Celebrating Queer Relationships

Pink Health Otautahi

email: steve.attwood@paradise.net.nz Christchurch

PRESS RELEASE: 28/01/2003

Celebrating Queer Relationships

Subjects as diverse as how people relate to the Treaty of Waitangi and the impact of HIV on relationships will be discussed at queer relationships forum in Christchurch in February.

A celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/inter-sex relationships on a day traditionally reserved for romanticising heterosexual love - St Valentine’s Day (Friday February 14), the forum has been organised by Pink Health Otautahi, an organisation made up of gay and lesbian health professionals.

To be held at the Christchurch netball Centre in South Hagley Park, the day will comprise a speakers’ forum with the theme “Celebrating Queer Relationships”, with opportunities for questions/discussion at the end of each speaker’s presentation.

The forum will be followed by an evening dance with an emphasis on love and romance. Both functions will have sub-themes of healthy relationships, pride and acceptance of sexuality, and promoting queer health and visibility. Spokesperson Steve Attwood said the day is open to anyone, of any gender or sexuality, who has a personal or professional interest in queer relationship issues.

The MC for the speakers forum will be human rights commissioner Joy Liddicoat who will add her own thoughts to the proceedings, as well as controlling the debate, summarising the day and evaluating the messages delivered by the variety of speakers.

The programme, speakers and their topics are:

- 2pm - 2.20pm: Formal opening and opening address by Joy Liddicoat.

- 2.20pm to 3pm: Hine Martin, health promoter - “Healthy Treaty Relationships - Paradox or Parade? Do we have cause for cynicism or celebration?”

- 3pm - 3.40pm: Dr Sara MacBride Stewart, teacher and researches in Gender Studies at University of Canterbury - “A speculum in the ranks: The politics of promoting happy, healthy queers.”

- 3.40pm to 4.20pm: Matt Whyte, health promoter (positive men) for the NZ AIDS Foundation - "Three's a crowd" - the joys and challenges of the presence of HIV in a relationship, with an emphasis on the positive.

- 4.20pm to 4.50pm (approx): Afternoon tea.

- 4.50pm to 5.30pm: Merryn Statham and Amy Donovan, joint presentation - Merryn manages Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand and Amy is the health promoter employed for a Rainbow Youth/NZ AIDS Foundation joint project promoting queer youth health and wellbeing.

- 5.30pm to 6.10pm: Nigel Christie, an advocate for legal recognition of same sex relationships - “Celebrating without Recognition” - New Zealand law and same-sex relationships, what constitutes, and what are the benefits of, recognition and what are the benefits of celebration even without legal recognition.

- 6.10pm - 6.30pm: Joy Liddicoat - summary and close of forum.

- 7pm: Forum dinner.

- 8pm - midnight: Dance - “Celebrating Queer Romance.”

Details:

Event: Pink Health Otautahi “Celebrating Queer Relationships” forum dinner and dance.

Venue: Netball Centre, South Hagley Park, Christchurch

Times: Forum - 2pm - 6.30pm

Dinner 7pm

Dance 8pm - midnight.

Costs: Forum and dinner only $15

Forum dinner and dance $20

Dance only $5

Tickets available from: Women’s Centre, Chameleon Bar, Paris and Farr Florists and NZAF Christchurch centre (now 269 Hereford Street).

ENDS

For further information, contact Steve Attwood (contact details in letterhead).

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