Remembering the Evergreen Coffee House and Chrissy Witoko

This abstract summarizes an audio recording from an event held at Wellington Museum to commemorate the Evergreen Coffee House and Chrissy Witoko, key figures in Wellington's LGBTQ+ history. The event features voices of multiple individuals who hold close ties to the community and had personal connections with the iconic Evergreen Coffee House and its proprietor, Chrissy Witoko. The recording encompasses the vibrant culture and community spirit that spanned from the 1960s through the 2020s, providing a rich tapestry of narratives, experiences, and memories.

The audio captures a warm and engaging atmosphere as various guests recount their memories, expressing the significant impact of the Evergreen Coffee House and Chrissy’s contributions to Wellington's LGBTQ+ scene. Speakers discussed the establishment’s function as a safe haven and social hub, where toasted sandwiches and special coffees were staples, and where a unique sense of camaraderie and solidarity emerged. The speakers provided vivid descriptions of the venue's layout, ensuring a judgment-free environment with strategic placements of mirrors for safety and a convivial atmosphere conducive to conversations and connections.

Anecdotes about the early days of Wellington's gay scene were shared, highlighting the freedom and community support that were found despite the challenges of the era, including discriminatory laws. There was a consensus that spaces like the Evergreen Coffee House, spearheaded by influential figures like Chrissy Witoko, were crucial in fostering unity and resilience among minority groups at a time when their very existence was not fully recognized or accepted by society at large.

The recording encapsulates a discussion about the evolution of social dynamics within the LGBTQ+ community, posing reflective questions about how technological advancements and legal changes may have altered the sense and strength of personal networks compared to earlier times. The event also urged the younger generation to preserve these stories, and the speakers called for the creation of contemporary community spaces that could emulate the essence of what the Evergreen Coffee House once stood for.

By the recording's end, the audience honors the legacy of Chrissy Witoko and their life partner Andrew through a chant, encapsulating a powerful sense of loss, remembrance, and ongoing legacy. The abstract concludes with acknowledgment of the event's role in rekindling memories, reinforcing the importance of community support systems, and celebrating the individuals who paved the way for a more inclusive society.

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.

Chanel Hati Des Cooper Drew Hadwen Fiona Lam Sheung Gaye Hawkins Jacquie Grant Kay'la Riarn Kevin Haunui Leilani Sio Pasi Daniels Renee Paul Tīwhanawhana

1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2020s, alcohol, alcohol laws, alcohol license, alfies 2, aotearoa new zealand, bistro bar, bojangles, ca d'oro (auckland), carmen rupe, catering, chanel hati, chrissy witoko, clothing, collage, community, cracking it, cuba street, dana de milo, des cooper, doodle inn, dorian society, doug timbs, drag, drew hadwen, drugs, evergreen coffee house, exotic dancer, family, fiona lam sheung, gangs, gaye hawkins, hastings, hidings, home brew, jacquie grant, jacquie’s coffee bar, jukebox, kapa haka, kay'la riarn, kevin haunui, knutcracker suite, leilani sio, les girls (sydney), liza minnelli, lower hutt, luamanuvao winnie laban, marion street, michael jackson, midnight movies, mirror, mongrel mob, museum of new zealand te papa tongarewa, news queen, ngāti kahungunu, pasi daniels, police, powder puff (referred to as the powder poof, wellington), purple onion (sydney), queen, ray johns, renee paul, royal oak hotel, sailor, samoa, sex work, ship mole, sorrento coffee lounge, speakeasy, special coffee, striptease, sue timbs, sunset strip, sydney, tavern bar (royal oak hotel), tete a tete, the balcony / le balcon, the owl's retreat, the purple onion, toasted sandwich, trans, transgender, tīwhanawhana, vivian street, wellington, wellington museum, wharves, window

abuse, access, advertising, africa, anxiety, army, attitude, auckland, audience, australia, author, bars, birthday, bouncer, cafe, cars, cats, change, children, christmas, closet, clubs, code, coffee, coffee bar, comedy, community support, compromise, connect, conservative, copyright, costumes, cuba, culture, dance, dancing, data, disappear, diversity, dress up, eating, emotional, entertainment, events, face, faith, farm, fashion, fear, fire, food, freedom, friends, future, gaming, gay, glamour, god, gym, harbour, hate, hiding, history, hit, hollywood, honour, hope, hospital, hotel, iceland, icons, internet, iran, job, joe, karate, kawhia, kicked out, knowledge, korea, ladies, language, law, legacy, lifestyle, love, marriage, mary, movies, music, māori, nightclub, older people, other, pain, parliament buildings, passing, people, posters, powder puff, quiz, race, rainbows, respect, rugby, running, sad, safe space, scene, school, seattle, security, shopping, smile, soccer, space, spaces, straight, struggle, stuff, suit, support, surrey, tea party, teacher, technology, testing, the block, the other side, theatre, time, tinder.com, tokyo, top, tough, understanding, venues, violet, waiata, walking, water, wind, work, writing, youth