Doug PollardWellington OutGames
Doug talks with the Convenor of the Wellington OutGames Human Rights Conference Barry Taylor.
DOUG: Some little-while-ago we had a regional OutGames here, in Melbourne; as part of the OutGames system you always, always have a Human Rights Conference attached. The one we had in Melbourne was actually pretty successful. The next one is coming-up and it’s the 2nd-Asia Pacific OutGames and it’s taking place in Wellington, New Zealand. During March. (and) Joining me on the line now, we have the convenor of that Human Rights Conference: Barry Taylor. Good morning, Barry.
BARRY: Good morning.
DOUG: How’s life in the Land of the Long-White-Cloud, today?
BARRY: Well, it’s not too bad really. We’ve got some sunshine.
DOUG: Oh, you’re lucky. We had a little bit. But I think we’re going back to rain now – oh, well: OutGames Conference. First-off Barry – for the listeners who may not know, why does OutGames include a human rights conference?
BARRY: One of the traditions – in fact, the Gay Games in Sydney was (sic) the first one where there was a human-rights conference and it was so successful the OutGames then took-it-on as part of it (sic). The whole idea of the OutGames was it was more than just a sporting event. It was a celebration of all we are as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender and inter-sexed people; therefore it has the sporting programme, an arts and cultural programme, but also it’s a recognition. A lot that we’ve done, that’s come through – has been in-spite of the discrimination to others, (and) the impact it’s had – the resiliency, we’ve developed – so, human rights is (sic) an important part of our whole-well-being. The conferences are a chance for us to focus on these human rights issues, from our communities.
DOUG: Do we have any themes emerging as to what the human rights issues are, within our region?
BARRY: It’s a real variety – so, for instance: in countries like Australia and New Zealand, where decriminalisation and anti-discrimination legislation are already there, it’s more about adoption issues, marriage – and how do we experience full citizenship? Other countries – like, Nepal, other places – it’s all about basic, human rights and recognition, protections from violence. So issues manifest themselves in different ways. I think the two things that come out of it from a number of presentations, is that we are an incredibly resilient people. No-one is going to fight for our rights except ourselves. We’ve pulled our sleeves-up and we’ve done it. When we look at the number of people who throughout the years, have championed action in our communities that’s what’s still happening. People are doing it, at different levels with differing levels of passion.
The second thing which comes out is we cannot dismiss the impact of discrimination – or invalidation - whether it’s around protection from violence, bullying, through to sense-of-rejection from families or communities, because of sexuality.
DOUG: One of the things you mention on your website is: Yogyakarta Principles. What are the Yogyakarta Principles?
BARRY: This is very important. It’s part of an international Agreement through all the Human Rights organisations. Australia is part of that, through its Human Rights Commission [indistinct] have meeting over the last few years to identify the principles they would want to promote for issues around discrimination, sexuality [indistinct] and sexual identity, and so what they have come-up with is a range of principles covering the issues of basic, human rights. What they are doing is working with government, identifying major, basic principles. If a country has human rights, we’d be looking for adherence to the Yogyakarta Principles.
DOUG: You’ve quite an interesting range of speakers lined-up for this conference. The one who leaps-out at me because I’ve reported on what he’s been doing for quite some time now is Sunil [Babu] Pant, from Nepal. He’s a very interesting character.
BARRY: Yes. He’s a man who’s been dynamic in setting-up the Blue Diamond Society. A constant advocate for human rights in a country which at times is hostile and is now, a member of the General Assembly – and at times still, a tireless voice. But we have a range of speakers [indistinct] we have Vitit Muntarbhorn who is a respected [indistinct] he’s a United Nation human-rights visitor. In North Korea. An academic and a lawyer who has been one of the major developers of the Yogyakarta Principles, he’s done a lot of thinking around human rights and the law. Geetanjali Misra from India who’s done a lot of work with women and women’s movement stuff in India and internationally - - -
DOUG: Yeah. Also in New York I understand, too?
BARRY: - - - yes. Yes. Does work there – and in New York. We have Grace Poore who works for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission but comes from Malaysia and has done some very dynamic work – and is also a film producer. (and) Has created a documentary about how you can apply the Yogyakarta Principles to community settings and [indistinct]
DOUG: You also have someone from the Aboriginal community, here: Annette Xiberras. From the Wurundjeri people.
BARRY: Yes, that’s right. From Victoria, too – so that’s great that Annette is coming along to that. M’mm, we have indigenous speakers from New Zealand. We think it’s really important the indigenous voices and their experiences of sexuality, are heard as part of it; one of the themes we’re very interested in exploring, particularly important is this notion of inter-sectionality (sic). We don’t just come in terms of our sexuality, we bring also our culture and age and our degree of able-ness – our whole-person and it’s important we make the links around discrimination, across all areas. Whether it’s racism, sexism and such-like. It all impacts on people’s well-being.
DOUG: How is the sponsorship programme going? I notice you’ve got the Embassy to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, amongst your sponsors?
BARRY: We are very excited by that. They have secured a large amount of funding which means we are able to bring-up to 15-people from the Pacific. Fully fund them, paid airfares. Accommodation and – m’mm, registration .
DOUG: Because that’s often a problem isn’t it, for people from some of these countries?
BARRY: That’s right.
DOUG: There’s no funding for any of this activity.
BARRY: Yes, that’s right and to be able to do that has been an amazing, exciting thing. We’re also hoping from some other countries, to get some people from – m’mm, Asia - to do the same thing; the really interesting thing has been the lack-of-response from the countries – like, the Australian and New Zealand governments, to provide funding for people from other countries. Or particularly, indigenous peoples. So – m’mm, I think that’s a real challenge – is you know? How do we make that, a priority. To get people, there.
DOUG: That’s – yeah, that’s surprising – you would’ve thought the Asutralian government would be showing at least some interest; anything from the Victorian government, at all?
BARRY: M’mm, we haven’t approached them directly. We’ve been working with the High Commission. It’s still [indistinct] possible but – m’mm, once again. One of the things we are encouraging are human rights organisations within Australia and New Zealand to ensure we get people there (sic). But it’s a difficult time – like, 2 to 3-years ago, even the degree of commercial sponsors would’ve been much more; we’re facing a much more difficult financial time. Even with OutGames finding commercial sponsors, that’s been much more of a challenge than in other years.
DOUG: Okay – so, when does the Conference take place?
BARRY: Well. The whole Festival goes from the 12th to the 19th-of-March. The Conference itself, is the last 3-days: 17th, 18th and 19th-of-March. It’s a 3-day conference.
DOUG: M’mm, m’mm.
BARRY: Being held in our Town Hall in Wellington. We have over 110-people presenting different streams. We have 6 streams, different themes: work, school and education, health-and-well-being, issues of telling our stories – so, the issues of archives and queer histories. Then also around (sic) faith – so, a lot of things. Particularly – like, in Pacific island countries, Asia you cannot talk about human rights and the impacts on sexuality because of the impact of religion and religious views.
DOUG: Yeah, that’s a bit of a problem in some countries. Isn’t it?
BARRY: Yes.
DOUG: Certainly in Fiji for example, there’s quite a strong human rights movement. But on the other hand, the churches are quite strong as well.
BARRY: Yes.
DOUG: Of course, the Mormon Church is quite influential in the Pacific.
BARRY: Yes. That’s right.
DOUG: They’ve not been exactly friendly toward the gay community in a lot of places.
BARRY: No – yeah and so, we – so. One of the speakers is Michael Stevens, who is a sociologist – sociology of religion, is going to be doing a paper on looking at the role of church, both as being an enabler of human rights, and at times a barrier to it – and how do we use that? To learn from the – m’mm, for the future. So – you know? [indistinct] what does it mean for instance, to be a gay Muslim? How does one deal with that and respond to it, in a healthy way [indistinct] navigate the richness of religious tradition and also at times, the things that make it difficult. Because of intolerance-around-sexuality.
DOUG: Yeah. Of course the other thing we should say about the Conference and the Games as-a-whole is, it’s a major-networking opportunity. An opportunity, for activists and people working-in various fields to get together and exchange ideas. To make contact – that’s probably in many respects, one of its major benefits?
BARRY: That’s right and what we’re seeing as one of the major strengths of the OutGames model, by having these regional themes is in-fact, we’d like to see in the future – is that each kind of conference rather than being one-offs, is we’re building stronger networks – like, we’re keen to build. Almost – like, a rainbow of human rights [indistinct] so for instance when issues are happening – m’mm, in Nepal let’s say – groups were arrested, indiscriminately.
DOUG: M’mm?
BARRY: That in-fact, other countries – that we, Australia and New Zealand – our rising-up to our governments and demanding our embassies take these issues up. A much broader, collective human rights movement rather than – m’mm, what’s just happening. (and) We’re also learning from each other. The clear message we got in our consultations [indistinct] is the Asian countries said: we want to learn from Australia and New Zealand, how did you do social movement change to get the human rights legislation. (and) So on [indistinct] through your countries?
DOUG: Yeah. Because we don’t want them to keep re-inventing the wheel over-and-over again; it’s often very difficult working here, I can tell you. Working in gay and lesbian news for example – it’s often difficult to get the Australian audience to pay attention to issues happening in other countries. They don’t always necessarily see there is a connection or why they should be involved so something like this, that brings people together. I think is, you know – a great thing. If people want to come to the Conference is registration open yet?
BARRY: Yes. Registrations are open. If you go to our web page: www.wellingtonoutgames.com. Then click-on: Registration. Then, it takes you through. What you can do is register for the OutGames and then you can register for events. So: Sports. Or: Conference. All the different programmes, all the information there. About the whole week, is there on our website. March is one of the greatest times – good weather – to be coming to visit Wellington.
DOUG: [laughs]
BARRY: It’s only 3-hours away on a plane and there are direct flights to Wellington.
DOUG: Okee-doke; well, thank you very much for that Barry. Keep us up-to-date with what goes on. We’ll probably speak to you again. Before the Conference itself, gets going. Before the Games get going. Any further news do let me know; we’ll bring it to our listeners.
BARRY: Great. Thanks for the time today.
DOUG: You’re more than welcome. That was Barry Taylor, he’s the convenor of the Human Rights Conference at the Wellington OutGames – if you Google: Wellington OutGames dot-com (sic) you’ll find their website details on how to register. Detail of what’s happening at the Conference and all the past press-releases and so on. Telling you who the speakers and so-on, are. It’s continuously updated so, there’s always fresh news to be seen, there.
