CANTA ISSUE 3, 2022

PROUD.

Ella Gibson (she/her) and Emily Heyward (she/her)

We are immensely proud to be bringing you our Pride Issue this fortnight. While Pride Week here in Ōtautahi may have been postponed due to Covid, we’re proud that we’re still able to bring you content celebrating the wonderful community that we have here. We’re proud of our writers for the mahi they have put into this issue; for their authenticity and bravery in sharing their stories. We’re proud of our incredible contributors who have explored important aspects of queer culture and grateful to those who shared their art with us for this issue. We’re proud to showcase just some of the amazing stories and perspectives from the queer community at UC. But unfortunately there are some things we’re not proud of.

Before the release of this issue, we were on the lookout for queer creatives and queer flats to feature in the magazine. Naturally, we took to the UCSA Noticeboard because where else would one go for some 10/10 crowdsourcing and shitposting? We were extremely grateful for the incredible content we received from queer tauira. However, our post also brought out some of the worst of our university culture. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, it appeared that some straight cis males decided it would be ‘funny’ to tag their mates in the comments as a joke. It baffles us to wonder why on earth this matter is comical, why is it a part of your culture, and why is it normal in your culture?

We’re here to say enough is enough. You may think it’s all a bit of a joke tagging your straight friends with “a bitta you” but your behaviour is not okay. Your ‘jokes’ are old and they don’t belong in this century. What’s “rough g” is that queer people are disproportionately over-represented in statistics around poor mental health. Rates of depression and attempted suicide are almost four times higher for non-straight people. For trans and non-binary folk, the rates of psychological distress are nine times higher than that of the general population. If that doesn’t make you sit up and reflect on your immature actions and your privilege, then maybe calling you out will.

Unfortunately, this is not the only time that some of your community has been involved in this disgraceful behaviour on the UCSA Noticeboard. For those of you who are fortunately unaware of what we are referring to, prepare to be taken-aback. On a spur of posts last year when students were feeling unsafe about suss individuals lurking around UC flatting areas, some of your community had the audacity to ‘hilariously’ tag your mates in such posts by commenting things like “was this you, bro?” or “who let you out of the house?” Extending your so-called humour into mocking people’s own safety? Not cool, bro.

This behaviour has been going on for too long and it needs to stop.

Our condolences go out to you and your precious egos that can’t imagine pain worse than being called gay. Maybe you will prefer being called a homophobe then?

President’s Piece.

Welcome to the Canta Pride issue. How exciting! Embracing pride and our diverse UC community is something the UCSA is super passionate about this year. When Covid regulations loosen, we can’t wait to celebrate with the student community.

It is important to recognise why we celebrate Pride. Pride is not just a big party. It remains an act of defiance, a protest with the goal of reinforcing the rights of queer people that have been hard fought for, and reaffirming the need to continue to push for true equity in society.

Pride is recognising the unique experiences that all within the rainbow community experience. It is acknowledging that there is no universal experience amongst queer people. From processing your identity and dealing with new feelings, to coming out (usually much more than once) to those around you, to embracing your identity – it is often not a simple experience with the onus still falling on queer young people to identify themselves as different.

Many still face discrimination from family, society, and often the media. In the modern context this is often felt most by our trans and gender diverse whānau. They often have to deal with strawman and bad faith arguments and provocative headlines that question their identity, all under the guise of discourse.

Pride must not forget this, and those in more privileged positions within the rainbow community, as well as allies in the wider community, must use their voices to uplift and protect the voice and rights of those who are vulnerable.

I am so excited that we have the opportunity to acknowledge our rainbow community this year, and I am thankful to Canta for providing this forum!

We are now in our 5th week on campus. Hopefully, despite all the disruption, you are all settling down into your studies and making headway on some of your assignments. Of course, it is important to take time to relax, and having a gathering is okay as long as you are keeping it within the law!

Over the past few weekends there have been some large gatherings in the Ilam Fields and Gardens.

Firstly, on a more personal note, getting drunk in a park isn’t really it and is a tad ‘year 11’, but each to their own, I guess…

More importantly, the Fields are in the liquor-ban area –and Police have the power to give an INSTANT $250 fine. This is just a heads up, as there is nothing like a fine to sour a good night – keep the parties on private premises or in the halls!

Covid is STILL going on, and over at the UCSA we’ve been working extremely hard to ensure students are well looked after. We’ve expanded our food provision services (food bank and food support) so students can have food security during their Covid isolation. This is super easy to apply for via our Advocacy and Welfare team!

The UCSA is only one piece of the puzzle in the provision of support across uni. Te Waka Pākākano has been doing incredible mahi providing food parcels and pastoral support for our Māori, Pacific, and Rainbow students. Student Care and UC Wellbeing have been ensuring that our isolating students are contacted and looked after, and Te Akatoki have been doing incredible work in providing care for our tauira Māori.

There is so much going on in the wellbeing space, and it’s near impossible to list everyone who is contributing to the mahi. It has been a multifaceted and collaborative effort, and I have been extremely heartened to see the cogs of each area working together in such unison. It engenders confidence that our UC community will be well supported through the pandemic and beyond.

Anyway, that’s all from me, have a great couple of weeks and stay safe!

Kia ora UC whānau!

Pierce Crowley (he/him)

Tumuaki P iece.

Te Akatoki Māori Students' Association is the formal body that represents all Māori students studying at the University of Canterbury.

This year our governing executive board has set up so many awesome events, weekly kaupapa, academic support, advocacy, organisational goals, and much more to support our tauira and their needs.

Our whainga mātua o tēnei tau:

- Tino Rangatiratanga

- Engagement and communication

- Systems (internal)

- Sustainability

- Partnership and sponsorship

If any of you are keen to help us on this organisational journey, we are keen to kōrero and collaborate!

Our academic advocacy goals have been workshopped by our new outstanding academic board. This board is made up of student representatives appointed by our governing board that sit in each faculty/ academic space and represent tauira Māori.

Here are our academic board goals for the year:

Manākitanga: We create a space of mutual respect and honesty to encourage and support the success of our Tauira māori

Advocacy: We are the assertive presence that embodies the academic success of all tauira Māori Te whare wananga o waitaha

Sustainability: We continue to adapt and strengthen Te Akatoki advocacy foundations to ensure longevity at Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha

We wanna hear and connect with you, our tauira and kaimahi here at UC! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (Te Akatoki Māori students association and @teakatoki) or send us an email to connect! If you need someone to advocate for you or in collaboration with you, to help you in your studies or help you find the best avenue for you we are only a message away. We can't wait to meet you all, share memories and help support you on your journey here at Te whare Wānanga o Waitaha!

Rosa Hibbert-Schooner (she/her) & The Te Akatoki 2022 Executive

Ngā Manaakitanga, Your 2022 Te Akatoki Executive

news. news cant a

Covid affecting campus life

Alex Carter (she/her)

For many first-year students, starting university is a daunting time. In 2022, first year students, many of whom are moving out of home for the first time, find themselves living in the halls of residence to connect themselves with uni culture and lifestyle.

With case numbers increasing across the country daily, Covid-19 has entered every aspect of the University of Canterbury, from living situations, to clubs and lectures.

This stage of the pandemic is largely affecting students living in halls of residence, as it is a prime hub for the spread, due to close living and high population density.

Anxiety is increasing, and students’ mental health is taking a toll due to “rites of passage” events, such as Mono and O-Week being cancelled. Individuals who are new to halls and the environment are encouraged to keep their distance and be mindful of how they socialize to protect themselves and others during this time.

Many of the prime social events for university students have been cancelled. With O Week being a large social network for making friends and creating memories, a large chunk of fresher life has been taken out and students are having to get their party needs elsewhere.

Flat parties are still going strong, but are hard to monitor even with restrictions and QR codes.

Otago is a prime example of how flat parties and street parties can be detrimental to the pandemic. Safety and protection are currently the key mantras for those looking after the residents in the university halls.

In discussion with residents, there are a few things to highlight. (For safety purposes, names will not be released).

“It is a stressful time, not just for those in isolation, but for those helping the students who are in iso.” RAs are trying to create environments where students can still connect with each other, but it remains difficult as cases in halls increase.

Students in isolation have been encouraged to order entertainment online to help pass the time, such as colouring books and sudoku.

While promoting self-care is important, isolated residents are not the only ones suffering from the outbreak. Staff are also at risk of becoming infected and overworked.

RAT testing is available at the university Health Centre for household contacts and symptomatic people. This site will be running until further notice. Reach out to the RAs in your halls, have an isolation plan and stay connected with whānau. Kia Kaha.

Where are we at with Meningococcal Disease?

Alex Carter (she/her)

In the last two years, UC has seen two deaths due to Meningococcal disease.

While the world is largely focused on the pandemic, there is still a silent killer out there that can be prevented with vaccination and awareness.

The disease is spread through bacteria, which can be transmitted through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or even sharing a drink.

The bacteria can be active without the host knowing, and for some it can come at a very unlucky point where it infects the body and becomes instantly deadly.

The University of Canterbury halls strongly encourages their residents to get their first meningococcal vaccination. However, it is not mandatory.

The Bexsero strain (B strain) is one of the only strains that needs two vaccines. There are many different strains of the disease, but only a select few are subsidized, and strain B vaccination (Bexsero B) funding is only offered in select cases such as close case contact, or high risk immunocompromised individuals.

The vaccine for strains ACYW (MenACWY-D) is subsidized in halls for first years, yet it is not the only dangerous strain that people are being affected by. Strain B is also common within Aotearoa, with most of the cases being this strain. This could be due to the expensive rates of the vaccines which, for both doses plus nurse’s fee come to $250 for students.

Paul Chapman spoke with CANTA to bring awareness and talk about any change that has happened over the last couple of years since his daughter, Miwa’s death while studying at UC.

“The price of the vaccine is just too much for students to cover when living costs are so high.”

Little information is being carried out in halls of residence in Canterbury. While briefly mentioned in the induction pack, insufficient information is being divulged to students. This causes lack of awareness and protection.

This is a reflection on the education surrounding the disease, the Ministry of Health is not promoting awareness to young people as much as they could.

With the pandemic in full swing in Aotearoa, Meningococcal is being lightly touched upon.

There have been small steps forward since the time of Miwa’s death such as posters in Haere-Roa and information in induction packs, but more can still be done. Education on the disease is imperative, especially for student audiences who are more susceptible to the disease.

The vaccination is not a lifetime protection. Boosters are necessary for full protection.

FAKE UCSA NotiCEboArd

whEElS or doorS: prESSiNg qUEStioNS

SigN thiS pEtitioN to Show yoUr SUpport For UKrAiNE iN thESE UNprECEdENtEd timES hElp A homiE oUt

tE rEo dAily: Follow @tErEodAily For yoUr dAily tE rEo Fix

hEllo mtv, wElComE to StUdENt liFE

morE liKE riCCArtoN roAd AlwAyS ANd ForEvEr

CANtA might jUSt hAvE to do A ComprEhENSivE iNvEStigAtioN iNto thiS

KORERO FROM THE RAINBOW GROUP

Sarah Eynon (She/They)

Kia ora, QC here.

My name's Sarah, I’m the president of QCanterbury for this year. I’m very much an introvert so here for ya’ll queers that prefer to chill out rather than party. You’ll find me behind the scenes answering emails and going between classes to meetings. At the moment, like many, I prefer to spend my time inside - not keen on getting COVID. I recommend, for those of you like me hanging out at home, to follow our Instagram, join our Facebook group, and like our Facebook page. We’d love to have you along!

QCanterbury is a club at UC like any other. We plan social events, run social media pages, monitor the UCSA Noticeboard for bullshit, etc. We formed following the disintegration of UniQ Aotearoa. Unlike some universities who continued to claim the title UniQ (shout out to Vic), we chose another direction; Q being for ‘queer’, and Canterbury for recognising we belong to the university. Like any other club, we reset every year with a new exec, a new focus, and somehow less progress than ever. In fact, getting used to the role takes roughly a year which makes it hard when you feel like you’ve just got the hang of s omething and then you get the boot or move on. My role, no more important than any of the other roles (I wouldn’t be anywhere without my exec), is to oversee how QCanterbury, the UCSA, and at times the University is including its rainbow students in their day-to-day. It can get complicated at times.

Contrary to what we’d like to believe, I don’t know too well how the university works and we’re merely a social club committed to our beloved board game nights and apparently way-too-hard quiz nights. Ari Nicholson, the university's only employed Rainbow Adviser to students, puts in the hard yards but is it ever enough? Big love to Ari going above and beyond with what they are resourced for. Sometimes we feel more support coming from the TEU (Tertiary Education Union); the team located just off campus who surround themselves with aroha and dedication for our community, more so than what can be received from the uni versity at times.

Our goal this year is to re-establish our relationship with the UCSA and the university. Why isn’t there a rainbow rep on the UCSA? At the bare minimum, why do we fit into the broad box of ‘Equity and Wellbeing’ - two major areas deserving of their own undivided attention. Why does the university only commit itself to one overworked staff member, and fail to show up any time aside from Pride Week? When something does happen, there's very little consultation with us or the community. There's a culture at UC that leads us into believing everything is fine, yet students will still get beaten up outside Mono and I have to educate a staff member every 10 minutes some days. That being said, this is only my opinion.

The Rainbow Room (in Logie 107) is a beautiful space we are forever grateful for, and Haere-Roa has those fun rainbow lights, I guess. Speaking of, keep an eye on our social media for some fun low key events hosted both in our Rainbow Room and in Haere-Roa; all of which will be COVID safe. We’ll also keep some fun stuff going exclusively online.

Instagram: @qcanterbury

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups /426944924127793/

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/qcanterbury

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RAINBOW

WH Y WE NEED A ADVISOR

AT UC

Ari Nicholson (they/them)

WeLcome To uc’s rA i N boW su PPorT, my NA me is Ari NicH o Lso N, i A m TH e rA i N boW Advisor for uc.

TWo QuesTio Ns i reGu LA rLy H eA r WH eN i TeLL Peo PLe WHAT i do A re: WHAT is A rA i N boW Advisor?

WH y do We N eed A rA i N boW Advisor, We HAve eQu ALiTy H ere i N NZ?

LeT’s HAve A Look AT TH e ANsWers.

WHAT does A rA i N boW Advisor do?

I provide ongoing support for all rainbow students in an approachable and friendly space. I am full of great ideas to help deal with some of those extra pressures that our rainbow communities face. Having a friendly face, who understands and is on your side, can make all the difference between finding your feet at UC and leaving. I can do everything from talking to whānau to finding funding, to changing your name. Did you know you can have the name you use rather than your legal name on your Canterbury Card if you are a diverse student? I can help make those changes for you. My office is in Te Ao Mārama, students can drop in or make an appointment to see me on ari.nicholson@canterbury.ac.nz.

I work as part of a fantastic team, helping to grow the culture of UC. Many staff have received rainbow awareness training, helping to increase their knowledge and ability to support students, while also becoming fantastic allies. We work to make changes to make UC a stronger, more supportive place.

UC Health Centre also has a fantastic team of staff trained and able to support our diverse students, including students who are transitioning. UC Health is also able to provide counselling with understanding counsellors who are experienced in supporting diverse students on their journeys.

WH y do We N eed A rA i N boW Advisor?

We know rainbow students make up about 14% of our student body, yet rainbow students are less likely to succeed at UC than most other groups. The reasons for this seem complex but are logical when you look into them. Our rainbow students often have poorer mental health outcomes than other students, here is a brief 101 of why….

1 2 3 4 5 6

Equality in law doesn’t translate to equality within society. Until 1986 it was illegal to be a rainbow person. Those long held beliefs take a long time to break down. There is still a huge lack of funding going into rainbow support so little is being done to change societal views. As a result rainbow people don’t often see themselves represented in the people around them who hold the power.

Less access to services, especially in the medical field. There are increased costs for rainbow students that other students do not have to consider, such as expenses relating to transition costs, assessments, and counselling from counsellors that are rainbow trained, safe and supportive. Often, we have access to free counselling, but it is luck of the draw who you get. Some are great but others may have no rainbow knowledge or be anti rainbow.

There is still significant social stigma around being a rainbow person. Church, conservative people, and older communities can sometimes be really unsupportive and exclusionary of rainbow people.

Rainbow people still face significant discrimination within families and whānau. Students everyday tell me they fear talking to relatives, flatmates, friends, partners or respected people in their communities. Many still face exclusion if they do express their identity. Unfortunately, the antiquated practice of disowning family still happens here in Christchurch. It shocks me every time I hear of it happening. This is 2022, how can this even be a thing!!!!

For all young people, pressure from the media and social media is huge. However there are still few really good rainbow role models and the portrayal by the media is still often very negative.

We are still raised on the dream that we are going to marry a person of the opposite sex, have 2.5 children and a successful career. When you're young and you realise that your reality does not fit the social model that we are sold, there is often a loss and adjustment period before we find our feet and community.

WiTH ALL of TH is P uT To GeTH er, iT is N o Wo Nder our rA i N boW sTudeNTs A re u Nder i N creAsed Pressure ANd mAy N oT be A b Le To A cH ieve As WeLL As sTudeNTs WH o do N oT HAve To co N sider ANy of TH is.

TH e Good N eWs is THAT WiTH A LiTTLe exTrA su PP orT our rA i N boW sTudeNTs do reALLy WeLL ANd Go o N To become AWesome LeA ders i N TH eir fieLds, AWesome PA reNTs, PA rTN ers, frieNds, ANd ALLies.

THAT is WH y uc HAs A rA i N boW Advisor, so We cAN mA ke ALL TH ese AWesome dreA ms come True.

AREN’T WE ALL JUST F*CKING QUEER?

Laura Tretheway (she/her)

So, you’re into dudes. Cool. Your childhood bedroom was plastered with pictures of Justin Bieber and Robert Pattinson, and you’ve never doubted for a second that you’re 100% certified straight.

Until you see her. The woman that makes your heart race and your womb flutter. But wait a minute, that can’t be right… can it? You’ve always been straight. Always.

Here’s the thing: as a society, we’re pretty good at making boxes, and putting people in them. Sometimes it’s helpful – how else would LGBTQIA+ liberation have happened, without clear community identification? But sometimes, things aren’t so straight-forward, and you don’t know what you’re feeling, or what your sexual identity might be.

Under our good ol’ heteronormative society, we commonly make assumptions that people are straight – until proven otherwise. But in 1948, Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and Clyde Martin developed what is now known as The Kinsey Scale – showing the blurred lines between heterosexual and homosexual attraction.

It’s been over 50 years since their scale was developed, and while there are new and improved versions with more nuance (such as the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, which includes pansexuality and asexuality), the Kinsey Scale still shows us something we haven’t quite stomached: people aren’t necessarily one thing or the other.

Sexuality is fluid and can change over time. Even if you’re predominantly attracted to people of the same gender now, that doesn’t mean you won’t feel attraction or start a relationship with someone of a different gender, orientation, or sexuality in the future. That isn’t to say that you will, but feeling something new shouldn’t make you freak out, or necessarily question your entire identity – it’s okay to have gay thoughts, or straight thoughts, or asexual feelings, even if that isn’t usual for you!

There’s no specific equation for being any kind of sexual identity. You can identify with whatever feels right, or makes you feel confident – like being pomosexual, which means you don’t identify with any kind of label.

Finding the right identity is mostly helpful to find your whānau and like-minded people who make you feel at home. But if you reckon you’re a bit straight and a bit queer and don’t want to put a name to it, that’s ka pai too.

IT’S OKAY TO HAVE GAY THOUGHTS

Feeling confused? You can reach out to UC’s Rainbow Advisor by emailing ari. nicholson@canterbury.ac.nz, or seek support at ry.org.nz

co NfideNTLy H eTerosexu AL, WiTH A GAy crisis every feW yeA rs

so. fucki NG. sTrA i GHT. reLATiveLy sTrA i GHT... you TH i N k

beAuTifu LLy bisexu AL

Like, more GAy THAN sTrA i GHT, buT NoT com PLeTeLy?

PreTTy dA m N Queer, WiTH A feW dru N keN H eT H ook-u Ps

GAy. As. H eLL.

THAT’S

CE

Stella Cheersmith (she/her)

If you hear the term ‘asexual’ and the only thing you can think of is that one class in year 10 science with all the cells splitting in two, allow me to quickly enlighten you: it’s also an orientation! And no, I don’t mean all the events you go to the week before you start uni - I mean a sexual orientation, or a sexual identity.

Asexuality (sometimes shortened to ‘ace’) is generally understood as a lack of sexual attraction to other people, but it’s better described as an umbrella term that includes a whole range of orientations, some of which do experience sexual attraction in a limited or specific way. For example, demisexual people may experience sexual attraction to another person only after they have formed a strong emotional bond first. Confused? It’s important to remember that just as sexuality is fluid, so is sexual attraction, and those who experience it outside the societal ‘norm’ may fall under the asexual spectrum.

It’s a common misconception that asexual people never have sex. Sure, some are totally against having sex and others feel pretty indifferent towards it, but others might enjoy sex as a way of being intimate with a partner. And that’s another thing: being asexual doesn’t mean never having a relationship. See, for most people, their romantic orientation (how they experience romantic attraction) will align pretty closely with their sexual orientation, so they won’t consider the two as separate. But this isn’t the case for many asexual peoplesomeone might identify as asexual as well as biromantic, or homoromantic, or aromantic - the list goes on. How cool is this incredibly diverse community?

It's true that asexuality as we understand it today has a pretty recent history. In 2001 The Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) launched online - a hugely valuable resource for asexual people around the world to learn about themselves and share their stories. By 2009, a group from AVEN took part in the San Francisco Pride

Parade, and a year later the asexual flag was developed and Ace Awareness Week was introduced. Of course, that’s not to say that asexuality didn’t exist before the 21st Century, or that it wasn’t a part of queer history. In fact, a kind of political asexuality was closely linked to the lesbian and feminist liberation movements of the 1970s: in 1972, Lisa Orlando published The Asexual Manifesto as a response to sexism and the exploitative nature of heterosexual relationships. It’s definitely a different

Being asexual today is still no walk in the park: asexual people are often met with confusion, dismissal, or outright erasure. Common clichés like ‘it’s just a phase’, ‘you’re a late bloomer’, or ‘you just haven’t met the right person yet’ may sound silly, but they all assume that asexuality does not exist, and that sex will inevitably “cure” someone of their asexuality. Sex is often expected in romantic relationships as well, if not immediately, then eventually. UC’s own Tiina Vares has researched how romantically oriented asexual people struggle to navigate the dating scene, often coming up against heteronormative gender stereotypes. Asexual men may feel unmanly for their lack of sexual attraction, while asexual women may feel guilty for leading a potential partner on without disclosing their identity.

If you’ve seen the show Sex Education, you might remember a scene where a student approaches sex therapist (and goddess) Gillian Anderson and confesses that she thinks she might be broken because she has no interest in sex. Gillian introduces the student to asexuality, and shares these wise words: “sex doesn’t make us whole, so how could you ever be broken?” While it’s a brief moment, this is really important because it summarises asexuality so clearly and sensitively. We all know that representation matters, and asexuality is so rarely acknowledged or discussed in media that this scene (in a popular Netflix series no less) stands out as really special.

Sex doesn’t make us whole, and sex should never be expected from anybody. Everyone is entitled to bodily autonomy, and anyone who identifies with asexuality is welcome to claim that label - because asexuality isn’t an illness, or a phase (or a science class), it is a valid and real sexual orientation.

GAY? ARE YOU

A com PLeTeLy sATiricAL, N oT ALL serious Qui Z Wri TTeN by Queers.

PLeAse do N’T cAN ceL us.

Sarah Eynon (she/they) & Neil Alombro (he/him)

CLUB CORNER

H APPy Pride! for TH is issue, sTeLLA cH eersmiTH (sH e/H er) cH ecked i N WiTH N o N e oTH er THAN QcANTerbury, uc’s resideNT rA i N boW cLub. vice PresideNT sHANNAe P H eLAN (sH e/TH ey), ANd secreTA ry Nei L A Lombro (H e/H im) u PdATed us o N H oW TH e cLub is vibi NG TH is yeA r.

So, tell us about QCanterbury!

Shannae: We actually started out as ‘UniQ’, which was a thing a lot of the universities were doing at the time, though I’m not quite sure when that came to an end. As QCanterbury, we’ve primarily been a social club, but this year we’re trying to get more into advocacy, supporting individual students, and connecting with the queer students on campus.

When did you join up?

Neil: I joined last year, roughly mid-way through my first year of uni. It was cool to join the events and see what was happening, and meet people from the rainbow community! Since coming from a small town, I didn’t really have that before.

Shannae: I joined QCanterbury as a member at the start of last year, and then joined the exec in March at the SGM. I knew people who were on the exec already, and I ended up designing the new logo over the summer! So that was my gateway into the club.

What have you got planned for this year?

Shannae: We don’t have a specific calendar yet but we will definitely do a lot more low-maintenance events like we did last year - games nights, movie nights, and of course the ball at the end of the year.

Neil: Last year we had an intersectionality panel - that was really cool working with other clubs and getting that visibility on campus and getting the conversation started. [This year] we’ll probably want to do something else collaborating with other clubs.

Shannae: We want to work towards getting representatives from the international students group, Te Akatoki, and we want to have a first year rep.

TH e Qc TeA m!

Exciting! And how can we help queer students feel safe and comfy on campus?

Shannae: That’s something we’re trying to get more into, there’s sort of a blurred line between what we’re here for, because we’ve been primarily a social club in the past, and then there’s UC Rainbow, who do more of the advocacy stuff. So we want to team up with them and see how we can strengthen that relationship, as well as build relationships with students.

Is there anything about the queer community that you think needs addressing?

Shannae: I’ve grown up in Christchurch all my life, and I was raised by a really strong queer woman, so I’ve been surrounded by queer people all my life. I feel like the Christchurch queer scene is so far behind the rest of the country. I went to Wellington recently and I saw so many rainbows on the streets, and so many people celebrating who they were, and you come [to Christchurch] and it’s just kind of… sad.

Neil: I agree! You see other cities, not much bigger than Christchurch, and they’re a lot more advanced in how they perceive things. Just normalising that and being authentically yourself, I feel like Christchurch is losing that a little bit. But hopefully we get there.

Absolutely! Thanks for coming in to chat <3

You can find QCanterbury on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website qcanterbury. wordpress.com

Stella Cheersmith (she/her)

CLUB PROMOTER

TuneSoc

TuneSoc is the club to join if you are into music on campus. Whether you play it, write it, teach it, or simply enjoy it, there is something for you. We offer gigs for anyone to come down to, tuition, jam nights, and opportunities for bands of all sizes to get on stage. Our practice space on Ilam Fields is kitted out with a bunch of equipment that can be used by our members to make some noise without interrupting the flatmates. Some of Christchurch’s finest bands have formed through TuneSoc such as Mako Road, The Raddlers, and countless more!

UCOM

UCOM is the premier UC Commerce Faculty club. It’s for anyone who wants to work hard, play hard and develop professional and entrepreneurial skills, whatever your year and degree! Membership gets you discounted tickets to the best social events of the year and provides tutorials for first and second year commerce related papers. Come along to our unique industry events to help you network for intern and graduate opportunities. Plus our social events go hard; past years have attracted top music artists such as BAYNK, P-Money and Soaked Oats. The UCom Facebook page provides more info on how to join.

CurrySoc

Curry and good company are at the heart of CurrySoc. We are all about coming together over some delicious curry and having a good time. If you enjoy eating curry to your heart’s content, then we are the club for you. Our events range from all-you-can-eat curry nights, BYO’s, to Curry-oke, and we can’t wait to show you what else is in the works! You can join us by flicking us a message through Facebook (facebook.com/currysoc) or Instagram, and we’ll send you the link to sign up. If you sign up online you go in the draw to win a $20 Zyka voucher to kick start your curry filled year. Grab a friend or two and join us for an experience you won’t regret!

Asian-Kiwi Society

The UC Asian-Kiwi Society is an inclusive community for UC students of Asian descent and students with an interest in Asian cultures. We intend to celebrate cultural diversity at UC and promote cultural awareness and inclusiveness. Our club started as four friends wanting a place to meet others with similar cultural experiences and backgrounds. It started off small in 2021 and in all honesty, there was a low expectation of the event outcomes! As small as it was, our club grew exponentially and by the end of 2021 we had around 210 members and won the Supreme New Club; that had exceeded the original expectations of last year’s club execs. In 2022, our new executives are once again hoping to bring together a diverse group of people for more exciting and thrilling events! We hope to see you guys there!

Ashton Averes (they/them)

Instagram: @ashton.averes

FL AT

FAMOUS fT. A fLAT fu LL of A bsurd A mou NTs of PLANTs AN d sTA r WA rs mercH

Welcome to a flat full of absurd amounts of plants and Star Wars merch. Have a look at our crystal shrine or DVD and VHS tape collection. Flat activities include watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Flavour of Love, doing puzzles, stealing Robb’s food, trying to convince the vegan to eat meat, and avoiding Mace’s Grindr hookups.

Kyla (she/her):

- The Vegan.

- Third-year biology student.

- Flat mum.

- Wants a pet frog.

- Has all the same hobbies as Robb but isn’t as good at them.

- Afraid of knees.

- Spiritual queen.

- Treasurer for Debsoc and Admin for ModFemsoc (yet I have no idea how money or administration works)

- Asexual but a hopeless romantic.

Mace (he/him):

- Second-year Social work student.

- Self-proclaimed Flat Dad.

- Baking Enthusiast (when I can be bothered)

- Dunners Represent!

- The Star Wars merch…yeah that’s mine.

- Proud Owner of the DVD/Blu-ray/ VHS collection.

- Loves a tidy kitchen.

- If you don’t LOVE Mamma Mia… we can’t be friends.

Robb (he/him):

- Owner of all the plants.

- Biology Master’s student.

- Flat Grandma.

- Does most of the cooking.

- Will publicly shame you for not getting your chores don.

Ella:

- Second year arts student.

- Not very proud Timaruvian.

- Literally a child (19)

- Pretentious music taste (Kate Bush, BCNR, yeule, Weezer)

- “Master” debator, but cries if someone looks at them funny.

- Nerdy and emotionally troubled pool noodle enthusiast.

- Proudly infected with the autism (join the UCDSA)

- Is the only person in the flat who actually knows who Public Enemy are.

OT A UTAHI’S QUEER

CAP ITALIST

Jude Van Houtte (she/her)

Christchurch does not have a prolific queer scene. I don’t know if it’s something about our religious 9-5 city wide schedule that means that the potential for most queer night events are inconceivable, or if it’s because Christchurch as a city is, in essence, a cul-de-sac. We are surrounded by endless farmland, a multitude of beaches with liquefaction type sand, and suburban hellscapes (Templeton, Rolleston, Pegasus…). Our level of escapism lies with shopping malls. Don’t tell me that you’ve never spent time in one to meander around aimlessly, because I won’t believe you - there’s legitimately nothing else for young rangatahi to do. So perhaps it makes sense that our Pride Weeks also succumb to the pressure, reducing themselves to a rainbow flag displayed in the window of a Whitcoulls.

Pride Week is supposed to be a genuine celebration of LGBTQIA+ history, protest, and rights. It can also represent grief, sadness, and mourning for the loss of life, vile behaviours, and government obliviousness to the rights of anyone other than cis, Pākehā, working, able-bodied and straight individuals. But Ode to Christchurch, and our capitalistic fiending for Vans with rainbow soles! Ngahuia Te Awekotuku didn’t kickstart gay liberation movements over the motu for over-commercialiszation of queerness!

Businesses so badly want their ‘ allyship’ on display that they will only do it during the one month of the year that they can successfully market it. Rainbow pins, t-shirts, bumper stickers, shoes, Skittles, you fucking name it. Its words and phrases like “limited edition”, “giving back to the LGBTQIA+ community” and “ fashion activism” that scream commodity, commodity, commodity!

Can businesses or corporations actually support Pride? Sure. Opening the space for more inclusion and diversity in the workspace as well as partnering with queer charities or NGOs is always a 10/10.

But genuine support is usually lacking, and hidden behind the curtain of ‘wokefication’. This is where businesses force you to believe that their products are made under the framework of an authentic moral compass and claim to be spreading ‘awareness’.

I decided to take a deep dive into various organisations’ reports, event pages, and news statements to see if we really are supporting Pride through our pockets:

Countdown – annually supports RainbowYOUTH charitable trust during Pride Week … but only donates $25,000 out of the $202 million net profit for the year?

The Warehouse Group – ‘supports’ Pride parades in Auckland and Wellington? That sounds like advertisement to me. They have created a gender transition policy including paid leave for gender affirming treatments yet have a really sus suicide prevention policy where they ‘reimburse’ workers for visiting their GP… but that requires telling your manager that you are suicidal… yeah, that’s not it babe.

Kathmandu – don’t seem to be very transparent about their Pride donations, despite being a “rainbow tick certified” organisation. In 2020 (nothing written for 2019 or 2021), they raised $10,000 for Qtopia and Minus18 Foundation in Australia. That’s two different organisations, one of which isn’t in NZ.

Fletcher Buildings – wanted to bring LGBTQIA+ education to the “business” and not the “corporate centre” in 2018 so they painted a concrete mixer truck rainbow for the Auckland Pride Parade. Yeah, I’m sure that stopped tradies using slurs on their worksites and created a safe environment for everyone to do mahi.

Vodafone – has created a “quarterly LGBTQI+ focused newsletter, Rainbow Quarterly written by staff for staff”. Works with organisations such as InsideOUT and Diversity Works NZ to train and educate staff. Decent.

How you can genuinely support Pride Week:

Whānau, there’s nothing better than education. Here’s a challenge for those who usually do squat diddly during Pride Week: try to learn at least one thing about how to be more inclusive in your study/work spaces. Whether that be using more gender neutral phrases such as “bring your partner along!” or “kia ora folks/team!” or always making an effort to use correct pronouns. Make events in your sports teams or clubs – you never know how many people could appreciate the manaakitanga.

Donate directly to charities that could make an impact within your local community. 298 Health Centre, Qtopia, and NZ Aids Foundation South are organisations that make an impact in CHCH.

Pester the CHCH Pride organisation;, they need more support and more ideas. You can volunteer your time or ask them to include more student friendly events!

Buy directly from queer creators/ artists such as Agnes and Eddie queer collective, William Wright’s socks, Isaac Loyola’s clothing, or go and see a queer directed/made film or play.

FIGH T RIGH T FOR THE TO E XIST

A sH orT HisTory of Pride

i N AoTeA ro A

Leo He (he/him)

Aotearoa today is one of the progressive countries in the world when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights compared to other countries. However, from pre-colonial Aotearoa, to the recent banning of conversion therapy, the rights of the rainbow community have always been a struggle.

Before Aotearoa was under British rule, Māori society was very open to sexual diversity. Many settlers had reported that homosexuality and same sex-relations was part of normalcy. One of the famous traditions is the story of Tūtānekai and Tiki. Before he married Hinemoa, he had a close male companion. Samesex relations are also seen in many Māori Art forms such as carvings and haka.

However, when the British took over in 1840, homosexuality did not sit well with their Christian values and was soon banned for men but not for women. Despite this, the LGBTQ+ subculture grew, and activism did happen but with minimal success.

This remained unchanged until the counterculture influenced the founding of the Dorian Society in Wellington, a social club for gay men. They raised awareness of violence against the rainbow community and were the first to push for homosexual law reforms.

In 1972, a lesbian Māori activist named Ngahuia Te Awekotuku was nominated to study American gay liberation and Red Power in the U.S but was denied a visa on the grounds of ‘sexual deviance’. This caused her to give an impassionate speech at the University of Auckland to challenge students to be open about their homosexuality: “Who out there is crazy enough to join me – and let’s start gay liberation!”

This gave rise to the gay liberation front which began the pride movement in Aotearoa. In April of the same year, activists gathered under Albert Park’s statue of Queen Victoria in Auckland, chanting, ‘Will Victorian morality ever die? And “Gay is good, gay is proud,” and was the first demonstration known as “gay day.” The first pride week happened in August of the same year.

In the following year, two more organisations popped up. The first was a feminist group called the sisters of Homophile Equality (SHE). The other was the University of Canterbury Gay Activists’ Society.

In 1986, after many hurdles, the Homosexual Law Reform Act was finally passed by 49 votes to 44. Cheers were heard from the gallery of Parliament.

However, it was not until 2004 that pride week in Christchurch officially began and in the following year, the familiar schedule of pride week was formed: an afternoon tea launch, a spit and polish uniform night at Menfriends, and the Lamda hikers were out and about. Unfortunately, the 2011 earthquakes resulted in a significant blow for the rainbow community as many LGBTQ+ establishments were destroyed.

Just recently, the abolition of conversation therapy was banned by Parliament which was a great win for the community. And with the rebuilding of Christchurch, the future looks bright but we must not forget about the activists that helped us to get to where we are today.

with drag sensation,

ANITA WIGL’IT

Winning fans around the globe for her heart and humour in RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, Anita Wigl’it lives up to her Miss Congeniality title in this exclusive interview. Read on for all the deets on how she started performing, what it was like meeting THE RuPaul, and what advice she’d give to students struggling with their sexuality or identity…

What inspired you to start performing drag?

When I was at university I got a part-time job at the theatre (like a good homosexual!) and the first musical that I ushered on was none other than Priscilla, Queen of the Desert! I was so dazzled by the amazing costumes and saw how the audience was just so joyous when they left the theatre - the musical inspired me to give drag a go.

Who were your idols growing up – and who are they now?

When I was younger, I loved Barbra Streisand and my love for her hasn't changed! She is so beautiful and yet so different to what Hollywood perceived as "beautiful". Through her hard work and an incredible amount of talent she went on to become a superstar! My idols now include other extremely talented and also super hard-working people like Bianca del Rio, RuPaul and Oprah.

We’re dying to know: what was it like meeting the fabulous RuPaul?

It was a dream come true! RuPaul is so lovely and when you talk to her you feel like you have her full attention and that she wants to guide you through whatever it is you are going through. I like to think of her as a taller, balder Oprah.

Facing a third year of Covid restrictions, why is Pride important to you?

Unfortunately, even though there are many good things in the world, homophobia, transphobia and discrimination still exist. Therefore, Pride is important to me as it's a time to celebrate the person that you were born to be and a time to acknowledge people in their struggles to live their authentic lives.

How did it feel being named Miss Congeniality on RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under?

It felt wonderful! It was so nice to win something and to be (sort of!) crowned alongside my best friend Kita Mean! I like to think of it as an extremely lowly second place!

Do you think the art of drag has been impacted by the various iterations of RuPaul’s Drag Race?

Absolutely! RuPaul’s Drag Race can be credited with putting drag onto the world stage. Drag used to be a bit of a dark art and now the world has seen it in the light, appreciated it and just want more and more! It is the best industry to be a part of, with shows ranging from performing at dance parties in the early hours of the morning, to reading books about diversity to kids.

Do you have a favourite song to lip-sync to?

I love a good musical moment and my current favourite song to lip-sync to is Losing My Mind by Stephen Sondheim performed by Marin Mazzie. (YouTube it if you want to cry!)

How did you feel reading the news that conversion therapy has been banned in Aotearoa?

I was overjoyed! Conversion therapy doesn't work and is so harmful for mental health. There is a great documentary about it on Netflix (based on how it all worked in America), and it is very eye-opening. To know that people in Aotearoa can grow up to be who they were born to be is a massive win and I believe an absolute basic human right.

What would you say to someone feeling unsure about their sexuality or their identity?

I would say that everyone's journey is different. I didn't come out as gay until I was 21. I wish that I realised earlier but I didn't, however there is nothing wrong with that, it was just my journey. I would recommend (if you are ready) seeking answers from places such as Rainbow Youth (ry.org.nz) who help people learn more about sexuality and identity.

Keen for more Anita? In August, she’ll be performing a national tour of her one-woman comedy show, The Life of a Funny Girl. Follow @anitawiglit on Instagram for all the updates, glitz and glamour.

From realisation to coming out

Leo He (he/him)

For those who don’t know me, my name is Leo, and I’m a cis-gendered omnisexual male. It is hard to pinpoint when I came out as I guess I have not fully done so as my mother still doesn’t know about it.

I think the first time I realised that I might be different was in year 12 in a tutorial class - basically self-study/free period. I thought to myself about how the idea of masculinity is weird, especially the need to be straight when it comes to gender identities.

At the time, I assumed that I was straight because I had a crush on a girl and due to omnisexuality being about specific preferences (in my case, only non-Caucasian when it comes to men), there was a lack of availability.

I never cared about straightness or fitting in, so I never thought much about it. Although looking back, throughout high school, I have always questioned my sexual orientation but always managed to dismiss it, not because I was ashamed of it but just because I didn’t have the emotional energy to contemplate about it - high school was tough for me. Some guys like to joke and flirt with one another which is a totally straight move. Of course, as a guy myself, I joined in the fun; I might have enjoyed it too much.

My realisation came from a party held in the middle of 2020 between the two lockdowns. The party was quite left-wing, so everybody was quite open about their sexuality. The host decided to ask about people’s sexual orientation in a casual conversation; that was the first time my sexual orientation was confronted. I said I was questioning because it was true, the only few times when I really thought about my sexual orientation when I was questioning it.

That night that question swilled in my mind, but one thing is for sure, I knew I was not straight! The very next day, I decided to do some research. First, I would say that I already have a wealth of knowledge about LGBTQIA+ issues. My year 12 health teacher was a lesbian, so we learnt about LGBTQIA+ issues as a module for my class a year before it was officially adopted in the curriculum. I also joined a rainbow club as an ally the following year of high school, as I admire their strength to stand against the status quo.

I don’t know why I went for omnisexual instead of pansexual (I just prefer it better), but one thing is for sure that the new label gave me a sense of pride and relief. I thought that coming out would be easy at first but I guess when you are an Asian, it is hard to find people that you relate to apart from that one guy from Grey’s Anatomy.

As time went on, I slowly started to open up to people but still had a lot of trouble expressing that I was not straight. What I have learned is that coming out is not a single point of time but a continuous journey

How many people did it take me to figure out my sexuality? (Anonymous)

Everyone has different coming out tales. Mine involves a bottle of vodka, an old friend, and a night out in town.

I was 20, half a bottle of vodka deep, and dancing at a club with one of my girl friends that I had known for a while. When another guy came up to both of us, got us another drink, and started dancing with us. He was cute, we were also cute - although I am bias, but damn I have a good ass.

It wasn’t until we all started making out that it dawned on me, that maybe a threesome was how this night was going to end? I pulled my friend aside, asked if that is what she wanted, we both agreed - we love consent - and ended up leaving the club. We found our new friend outside with his friend he had reconnected with during the night.

All four of us make it back to the hotel room where the guys were staying. Fast forward to more drinking and chatting, and there we all were, butt naked in some random hotel room in the city at it like a bunch of rabbits. It wasn’t until midway through this event that I started to realise something about myself, that maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t so straight after all.

I got confused, shot out of the room, and debriefed myself in the bathroom. Bisexuality is a weird and confusing time. Am I straight? Am I gay? What am I? I prepped myself to go back in and spoke to the guys and said “I’m so sorry, but I actually think I might be gay” to which one of the guys started crying, and the other dude was completely unfazed and turned on Netflix. My friend and I left quickly although I did leave behind a pair of fish net tights which I am still sad about.

The answer to the question “how many people did it take me to figure out my sexuality” - it was four. Men are great, but women, women are amazing, and group sex is a fun and interesting way to test the waters for both teams. Turns out, I am bisexual, this was just a very extreme and funny way to figure that out and gives me a funny story to tell during ‘never have I ever’.

TH E RANT

m eGs GeTs mA d: Pro N ou N s

Mad Uni Kid (studentee/Studentess)

I’ve talked to a few people around uni, and there seems to be a varying reaction around the use of pronouns when communicating (like in your emails). I’m sure you’ve all had emails from your lecturers talking something about an assignment then signing off with ‘he/they’ for example. I’ve talked to some students who feel damn strongly about both sides of the argument. Some wonder whether maybe the lecturers are forced to do it. Others say it is a compassionate thing to make everyone feel included and “does some good”. One of the main questions I’ve been getting is “What’s the point of doing it if you’re cis?”

To explain their question, there was a follow up: “Why does someone who is obviously a woman feel the need to mention ‘she/ her’?” Well, first of all, you just assumed their gender, congrats on oppressing them! Just because something may seem obvious to you doesn’t mean it’s true. What’s funny is that most people have no problem with it. Literally, most said, “No problem. Thanks for the heads up.” It’s just a select few that think it’s a new cult taking over the world. I’m more aligned with the former. It doesn’t hurt me to read those extra few words at the end of an email. It literally takes a second to do, and while most people may not care about it, it might make all the difference to one student - that makes it worth it. For some people, it

could be unsafe to disclose, and while that’s a shame, it highlights that this sort of thing should always be done in people's own time, not forced or expected.

The university is surprisingly and suddenly supportive of all this. It’s certainly taken a while! It seems that the woke culture of 2022 has finally registered and they now have a whole page on the UC website for gender and equity! They even have a 400 odd word guide on pronoun usage. They also offer templates on how to keep your ‘writing language free of bias’. Did anyone else know that was there? I certainly didn’t. They even gave references! One student had a classic response to this: “The uni is run like a corporate business.” The same student also questioned why no one felt it was necessary to include their pronouns until extremely recently. UC, why is that? I mean, Harvard University has been giving out pronoun stickers at orientation for a couple of years now! UC, are you just finally catching up with the times? Following the recent trends? Doing what gets you more money?

Who knows. Maybe the higher-ups at uni will see this and think about it, maybe they’ll see it and ignore it. Either way, I’ll see ya later.

FRESHER SELF Letter to my

Hi dweeb, I’m Ben from six years on. Oh, how little you know. The world’s in a pandemic (Covid-19) and you’re still at UC. At your 21st someone said “what can we say about Ben that he hasn’t already said about himself” – own this.

I still remember how your spine tensed up when Mum said she’d read that blue diary and knows all. How she asked how you knew for sure despite not creating a comfortable space to talk about any love life, even if it were hetero, God forbid. Value revealing deep queer conversations like gold because they’re rare in Christchurch, no matter how diverse the leaders insist this flat city is.

Those qualities you hate in yourself now are your strengths today. You’re smart, funny, ballsy, arrogant. Don’t get shy. Lean into it. Your star can only be dimmed by you.

Enjoy Ben Appetit while it lasts because soon, you’ll be giving those same UCSA vouchers out as prizes at the Foundry quiz instead of using them for eats yourself.

When Common Ground calls you out during the UCSA election just out yourself as the Juicy Memes admin and hang tight.

You don’t frequent the library much now but they’re my fondest memories from uni. Funny that. Oh, and wear brighter colours. Also, I’ve read so many Canta fresher letters...the Lotto numbers for Feburary 29th 2020 were 4 18 25 27 28 32 the bonus 37 and Powerball 3.

I love you; your power is truly limitless.

- Benny xoxo

Ben O’Connell (he/they)

iA Poem by Melody Lango

Strip off these tight fitted clothes And what is left is my physical identity; A Woman. A Black Woman.

Remove these bands that secure my hair And not even a slight breeze can move its roots; An Afro. A frizzy Afro.

Reach out and touch these hands They’ve cared, they’ve fixed, they've worked until they bleed. They are healers. Gentle healers.

Slide off these pair of Jandals. These feet have charged silently through many challenges. They are travelers. Steady travelers.

Listen to my voice. This tongue has spoken dreams into a reality, touched hearts, and calmed many storms. A conqueror. A bold conqueror.

Look into these eyes. They’ve seen pain and violence but also the best life can bring to one’s life. They are seekers. Curious seekers.

Wear that melanin cloak with pride Straighten your fierce crown. You are a Black Woman. A Gentle, Steady, Bold, Curious Black Woman.

Shannae Phelan (she/they)

Instagram: @shannaenicole

PSYCHED

WHAT if evryo N e HA d To come ouT?

Ella Gibson

(she/her)

One thing that I think a lot of heterosexual individuals don’t realise - including myself to some extent - is the privilege that they have of not having to come out. ‘Being in the closet’ and ‘closeted’ are colloquial terms that insinuate a state of incompletion and that one isn’t their so-called ‘true self’ until they reveal themselves to the world.

The human need for categorisation, declaration, and organisation of one’s sexual identity is typically expected in society. Humans have a tendency to label things, including sexualities, to make the world make sense in a world that most often has nothing of the sort. But why is it that individuals that sexually identify as ‘straight’ are exempt from this daunting and stressful process of coming out? In this episode of Psyched, we’re going to explore the hypothetical realm of imagining if everyone had to come out. As well as that, we’re going to deep dive into the what and why of coming out and the psychological stress that it can pose.

I was going to start this paragraph with a rhetorical question along the lines of ‘so, why are straight individuals exempted from coming out?’ But then it didn’t take me long at all to answer such question with the heteronormative society that we live in. Straight individuals have really been out here playing Sexuality Monopoly and have already passed ‘GO’ and received their 2 mil. That is all well and good if everyone was given their rightful 2 million of the bat, however, that is not the case.

Coming out is a monumental task. A lot of individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community are still faced with a mass amount of hostility and hardships with their identities. The subjection to anti-LGTBQIA+ behaviour and prejudice is still way too prevalent in 2022. Families, friends, religions and societies that hold homophobic beliefs are some of the many reasons why the closeted community exists. Homophobia, moral condemnations of homosexuality, and anti-LGBTQIA+ violence have no place in 2022. In the presumption that someone will not accept you if you come out, the choice of remaining closeted can persist without LGBTQIA+ normalisation in someone’s realm.

What are the consequences of both being closeted and coming out? Remaining closeted creates dissonance within the self. The constant constriction of one’s total identity in hiding one’s sexual identity creates dissociation in one’s psyche about who they actually are. Drescher in 1998 writes that “transparency, invisibility, losing one’s voice, and being stuck behind walls or other barriers” are some of the described experiences that closeted patients have experienced by being closeted. Closeted folk have to selectively ignore the parts of themself that are not accepted in a heteronormative society, psychologically speaking, that takes a huge mental toll.

Coming out also poses countless challenges, conversations with others and yourself, and conflicting feelings. Imagine if we all had to go through this ? It could be like another birthday or party where your sexuality is celebrated for all individuals no matter what sexuality. The more the straight community shows their LGBTQIA+ allyship, the less power that the potentially harmful consequences of being closeted and coming out have. Alright, that’s me for now, I may just be writing up a petition for a mandatory sexuality reveal for all as we speak…

FEEliNg lUCKy?

Apply For A lUCKy dip

oN oUr wEbSitE

DIP LUCKY DIP LUCKY

CANTA’s longest running segment! Each issue we set two people up on a blind date and they record their experiences.

Here are the uneditied results.

To be perfectly honest I was too much of a pussy to sign up for Lucky Dip myself, so I had to get my flatmate to hype me up and sign up for me. Oh well, can’t back out now, I guess. My one request was that I was absolutely sick of dating gross ass men, so wanted to take the chance to embrace my sexuality and go on my first ever date with a girl.

After spending half the afternoon spamming my mates on Snapchat over what to wear, I nervously stumbled out the door on my way to Rollickin. As I arrived, the nauseating anxiousness shot out as I questioned every decision that’d led to this point. But that didn’t last long, as shortly after this beautiful girl wandered in wearing a cute jacket that I wouldn’t mind borrowing once or twice. We introduced ourselves and swiftly went to grab dessert.

Once we sat down, conversation shockingly flowed amazingly. She came across as confident, yet I instantly was comfortable as my nerves more or less disappeared. Started with the standard small talk, talking about Uni and our issues with the law school and engineering. Then we got onto some of the things we love to do, and it was a huge green flag that she was willing to tolerate me talking her ear off about all the books I’ve been reading recently (y’all should read The Love Hypothesis).

dippEr oNE dippEr two

If there's three things I love, it's getting dressed up, meeting new people, and eating free food, so I’m pretty sure Lucky Dip was made for me. When I got the message asking me if I was free for a date the next evening I jumped at the opportunity. I’ve sort of given up on dating apps recently and haven’t been on a first date in a while, so it was interesting to not have to go through the process of finding someone I actually liked and trying to plan when and where to meet.

I put on a cute little outfit and some makeup, and left the house with what I thought was just enough time. Unfortunately, the fates were working against me, and I managed to hit just about every possible red light on my way there, making me 5 minutes late instead of 5 minutes early. Thank God for free parking after 6!

I ran into Rollickin, said hi to my friend who I completely forgot worked there, and went upstairs to meet my (very cute) date.

I really appreciated that we got to bond about our journeys with our sexualities, with surprisingly a lot, maybe too many, similarities between the two of us. It’s great to talk to someone who gets it.

After a couple hours we were both getting a bit tired so called it a night. Both of us said we were down to meet up again, either as friends or on a date. She asked for my number, and then we parted ways. I straight away kicked myself internally for not just saying I really wanted a second date, so if you’re reading this… surely!

Overall, I had a great time, and I’m so glad I went! My flatmate who’s helped me write this has already heard me rant for ages about it as soon as I got home so definitely no regrets. Proof is in the pudding, dates with women are definitely better than dates with guys.

We awkwardly introduced ourselves, ordered our desserts, and got to talking. After getting through the initial nervousness, I felt like our conversation flowed really easily. She’s an ex-law student so we bitched about law for a bit, as well as the general Covid situation and dating men, and we bonded over both being childhood bookworms and spent a while talking about books. It felt like we had quite a bit in common and I found it so easy to talk to her. I barely registered two and a half hours go by!

Finally I had to say goodbye since I had to work early the next morning. We said our farewells and I must have not completely embarrassed myself since she was willing to give me her number. I can’t say for sure if our connection was necessarily a romantic one, but I definitely think she’s a lovely person that I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. We still had a little bit of money left on our gift card, so maybe we’ll go back to Rollickin for a coffee sometime!

PUZZLES sudoku

Te reo & NZs L

HOMOSCOPES.

Aries is already one of the most powerful signs, but March’s dominant Aries Sun encourages you to really unleash your fiery side. Strive to align your reputational desires with how you’re serving the greater good.

ARIES TAURUS

So, you know that thing you’ve always wanted to learn? That hobby you always wanted to try out?

Me typing this right now is your sign (besides your sign itself being Taurus) telling you to do it. If it’s April 1st and you’ve not done your Google deep-dive or embarked on that project, ask yourself, why?

Often characterised as a misunderstood sign, give yourself a pat on the back this month, Gemini. Far too often do we not get credit for overcoming emotionally difficult situations – this month do just that. Teach others what you’ve learnt. Throw yourself a ‘go me’ party.

Change is inevitable. Always allow yourself room to change. Further, give your loved one’s space to unravel and reveal themselves in perhaps unexpected ways. Treat yourself like you would a friend if they needed your help. Forgive yourself as you change too.

You’re the generic leader star sign and yet Leo energy is typically underpinned by a fear of vulnerability. Avoid downplaying your emotions and deepen your relationships by deepening the bond you have with yourself. In less cheesy words, send that risky text.

The world is gay as heck. Gayer than you think. Gayer than we could imagine even (much like reality, see Sagittarius). Your horoscope for this month is to align what feels good with what’s good for you, but I’ll use the word count to say horoscopes are so gay. I love them.

March signifies an imbalance for Libra, as Pluto causes a passive attitude to take over. Enjoy daydreaming but don’t get too tied up in wishful thinking. Don’t be so hard on yourself but also remember that your dreams will remain just that if you don’t put them into action.

This month’s Scorpio Moon signals intense passion, impulsivity, and let’s be frank, sex. The waning crescent moon of March’s final week signifies maturity and growth though, so expect to learn from any chaotic escapades before April Fool’s Day.

What is your communication style? How does it help and hinder you? How does the way you communicate impact your understanding of the world around you? Remember that reality is not only weirder than we think, but weirder than we could ever imagine.

You cannot do it all on your own. Not one planet is in retrograde for you in March, encouraging you to act independently and cultivate inner strength. Capricorn is known as a hard-working sign; this month ensure your energy goes towards what actually matters.

March begins with the conjunction of Venus and Mars at zero degrees of Aquarius. These two planets have come to symbolise reconciliation. As a typically loving star sign, this might be an uncomfortable yet revealing time for Aquarius.

This month, Jupiter and Mercury cross paths in Pisces. Children born during this time are said to be inquisitive natural learners and teachers. Pisces should embrace lessons from unexpected sources and maintain an open mind.

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