing information, advice, active listening, youth support and more Helpline Services to the whole lesbian, gay, trans, questioning, coming out, whatever community. Staffed by Gay / Lesbian / Takatäpui / Queer Volunteers. More info at www.gaywellington.org/ or phone them at 04-473-7878.

Training day for new volunteers

Want to use your own life experience to help other gays and lesbians who are at times struggling with sexuality related issues? Wellington Gay Welfare Group, managing the Gay & Lesbian Wellington Helpline, will have all-day induction training on Saturday 18th September. You will learn to be an empathetic support able to make a difference in someone else's life, be they friend, family or stranger. Practice helping via confidential, telephone, one-on-one chats or get involved in a number of other ways.

Interested? Then by 15th September, ring Helpline, 473-7878, at anytime, leaving your contact details or email them to helpline@gaywellington.org.

Human Rights Commission consultation

In 2010 the Commission is reviewing human rights in New Zealand. They are seeking comments on the draft chapter on human rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity. There is an online form for responding to the chapter. Comments are sought by 24 September

Consultation meeting

A consultation meeting on Human Rights in relation to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is being held in Wellington at 4:00 to 6:00 pm on Wednesday 8th September, at Level 1, Vector Building, 44-52 The Terrace. Please RSVP to jackb@hrc.co.nz if you are going to the meeting or have any other queries.

Sublime - The Art & Sculpture Solo Exhibit

An exciting mix of paintings and sculptures to cater for all your needs. From flower power to nudity, and the occasional landscapes of Wellington.
Opening Monday 13th September at 6.00pm
Venue: Thistle Hall, Cuba Street
Hours to view: 14th – 18th September 2010 from 10am to 6.00pm.
To be Auctioned on Saturday 18th September, 2010 at 7.00pm.

Download the poster

Community profiles on PrideNZ.com

Over the last twelve years local gay man Gareth Watkins together with Hannah Ho, Alison Laurie, Hinemoana Baker and others have recorded Queer/LGBTI people talking on a wide range of topics. Gareth has created the website PrideNZ.com to share these recordings so that anyone can reflect on Queer/LGBTI issues. Those featured include Hinemoa Baker and Alison Laurie, as well as recordings from the 2009 KAHA National Queer Youth Hui, and students and teachers talking about what it's like being gay at school. The audio files can be streamed or downloaded.

Latest addition: Bridging the Gaps organised and hosted by the Charlotte Museum and Rainbow Youth.
A panel discussion featuring three queer/lesbian women, Aorewa McLeod, Jules Radford-Poupard and Phoebe Balle, spanning six decades, talking age, stereotypes and identity labels. Facilitated by Priscilla Penniket from Rainbow Youth, and Jenny Rankin.

Armstrong & Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians

The Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians was established in 2001 by the late Bea Arthur for the benefit of lesbian community groups in the Welington region. The Trust is named to recognise and remember the 57 year relationship of Bea and her partner the late Bette Armstrong. The Trustees invite applications for assistance, as grants, for projects and activities that will benefit all or part of the lesbian communities in the Wellington region. The Wellington region is defined as the Lower North Island South of the Manawatu Gorge. Visit the Trust website www.lesbiantrust.org.nz for information about how to apply for grants, and how to donate or make bequests to the Trust.

Creative studio residency for lesbians

The free use of this day-time studio space is offered to lesbian women to follow creative goals. It offers solitude to write, study or follow any kind of artistic or creative endeavor or simply the space to gather ones thoughts. This year it has been used to write, study, read, chill-out, paint, and as a quiet space away from it all to create vows for a civil union.

Situated on the Paramata inlet, is comfortable, sheltered and sunny with doors opening onto the tidal estuary. It is a 20-minute drive from Wellington, or by train the nearest stop is Mana, a short walk away.

To apply send a general outline of your intended use and dates you would like access to: stonepapersissors@gmail.com.

Thanks to the Armstrong & Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians for covering power costs.

Queers Gone Kiwi

Queers Gone Kiwi is New Zealand's mostly social group for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Immigrants. They gather every Wednesday from 6 pm at S&M (Scotty and Mals) cocktail bar and lounge at 176 Cuba St, for informal drinks and chat. Just turn up or email queersgonekiwi@yahoo.co.nz if you haven't been before or it has been a while and you would like to be introduced to the group. QGC also organise other events from time to time - theatre trips, Easter camp ... just email them.

School's Out

School's Out is a support and hang out group for queer, gay, lesbian, bi, transgender, takataapui, fa'afafine, and questioning teenagers (12-22) in the Greater Wellington area. They meet Thursday afternoons in Wellington central and fortnightly in Lower Hutt (during school terms), as well as having weekend and holidays things to do. Check www.bebo.com/schoolsout for more information, or email them at queer_schools_out@hotmail.com.

The Gay Welfare website www.gayline.gen.nz has podcasts of queer youth sharing their stories of coming out.

Rainbow families

There is a national Rainbow Families website and emailing list www.rainbowfamiliesnz.org to exchange information around NZ and also just to chat about raising our kids LBGT style!

Rainbow Families Wellington is a regional eGroup for local and regional activities, events and news. Activities are organised for the second Sunday of each month.

Pride and Joy Play Group

A play group for pre-school children from diverse families including sanme-sex parents and donor families of any flavour. There are also weekend lunches once a term for school age children

If you think your children would benefit from getting to know kids from families like theirs, email Stephanie at pride_and_joy@ymail.com

TRANZform

A group for young people (30ish and under) who identify as transgender, genderqueer, non-gendered, questioning and their allies. We meet the second Tuesday of the month, for yarns, support, food and mischief making. The first meeting is in November - email tranzform.wgtn@gmail.com for more information

About Us: Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and the Law in New Zealand

MSD's GLBTI Policy group has worked in conjunction with Whitireia Community Law Centre to produce an online legal resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, takataapui, fa'afafine, transsexual, transgender and intersex people (and anyone else who doesn't fit into heterosexual or gender norms!). The resource is housed on the Community Law Centre website - currently on its front page at www.communitylaw.org.nz

Keeping it safe

- a sexual and reproductive health guide for same sex attracted women

The NZ Family Planning Association have produced a booklet for any woman who has sex with women. It's practical guide on reducing risks, and maintaining sexual, reproductive and mental health.

Copies can be obtained at LILAC library.
Or for up to two free copies please send a stamped self addressed A5 envelope to:
  FPA Resource Unit, P.O. Box 11515, Wellington
3-50 copies cost $10 (postage and handling)

TV guide

GayNZ.com have an excellent guide to TV programmes of interest.