In this podcast Wai Ho talks to a hui participant who has recently come out.
Summary
The abstract presents the summary of a recording from the KAHA 2009 Youth Hui, featuring an interview with a participant who recently came out as gay. Hosted by Wai Ho at the Tapu te Ranga Marae in Wellington, the discussion delves into the participant's experience of coming out to their parent and engaging with the wider LGBTQ+ community.
The interview takes place on the second morning of the hui, around 8:30 am. The participant discusses sleeping in a room with approximately fifty other people, which was noisy and disruptive. Despite the lackluster sleep, the conversation turns to a more significant personal revelation — the participant's coming out.
The participant hails from Wellington and shares details about coming out to their mother in December of the previous year. They were 15 years old at the time of the discovery and disclosure to their parent. The support from the participant's mother was crucial – they were understanding and even sought help and avenues of support for the participant, one of which included guiding the participant to contacts such as Larisa.
While there was initial apprehension, particularly about the reaction of the father because of the societal expectations surrounding father-son relationships, the participant's coming out was received without negative backlash. The participant opted to break the news via a text message to their mother, stating a preference for boys, to which their mother responded with an open attitude, asking supportive and inquisitive questions. This reaction underscores the importance of support systems for young individuals discovering their sexual orientation.
Furthermore, the participant notes that the KAHA Youth Hui represents a novel experience — it is the first significant gathering they’ve attended with a large number of queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trans young individuals. Prior to the event, they had never met another person of their age with a similar sexual orientation. It was through Larisa’s help that the participant was able to attend this milestone event.
The audio recording captures a poignant moment for the participant, shedding light on a personal journey of self-acceptance and the discovery of a community. The participant exhibits a sense of relief and positivity about connecting with feelings and identity, emphasizing that parental support played an integral role in enabling attendance at the hui, which is viewed as a big step in the person's journey.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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