In this podcast Valda Edyvane talks about the Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians.
Summary
This summary recounts the insights shared by Valda Edyvane in a podcast recorded at Waitangi Park, Te Aro, Wellington, about the Armstrong and Arthur Charitable Trust for Lesbians. The interview was conducted on February 24, 2018, by Gareth Watkins and captures reflections from past decades ranging from the 1980s to the 2010s.
In the recording, Edyvane discusses the Trust's commitment to maintaining a presence at community events such as "Out in the Park". The Trust emphasizes the importance of engaging with community members and raising awareness about the organization's contributions. Edyvane mentions the introduction of a new initiative: the digitization and display of photographs of Bea Arthur and Bette Armstrong, the women behind the Trust's establishment. These photos, selected from archived albums, are intended to celebrate their lives and contributions, especially for the benefit of younger community members. The digitization effort helps to keep the spirit and legacy of these pioneering figures alive.
Bea and Bette's history is touched upon, including their public coming out during the 1980s, a time of significant social change linked to the homosexual law reform. Their active involvement in social circles, such as the Victoria Club in Oriental Bay, is mentioned. Unfortunately, they passed away in the early 2000s, but the Trust continues their legacy.
The Trust's recent activities are highlighted, including providing funding for the Lesbian Information, Library and Archives Centre (LILAC) and the Wellington Community Lesbian Radio Programme. Contributions to the drag king community and same-sex dancing competitions are also noted. However, limited financial resources have restricted the scale of funding available for such projects. Despite this, the organization remains dedicated to supporting core initiatives that would have resonated with Bea and Bette, particularly given their fondness for dancing.
Edyvane considers the likely reaction of Bea and Bette to the vibrant diversity and change observable in the community since the mid-1980s. It is suggested that they would have been proud of the progress made, albeit possibly surprised by the extent of cultural shifts.
On a personal level, Edyvane reflects on the importance of visibility and continued participation in community events. As an older lesbian, the presence at such events is seen as a statement of resilience and a potential inspiration for both younger and older women. This commitment underscores the need for role models and the belief that one's involvement in the community should not diminish with age.
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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Tags
1980s, 2010s, aotearoa new zealand, archives, armstrong and arthur charitable trust for lesbians, bea arthur, bette armstrong, coming out, dancing, danss (wellington), dinner parties, diversity, funding, gay, homosexual law reform, lesbian, lesbian information, library and archives centre (lilac), older age, out in the park (wellington), out in the square (wellington), quilted bananas (wellington access radio), role model, the drag kings (wellington), valda edyvane, victoria club, visibility, waitangi park, wellington