Why I’m Sweating with Pride

I'm taking on Sweat with Pride this June! 

When I came out, I experienced discrimination at school, verbal aggression on the street and saw peers being thrown out of home and being left vulnerable. My peer group was at the end of the HIV epidemic - I witnessed the stigmatisation and long-term health issues HIV positive people faced. This lead me to set up a Rainbow Youth chapter in Wellington, work at The Burnett Foundation and as a Queer Youth Clinician at Altered High (addictions service) and publish and present on HIV and queer youth health.

Today LGBTQIA+ people face higher rates of mental illness and suicide, homelessness, barriers to getting jobs, pay equity and discrimination when accessing health services. 

As an adult, I have experienced lower clinical care once I came out to hospital staff, have been asked to take pregnancy tests 'just in case you may be pregnant...' multiple times and have feared that coming out may reduce my opportunities.

I have supported my partner over the last four years through gender affirmation procedures, and I can see that with the support of trained doctors and nurses how trans people can have great outcomes. But this should not be down to your post code or income. Gender affirming care should be a human right for all trans people.

Sonia was also forcibly removed from a burger chain restaurant for kissing a girl and then took them to court...but that is a story is for another day.

So, I'm fighting discrimination with perspiration—exercising 21 minutes every day in June to raise money for life-changing Rainbow support services.

This cause means the world to me, and I’d be grateful; if you could chip in to help me reach my goal. Every dollar makes a difference.

Thank you so much for your support! ❤️