Category: Opinion

Rainbow Counsellor Lisa Luke Michelle is here to help with your problems. Q: I am 50 years old and have been given the run-around by Auckland Sexual Health in regards to starting Hormone Replacement Therapy for transitioning. I have been on their waiting list for months, and now, after a consultation with one of their […]

Rainbow Counsellor Lisa Luke Michelle is here to help with your problems. Q My partner and I have been together for two years now, and recently he suggested we invite a mutual friend into the relationship. Our friend is a fab guy and we both adore him, but I feel dirty – like I’d be […]

Are we too submissive towards homophobic customers? Star Observer’s Samuel Leighton-Dore reflects on his experiences in dealing with homophobia in hospitality and customer service industries. I’ve always had a day job. My fledging career in customer service began at 14 with two after school shifts at the local McDonald’s. I was paid minimum wage (roughly […]

Stephen Rainbow writes on the problems facing contemporary gay culture. It’s always difficult to make observations about gay life without appearing either sanctimonious or setting oneself up as a paragon of virtue. I am neither, honestly. But after twenty years living as an openly gay man I feel I’m entitled to make a few observations […]

With a decision to be made soon by the Minister of Immigration on granting Chris Brown a visa into New Zealand, acclaimed gay performer Mika writes exclusively for express and makes the case for Brown to be allowed in. Recently, it came to my attention that noted American hip-hop artist Chris Brown would be applying […]

When the idea of a Rainbow Advisory Panel was first raised I was excited at the possibilities for our community. Yet after observing Auckland council politics over the last year, I can’t help but feel a sense of despair before the panel has even held their first meeting. The Auckland Rainbow Advisory Panel members were […]

Ramon Te Wake writes on some of the challenges of being Takatāpui as well as what makes being queer and Maori fabulous! Aotearoa is a country with many significant firsts to its long white cloud. Georgina Bayer was the world’s first transsexual mayor and Member of Parliament. In 2008, the Human Rights Commission published ‘The […]

Stephen Rainbow writes on how multiculturalism has transformed Auckland gay life. A cursory glance at the gay world in Auckland would suggest that while there may be concern about immigrants buying up our houses we’re apparently less concerned about the including them in our lives and our beds. How multiculturalism has transformed gay lives! Friends […]