Category: Opinion
“We are everywhere” was one of the first slogans I recall seeing from the Gay Liberation Movement. It serves as a reminder of our existence, which has been constant throughout history. People from all walks of life, including truck drivers, lawyers, retail workers, politicians, the unemployed, the wealthy, the young, the old, and individuals from […]
Comedian Jadwiga Green pays tribute to Hannah Gadsby’s Netflix comedy specials that inspired introverted queer and autistic artists everywhere. I had just started performing stand-up when Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette dropped. The women and trans comedians that I performed with could not help but talk about this backstage. It was as if change was reaching a […]
Some friends and I went out dancing at one of K Road’s queer nightclubs. I was pretty quickly approached by a cute girl who started dancing with me. I couldn’t help but think how young she looked. From her non-ironic low-rise flared jeans and crop top, I could tell she wasn’t a millennial, as the […]
When I was 15, I sat inches from the TV in the family lounge room. The glow from the old CRT monitor lit my face up as I nervously turned the volume down even lower so it was barely audible, even from this distance. With many nervous glances around, I watched myself being represented in […]
Michael Stevens reflects on ageism in the Rainbow community and asks, ‘where is the support for older queers?’ Last month, the first retirement community specifically for LGBTQ+ seniors opened in London. There are a few in other big cities; Berlin has had one since 2008. I doubt we’ll ever see one here in Aotearoa; the […]
A gin-fuelled night out leaves Jessie Lewthwaite spotting signs that a girl might be queer. From body language to types of tattoos and placements of piercings, has she mastered the ‘Gaydar’? I am being a tourist and crawling straight bars with my straight guy friends. I’m very supportive of their lifestyles. I’m an ally. We […]
Rainbow Counsellor Elijah Michel returns to express to offer advice to those attending the peaceful protests in support of trans communities. For those attending the peaceful protests against the visiting anti-trans speaker in Auckland and Wellington this morning, a few words of wisdom and encouragement: Stay safe – there are talks of various groups of […]
Mentalist and magician Jeremy Rolston shares how his faith-based upbringing led him to ignore his sexual attraction to men, repress romantic possibilities and even say ‘no’ to marriage equality. I love being gay, I really do. It’s been an interesting and difficult journey to get here though. For my whole life I thought I was […]