Tabby(September 2012)

This abstract summarizes an audio recording titled "Tabby - Q12," taped on September 20, 2012, in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The interview features Tabby Besley, conducted by Benji Watt, covering topics such as youth, pansexuality, and the queer experience in the 2010s.

Tabby Besley, the national coordinator of the QSA network, discusses the inception of this organization that was starting to apply to become a trust at the time of the recording. Besley had been involved in rural outreach work in places like Wanganui and Palmerston North, and also traveled to other parts in New Zealand, but not directly for the network-related work.

Throughout the interview, Besley opened up about various personal aspects. Having moved from Nelson to Wellington, Besley focused on volunteer work and passion for theatre. Describing their sexual orientation as queer and pansexual, Besley emphasizes the inclusivity of the term 'pansexual', encompassing all gender identities as opposed to the sometimes narrower interpretation of 'bisexual'.

Born and raised in England before moving to New Zealand at the age of 12, Besley feels a strong connection to English heritage despite identifying as a New Zealander as well. They recognize the influence of their open-minded family—especially when reflecting on childhood experiences, like the first kiss with a girl in front of a class, spurred by a dare.

Coming out as bisexual at the age of 14, Besley recalls joining a Queer Straight Alliance (QSA) group in high school, which propelled them to subsequently identify as pansexual. The support from family and friends played a vital role during this period. After an initial period of hesitance, Besley's mother became very supportive, enhancing a familial environment where LGBTQ+ rights and identities were advocated.

Concerning activism, Besley highlights the formation of community group Q Youth in Nelson, which later established a drop-in centre. This engagement extended to working with former board co-chair Marian Street and as a drop-in centre coordinator. Besley also touched on the support system that was in place throughout school, which made the coming out process easier and the presence of homophobic language and discrimination they faced, which was relatively mild due to a supportive environment.

The interview also explored Besley's view on relationships, emphasizing the complexity of dating across the gender spectrum, and the confusion it can sometimes entail. Networking within the LGBTI Q community, according to Besley, can often happen through youth work, leading to broader social interactions. Balancing activism and personal life, Besley notes that downtime at home was an essential part of their self-care routine.

Discussing virginity, Besley gives an insightful perspective, considering the definition and importance to be subjective and personal. Asked about encountering abuse due to gender identity or sexuality, Besley acknowledged slight instances but emphasized a generally positive experience, given the surrounding protective community.

The audio recording concludes with a focus on Besley's contributions, affirming the existence of a supportive and inclusive society for the LGBTQ+ youth in New Zealand.

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.

Tabby Besley

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