The Wellington Pride Festival | Tū Whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara is an annual two week festival, the beginnings of which started 34+ years ago! It’s a celebration of our LGBTQIA+ Community across Wellington.
Wellington Pride Festival traces its history back to the first Newtown Lesbian and Gay Fair in 1986, which was organised as part of the campaign for the Homosexual Law Reform Bill which passed on July 9th, 1986. This Act decriminalised relationships between men aged 16 and over, and meant that the gay community couldn’t be discriminated against.
Since then, Wellington has been home to rainbow festivals, parties, and other events which have celebrated, represented, and supported the LGBTQIA+ community, including adults, youth and children.
Did you know?
The rainbow flag – the symbol of gay pride – was created in 1978 by artist, designer, Vietnam War veteran Gilbert Baker. He was commissioned to create a flag for San Francisco’s annual pride parade.
“What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us.
It’s all the colors.
It represents all the genders.
It represents all the races.
It’s the rainbow of humanity” – Gilbert Baker
Have you seen?
Image: stuff.co.nz
Image: Wikipedia Commons
Have you noticed the pedestrian crossing images on traffic lights around Cuba Street, Wellington? Instead of the usual ‘green walking man’ they depict an image of Carmen Rupe, who was a tireless gay rights advocate and popular performer in and around Wellington. Carmen passed away in 2011 aged 75 years old.
Get Involved
National Schools Pride Week happens yearly in term 2. This year: 14 – 20 June 2021. This event is organised by Inside Out, which supports rainbow young people throughout Aotearoa to have a sense of belonging in their schools and communities.
Talk to your teacher, and register your school HERE
Some links:
Out on the Shelves – an online reading resource connecting rainbow young people with the stories that represent them.
Rainbow Youth – provide support, information, resources & advocacy for Aotearoa’s
queer, gender diverse, takatāpui and intersex youth.
Bullying Free NZ – LGBTQIA+
National Library of NZ – Queer History
Some reading:
Wellington City Libraries have loads of books and online resources about gender, sexuality, diversity and community acceptance. I simply typed in ‘GENDER JUVENILE’ into the the search engine and came up with seven pages of fiction, non-fiction, picture books, board books and e-books to chose from! Wellington City Libraries – Gender Juvenile