10th Birthday

CORKS POP AT PFLAG PARTY

More than fifty revellers, young and old, gay and straight, crowded into Community House to celebrate PFLAG South's 10th birthday. Sprits were bubbling as were the drinks with fun and games a feature of the agenda.

President Jill Jones welcomed everyone present, especially the members of our Same-Difference youth group, and spoke of the influence PFLAG had on her coming-out story.

Founding members, Sue Thomson, Erin Kerekere and Euan Thomson recalled significant events in PFLAG's past and the many ways in which the group had provided support to our queer community over the past ten years.

Our guest speaker was Grant Robertson, Labour MP for Wellington Central who attended with his partner Alf as well as his mother and his father, both early members of PFLAG South.

No birthday party is complete without a cake and Exec member, Mandy Vickars had baked a beauty with rainbow layers and the PFLAG heart depicted in icing.

Prolonged applause greeted an announcement from Stu Terry of a gift to Same-Difference of $1000 left in an account established by Pride Dunedin Youth.

"From Bayview Rd to the Beehive but not on the straight and narrow''

There is still some distance to go before those in the rainbow community are fully accepted, MP Grant Robertson says.

In a speech entitled "From Bayview Rd to the Beehive but not on the straight and narrow'' he reflected on his life and the gains which had been made in gay rights.

While there was tolerance for gays, there was a difference between tolerance and embracing difference and some people were still inclined to NIMBY (not in my backyard behaviour). - ''it's great that person is gay, but I hope they don't teach my children''.

He called the work to be done yet the ''dignity agenda'' which, when realised, would ensure everybody in New Zealand had the chance to be who they were.

He also urged people not to be complacent about rights because gains could be taken away as was evident in some parts of the United States over gay marriage.

"I do hope as the rainbow community we don't lose empathy about discrimination when we see other groups discriminated against.''

Grant said he could not recall a specific time when he realised as a teenager he was gay, but he remembered a time of not coping, and it being difficult.

While times had changed for the better, it did not make that moment when somebody said ''I'm gay'' to family and friends for the first time easier.

It would still be particularly difficult in provincial New Zealand.

Listening to Pflag parents reflect on their experiences had reminded him that when people were coming out they were inclined to think ''it is all about me, I'm the one coming out'', but in fact it was family and friends' journey as well.

People did not always find it easy and a Kings High School friend who had said most hurtful things to him as a teenager because he could not cope with ''what it presented to him'' was now one of his best friends.

"Things can turn around.''

"One of the things I have come to realise is that you never stop coming out, but the good news is it gets heaps easier.''

When he made the decision to stand for parliament he realised he would have to come out publicly, but there could not be a better electorate than Wellington Central for that.

His opposition had even suggested it was an advantage, he said.

Grant praised the work of Pflag and gave special mention to a Dunedin protest against the Destiny Church's stand on civil union.

" You can't believe how proud that made me."

Taking part in a protest such as that in a small community like Dunedin was ''a big deal''.

FINANCIAL GRANTS SUPPORT QUEER YOUTH PROGRAMME

Two significant grants have recently been received by PFLAG South in support of their Same-Difference youth support initiative.

The Dunedin City Council's Community Assistance Subcommittee has awarded a grant of $2,600 and The Lotteries Grants Board has given $5,120 to the programme. This significantly boosts the fund-raising efforts of the society and assures the wages of part-time Youth Co-ordinator Sam Orchard, at least for the immediate future.

PFLAG are hoping the queer community will back this important programme and invite you to you to show your support in a practical way. We welcome all donations, and we would especially encourage you to consider making a small, regular donation of perhaps $5 or $10 dollars a month, which would help us with a regular income stream and which, with other contributions, would assist with Sam's wages and the ongoing expenses of the group.

Modern banking makes it simple to set up a regular monthly payment and, of course they can be stopped just as readily if necessary. PFLAG South Inc is currently applying for charitable status so that your donations will be eligible for an income tax rebate. We will keep you posted on this situation.

Please make your donations to PFLAG South Inc, mail your cheque to PO Box 5266, Dunedin 9058, or contact us for our bank account number.