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Hero magazine, 1993, The HERO Project Limited, New Zealand. Beginning in 1991, by the late 1990s Devotion had grown into a week-long festival and published a magazine. Also in the capital city of Wellington, Devotion was one of many queer dance parties held during the 1990s, a popular annual event featuring glamorous stage shows whose attendees were known as ‘Devotees’. It later evolved into the much beloved annual Out In The Park fair, hosted by Wellington Pride Festival. Promoted as “a fair for a fair law” the first Gay and Lesbian Fair in 1986 was established to raise support for Homosexual Law Reform. Many of these festivals came as a response to the AIDS pandemic a way to come together and find joy in dark times. Purchased 2015 (GH024622) Pride events flourishĪfter 1986 pride festivals and fairs flourished, kicking off with Wellington’s Gay and Lesbian Fair and including Devotion, Pride, Freedom, Hero and Big Gay Out, not to mention various smaller affairs throughout the country. Design by Lee Jensen printed by Wellington Media Collective, New Zealand. ‘Gay Men, Lesbians & Friends’ poster, 1986.
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Though billed as ‘New Zealand’s largest petition’ it included many signatures which were duplicated, forged, or faked – even Mickey Mouse purportedly signed it! The petition was rejected, though heated opposition did not die. A key moment in the debate was the nationwide anti-reform petition delivered to Parliament in September 1985 by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens. A hard-fought battle for Homosexual Law ReformĪctivists were met by vicious external challenges. Gay organisations were however dogged by sexism, racism, transphobia, and classism in various ways, and this has meant that many groups were marginalised from the mainstream movement. It is crucial to note that fighting for gay liberation would have been impossible without women, gender minorities, and people of colour. Yet internal fragmentation challenged the movement. Gift of Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand, 2017 (GH025206) We Are Everywhere badge, about 1979, by National Gay Rights Coalition, New Zealand. In 1993, he would go on to become New Zealand’s first out gay member of Parliament. Although this caused strife between Carter and his loved ones, he explained that it was worth it because it “was the catalyst that got everything out into the open". It was broadcast on television for Chris Carter, this meant coming out publicly for the very first time. In April 1972, activists gathered under Albert Park’s statue of Queen Victoria in Auckland, chanting ‘Will Victorian morality ever die?’ while onlookers jeered. ‘Gay Day’ was Aotearoa’s first pride, kicking the movement off with a “public and provocative” start. Te Awekotuku’s message reverberated throughout the country her subsequent visits to Wellington and Christchurch resulting in gay liberation groups immediately being established by the universities in both cities. Infuriated, she gave a rousing speech to students at the University of Auckland, challenging them to be open about their homosexuality: “who out there is crazy enough to join me – and let’s start gay liberation!” Īt a meeting in Te Awekotuku’s flat shortly afterward, Aotearoa’s first gay liberation group was founded. Her visa however was stalled on the grounds of ‘sexual deviance’. In March 1972 she was nominated to study abroad in the United States, planning to research American gay liberation and Red Power. Lesbian and Māori rights activist Ngahuia Te Awekotuku catalysed gay liberation in Aotearoa. Queer people have always formed bonds of kinship and whanaungatanga in resistance to the powers which strove to invisibilise them, relying on one another for support, safety, love and pride. Te Papa (GH025385) The beginnings of local prideĪlthough the Stonewall riots of New York in 1969 are often referred to as the “first pride”, to label Stonewall as that which kicked things off in Aotearoa is to ignore our very own radical history! Aotearoa was home to both informal and organised networks of queer community well before 1969 community lay the foundation for our pride. Trans Is Beautiful poster, 2018, illustration by Ariki Arts, design by Ahi Wi-Hongi, published by Gender Minorities Aotearoa, New Zealand. Corporate partnerships Hononga kaipakihi.Friends of Te Papa: Our membership programme Ngā Hoa o Te Papa: Te hōtaka mema.Media sales and licensing Te hohoko papāho me te manatā.Past exhibitions Ngā whakaaturanga o mua.Touring exhibitions Ngā whakaaturanga poi haere.Guides to caring for objects Tiaki Kohinga, Tiaki Taonga.For museums and galleries Mō ngā muhiama me ngā whare toi.Read, watch, play Kōrero, mātaki, purei.Discover the collections Tūhuratia ngā kohinga.