Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local rainbow community

Rainbow heart. Our sexual and gender identity goes to the heart of who we are as people. Some of us – especially younger people – can at times find it hard figuring out how we identify.

No one really knows yet what determines a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Some people find it easy to accept, and be accepted for, who they are. Others can find it more of a struggle, especially if our whānau and friends don’t support us.

Feeling comfortable and confident about our sexual and gender identity is crucial to good health and wellbeing. Identifying as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexed and Asexual) may make you more prone to being labelled, made fun of or abused. It’s a sad fact that people who seem to be different to the ‘norm’ often face discrimination and bullying.

Some resources are available to explore issues around gender and sexual identity as well as support services.

Community and Public Health assists the LGBTQIA+ community by:

being part of the Pink Health Ōtautahi project; and
supporting the Pride Committee.

Get an overview on gender identity (HealthInfo).
View The Pink Pages online – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex and Transgender Directory of Queer and Queer-Friendly Services in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
Here We Are is a podcast series on living as a trans, gender diverse or non-binary person in Aotearoa (RNZ).

First ever nationwide funding of mental health services for Rainbow young people

Beehive media release: 14th February 2021

The Government will provide targeted nationwide funding to services that provide mental health support to Rainbow young people for the first time, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.

The announcement fulfils an election commitment to allocate $4 million specifically targeted to Rainbow mental wellbeing initiatives aimed at young people. There has not previously been ongoing and nationwide targeted support to organisations operating in this area.

“The Government is committed to improving mental health outcomes for children and young people in our Rainbow communities,” Jacinda Ardern said.

“Young people in the Rainbow community are at greater risk of being discriminated against, bullied and harassed. As a result they have poorer physical and mental health and addiction outcomes and are at greater risk of suicide. We need to change that.

$3.2 million of the package will fund expansion of mental wellbeing services focussing on young Rainbow New Zealanders.
The remainder of the package will be allocated to topping up the existing Rainbow Wellbeing Legacy Fund. The Fund was established as an acknowledgement of those New Zealanders who were convicted for homosexual acts before the law was changed in 1986.

Find out more about the increased funding for mental health services for Rainbow young people.

All Right?: Taking pride in who we are

Research from the All Right? campaign in early 2020 found that the Christchurch rainbow community is optimistic overall and many things are getting better. However many LGBTQIA+ people still face significant obstacles to their wellbeing.

The rainbow community contributes so much to our city – injecting vibrancy, excitement and compassion. Unfortunately, discrimination, bullying, privacy violations and things as simple as incorrect assumptions are holding us back, and our city is poorer for it.

“The LGBTQIA+ communities contribute so much to our community, and needs to be celebrated, not just tolerated” says All Right? manager Sue Turner.

The More than All Right? campaign is designed to celebrate and give greater visibility to our local rainbow community. It shines the light on local members of our rainbow community from all walks of life.