Category: Opinion
Ever been hated just for existing? Jessie Lewthwaite reflects on bullying, internalised homophobia, and the very real harm that self-hatred can cause — especially when it’s weaponised in politics. When I was a little baby gay, around eleven years old, it was becoming obvious to all that I was different. Being different as a child […]
Clinical psychologist Werner Briedenhann reflects on the impact of turning forty for gay men, and tells us that self-acceptance doesn’t have to be our undoing. It’s here, and you didn’t expect it. Like a sudden reaction to spicy food. Welcome to forty. You’ve arrived at a place where men don’t talk about what’s going on […]
Jessie Lewthwaite celebrates our queerest capital. By a happy coincidence, I ended up having back-to-back party weekends away in the capital. Coming down from Auckland, I was concerned my soft Australian skin would be cold, and I was especially worried about how the gale-force winds would affect my hair, which I sculpt to make it […]
Palmerston North MP Tangi Utikere warns that Government reforms could threaten events like Palmy Drag Fest, which celebrate diversity and bring communities together. As we head into the second half of 2025, there are some great community events to look forward to, including in my hometown of Palmerston North. Festivals and events are incredibly important […]
Jessie Lewthwaite reflects on attending her first gay wedding and how queers have defied old fears to embrace love on our own terms. Having moved to New Zealand in 2013 in pursuit of a right Australia was still denying queer citizens, I am very surprised it has taken me until 2025 to attend my first […]
Jennifer Shields reflects on the significance of Queer History Month and the enduring presence of LGBTQ+ communities across time. Happy Queer History Month, Aotearoa – Pūmahara Ia Te Wā! This July marks the second celebration of Queer History Month across the motu, thanks to the efforts of Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa, who’ve compiled a […]
Craig Young reflects on the UK’s contradictory reforms—advancing abortion and euthanasia rights while backsliding on trans issues, and warns NZ not to follow suit. The United Kingdom has always struck me as a country of contradictions—but perhaps that’s just part of its evolving character. Lately, I’ve been observing a curious blend of progressive reform and […]
Tanya Unkovich resigns from Parliament amid controversy over her anti-trans bill and anti-vax views. Craig Young explores the motivations behind her abrupt departure. At the end of June, New Zealand First List MP Tanya Unkovich stepped down from Parliament, citing a desire to return to her career as a motivational speaker. Her departure might appear […]