Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local rainbow community

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.

Resources and support services are available to help you explore issues around gender and sexual identity.

Te Mana Ora | Community and Public Health assists the LGBTQIA+ community by supporting the Pride Committee.

• Get an overview on gender identity (HealthInfo).
• Here We Are is a podcast series on living as a trans, gender diverse or non-binary person in Aotearoa (RNZ).
• Trans 101: Glossary of Trans Words and How to Use Them (Gender Minorities Aotearoa).

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 More than All Right? campaign was 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.

• Find out more about the All Right? research on the LGBTQIA+ community in Christchurch.
• Download or order posters from the More than All Right campaign.

Documents

Research reports on human rights, wellbeing and health

• Free to exist: Documenting participation data on LGBTIQA+ young people in sport and physical activity (Swinburne Sport Innovation Research Group Australia 2024).
• Warming the whare for trans people and whānau in perinatal care (Otago Polytechnic 2023).
• Identify Survey: Community and Advocacy Report (Universities of Auckland and Waikato 2022).
• Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport (Sport NZ 2022).
• Youth’19: Brief on Rainbow Young People with a disability or chronic condition (University of Auckland 2021).
• Youth’19: Brief on Pacific Rainbow Young People (University of Auckland 2021).
• Youth’19: Brief on Rainbow Rangatahi Māori (University of Auckland 2021).

• Youth’19: Brief on Same- and Multiple-Sex Attracted Students (University of Auckland 2021).
• Youth’19: Brief on Transgender and Gender Diverse Students (University of Auckland 2021).
• PRISM: Human Rights issues relating to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Aotearoa New Zealand – A report with recommendations (NZ Human Right Commission 2020).
• Wellbeing and Mental Health among Rainbow New Zealanders (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
• Counting Ourselves: The health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa New Zealand (University of Waikato 2019).
• Wellbeing in the Ōtautahi LGBTQIA+ community (All Right? 2018).

Support materials for parents and schools

• Your child is a taonga: Support guide for parents and whānau of intersex rangatahi (Intersex Aotearoa).
• Relationships and sexuality resources for schools and kura (Ministry of Education’s Health and Physical Education Online).
• How to get it right when our kids ‘come out’ or identify as another gender (All Right? and Bounce).
• Ways to help young people deal with questions about their sexual or gender identity (The LowDown).

• Let’s Talk: A Resource Guide for Parents (OUTline).
• Creating Rainbow-Inclusive School Policies and Procedures (InsideOut).
• Ending Rainbow-Focused Bullying and Discrimination (InsideOut).
• Making schools safer for Trans and Gender Diverse Youth (Inside Out).
• Simple changes supporting gender diverse students (Health Promoting Schools magazine).
• Ministry of Education guidelines and resources.
• Families in TRANSition: A Resource Guide for Parents of Trans Youth (Central Toronto Youth Services – Canada).

Downloads

Order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.

• LGBTQIA+ Youth Support (Community and Public Health).
• Takatāpui: Part of the whānau (Mental Health Foundation).

Links

• Gender Minorities Aotearoa.
• Rainbow Youth.
• Gay NZ (Facebook).
• Rainbow Path – connecting LGBTQIA+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Aotearoa NZ.
• Adhikaar Aotearoa – supporting LGBTQIA+ people of colour, particularly South Asians.
• Be There.
• Inside Out.
• NZ Human Rights Commission.
• Rainbow Rights in Aotearoa.
• Transgender Health Care (Te Whatu Ora).
• Diverse Church NZ – for rainbow people of Christian faith.