QA Campus Launch

The details of our launch event have been confirmed!

The first annual Queer Alliance Charity Soccer Match
Queer Alliance vs Student Life
University of Canterbury, Soccer field next to the Recreation Centre (Kirkwood Avenue)
Wednesday the 28th of September at 12:30-1:30

There will be a saussage sizzle and hopefully white bands for sale.
All money raised will go to Make Poverty History.

It'll be a fun and hopefully annual event which will bring two different groups together, promote being queer, raise money for charity and let people know about the network.

Get in contact if you would like to help out on the day.

Political forum on issues relevant to the rainbow community

Group Type: non QA affiliatted comunity events
When/Where: 7.30 pm Wednesday 31st August 2005. Knox Church Centre 28 Bealey Avenue
Open to: Everyone

Forum - "Political party views on human rights & social justice for the rainbow community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & fa'afafine people."
Particular reference will be paid to party policy and views on the Prostitution Reform Act, the Civil Union Act, Georgina Beyer's Gender Identity Bill and health funding for hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery for transgender people.

Each party will have six minutes to present their policies. Questions and discussion will follow after all have made their presentations. The order of presentations will be determined randomly. The media are being invited and wide publicity is being given to the forum. Knox Centre will be open from 7 pm onwards. There will be displays by the political parties in the lounge. Nibbles, coffee and tea will be provided.
The Forum will start promptly at 7.30 pm and be followed by supper at 9 pm.

The Knox church is queer friendly and holds regular discussions on liberal theology. It will be a good environment and a safe space to voice your opinion or ask questions of MPs regarding queer issues. Be aware though that the media have been invited. I intend to go, email me if you are interested.

What is the Queer Alliance?

What is the Queer-friendly Alliance?
Queer-friendly Alliance (QA) is an organisation which tries to make it easier for people to find and take part in queer-friendly groups and events. We believe that there are many groups in Canterbury that are openly queer-friendly, but unfortunately it can be very difficult to identify them. We try to solve that problem. We also work collaboratively to help create a community that is fully inclusive of people who identify as queer.

What do you mean by ‘queer’ and ‘queer-friendly’?

Queer
We use 'queer' as an umbrella term for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual (LGBT). Though debate remains in LGBT communities over the use of this word we believe that it is an inclusive and positive term. It also fits well with the aims and purpose of our organisation.

Queer-friendly
We define 'queer-friendly' as "openly accepting of people who identify as gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, intersex or transgender". This does not mean that non-heterosexual identities are quietly tolerated within affiliated organisations; it means that they are welcomed. In turn, it does not mean that groups affiliated with us must cater exclusively for queer people. Currently less that a third of the groups involved have a queer focus. Building an inclusive community is something which involves and is of benefit to everyone.

What are the Queer-friendly Alliance’s aims?

· To make queer-inclusive spaces visible.

· To actively help to build a community which fully includes people who identify as queer.

How will the Queer-friendly Alliance realise those aims?

Aim One – we will make inclusive spaces visible by:

· Identifying and promoting queer-friendly groups and events.

· Maintaining an online resource through which people can find information about queer-friendly groups and events.

Aim Two – we will actively help to build a community which fully includes people who identify as queer by:

· Making queer identities and issues visible by being active in the community.

· Supporting groups and individuals that share our vision.

· Bringing together and coordinating queer-friendly groups in the community.

· Opening a dialogue with parts of the community that are not queer-friendly

So how does it all work?

QA operates in two ways:

As a service provider.
In terms of service provision, QA operates almost exclusively out of the website (http://queeralliance.blogspot.com). The website contains a ‘gig guide’ of queer-friendly events happening in the community and a directory of queer-friendly organisations affiliated with QA. This service allows those who are looking for queer-friendly groups and events to easily find information about them, as well as easily promoting those groups and events on behalf of the organisers. Affiliated groups send information about themselves or upcoming events to our coordinator who then puts that information online. It is a tool for open-minded people, queer or not, who are looking for groups which make a point of trying to be inclusive and free of discrimination.

As an Advocate/Organiser/Facilitator.
This side of QA’s operation is currently in development. When in operation we will serve as a visible body of support for queer identities and rights. In particular we will support the right to full participation in events and organisations irrespective of one's sexuality. We will participate in community events and work closely with other like-minded groups. The emphasis here is on visibility. We want people (both non-queer and queer) to be aware that there are many diverse groups that support and embrace queer identities, that those groups are working together for the benefit of the entire community, that being queer is not abnormal and most importantly that discrimination is unacceptable.

We will be holding community-building events. For example, in 2005 we established the annual “Queer-friendly Alliance Charity Soccer Match" at the University Canterbury. Each year members of QA affiliated groups form a team and challenge a conservative club on campus to a friendly game of soccer. This event was an opportunity to be visible on campus, celebrate diversity and bring together two different groups all while raising money for charity. The emphasis of the game is fun and community, not conflict. 2005’s game was played against Student Life (an international conservative Christian organisation which has a branch at UC) and raised $170 for Make Poverty History.

Last updated 5/9/06