Why I’m Sweating with Pride

I’m taking on Sweat with Pride this June! 💦🌈

My journey as a pansexual woman has been relatively easy. From the very beginning, I’ve had incredible support from my family and friends, and I don’t take that for granted.

In general life though I am aware that I make calculations about how I show up—whether I say “wife,” “girlfriend,” “partner,” or even “husband”—depending on the situation and whether I feel safe. I’ve also had plenty of moments where people are surprised and tell me “you don’t look gay,” which says a lot in itself.

When it comes to healthcare, I’ve generally felt safe—I’m a biological woman who identifies as a woman—but I’ve still seen the tip of the iceberg. After the birth of our first child, my ex-wife and I had a health practitioner who refused to recognise her role in feeding our baby, and wouldn’t support us to create a safe, suitable plan. It was frustrating, invalidating, and a reminder that even in important, vulnerable moments, not everyone is treated equally.

And I know—truly—that my experiences are minimal compared to what many in the LGBTQIA+ community face every day.

Right now, schools, workplaces, and even doctors’ offices aren’t safe for many in our community—and it’s putting lives at risk. LGBTQIA+ Kiwis face higher rates of mental illness and suicide.

So, I’m fighting discrimination with perspiration—exercising 21 minutes every day in June to raise money for life-changing Rainbow support services. This might not seem a lot for you sporty people out there, but this gal been lazy!! 

If you’re able to donate, I would be so incredibly grateful. But even more importantly be inclusive, think about the words you use, fight inequality and don’t judge someone because they are different from you.