[00:00:00] This program is brought to you by pride nz.com
[00:00:05] Okay, I'm pit Macintosh. I'm part of vinyl and proud with my pan and lovely wife, Val little. And I'm standing on the main road or straight of pocket at the yearly labor weekend a rainbow in the village pica cookie pride festival that's been going for three years now. And how did it start? It started with a dance party way back four years ago, and we were aware that Georgina was struggling with health issues. And that wasn't looking good. So we decided to just raise some money for Georgie to do whatever Georgie wanted to do with it. So she came along to the first. The first dance party we called it did we call it around on the village? I think we did. So we called it a rainbow in the village and we had this amazing night of raising funds and having this great dance It was like, I think it was probably about half past one after we packed up or it might have been the next morning and but after over a drink, we thought we actually need to do something with this idea and turn it into a rainbow festival. So we basically got on got the whole for the next three years and and yeah and decided if we're going to do this we have to commit to losing our labor weekends. So we both agreed and we got a team of people lovely people around us and and us a Randall and the village was formed into the pie cookie profitable.
[00:01:33] So Val, what is the Python community pride festival now?
[00:01:37] Now it's kind of like a growing base day at some. So it's three years old that the festival part of it.
[00:01:45] We
[00:01:46] as quite naughty. Yeah, I mean, we To be honest, we don't get permission to do most of it. We've had some interesting conversations with the local council just over the last week. They've been amazing. Actually, they could close us down Because we don't follow
[00:02:01] any rules,
[00:02:02] but going forward
[00:02:05] so yeah, so now it's you know, we started the first one was the parade and we, we've coined it we've claimed it is the world's shortest Pride Parade which is basically just across the crossing. Yeah, the pedestrian crossing which is painted every year by some Banksy, Banksy artists in the village which we wake up on there it is these are these are rainbow crossing. Yeah, and it just sort of pops up and we go gosh, that looks good. But yeah, I think they've outdone themselves this year because it's looking absolutely stunning.
[00:02:39] And and
[00:02:40] have you done research and have you found but this is the shortest Pride parade in the world.
[00:02:44] There's one other in the states that didn't email me back when I asked them to give them the link for the one but after doing a bit of research I'd seen that one is the you know, it's we tried for Booker records. Yeah, on the first attempt, but they see what does it snow category or something from Things like that for links. I don't know, Sony I we've we've claimed it as the unofficial world's shortest and nobody's, you know, come back to us or push back about it. So we owning it. So every year is that they assemble Janet Campbell Park. They call the warm up for the parade down the parade. Then they come down beach street with taco dramas. And then we have a ribbon and we cut it and all the kids at the front end, everyone runs across well walks across the crossing. And that's the official parade. Yeah, yeah. And it's just the bus. Yes. so badly. Yeah. So yeah. And so from that we've we've, you know, edit quite a few other events. So there's always a dance party, the world's smallest Film Festival last year, we did one film. So we're sort of into that sort of style of where we're sort of the earliest either that we think with the earliest dance party rainbow get dance play, because it's finishing at 1045. Tonight. Yeah, you do noise control in the village. So yeah, you know, but it's four hours, but it's you know, it does for Really, but you know, things rock a bit different in the village. But now we've had big buy in this year from the biker cookie school. They were the first inside out has come, they came up this week. And they told me that it was the first Primary School in New Zealand to invite inside out. So that happened this way. So we're pretty chuffed about there and and the kids have been tired buying t shirts and it's just like, I don't know, there's just a real buzz so that you know, the whole village is picked up on it. So so we've got a quiz night happening on Sunday night. And the proceeds from they're going to go to pocket at school for their rainbow resources. So they're going to buy books for the library training, I guess for the teachers support for students that might need it. Yeah, and the other one is going to cover the youth services, the project youth side of it and we got all the fans last year that we raised this year we decided to split it and bring some back into the mix. into the
[00:05:00] broken skull and by breaking, but they'll
[00:05:02] be getting all the rest of the funds from the dance tonight and the other events that we're running. Yeah, so this team events all together. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So sort of grown into the space day. Yeah. So and we wanted it to be as inclusive and family friendly and everything. So we've got picnics and a swim. What else have we got right? up through the park? Yeah. We've got a rainbow launch of a book by Kate torrents. Remember writer that that's been happening here in the village on Sunday, exclusive exclusive days as looking for exclusive. So you know, we got some lovely stuff and just everyone gets behind it. So yeah, and it's a safe place because you've the research is just coming at us. He said, I'm counting yourselves research because your company has a very high incidence of youth suicide. Yeah, there was a spate a few years ago. And years. Yeah, it's a very much Mixed kind of community a so we're really aware that there are a lot of young people who don't feel safe or feel okay about being themselves. So, you know, this is a real nod to safety, inclusion, belonging. Yeah. And we saw it on the faces of the project youth it came down, they actually lit a parade last year and and just to be a real, inclusive environment. And you could see them just shining and we actually had someone come out and our very first festival way after they were performing, and they actually came out to the group. So you know, it was a big move by him and yeah, and it just feels like a really safe environment for labor weekend for people to come to and see that. You know, that. I don't know what's the word is love. It's not yet. Yeah, yeah. We all can live together and love each other and embrace diversity.
[00:06:56] And key talked about some of the participants like the numbers of people Coming we're coming from
[00:07:02] Well, we the parades probably got about 300 people that that we've got that comes along to it and the dance party will have about 160 70 people that comes to that. And then rainbow picnic we probably had about 5060 people the last year so it's building that sort of word of mouth it's but we want to keep it sort of boutique and not have a commercial huge commercial influence on us. So and people are coming from and when we've got people that come down from Auckland for Wellington Of course we're trying to get people to come up on the trains but this never trains on labor weekend but you know come up from for a day or a couple of days can stay campground Oh, but get yourself a book a batch so words getting around a people from personal for coming down on the rainbow community up here. So you know, it's it's it's got a real vibe nice vibe here. And
[00:07:53] what about sponsorship is all the businesses sponsoring?
[00:07:57] We've got this year for the first time we had the pie cookery Community Trust come on board and give us money. So basically you help us with the whole higher. So that's that sort of covered that. So that's great. So that means all funds from that the dance and the weekend you having the whole raised go back to cover the youth services which is cool. And business is get on board with donating prizes for the week was night. We've had great response from them. And other than that, there's no commercial, we donate our services as one on proud and we dJ dJ the dance for free. I mean, it's a point of difference is that we're not a big sort of, you know, we we don't have sponsorship, we don't it's not a corporate kind of institution. You know, lead thing is it's just a village pride festival, basically, right at the start is sort of a, that's how we wanted to run it. So and we've got a great group, you know, of people in the village that are on board doing this, so I want to run through Daniel Boone or Danielle shoot so she runs the parade. She's the most Flexible person I think I ever meet socially hoods kit literally down the parade and yeah, so she's amazing Chrissy you've probably seen heaps of young bombing around the the rainbow young bombing. That's wonderful Chris he makes rainbow hair stream. That's everything. She's Yeah, she did Aranda ratings to the cuts last week. So that was really cool. So she's just so productive. So she's put pike on the map what I should say practically key word then Jaan Bowman, yeah, you know, as lovely to come into the village and just see all this beautiful rainbow everywhere, right. So yeah. And so it's a small committee of about five of us. Yeah. And then we just sort of fade out the events to other people that come on board with you. And that's easiest way to do it. So but we're going to sort of template now that's working. So yeah, we just have to get a bit more legal, I guess. I
[00:09:51] suppose. We don't
[00:09:54] know It has been two pieces of controversy that I am aware of one was the swing by Crossing. Can you tell me what's happened this year?
[00:10:02] For four years when we first did George's dance, we arrived in the villages that she living over in the heart. And we're driving on the morning to sit up and edit being choked a rainbow. And and it was just beautiful and just put a big smile on her face. It's gorgeous. Next year got choked again. Second year, third year I got painted by some Banksy
[00:10:26] was it was the thought was there but as well, let me say.
[00:10:31] And I think they've taken the feedback on board and done a beautiful job this year. So it's totally illegal. So we had bank, a bank sees a Banksy in the village that does this and it just pops up your workout and you've got a rainbow Prasanna complaints. There was one complaint to the council, they have to act on it. And they were saying because it confuses Dr. drivers. I don't know why because it actually, if you look at it, the white pops better, I reckon then just the gray But anyway, so there we go. Yeah,
[00:10:59] some He's actually just crossed the road and you able to tell me where you confused crossing the rainbow cross? No no not at all I was actually going to offer this
[00:11:11] water blast out The White Stripes so it's just colors only
[00:11:15] get rid of the white and we're all be fine winner. Now I think I think it's nonsense that someone's confused about that personally.
[00:11:20] Yeah, it's good.
[00:11:22] I think he's, you know, possible homophobia at the core of that one, but you know, we don't know. Yeah, and he's into into CTA roles, but the rainbow crossings are popping up all around the world, and clean sense done one Wellington's done. One poem is done one, but it's finding the North sorry, pami people, but it's finding a way around the NZTA laws to actually get something happening so we're going to have to get creative. It won't look like that. But if we can get the village behind us to do something like this and put polka creaky on the map, as you know, we wanted to be the first we talked about it three years ago, but but we've got company council said you know, no You can't do it. So basically we need to do a good pitch, get the get the village behind us do a good proposal and see what we can do about a petition going at the moment to get a permanent fixture.
[00:12:11] You know, very nice.
[00:12:13] Yeah, yeah. So what does the council going to do now that it's painted?
[00:12:17] They were supposed to come yesterday to
[00:12:19] water blasted off so we kind of milling around saying, you know, this water blaster was going to turn up but didn't so I guess that'll get done on Tuesday when they're open again.
[00:12:29] You know, we've heard through the grapevine it's been done with proper safety road marking team paint that they use, so it's not like they've come on and done done it stupidly. That thought about bad it last year. So yeah, so that's safe. And yeah, they will, they will would have blasted off on Tuesday, but it's, it was great that they didn't actually do it yesterday, because they look on the kids faces. It's been amazing. The kids see lots of people giving the photos taken on it and everything. So yeah, it puts a smile on people's faces. How can we let you know you're not gonna turn turn rainbow just from walking cross the rainbow? I don't know.
[00:13:06] We try.
[00:13:08] Now the other thing that I was aware of was a couple of days ago, the organizers put out a statement saying that there wasn't to be any bullying, belittling or discriminatory behavior. Why was that necessary?
[00:13:21] Oh, there's been
[00:13:24] some pretty awful activity around towards trans woman specifically, there's a few people who love
[00:13:32] us way that hold some
[00:13:34] quite strong views about you know, trans woman or not real woman. So we don't want that kind of element here at all. We absolutely stand beside our transfer know. And we just felt like it was really important to make that statement so that if we don't see anything like that we can act on it. We've now got given ourselves a mandate to do that. I mean, last year, we hit some three, three guys reading the Bible just down there beside the one Used to be the post office
[00:14:01] though just quietly reading the Bible it's fine
[00:14:04] you know like they were in Cardinal by Crikey came along yet lunch and you know had a good chat to them and you know, then we got it sorted. I mean they weren't nasty they were just maybe confused maybe they just needed to go across the crossing. I just
[00:14:18] wanted to see what a pride festivals right so that's a way of just coming in having a little sneaky
[00:14:21] look.
[00:14:22] They look like the unhappiest people here so you know.
[00:14:26] But you know if there's if there's outright kind of hatred or or
[00:14:29] you know, just
[00:14:31] just really bad messaging, we were going to step on up. We made the decision a number months ago to put the Translate with the rainbow flag this year. We had to rainbow flags last year. Yeah. So put the translator gap. So yeah, so we you know, we just want to get people I don't know is hate it when when our own community starts tearing each other apart. It sort of feels like we're back at the homosexual or reformer. We don't want to do that. Yeah.
[00:15:00] Yes, I
[00:15:02] just finally, um, personally What does putting on this platform mean? So you both
[00:15:10] I mean, I could, I don't know, pride. It's just I just I feel really proud. And I feel really lucky that we live in this country in this village that is that we have the laws that we do that we've come as far as we have.
[00:15:24] But it's also a nod that we've we've still got work to do, you know, and I
[00:15:28] think this is just a really joyful way of getting everybody on board and keeping going, keeping the movement going. And for me, it's like, you know, you remember your own coming out story. And as an older lesbian, it's like, I want to create a safe space on the company coast and this village is the ideal place to do it from and for
[00:15:52] younger youth
[00:15:54] that come and come to come here and celebrate it with families. It's such a diverse wonderful community that is holding it. So it's the perfect place to just bring them here for labor weekend and show them how our communities diverse and how much love there is. So very important with our youth that's coming through
[00:16:17] cancer. You've just walked across the rainbow crossing. Um, what do you think about it?
[00:16:22] I thought it was very bright and cheerful and gives a good feeling for that town. I love it. Great.
[00:16:28] Were you confused by crossing? No, no.
[00:16:31] No, not at all.
[00:16:33] And did you think drivers would be confused when they see that? No.
[00:16:39] We're older drivers, so
[00:16:41] that'll be fine.
[00:16:44] Do you think it should be a permanent crossing like this?
[00:16:47] Absolutely. This was it.
[00:16:50] Oh, because I think it represents the pride New Zealand and also
[00:16:54] just a nice thing for pie coppery.
[00:16:57] Yes, I agree. Yeah. And kids will grow up with that too. So that's very
[00:17:01] powerful.
[00:17:04] My name is Rob Sunday and we're in St. Peter's Hall and park aka Ricky.
[00:17:09] In Rob, something very special is going to happen this afternoon, you.
[00:17:12] Yes, there's going to be a pride parade, followed by a kid's disco in the in the pride of dance.
[00:17:21] And what's your involvement?
[00:17:22] I've been assisting with the organization and putting up the panting balloons and decorations for the dance party,
[00:17:34] as well as the after party. Can you describe the layout of the hall and what
[00:17:38] it looks like? Okay, the layout is and so we've got a fairly traditional Hall. We've got rainbow flags, theory lights, and we've got balloons filled with helium with long ribbons on them.
[00:17:58] Yeah, it's
[00:18:00] will end something quite large and the center of the space which is
[00:18:05] like a rocket, like a rocket. Yeah, yeah. Because the theme is Space Oddity and net being because it's the 50th year 30th year anniversary of landing on the moon and the 50th year anniversary of Stonewall also,
[00:18:23] and Stonewall was the kind of New York uprising. It's correct. Yes.
[00:18:27] Yeah. So yeah, so something so two things to sort of celebrate, you know, landing on the moon, and also recognizing Stonewall at the same time,
[00:18:36] which do you think was more important? So, how did you get involved in an organizer,
[00:18:46] two very good friends of mine, asked if I would get involved in ICP. So I just sort of just graduated as a nurse and so I had some free time and so as available as So I thought, yeah, we'll get involved
[00:19:03] in so what do you get out of it?
[00:19:05] Well, working with friends, and I suppose also getting to know a wider, you know, actually creating a bit of a wider network of friends within the community and impact as a whole. Because I've been feeling transients, you know, come and go out for work purposes. So not much, haven't had that much time to get to know people in the community. So this is a really good way of doing it. So yeah.
[00:19:30] So directly outside the hall, we've got the amazing rainbow crossing invaders, we're the Pride Parade happens. What is it like seeing hundreds of people walk across that crossing?
[00:19:42] Fantastic. It's a it's a fabulous
[00:19:46] record, you know, recognizes the
[00:19:51] gay community as well as it involved everyone in the community. So it's not just exclusively guy that actually involves everyone in the community. But it's like it's beginning to get on us, you know? So yeah, that's that's probably the best way I can describe it as everyone coming together and supporting each other.
[00:20:10] So in what is the kind of feeling that you get when you when you see all those people
[00:20:18] I feel supported and these a network of people out there and it's encouraging. It's I'm empowering all those really wonderful sort of, you know, cliche words that you, you know, one can use. But yeah, most of all, I think that's why you feel that part of the family. That's the big thing.
[00:20:39] Yeah. What about the difference between having like a local pride and I say, a larger pride and a main city, other in differences.
[00:20:50] community, so my smaller I think means that the community is more involved, and it's also an opportunity for them to get to know each other more, you know, on a on a closer level, a bigger event is, you know, have gain more people. So you don't perhaps get this that sort of perhaps intimacy that you would with a more a more local event. Yeah, that's the best way I can sort of sort of describe a larger event as opposed to a local event here. So you're relying on the local community to do things, whereas in a wider event, you might have a wider community involvement. So yeah,
[00:21:37] just funny. What's your most favorite pride memory?
[00:21:44] Really the dance party? Yeah, just being able to get out there and just you know, shake it out and just yeah, have fun and see my friends. So yeah, would probably be the dance.
[00:22:00] Yeah, so that's my favorite time of day of the sort of like the weekends. Yeah.
[00:22:08] I'm sitting on the beautiful coast of pi Kaka a key on the company coast of the Wellington region. And I'm watching the CU just lightly Roland but it is actually I think this is suddenly off that South Island over the MY hometown just over there.
[00:22:27] So we're about to take off on the third unofficial smallest Pride Parade. This is the third one thing to the other to. Last year I was the feast, daikon a bike. And it was pretty cool. But the shoe my feet have to sort of manage that. So I'm here and I'm going to try and walk it.
[00:22:53] I think I think this is wonderful. This is this little little ESPN haven for the last 30 years. No of the lot of
[00:23:03] lesbian couples retire to the Syria. I myself am from Otaki. So it's about 50 k up the line that I wanted to be with my friends today.
[00:23:13] Even though you were saying this is the possibly the shortest Pride Parade the stone a lot of people that turn up on their
[00:23:20] I seem to remember the hundreds of us last year and then there's a few hundred waiting for us at the other end the fishy we did it. We did it in the evening and we coincided it with walking across the industry and crossing into the hall to ever dance. And
[00:23:35] that
[00:23:36] was Philly hilarious because look like
[00:23:38] the pride parade was crossing the crossing. That was it. So it really was really short. But this is not as short as you think it is. This is a long coastal road. And I haven't measured the route in on my feet already starting to complain and we haven't started yet. But unofficial shoulders pride pride. I think the application to Guinness Book of Records for that to be true. And I hope that is
[00:24:05] why is it important for local communities to have pride pride events, pride parades rather than the you know, kind of larger, just larger cities.
[00:24:14] I think that comes back to the issue of local local response local community connection there. That's where we have to go we've had years of corporate big, think big and this is the local community saying this is ours. This is us. And you can see that on the painted
[00:24:34] pedestrian crossing down but with the whole as we end up who said it's been beautifully chopped up into rainbow and various flag colors and his main meet with a complaint from a local community homophobe and I believe the council's gonna water blasted off but we noticed is about two o'clock this morning. The value of the organizer of this prior to started the petition there's pedestrian crossing being be painted and rainbow colors likely hidden Wellington and, and that this village of peacock Reiki claim their does the lesbian haven of the world.
[00:25:13] So what do you get out of pride events and pride parades.
[00:25:17] I'm a disabled Doc,
[00:25:18] I don't get out very much I have multiple sclerosis of recently this year being quite crippled with arthritis on top of it, and I have PTSD which makes me highly anxious. And it's difficult to be out and about. So I don't get out and about like I used to when I was in my 20s. I'm in my 50s now, and this is my annual event. This is where I come in. I see people I don't see all year apart from on Facebook or Twitter. And I get my annual hugs, lots of them and have a quick chit chat and then I get to go home and the safety of my own home and put my feet up and relax, knowing that I'm still part of something that's very cool.
[00:26:02] We're in pike Aki on the pride and we're about to take part in the world's most the world's unofficial shortest pipe right?
[00:26:12] What is this the first time you've been afraid?
[00:26:16] He said yesterday. So How you feeling? A bit nervous but I'm yeah, I'm excited.
[00:26:23] Have you seen pride parades on on TV or on the net before?
[00:26:26] Yeah, yeah, I've always loved looking at them. And I'm keeping up with all the ones around the world. And so, who you here today with, I'm here with my group from KVX. We're a little after school group that meets every Wednesdays and we just, you know, get together and hang out and we just support each other. And so why those kind of groups important? It's really really important because it gives you the opportunity to actually come out of your shell you know, not have to hide anything. And it's great because once you start talking about it and want to, you know, you can start to understand everything and it's helped me a lot, you know, understand who I am and who I want to be.
[00:27:13] Why do you think pride parades, pride events are important?
[00:27:17] Because it's a celebration of the community that we have. And it's, you know, it's showing that we're here and, you know, we're part of the community and we're really strong family together. And when we're all together, you know, we can accomplish great things.
[00:27:38] I am Danielle. I'm one of the organizers of the pie khaki pride festival and the parade. And so today and just about maybe 20 minutes, we'll start the parade. We expect a couple of hundred people to come down.
[00:27:52] What's special about this parade?
[00:27:54] Um, well, I guess it's special because of pica. achy, achy, so special. We've got such a big Beautiful, diverse community, and a lot of people willing to come out and support our rainbow community. And I've heard it's the shortest bridge. Yeah, it is pretty short pocket EK small so we don't even do the whole length of the village. So it's from Campbell park to St. Peter's home.
[00:28:18] And so can you describe the participants who takes upon
[00:28:22] heaps and heaps of our community do on the PI pocket at school as a huge part of it will have lots of the kids come out today. We've made tie dye t shirts over the week, and they've made a beautiful banner with the kids handprints. I think all of the kids in the school will have put a handprint on their banner. And we have people that come from Wellington all over the company coast. Just come to celebrate with us.
[00:28:47] So why do you think localized pride events are important?
[00:28:50] I think it helps to celebrate our smaller communities. The big pride events are amazing because of course we're all celebrating together and and we've got hundreds and Hundreds of people. But when it's the small community, it feels so much more closer to home. And we get to celebrate together with people that we see every day.
[00:29:11] There's been a little bit of controversy this year with the rainbow crossing in that apparently it's been confusing and dazzling drivers. What's your take on that?
[00:29:20] Well, we do we do understand that. It's it's something that we need to get done legally. And it has been done over the last few years. There's always seems to be a group that comes out and does it either in chalk or this year. I think it's temporary road paint. We all think most people in the community think it's an absolutely wonderful thing. But we do have to get it done legally. And that's going to be going through and said ta Can you describe for me the feeling of actually doing the march during the parade? And what that's like, goodness. Well, any I think any pride parade pride March is a wonderful thing because, well, I mean, originally it was protest, you know, a political demonstration. And nowadays it is a celebration. So it's a beautiful thing. And when we come out and we have all the kids and our community dresses up, and everyone's really colorful and there's music, it's just it's a lovely feeling to it feels like an inclusive community, which it is. The thing that really struck me is that it feels a lot more kind of grassroots and localized and not having a lot of kind of corporate sponsorship. Yeah, absolutely. We don't really have any interest in getting corporate sponsorship. We will hopefully get funding from the company, District Council in the future. So we can do maybe some larger events get a stage and music. But yeah, it's really just keeping it local, always. And so what
[00:30:42] what the pride events mean to you?
[00:30:45] It's a celebration. It's, it's celebrating where we've come from what we've achieved over over time, and in the future, making it even better for our time. Larry King.
[00:30:58] Wow, that's a big welcome. Come to Campbell pad pie. creaky getting ready for the bells instead of going to turn up for the parade.
[00:31:06] This is the third year of the parade. Have you been in previous fruit?
[00:31:10] Yeah, I came last year. Yeah, it was great. Can you describe what the feeling was like? Oh, just really passionate and fan and noisy and whistles and shouting and yeah, I think for me the beast was the public waving from their houses and calling out really awesome supported.
[00:31:32] Yeah.
[00:31:32] Now this is a really special crowd because it is the shortest Pride parade in the world. But before the Pride Parade actually goes across the rainbow crossing. There's a 1015 minute walk
[00:31:45] from here at Campbell Park along the beach from to the pedestrian crossing and it's it's the pedestrian crossing. That's the measurement. We've got a beat Antarctica this year. Surely
[00:31:58] what happens in Antarctica
[00:31:59] like beat us for the shorters gay parade.
[00:32:03] Why do you think Pride Parade so important?
[00:32:07] It's a good one. I bet it's
[00:32:10] because the stripe parades every day.
[00:32:14] Actually, I've just come back from London. And what I'm in the pride there was 30,000 more the risk recipient to participate in a million on the side of the road. So, to go from there, to the Guinness Book of Records, world shorters parades just a bad play.
[00:32:35] So what do you think I'm doing a local prayed is important verse something so like a large pride pride in a city
[00:32:43] because it means that some Peters and in the minister at some Peters refused to marry a same seats couple. So he then the idea came Well, we'll cover that for these treating crossing straight to the church and and it just blossomed. From the from there. So, you know, it's about claiming because in the end to do it small and locally, you know, there's no big business. There's no army tracks is no big corporates. It's just community and family.
[00:33:16] I'm humbled I'm from Austria, but we currently live in New Zealand in Wellington. And a friend of ours told us about it and I think it's a good thing to do. Have you ever been to like a really localized kind of smallest Pride Parade before? No, I haven't been actually I've been to the big one in Austria. But in Austria, we had a while ago, we had a quite a small parade as well. And it was actually the reason was because there was a homophobic attack attack in a small local village. And then they organized this parade, which I think was a really good thing and a lot of people showed up so yeah.
[00:33:54] So have you have you been in pride parades before? No, no So what do you expect? What what's the feeling you think you'll get?
[00:34:05] I think I'm just just it's kind of novelty that you're just walking across the crossing.
[00:34:09] It's kind of fun. But it's also exciting that as a small place, because usually small places are known as being more homophobic and not accepting, such as just exciting.
[00:34:21] Yeah, I think so too. I think it's good to bring it out of facilities to the countryside a little bit. And, actually, yeah, so more people and get more people involved. And I think that's a good thing. Why are pride parades important? I think they're still important. I mean, we have more gay people have more rights now. And But still, it's important to show that we're still not there where we want to be and I think that's a good cause. And you when you see that those parades and families joining and a lot of straight people join us well, I think that's a really good
[00:35:00] things that's happening now. You're just out there it's good to always celebrate being yourself. That's also important to remember starkly how far LGBT plus community has come. In always good to be more visible. I'm a
[00:35:17] poor and lonely cowboy. Find man.
[00:35:22] On the long and dusty road
[00:35:25] I'm looking for a place where I can lay my load.
[00:35:32] fractured and I'm tired I
[00:35:37] need to rest my head is a place down there in Tai Chi karaoke where I can get a bed. Lonely cow born
[00:35:50] on a long
[00:35:53] lonely cow
[00:35:58] long and dusty road With some really
[00:36:00] is not ready?
[00:36:23] Yes ma'am. Say my name is Jessica Brian I'm representing Finn's.
[00:36:27] Yeah. Me as well so far in emergency New Zealand and pica kinky Volunteer Fire Brigade.
[00:36:33] It is the first time that you've been in the parade.
[00:36:36] Yes, it is me.
[00:36:38] Yep. We watched the first year though, from the sidelines.
[00:36:42] Yeah. And can you describe what the first year was like?
[00:36:46] Yeah, it was just like a really nice experience has lots of community atmosphere and sort of friends of ours and helped to organize it. So it was really cool to see how much they were able to bring together and how much support there was within the community.
[00:36:59] Yeah, it them, we just caught the end of it. It's very colorful and bright and busy. And yeah, looking forward to that again today.
[00:37:06] And so today not only have you brought yourselves, but you've also brought some equipment here.
[00:37:10] Oh, yeah, so we've brought their fire truck along. And we also have, like four wheel drive unit that we've got along as well.
[00:37:17] Yeah. And about,
[00:37:18] maybe eight members of our crew are coming along.
[00:37:21] So why is it important for the foreign emergency to be in a pro lifers?
[00:37:26] I think, well, we're both queer. So I think it's nice to show that we support our diverse, diverse range of people and backgrounds, and to show that we're there to support the community.
[00:37:39] Yeah,
[00:37:40] I think especially for us being the brigade and looking out for Pi Kappa he has a community of like academic is a really diverse place. This is our showing that we're supporting our local community, you know, we're part of that all as individuals as well. So it's important that we represent
[00:37:54] and so as individuals, what, what do pride events mean to you?
[00:37:59] It's a time just celebrate our differences and come together.
[00:38:04] Yeah, for us, it's just another day of being ourselves and been able to do that in a supportive inclusive environment.
[00:38:12] Hi, my name is throw in and I've been coming to these parades for a number of years. And what keeps you coming back to these parades is just a great chance for the community shot support for LBGTQ
[00:38:25] Can you describe the first time use you were in the parade?
[00:38:28] Well, it was a lot smaller than it is now as gathered some momentum which is really great. And it's really nice to see Pi Kappa he's supportive of it. So lots of neighbors put out you know, pride flags and toes some way that everyone is they go past. I'm pretty sure if he hits the sort of thing and some places you probably became thrown it is I you know, we really lucky that podcasters is so supportive of it.
[00:38:53] Can you tell me Can you describe the feeling of what it's like to be in afraid
[00:38:57] I'm just
[00:39:00] feeling of community really.
[00:39:03] And it's just, I mean, it's only once a year and means that we don't have to travel on town and lots of people come here. And there's so many events that are around. So we've got the dance tonight. We had a quiz night last year and I think we've got one today. Oh, sorry, this weekend. This swimming is family picnic. So yeah, it's quite rides. Yeah, it's really encompassing.
[00:39:31] Why a pride of its pride parades important
[00:39:35] is helping
[00:39:36] out here. Well, I pride prize important
[00:39:40] because it's an opportunity to you know, for the community to come together visibly and be seen and feel okay to be a thing. And it's a it for so long. It's not been acceptable. And now we finally having the opportunity to be proud of who we are and esteemed collectively, so Yeah,
[00:40:05] my name is DV and we're looking at a beautiful rainbow pride frag.
[00:40:11] The person may have the the parade really leads the parade that shows our pride for for the weekend and it just gets everything going for and just excites everybody it just makes the day
[00:40:26] Can you describe what you're wearing?
[00:40:29] I'm actually wearing the gay flat of flag and various other very colorful pride
[00:40:38] articles this year have been a drama and make lots of noise and get going. So hopefully everyone's in a really good spirits and will will join in with us. Yeah, and I'm I'm wearing a little ensemble of rainbow colors at tool I think I don't know. I don't know. colourful rainbow lay and We have a local who wonderful woman Chrissy who lets these fantastic rainbow, little kids type thing. And we've Of course got our edits little with hair pieces,
[00:41:13] and I've been tambourine.
[00:41:16] Now does Chrissy also do the young woman that I've seen around
[00:41:19] town? Yes, she's just fantastic. And she she did some fantastic stuff for the school and read a whole lot of queer friendly books to the kids and she has she's a local gym.
[00:41:33] Absolutely, yeah, we love We love Chrissy every time you go out you see somewhere that she's been again and we know that Christy is around the village.
[00:41:41] So tell me what is it like to march in this Pride Parade?
[00:41:44] It's fantastic. It's we've been every year since it started and it is just a just those you had. It's really wonderful to be in a community where we were walking along the parade with the say on one side and all these people coming out from on the house. Houses cheering us and everyone's just so happy as it and it sounds really cliche, but it's so full of love and so full of joy. And it's for everybody. It's It's wonderful.
[00:42:11] Yeah, we just love to see the whole village get involved with with us. A lot of the time, we don't see a lot of these people in the village and this is one day where everyone comes out and celebrates and just gets right into it.
[00:42:23] So what do you think the differences between having this localized pride and say a larger pride saying Wellington or Auckland,
[00:42:30] I think it's just really close knit community, the feel about that everyone is really on board in and wants to celebrate with us. Yeah. And it is about being home. And you know, like feeling this village is for everyone and we all celebrate our differences and our diversity and and who we are. So it's, it just feels because it's smaller, smaller and it's more intimate, these no big corporate kind of anything. It's just that And everything that we bring with it.
[00:43:03] And what gorgeous weather. I know it's just a
[00:43:05] wee bit windy but it's great for the flags and it's a typical day.
[00:44:26] My name is here young. I've been out since 1986. And I was in a long time before that. And it's just lovely to be out with people who don't care what you are.
[00:44:39] She can you describe the atmosphere today?
[00:44:43] Oh, it's joyous. It's lovely. It's a wonderful atmosphere.
[00:44:47] Is this is this the first time you've you've marched in the pocket VG?
[00:44:51] No, it's the second. Two years ago I came, but I saw how far we had to go and I didn't do the oldest. It's just the pedestrian crossing.
[00:45:00] Why a pride parade? so important?
[00:45:03] Oh, it's solidarity. Its friendship. It's hooking up. It's never hooked up on a frog right? Then I can remember. But no, it's it's, it's it's I think it's very good for the general public to see that people are much more varied than they might have imagined. It's, it's it's a lovely human event. And it's holiday. It's festive. You know, when we, when we've got an excuse for a party, let's do it. Great.
[00:45:38] Isn't it lovely? all the colors?
[00:45:40] All the kids dancing?
[00:45:42] Can you describe what we're in their minds at the moment?
[00:45:45] Oh, here at the front, we've got the
[00:45:46] flag and we've got the kids carrying it. Some of them are going under it and out of it in front of it all over. We got the school just behind us with their beautiful banner and the rest of our lovely communities.
[00:46:00] Oh my god. It's just a look guys coming down the road now I'm deploying in the breeze here. rainbow flags.
[00:46:09] Pull out there. There's a couple of excellent quiz
[00:46:12] coming past you
[00:46:15] get going.
[00:46:18] Is this the first Pride Parade you've seen
[00:46:20] here? We've only been here a couple of months. So
[00:46:23] yeah, but we were looking forward to it. So and it's good. They've got a night.
[00:46:27] Well, it is a nice day.
[00:46:28] It's a bit breezy, but it's sunny compared to what we've had so
[00:46:32] nice that everyone's here. And I'd say there's a lot of people from pica, Ricky here, but I'd
[00:46:37] say there's lots of people that have caught the train and are driven up from
[00:46:40] Wellington. So nice to see people support it isn't the shortest or the smallest. I think it's the shorter certainly not the smallest. Right. Fantastic. Yeah, no, it's cool. Very cool. And how many is this this this is the will this
[00:46:53] will be the third year that the march um, but I think the first time that the fire service has been here, right Yeah, okay.
[00:47:03] next door neighbor here is
[00:47:06] about 40 of them all together so they're a pretty vital part of the community.
[00:48:02] Thank you all very much for coming and supporting this event. And thank you beautiful people, beautiful community, everybody that's come out to make this what it is today.
[00:48:10] Thank you very, very much.
[00:48:15] So your pride festival weekend, why do we do this? Ready to lay the pride parades were protests there were political demonstrations, but today it's a celebration. It's a celebration of what we've achieved over the time, the celebration of ourself in our social acceptance. It's a celebration of our diversity. So we celebrate and thank you for all celebrating with us. all weekend we have events and of course is all the celebrates we love celebrating the rainbow community, but we also do it for our time at. We do it so that their future does not have the pain that was in our past. And that's why we're really proud that From all the proceeds we get from the events we run this weekend, we can donate them. And this year, we're really, really proud to be able to donate really close to home and donate to the pocket at school.
[00:49:18] And another organization that does a lot for our community that we're really proud to donate to is the youth project and KYS. And I just have to thank everybody that comes together to put this weekend together. Everybody puts in their time and their energy, so that we can all have this color in this beauty in this happiness. So thank you to everybody has put in time for this weekend. So I won't hold you up from celebrating. There's gonna be the kids disco in the hall. There's lots of yummy stuff to eat, and it's a beautiful day, what more could we ask for? So thank you Again, everybody for coming out. Thank you for celebrating. Thank you for doing this for our, for our community. Thank you very much.
[00:50:11] I'm john tremor, and we are in poker at my hometown. I've lived here for well over 40 years. My darling sister has just come back. I'm Carol just come back from living in Australia for far too long and she's now a resident and the gay pride. parades are wonderful, and they're getting better and better, but I adore these drawings. Have you recorded some of those? I recorded some of it. Yes,
[00:50:39] yes. Wonderful.
[00:50:41] That is wonderful.
[00:50:43] Is it So is this the first Pride Parade you've seen in pica?
[00:50:46] Ricky? Oh, no. I tried to get to all of them but they are times when I've got other things to do. Yes, so I can not tonight we're going out to dinner with the ex deputy. Beta Kappa T and his good lady and
[00:51:04] so that's it john Could you describe what the parade look like?
[00:51:09] It seemed to take a long time. But it didn't really along the the parade the foreshore there lots of people in wonderful bright costumes, colorful clothes, waving banners and I think every now and then chanting out whatever the little groups were and as you can see up there on the banks of the church, the dogs dressed up and bright colors and
[00:51:35] rainbow colors
[00:51:37] and everything else. And I mean what can you say it's a wonderful thing.
[00:51:44] I wish this had what had happened
[00:51:47] in my childhood, an actual failed.
[00:51:51] just telling my sister he wouldn't the old days and our family who are no longer with us they would not quite believe Leave it. And I when I hear these drums I start to get weepy. I do it because the drumming is wonderful.
[00:52:09] Can you describe the atmosphere for me today?
[00:52:11] Yes. Great jubilation and fan of the fear. Everybody is here, everybody of all persuasions and ethnicities and whatever you want to call it. Absolutely. And now wearing anything and everything they like.
[00:52:30] What, what's, what's the feeling you get from these pride parades?
[00:52:34] it seals the wonderful
[00:52:38] thing of our village by Kaka Riki It was the most Oh my God, look at the warrior Queen layer. It does it's it's a village it's open. Everybody loves everybody
[00:52:52] so much love around this extraordinary Avenue
[00:52:54] which means anything like any move, but that's why I'm so sick you back from Melbourne yet couldn't stand it there any Mark longer and I said Yahoo
[00:53:06] Nice to meet you. Could you
[00:53:12] just describe who's walking past us?
[00:53:15] I think that somebody from another planet because they've got a big pink fluffy and a turquoise fairy body with a sort of tartan shirt on and followed by a couple of unicorn fairies. It looks like
[00:53:29] it's very impressive, isn't it?
[00:53:30] Yeah, very impressive and very hot. It's quite sunny today. And I think Yeah, I could be quite steamy inside that costume.
[00:53:39] So can you describe what what he VU aware?
[00:53:43] Sure, I might. I might say I'm wearing I'm wearing like a an 80s jumpsuit. That someone did say to me before that, you know, it's very Catherine Kim, which I took obviously as a compliment. Some gold shiny shoes, little white, blonde wave And I've got a two two around my head that would have fitted our daughter probably when she was about six maybe obviously didn't around my waist. Well my head's fine, and some really nice fruity earrings that I was really pleased to find this week.
[00:54:18] I also wearing a tutu on my head. Maybe that's where they should go. And with a flowery shirt and apparently leg warmers on my arms, and a skirt and tights and some blue suede shoes. Yeah,
[00:54:33] we've just come to the end of the shortest Pride Parade. How was it to be part of
[00:54:39] not just gorgeous. Yeah, we love We love our community. And I think this parade that kind of probably gets more and more popular every year and everyone's a part of it doesn't matter what kind of what walk of life you've got and, and the kids at the school really it's well behind it. So and I think that's really exciting because it gives It just gives hope for the future if we can start the right on the right way with our kids then, you know, they won't be any more bigotry hopefully one day.
[00:55:11] Yeah. But like I kind of had no share but bomb little nugget of things just crossing the road there everybody just going off. It's great. I thought it's awesome.
[00:55:18] What's the kind of feeling that you got being a participant?
[00:55:22] Oh, just just really happy and, and part of something that, you know, that means means something just,
[00:55:30] yeah, fall in love.
[00:55:32] Yeah, it's good to see people like, you know, shouting and singing about who they are doesn't matter who they are. Just, you know, I'm being proud of it. Well, I guess that's part of it, isn't it? The flag and all that? Yeah.
[00:55:42] Yeah. What do you think the differences between these kind of localized private beans and the large ones in cities?
[00:55:48] Well, everyone knows each other here. So,
[00:55:52] you know, there isn't, you know, if it's, and it's an incredibly sort of supportive environment.
[00:55:59] I don't know. Totally got That extra
[00:56:01] sort of interesting thing when you've got really close relationships with people.
[00:56:06] Yeah, yeah there Well, I've never been to I don't know if I've been to I've been to somewhere like, Nottingham Carnival Notting Hill Carnival sorry. I guess that is slightly different because you do have a light side liners and then the Raiders, whereas there doesn't seem to be any sidelines here. It's just everybody joining in. So yeah,
[00:56:22] that's cool.
[00:56:24] My name is Joe and I live on the parade. So it goes right past my house. So I thought I would go down and join him.
[00:56:33] Is this the first time you've joined him?
[00:56:35] Yes. I've only lived in Paducah, Kentucky since February.
[00:56:39] And can you describe what was the feeling like?
[00:56:43] It was it was really uplifting and really nice and friendly. And I mean, it felt like community because I didn't know anybody here but it felt like people coming together it's really nice.
[00:56:55] His at his a very inclusive field, doesn't it?
[00:56:58] Yes, absolutely. I barely KC,
[00:57:01] I want to go to stay you eventually.
[00:57:05] I mean, I think the wind is just part of it, isn't it?
[00:57:07] Well, I come from the tropics. So obviously, taking my thermals off the special occasion.
[00:57:13] Can you describe what it was like to be in the parade?
[00:57:18] was just spending everybody was chatting and nice and
[00:57:23] bright. And yeah, it was. It was energetic. Yeah.
[00:57:28] What's that what is the importance of having a pride parade or a pride of him?
[00:57:34] I think a lot of the time people focus on pride in Sydney or in big cities where everybody goes and it goes on, you know, in my into the night. I think it's important that small and local and I think within the poker cookie has quite a high game has been residence for my can tell. So So why not? Why not here?
[00:58:03] All right. Hi, my name is Pete and I came to this parade because I think it's very interesting to have to have this little town in the suburbs and to have the shortest parade in the world and just crossing the street, actually. And it's really nice to see all this different people like very young kids, but also all the people and it's like, a nice family event. And
[00:58:22] yeah, it's a selfish Pride Parade. You
[00:58:25] know, I've been to couple of them. But I've never been to such a small one. I've once been to Sweden, and there was similar atmosphere. It was during daytime, it was like this whole family events going on. Really nice atmosphere. Because there's other cities where it's more like a party, but this is my
[00:58:43] Yeah. So can you describe what the feeling was like to walk in this parade?
[00:58:48] Yeah, it was nice when I mean, when you walk through the neighborhoods, it's very quiet. But then there's some other people came on the balconies and they were waving at you and yeah, it's It was very friendly and welcoming. And yeah, it was a positive very energetic at the end. There was this drummers playing and everybody was into that. Now we get this kids disco.
[00:59:14] When you cross the rainbow crossing? Did you feel confused? Because there has been kind of some news items about people being confused as they come to that crossing. How was it for you?
[00:59:23] Yes, so many colors that were so confusing how we made it the five steps? No, of course, it's no trouble or anything at all. We get a crossing in Wellington as well with rainbow colors in other cities as well. So I don't see any problem or any trouble that might cause it didn't make you
[00:59:39] start questioning your sexuality or an identity? Not really no.
[00:59:44] I'm pretty sure I know about my identity.
[00:59:48] What do you think a localized pride event is important compared to say like these bigger ones and cities.
[00:59:55] Just the setting is a different setting because you're on this have this publishing the series where like the A lot of the radio communities concentrated to have their own neighborhoods. And I think when you go to more rural areas, I think it's a, they're not as used to seeing queer people and it's not that present. And so it's nice to see that they also support it in a way why you like looking at you and waving and maybe even coming here. And it's also a good I guess, to raise awareness and dimension if you're young kids growing up in more rural area. It's, it's nice to see maybe if you're gay, and you're six years old, and you see stuff going on like that you feel Ah, I'm not the only one. So that's, that's a good thing. Yeah.
[01:00:40] Hi, my name is Korean. I'm from Tasmania. And I came here today because my girlfriend took me on a trip and it just so happened to be a gay pride parade, which I was incredibly excited about because it meant I could turn a look. I'm just
[01:00:55] pretty much the same. Well, I Well, I live in Wellington. And so I basically decided long weekend. found out it was gay pride and my friends are down here. So I thought let's go and see how it's going.
[01:01:05] So I know we have pride parades in Wellington. But what about his mania?
[01:01:08] Well, actually, there is one in Hobart. But it's not. It's not very out and about them. I think there needs to be more done. Barely.
[01:01:17] So can you describe what today's Pride parade was like?
[01:01:21] I thought it was fabulous. Just any bunch of people getting together to celebrate freedom is fabulous anywhere in the world.
[01:01:28] Yeah, no, I totally agree. I mean, especially in this day and age when you know, you think about America, and some of the legislation that's been going on, you know, anti trans legislation, stuff that's being Mike pants is not particularly a great fan of the trans community. So there's all those sort of things where we were become more extreme and so gay rights where we get them but then also they're taken away. There's gay marriage, and it's taken away. So these traits are still really important.
[01:01:56] Yeah. More style. I think. Now, the end of the project. walking over the rainbow crossing. And there has been some controversy this year about that. It's like it was confusing for people. How did you find walking on it?
[01:02:06] Well, the way that I understood it was that it's the shortest parade in the world because it is from one side of the road to the other, which I think is a fabulous idea because it allows the parade to grow. But it will still always have the badge of the shortest unless somebody walks on half of the road somewhere else.
[01:02:29] I wasn't at that part, so I can't contribute. Sorry.
[01:02:33] I just arrived 20 minutes ago.
[01:02:35] But but you have walked over the crossing your
[01:02:37] Yes,
[01:02:37] yes. didn't confuse you.
[01:02:40] No, not at all. No, no, actually, I got here before everybody else and I've got all my fabulous photos in the middle of the crossing on my own.
[01:02:49] That's that's kill.
[01:02:53] any confusion for you? Oh, confusion. No, no, absolutely. No. seems pretty clear and straightforward. Yeah. So it was cool. Yeah. And it's a lovely day and everyone's dressed and looking wonderful. And you know, flamboyant, which is really cool.
[01:03:07] So why pride events, pride? parades important?
[01:03:10] Well, pride parades are important because it's important for people to celebrate. And it's, it's for everybody. I mean, it's not about, you know so much about sexuality. It's about the union of of everybody. That's why I think they're important.
[01:03:25] Well, I think like, pride, like will always be relevant, and it will always be important, like, as long as there's transphobia, or homophobia, or, you know, prejudice or stereotypes, then the pride will, you know, does marches sale Need To Be Continued, you know, it always needs to be relevant, you know, so it's a, hey, yeah, I think it will always be important people have fought for rights. I mean, when I grew up in Dublin, and so, and Dublin for years, I assumed we were, I was sort of ignorance in my early 20s. I just saw you I'm able to go to a club through so many clubs, and just assumes that things were okay. But there wasn't. How do I say it? Like a minute? I'd never question the idea of gay marriage. I thought that was stupid. Now, obviously, I think it's really important and they should have it. But so even though ideologically, like back in my 20s there were things that I never questioned, which now I see is like, you know, a bad idea. Yeah, we should have had gay marriage and you should be these things. So, you know, and I talked to is like, sort of freedom of movement. But, you know, I don't know. I mean, there's always room for improvement. haven't sat down like Dublin's very gay friendly city and had some of the best gay bars in the world. I think, my prejudice
[01:04:42] Did I hit crossings,
[01:04:44] and I don't know about gay crossings cafe gay pride, and all that. And one of the times I really missed not being in Dublin was when gay marriage got brought in by referendum so was a vote. And so don't be in a big long chase to that and when that happened, and when it was announced the whole thing. It was, yeah, I was just like, it was raining and Wellington and I was like, you know, just gone to the cinema. Yeah, done. I get these drunken phone calls from my friends and it's like, you know, and they're all on these. You're looking at the videos and it's all sunny over there and they're all crying with joy because of the pray the march thing being announced. I was like, so green. I was so pissed off. I was like, Yeah, whatever. You sound really drunk. You sound really drunk. Like, I'm just called out because I'm jealous. But yeah, no, I I definitely missed. I would have loved to be over there. I was actually here when the gay marriage cofounders here, as a few of us were invited to sit in Parliament. So that was a bit more low key, but it was still obviously historical events. So that was great.
[01:05:45] Yeah. And of course, after the parade, you get the parties. And I'm from Sydney. And I went to I started going to the Mardi Gras in the early 90s. And I would have to say like after the The walk best parties in the world.
[01:06:03] That's like you can't beat them.
[01:06:05] You really can't beat them.
[01:06:10] Hi, I'm Tony. And I'm here today. I've been This is my third year coming and enjoy coming. So yeah. Can you compare
[01:06:17] this year to the previous years hasn't grown hasn't developed?
[01:06:21] Yeah, I think it has a little bit more people. Um, yeah, it just seems to be more diverse. But the people as well, I think
[01:06:29] it seems very inclusive.
[01:06:30] Yeah, there are a lot more inclusive. Maybe this year is getting bigger and people are coming for the whole event and celebrating diversity, I suppose.
[01:06:38] Over the weekend, what is your favorite event?
[01:06:42] The bride today? Yeah.
[01:06:43] And why is that?
[01:06:45] The only one I'm doing this year?
[01:06:48] Yeah. Can you describe what it's like to to be in a parade like that?
[01:06:53] And it's a sense of belonging
[01:06:55] and being with people who love each other for who they are and yeah, no judgment. Like it's a safe place to be.
[01:07:02] Can you describe for me what the parade was like today?
[01:07:05] I was just totally awesome. We had the wind at our back, which was a really, really nice feeling. Again, the flags. And it's just a great sense of celebration. I think one of things I loved was that you're actually braiding past homes. And you know, all these people coming out and finding ways they might be shy of being part of a parade, but it's good. It gives them a chance to kind of actually contribute and these kind of wise, yeah, it's just wonderful thing. There's just also just an incredible diversity of people involved here, I think, and having a labor weekend at the same time as their school gala and plant sale. Also, there's just a kind of sense of everything's kind of Yeah, fused together.
[01:07:45] I get a real sense of inclusiveness here.
[01:07:48] Absolutely. I think there is inclusiveness. I mean, I think every community is really diverse and that maybe doesn't go for everyone like the painted zebra crossing here is not liked by some people in the community. So I think if anything pocket green, he in danger sometimes of deciding that we love fried and we love this. And we love that when, you know, I think democracy is about everyone having a voice. So I think we got an interesting political challenges a village in terms of because I'd love to think a future here is really great participatory democracy. And yeah, that's about everybody. So it is inclusive. I think it's a very inclusive place. And that makes it an interesting place to live.
[01:08:25] There was some controversy this year with the rainbow crossing and there was a complaint wasn't the saying it was it was confusing for drivers. Did you feel it?
[01:08:36] Or I don't think it's confusing I think the police to the problem is the pedestrian crossing is already quite dangerous. I don't see an issue with it myself personally. But it's a difficult issue when it's essentially illegal and it's a it's a land transport issue and the council don't really have any say in it other than having to spend thousands of dollars to mop it up. So it's kind of a really interesting issue. glad it's there. And I think in terms of queer activists and other community activists in the community, you know, it should continue to paint it but it's it's a complex issue. Yeah.
[01:09:13] What was it like? Can you describe for me what it was like to actually to walk across the crossing because that is the parade isn't it?
[01:09:20] It's just really nice. There is something actually really cool about this kind of compressed stage. It's a catwalk right so it's the parade as catwalk as pedestrian Rainbow is, I think that's really really cool. We got we've got a banner that we made for paga greedily NZ their website this year, we got to parade with it for the first time this year. So that was actually for a few of us that have been involved locally in developing our identity and this this this platform for the community that was pretty special.
[01:09:49] I will we run a business and pack I could he could pack I couldn't keep up so we make real fruit handmade gourmet popsicles. And we wanted to support the pride parade and the Pride festival when we made special rainbow pops for the day. So we've been selling those are five different colors. And we donate $1 from every pop, so to project youth academy good support.
[01:10:10] So what is project youth?
[01:10:12] And it's a social and support group for rainbow. I need to find young people and it's run by capital us support up and cut a promo. Yeah. And I think a lot of some of their funds that are being raised this weekend are going towards that not just us, but yeah.
[01:10:26] And how the popsicles been selling
[01:10:28] really well, we we sold out really quickly last year. So we've made double the amount and we saw that again, to make one next year.
[01:10:36] what's the what's the most favorite color?
[01:10:40] I like the I like the green. It's like a kiwi fruit in lime. It's really funny and kind of tasty. So that's pretty nice. Yeah,
[01:10:47] I don't know, either.
[01:10:48] Yeah, I don't know. I like the orange one. That's kind of a new newish one for us. Scott, carrot and ginger in it. So it's pretty exciting.
[01:10:55] So you must have so much fun like creating these these new new flavors. Yeah,
[01:10:59] we do. Yeah, it really is the funnest part of it. It's very time consuming doing a pop like that because you have to layer it and phrase and then put the next layer and freezer and things like that. But it's really fun figuring out how to do that and how to make it look right. And so yeah, it's good kind of getting creative on it.
[01:11:14] Yeah. Can you describe the atmosphere today?
[01:11:18] I think it's amazing like it is just the beast of pocket achy. And just so amazing. We can be this tiny little village and we can host something like this. And just everybody just in such a good mood and the sunshine have a great time. All and the kids having an incredible time with disco and the rainbow, you know, the rainbow here in the rainbow face paint and I just think it's just the best of the best of people. Really. It's Yeah, it's lovely, lovely atmosphere.
[01:11:45] What do you think these localized pride of it's so important?
[01:11:51] I guess it enables people from every year to come out and then get involved with a community I suppose. Yeah, and I guess if you're not growing up in a Big City you might not see people around you that you can necessarily identify with or in. So it's kind of good to have it in these kind of smaller towns as well, where it shows that we are still we might be a small town, but we're really diverse. I think that's a good thing for young people to be able to see.
[01:12:16] So we've just seen the world's shortest Pride Parade. How did that
[01:12:21] how was that view? quite emotional, actually, but it was fabulous. It was great to be part of it. Yep. And to cross the cross I, that was great.
[01:12:30] When you say emotional what what emotions were you feeling?
[01:12:33] pride? And,
[01:12:36] yeah, I know happiness. Yeah, good to be part of it. Good to be part of this generation. Actually. I was thinking maybe 30 years ago, it wouldn't have been like this.
[01:12:45] So it's great to see you. And a lot of young people here today. We noticed that was amazing. Two amazing lesbian woman had their dogs dressed up really neat. And I carried one of the flags for them. That was awesome. Just meet some friends going to catch up them later on tonight. At dance. Oh, that's really nice.
[01:13:02] Is this the first Pride Parade that you've been? No,
[01:13:05] no, I've been in a few in Wellington.
[01:13:07] Yeah. For Michael Ricky. Yes, but not bride. We've done Wellington quite a few years. And yeah, Dublin as well. And London. Yeah. Can you describe I mean, I'm thinking London, London is huge.
[01:13:18] Can you describe the difference between say it like a London pride event and what we've had today?
[01:13:23] I think the difference for me is you just get to know people here in a much smaller place, London, you're just part of a bigger thing. But here you can join in and be part of like the one. The
[01:13:35] pie cookery community was amazing. And children from the school at all gotten involved, and it's just awesome to see the local fire service.
[01:13:44] Just great. Yeah.
[01:13:46] Why these pride parades important.
[01:13:48] I think this celebrate the diversity of other cultures, but also who we are and what we are. And yeah, that's one of the main reasons
[01:13:57] and will I'm going to give the last word to you
[01:14:00] slaughter
[01:14:02] means chairs, good health and Irish. Yes, I don't think well that could be my theme for it chairs and good health.