Pride in the Capital

This September held the first ever Queer Pride Week at Wellington East Girls’ College (WEGC). The week was held in the lead up to the Day of Silence, a day where people stand in solidarity with the LGBT+ community and those of them who have had their voices silenced due to bullying. The leaders of the school’s LGBT+ club, Recognition, were met with great support from all areas of the school and were able to host a terrific series of events for both the students and teachers of WEGC.

Students were very excited for the week, which kicked off with a successful panel of MPs including Louisa Wall, Grant Robertson and Jan Logie discussing Politics and LGBT+ Rights. Clubs and groups across the school jumped on the bandwagon, with many running their weekly meetings with a theme relevant to the week. Several clubs helped to decorate the school and also provided baking for a bake sale. Some proceeds from the week will go to InsideOUT, a national organisation which works with youth, whānau, schools and communities to make Aotearoa a safer place for all young people of diverse genders and sexualities, and the rest of the funds will go towards 2017’s Pride week.

The rainbow flag raised on the school’s flagpole made a strong statement about the Pride within Wellington East Girls’ College, and the commitment we have to the acceptance of Queer students and staff within our community.