Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start!
Jason Collins – first openly gay athlete in U.S. pro sports.
It has been definitely difficult celebrating Pride Week, with Covid looming it’s ugly head and so many events being cancelled. So, with that in mind, how can we celebrate this fantastic time?
Well, the good news is there is still some events happening that are free to join, and a list of fantastic ideas to participate!
Pride Events in Christchurch
Queer Picnic!!
Feel like joining a picnic and meeting other beautiful people? Why not attend the Christchurch Queer Picnic event, happening this Sunday 27th March from 12:00 – 15:00!
It is a BYO picnic fundraiser ( no alcohol allowed) that has a bunch of music, games and activities. Lunar Park Photography is also providing free photoshoots, with copies available to purchase.
Meet at the Museum Entrance, Botanical Gardens!
Click the link to learn more: Christchurch Pride Queer Picnic!
Colour of Pride – Group Exhibition
Form Gallery is holding a brilliant group show in conjunction with Christchurch Pride week throughout March. These colourful artworks feature a variety of glass and ceramic works by: John Parker, Katie Gold, Chris Jones, Dominic Burrell, Lukeke Design and Graeme Hitchcock! Come and have a look at their gorgeous creations!
Click the link to learn more: Colour of Pride Exhibition
To keep up to date with future events, follow Christchurch Pride!
Christchurch Pride on Facebook.
Ideas for individuals celebrating pride
- Read a LGBTQIA+ book
If you want to celebrate as an individual, why not take a moment to sit back and relax with a great read?
Christchurch City Libraries has a great list of LGBTQIA+ reads that are available to borrow! Click the links below to have a look:
Some other authors to keep an eye out for are:
- Hilton Als (start with the superb read ‘White Girls’)
- Wayne Koestenbaum (‘My 1980s’ is a brilliant collection of essays)
- Robyn Selman (‘exodus’ is an emotional read)
2. Read books on how to be inclusive in the workplace
There is some fantastic reads about inclusion and diversity within the workplace on Primo and in ARA library!
Take a look:
The inclusion breakthrough unleashing the real power of diversity
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Dummies
Erasing institutional bias : how to create systemic change for organizational inclusion
Unbias : dismantling unconscious bias at work
If you would like a particular item, or more focused reading pop in to see the librarian staff or find us digitally here:
- Email: library@ara.ac.nz
- Live chat: AskLive
- Virtual face-to-face support: Zoom a Librarian
3. Learn more about pride
If you are keen on celebrating, but don’t know much about the pride movement, why not take some time to learn more about it? Try and get a good understanding about the reasons behind it, how it came to be and why it matters. Even if you have been supporting and celebrating Pride for years, there is always something new to learn!
You could also learn about the challenges the LGBTQIA+ community face. Have a read about the 1969 Stonewall riots and the story behind it; or look at LGBTQIA+ in Aotearoa.
4. Donate or Volunteer to Causes
You don’t have to appear in every event and parade to show your support. You can also lend your support by volunteering your time or donating to events, gay rights movements and other active communities across Christchurch.
Christchurch Pride and other groups such as RainbowYouth create fundraisers and events that need volunteering and donations to support them. You might be able to volunteer your time or knowledge, or give a monthly or one-off donation that helps support LGBTQIA and issues that affect the communities.
5. Host a Pride themed bake-off/cook-off
Bake-offs and cook-offs are a super fun way to celebrating Pride – especially for foodies!
Pick a selection of baking and cookbooks that have been authored by LGBTQIA+ creators and choose a recipes to recreate. Challenge whānau and friends to do the same – then get together and decide who cooked it best!
6. Buy from the LGBTQIA+ community
If you can’t make any Pride events, or ae unable to volunteer, buying from artists/creators in the LGBTQIA+ community is a fantastic way to show your care and support. Buy a T-shirt, print, or something else from a queer artist whose work you have fallen in love with. If you can’t do that now, make a point to follow 10 new-to-you queer artists this month.
Other ways you can support them, is to share their social media pages and websites. That way, your friends and whānau can find something new and the artist/creators get new followers etc. A win win for everybody!
7. Make a new friend
Make a new queer friend, either in person or online. Check out out Pride Pen Pals and Sage Table to help get started.
8. create a Pride music list
Create or follow a Pride playlist and blast to your heart’s content (while respecting flatmates, neighbours and fellow students of course).
Some suggestions:
Orville Peck, Shamir, Young MA, Elton John, t.A. T.u., Hayley Kiyoko, Ricky Martin, Arca, Johnny Mathis, Kim Petras, Rufus Wainwright, Christine and the Queens, Le1f, Big Freedia, Antony, Mykki Blanco. Arthur Russell and Syd.
If you want to simply listen, check out the music lists below:
9. Make a zine
This guide by Sarah Luby Burke ‘ Make a zine‘ is a great way to start your Zine collection and obsession! Use it to tell about your own experiences, someone else’s, or some other connection to LGBTQIA+….or simply create what you want for fun! If you love it a bunch, you can submit a copy to the Christchurch City Libraries’ Zine collection.
10. Show your pride support through gaming
If you are an ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ player, you can bring Pride to your island – there is tons of codes for custom Pride clothes and other great ideas on Reddit! Also keep an eye out for Roblox pride flags and codes, Minecraft, Fortnite, Sims Social, Apex Legends and Overwatch codes/other specialty items online and within the Reddit community.
11. Watch themed Ted Talks in support of LGBTQIA+ speakers
Ted Talks have produced some fantastic videos on inclusivity, as well as personal stories and experiences.
The playlist ‘Love is love’ is a great starting point, and share personal talks and stories of love and commitment in the LGBTQ community.
12. Change your zoom background
Change your zoom background to show your support! Find your own image or use the one below to spice up your zoom calls.
‘How to set up a virtual background‘ will get you all set up!
13: Finally; Do something that you consider queer every single day
Wear a pin representing LGBTQIA+ or your current role models, dance to an LGBTQIA+ song, write a poem like “Exodus” or a creative story write whatever you want, gaze at the moon, defy the gender binary in one small way (even just a hairclip), tell your fellow queers how much they mean to you, or do something especially for yourself. Share what you have learned, or find other unique ways to support the LGBTQIA+ community. Whatever meaning you find in queerness, it means a lot to all of the queer community too.
Now go forth and conquer for all of us, you fantastic being!
Ara Library Blog 