Queer News Aotearoa (New Zealand)

10 ^th November 1996

NZ behind in treatment of HIV

Dr Richard Meech returning from the Birmingham conference on HIV treatments commented that New Zealand was substantially behind in the treatment of people living with HIV. Dr Meech said that Pharmac, the body responsible for approving subsidies on drugs, should move quickly to approve protease inhibitors which have resulted in dramatic improvement of health of people living with HIV.

Based on the current progress Pharmac may not have made a decision until after Christmas. In recent months a number of New Zealanders have taken to flying to Australia every couple of months to receive subsidised protease inhibitor medication.

Christchurch Future Forum
(from Robin Duff)

"The most important and exciting gathering for years of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders celebrating diversity and working for change," was how Tighe Inston described the Christchurch 'Futures Forum'.

Focused on the hopes for the 21st Century and for continuing positive changes, the Futures Forum, on Sunday the 10th, was attended by over fifty members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities - with even a Takaka visitor. They set out to raise and discuss issues considered important for the communities over the next decade. A wide range of ages, interests and levels of activism was evident at the gathering and the facilitators, Keirsten Windelov and Alistair MacDonald passionate discussion.

Curiously the assumed major legislative issues, including human rights, and marriage did not feature specifically in the discussion. Continuing apprehension was expressed about the lack of any national coordination, promotion and resolution for LGBT issues. Interest Groups were formed to work at developing a National Publication and a Communication Network.

The other major development was the expression of concern about the lack of services and support for much younger members of the LGBT communities. Strong demands were made that they should have access to safe people and safe places, and groups were established to network and improve LGBT Youth Support, work on Anti Violence and to consider the establishment of a Parents and Friends of LGBT's Group.

Feedback referred to the effects of the gathering as being 'honest', 'energising', 'inspiring' and 'exciting'. At the request of the meeting the Organising Group pledged another Forum in the near future. This would consider further issues and allow a report back and further consideration of the issues raised at this Forum.

The Forum was held at the Whare Kai at the Christchurch Polytechnic and ran from 12.30pm until 5.30pm. It was followed by a burning of the Manifesto of the 'Christian' Coalition.

Anyone is welcome to be involved with these Networking Groups or the Forum itself. Further Registration and information can be obtained from:
The Futures Forum, P O Box 25-165, Christchurch
(eMail: df@burnside.school.nz)

Launch of Safe Sex Guidelines

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) launched on Friday a new booklet called "Guidelines for reducing your risk of HIV infection." In launching the new booklet both Tony Ewing, National Prevention Manager and Tony Hughes, Research Director, said that a lot of research had gone in reviewing the safer sex guidelines. The launch of the booklet is the first major review of HIV risk since the launch of the "condoms always" launched over ten years ago.

The guidelines use street language and a clear showing that the real risk with HIV infection is anal or vaginal sex without a condom.

The programme means that the New Zealand gay community in particular is receiving a slightly different message from that of the Australian gay community where the "Test, Test, Test, Trust" programme was launched late last year.

NZAF AGM

NZAF at its recent AGM elected two new trustees to the board and two others were reflected. Relected was Jonathon Smith, an HIV positive man and lecturer at AIT in Auckland and Harold Samu, Consultant, Drag Queen and Pacific Island gay man also from Auckland. Newly elected Board members were Graeme Carpenter, a doctor from Christchurch and Grant Hall, facilitator of Body Positive in Auckland.

Also at the AGM NZAF presented the annual report and in particular commented on the consultation which had occurred with Takataapui (Maori gay, lesbian, transgender) in the past year as NZAF worked to understand how to met Maori needs in relationship to HIV.

Eugenia to visit Sydney Mardi Gras

Eugenia, a play by Lorae Parry, seen in New Zealand earlier this year is off to be part of next years Sydney Mardi Gras Festival. The play premiered in Wellington as part of the 1996 Devotion Festival and was described by the Dominion (a Wellington Newspaper) as extraordinarily satisfying in it's brilliant fluidity and powerful writing.

However the producer, Bronwyn Gray, has indicated the play while been very successful has struck financial difficulties as originally they had hoped to receive financial assistant to travel to Sydney from Creative New Zealand. However Creative New Zealand have no further funding available this year. Ms Gray said that the play would still get to Sydney and she was looking actively for alternative funding.

Radio Gaytime

Radio Gaytime, the Nelson gay radio programme, has also run into funding problems. The Spectrum group, Nelson gay and bisexual men's group, has decided that it can no longer afford the drain on its resources to continue to fund the programme. Henry James, coordinator, said that the show is one of the most popular on the community radio station, Fresh FM. However he acknowledged that not many of the members of Spectrum listened to the programme but rather its audience was growing fastest amongst the heterosexual audience.

Gay TV and Radio

Television

Out There every Tuesday 10.00pm on ATV, Capital City, Coast to Coast, Southern and CTV. and repeated on TV One, Saturday 12.15am

Shortland St, TV2, Monday to Friday 7pm.
Topless Women Talk About Their Lives, TV3, Friday 11.00pm - Watch for the guest appearances of Buckwheat and Bertha in certain episodes.

Radio

Regular gay and lesbian shows

Auckland - G & T Show, 810AM Access Radio, Thursday 7 to 8am
Auckland - This Way Out, 810AM Access Radio, Saturday 11:40am
Auckland - In The Pink, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 8 to 9pm
Auckland - Girls Own Show, 95BFM Student Radio, Sunday 7 to 8pm
Hamilton - Different Strokes, Contact 89FM, Sunday 6 to 8pm
Wellington - Gay BC, 783AM Access Radio, Gay BC, Saturdays 11:15 - 12:15
Wellington - Reading Lesbian Writers, 783AM Access Radio,Saturdays, 1.00 - 1.15
Wellington - Lesbian Radio Programme, 783AM Access Radio,Sundays, 10 - 11 am
Wellington - Boy Trouble, 89FM Student Radio, Sunday 6-7pm
Top of the South - Dyke FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 10am
Top of the South - Gaytime FM, 99.4FM Fresh FM, Sunday 11am
Christchurch - RDU 98.3FM Student Radio, has no specific queer show but does have queer news, play queer artists and all the rest as part of their daily programme.
Christchurch - Outwaves, Plains, 96.9FM , Monday 8pm
Christchurch - Lesbians on Air, Plains 96.9FM Monday 9-9.30pm
Dunedin -Dykes on Mikes, 91FM Radio One, Tuesday 8pm
Dunedin -Tea with the Boys, 91FM Radio One, Sundays 9-10pm

For more information on the above shows check out http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/media/radio.html

Reviews

None this week

Events - Upcoming

Auckland Community Church - Every Sunday 8pm
Auckland Metropolitan Church - Every Sunday 7.30pm
Auckland Gay Bowling Association - Every Sunday 5pm
Auckland Gay Space DKD - Every Sunday 4-6pm
Team Auckland Runners - Every Sunday 10am
Team Auckland Swimmers - Every Tuesday and Thursday 8pm, Saturday 10am
Te Waka Awhina Takatapui Kapa Haka - Every Tuesday 7pm.
Auckland Lesbian Support Group - Every Thursday 7pm
Auckland Womens Social Drop in - Every Friday 7pm
Auckland Uni Gays - Every Friday 5pm
Auckland AA Aquarius Group - Every Tuesday 7.30pm
Auckland Rainbow Youth Secondary School group - Fortnightly every Wednesday

Auckland Gay Tramping Group - 10 November 1996
Auckland It's My Party NZAF Film Fundraiser - 18 November 7pm Auckland HIV Walk for Life - 23 November 11am
Auckland Afternoon Tea with Armistead Maupin 30 November 2pm
Auckland Pride Party 30 November 10pm
Auckland NZAF Media Awards 1 December 10.30am
Auckland Pride Parade 1 December 2pm

Hamilton Gaylink dropin - Every Wednesday 8pm

New Plymouth Pool Evening 12 November 7:30pm
New Plymouth Ten Pin Bowling 18 November 8pm
New Plymouth Taranaki Pride Alliance 20 November 8pm

Palmerston North Uni-Q - Tuesday Night
Palmerston North Lesbian Support Group - Wednesday Night
Palmerston North Club Q - Friday and Saturday Nights
Palmerston North Youth Group - Sunday Afternoons

Wellington Lesbian Library (LILAC) - Every Wednesday 6-8pm, Saturdays noon - 3pm

Wellington Gay Association of Professionals - 7 November 1996
The Swan, the Frog, the Cricket, the Lover - 9 November 1996
Wellington Lesbian Outdoor Activities - 17 November 1996
Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 17 November 1996
Wellington Its My Party NZAF Fundraiser - 20 November 1996
Wellington Cris Williamson & Tret Fure in concert - 22 November 1996
Wellington Te Tumu - The Source NZAF Fundraiser 22 November 8pm
Wellington Lesbian Ball - 23 November 1996
Galaxies - Wellington - 1 December 1996
Wellington Lesbian Overland and Cafe Club - 1 December 1996

Nelson Spectrum - Every Thursday 7.30pm

Christchurch HIV Walk for Life - 30 November 1996
Christchurch Gays and Lesbians Everywhere in Education (GLEE) - 28 November 1996
Christchurch Its My Party NZAF Fundraiser - 25 November 1996
Christchurch Ascent - 23 November 1996

Akaroa Lesbian and Gay Group meets every 3rd Saturday.

Dunedin Gay Affirmers Service - Every Sunday
Dunedin lesbian indoor cricket team - Every Sunday
Dunedin Queerspace - Every Thursday 8pm
Dunedin Beyond the Closet - Every Monday 1pm

More details on the above events can be found on the web at http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/calendar/1996/.

Events - Previews

ACAS Fundraiser

The Auckland Community AIDS Support Group is having a fundraiser at Salsa Restaurant on the Sunday 24th November at 7pm. Tickets cost $55 and includes a three course dinner and drinks. More information contact Lisa at +64-9-624-1243 (day/evening) or Alan in the evening on +64-9-378-9952.

Gay Switchboards and information lines

AIDS Hotline - Auckland +64-9-3580099 Toll free 0800-802-437 24 Hours
Whangarei Gay Help - +64-9-437-7620, Tuesday and Thursday 7 to 9.30pm
Rainbow Youth - +64-9-376-4155, Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Email rainbow@i-max.co.nz
Auckland Gayline - +64-9-303-3584 10am to 10pm weekdays, 2pm to 10pm weekends.
Hamilton Gayline - +64-7-854-9631, Wednesday 8 to 10pm
Rotorua Gayline - +64-7-348-3598, Tuesday 7 to 9pm
Napier Gayline - +64-6-835-7482, 5pm to 8am.
Palmerston North - +64-6-358-5378 24 hour answerservice.
Wellington Switchboard - +64-4-385-0674, 7.30pm to 10pm
Wellington Lesbian Line - +64-4-389-8082 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 7.30 to 10pm.
Greymouth/Reefton Gayline - +64-3-768-4366, Wednesday to Friday 6 to 9pm.
Westport Gayline - +64-3-789-6027, Friday 7-8.30pm
Hokitika Gayline - +64-3-755-6270, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7-10pm
Christchurch Gayline - +64-3-379-4796 Mondays 8-9pm, Saturday 7.30 to 10pm
Christchurch Gay Information line - +64-3-379-3990 24 hour recorded service.
Dunedin Gayline - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Wednesday 5.30 to 7.30pm, Friday 7.30 to 10.30pm Dunedin Lesbian Line - +64-3-477-2077 24 hour recorded service. Answered on Tuesday 5.30 to 7.30pm

What is happening on the Internet

The Aotearoa New Zealand Queer Resources welcomes links to other queer sites and you can now submit your link using the new submission form at http://nz.com/NZ/Queer/links.html

Copyright, Subscription and Contribution information

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