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.