That's What I Am book launch

The audio recording captures the launch event of That's What I Am: Oral Histories of Older Lesbians, held on 7 May 2025 at Unity Books in Wellington. This event marked the release of a significant work compiled by Lois Cox, featuring the voices and lived experiences of sixteen older individuals from the lesbian community, alongside Cox’s reflective commentary. The book was co-published by Cox and Hilary Lapsley under their independent imprint, Town Belt Press. The event also included remarks from Dr. Lori Leigh of Kawe Mahara Queer Archives Aotearoa, who emphasised the archival and cultural importance of documenting such histories.

Hilary Lapsley, who authored the book’s preface, explained the context of its publication. Originally written around 2000, the manuscript was shelved while Cox and Lapsley focused on co-authoring crime fiction. After several publishing experiences and further reflection, they decided the oral histories deserved wider dissemination. Lapsley noted the book’s emotional depth and historical value, portraying stories that are simultaneously personal and sociocultural in scope. She praised the layout of the book, which organises narratives thematically by life stages rather than presenting isolated biographical accounts. A collaborative effort went into designing the book’s cover, ultimately choosing a joyful photograph that reflected the vibrancy of the community.

Dr. Lori Leigh, representing Kawe Mahara Queer Archives, framed the book within the broader context of queer memory and heritage. Highlighting Kawe Mahara’s role in safeguarding the histories of Aotearoa’s LGBTQ+ communities, Leigh underscored the importance of projects like Cox’s, which rescue marginalised voices from invisibility. Leigh described the emotional resonance and community significance embedded in the oral histories, likening them to a collective memory that affirms identity and belonging.

Lois Cox herself provided a heartfelt overview of the book’s genesis and scope. She clarified that while she appears as the author, the true voices of the book are those of the sixteen storytellers, making the project a collective narrative. The oral histories were originally collected with assistance from interviewers Moira Aberdein and Anne Ruck (recently deceased), and were later lodged in the National Library. Cox noted that many of the narrators have since passed away, which reinforced the urgency and value of preserving their testimonies.

The individuals featured in the book were all older women connected to Wellington’s lesbian community, most of whom were in their 50s at the time of the interviews. The use of pseudonyms throughout the text protects their identities while allowing their stories to be shared. Over time, as attitudes toward sexuality changed, so too did the confidence and visibility of these individuals. Cox illustrated this transformation with excerpts from two interviewees: Joan, who experienced a personal epiphany upon self-identifying as lesbian in later life, and Louise, who overcame internalised fear. Both excerpts underscore a journey from private confusion to public affirmation, facilitated by broader cultural shifts and the emergence of visible lesbian communities.

The book avoids a strictly chronological or individual-by-individual structure, opting instead to explore shared themes across life stages—childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and later life. It also captures the emergence of a more open and politically conscious lesbian community from the 1970s onwards, especially in Wellington. Cox commented on the contrast between the highly conformist 1950s and the more accepting society of the 1990s and beyond, attributing much of this shift to the feminist and lesbian liberation movements.

In closing, Cox expressed a hope that the book would serve as a reminder of the value of inclusive societies and the dangers of regressing into prejudice.

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.

Hilary Lapsley Lois Cox Lori Leigh

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