Category: Opinion
Michael Stevens questions, who are our allies, and how much space should we give them in our organisations and our world? It used to be fairly clear-cut, who belonged in our ‘community’ and who didn’t when it was pretty much just the Gay and Lesbian community. We always had friends and allies who didn’t identify […]
Concerned by the recent well-publicised displays of homophobia and transphobia in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty resident and Rocky Horror Picture Show writer Richard O’Brien takes aim at the frequently-used excuse for discrimination: faith. A belief in a supernatural being is something that most of us will tolerate as a little whacky but indulgently allowable. A […]
Wait – did you just misgender that person out loud? Don’t despair! George Fowler presents a step-by-step guide to saving the situation and making amends. I bet you’re a good ally. You think trans people are people, you know what pronouns are, and you do your best to address people by the names and words […]
It’s inevitable that people change over time, but what happens when you are in a long-term relationship with that person? Dick Richards braces himself for compromise! What happens after we’ve finished running the dating marathon and have found someone special? Disney told us it’s ‘happy ever after’ and for some of us that means marriage, […]
Ever wondered why that great sexy guy with the annoyingly possessive best friend is always single? No, you haven’t. You know exactly why! Dick Richards is here to put cockblocking ‘Judies’ on notice. You’re not a good friend if you get in the way of your bestie’s dreams! In the famous words of New Zealand […]
What does it mean when a stranger shouts the f-word at a queer person in the street? Michael Stevens examines the impact. “Ya stupid faggot!” he shouted through the van window as I was walking our dog a few weeks ago. It’s been a long time since I’ve been yelled at like that in the […]
How to pivot from a relationship to a friendship. Fresh off appearing on TVNZ’s The Ex Best Thing, Zakk d’Larte shares his top tips for creating a genuine friendship with your ex. Ah, the ol’ ex. Like many others that have had relationships end, there have been times when I’ve felt like I’ve been stripped away […]
All cultures have an idea of what physical beauty is. They place value on it, and conversely on what ugly and unattractive are. Deep down how many gay men think they are actually beautiful or good enough? Michael Stevens discusses the freedom he found by finally shaking off society’s standards. As a teenager in the […]