During

Ka puta he āniwaniwa ki ngā kapua korona

Rainbow shows through Covid clouds

 

“There were still pockets of sun shining through the clouds of lockdown,” says co-chair of the University’s Rainbow network, AUSA Queer Rights Officer Victoria Hawthorne.

Dr Terry O’Neill (left) and Victoria Hawthorne (right)

A Rainbow Voice

Otherwise known as the LGBTITakatāpui+ Staff and Students’ Network, this group offers social connection, advocacy and opportunities for a Rainbow voice in University decision-making.

Through the year, Victoria saw increased engagement between LGBTQITakatāpui+ staff and students: “A highlight for myself was seeing the large number of student and staff volunteers at the Big Gay Out representing the University of Auckland!”

Connecting despite the year’s hurdles

While Victoria had hoped 2020 would be a year for connecting LGBTQITakatāpui+ students and faculty-based Rainbow groups, Covid-19 made in-person connections virtually impossible.

“Zoom was an absolute lifesaver,” Victoria says. “Meetings were more frequent and much more entertaining – and were able to include more students than before, while working around lectures.

“The creation of a Queer Student Council, encompassing various faculty-based and university-wide LGBTQITakatāpui+ representatives, marks an important milestone for advocacy and equity on campus. Furthermore, the creation of a National Students’ Rainbow Committee has allowed for connections to the Rainbow community across many tertiary institutions.”

Solutions to new challenges

Unfortunately, the pandemic has made it more difficult for the Rainbow network to maintain the usual levels of activity this year, says fellow network co-chair, Dr Terry O’Neill, Director Student Equity Manutaki Tōkeke Tauira.

“Despite this, some of our key shared objectives have been able to be progressed,” Terry says. “Importantly, by September 12, trans and gender-diverse students had already received legal name-change funding this year from the University. This highly successful programme has now supported almost 60 students since its inception in 2015.

”From the outset of the first lockdown it became clear that campus closures, online learning, and working from home, presented new challenges for many Rainbow students and staff.

“Loss of social contact and distance from important social networks have resulted in some of our Rainbow community living in isolation, living in difficult accommodation or study arrangements, having limited or no access to devices or internet access, financial hardship, being separated from people they love and care about and, potentially, having to manage risks to personal safety.”

Helping to provide specific support

As part of the broader University response, the Equity Office Te Ara Tautika developed specific Covid-19 support advice for Rainbow people,” Terry says.

“For network members, 2020 is showing that Rainbow community members can often rely on individual and community networks – and their own lived experience – to draw on resources of resilience and adaptability,” Terry says.

“The Network is – and will remain – a crucial conduit for student and staff Rainbow issues and voices, and as a means to engage with and influence decision-making at the University. Indeed, it is now more important than ever,” he says.

Looking ahead

A new AUSA queer rights officer has been elected, Lavi Abitbol, who pledges to continue Victoria’s mahi in 2021. 

The Network is – and will remain – a crucial conduit for student and staff Rainbow issues and voices, and as a means to engage with and influence decision-making at the University.

Dr Terry O’Neill

Director Student Equity 
Manutaki Tōkeke Tauira

In 2020, around 2800 students identified as LGBTQITakatāpui+, of whom 240 belong to the Rainbow Network.

If you would like to find out more, visit our website, or you can email equity@auckland.ac.nz 

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