Data helps Rainbow youth be seen and supported
When Rainbow communities are visible, they can represent themselves. That is why InsideOUT and Zeal Wellington use data to connect Rainbow youth with their communities.
Data helps Rainbow youth be seen and supported
When Rainbow communities are visible, they can represent themselves. That is why InsideOUT and Zeal Wellington use data to connect Rainbow youth with their communities.
When Rainbow communities are visible, they can represent themselves
Trans and gender diverse people often experience disconnection from their whānau and loved ones. Lots of young people mention they are couch surfing or not welcome at home.
That is why Neo Kenny from InsideOUT and Euan Graham from Zeal Wellington use data to connect Rainbow youth with their communities, in a supportive space where they can be their full selves. It is all about making space for shared experiences, where there is a family feeling outside of their own homes.
For the first time, the 2023 Census will ask questions about things like sexuality, gender, and variations of sex characteristics. This will help Rainbow communities feel seen and heard, and will help Rainbow support services like Zeal Wellington and InsideOUT reach the right people.
[Visual: Two young people, Fox and Abi, walk across the Cuba Street rainbow pedestrian crossing]
[Visual: Neo Kenny in an office, smiling with arms folded. The Trans Flag, Lesbian Pride Flag, and Rainbow Flag hang behind them.]
Neo Kenny: Quite often, trans and gender diverse people have really high representation in being disconnected from their whānau or loved ones or family.
[Onscreen text: Neo Kenny, InsideOUT Kōaro]
[Visual: Neo sits behind their desk, talking.]
So we know from the Counting Ourselves survey, lots of young people mentioning that they are just couch surfing with friends, or not welcome at home.
[Visual: Fox and Abi stand on the Cuba Street rainbow pedestrian crossing.]
Seeing that you're not the only one shows you that you're not alone. That you are just another human in a beautiful wide range of human experiences.
[Visuals: Euan Graham working at a desk, and speaking while seated on a couch.]
[Onscreen text: Euan Graham, Street Youth Work Manager, Zeal Wellington]
Euan Graham: New data that's available highlighted how many young people identify as gender diverse, or of Rainbow sexualities and identities. So we knew that we were missing people.
[Visual: Abi walks into Euan's office. They fist-bump.]
We wanted to create an environment where queer young people could come in and and not feel like the odd ones out. And InsideOUT were really helpful at helping us navigate that.
[Visual: Fox and Abi in the Zeal Wellington space. Fox plays a ukulele.]
[Visual: Fox and Abi on a couch, being interviewed.]
[Onscreen text: Fox & Abi, Rainbow Hangs @ Zeal Wellington]
Abi: Sometimes we don't have that, support in schools, or just, like, I don't know - in general.
Fox: It feels amazing to be connected with other queer people your age.
[Visual: Fox and Abi hug on the rainbow pedestrian crossing.]
Fox: It's a real specific joy. And to know and be connected with older queer people - it's like, they're your family in your community, and they know what you're going through and they'll be there. You know?
[Visual: Neo speaking in the office.]
Neo: In the 2023 Census, for the first time, we're going to be asked about things like sexuality, gender, and sex characteristics. So it's going to be really wonderful to fill that out and feel able to share your full self.
The more data we have about our Rainbow communities, the more positive change we can make.
[Onscreen text: Your census information can help your community.]
The more data we have about our communities, the more positive change we can make.
Neo Kenny
InsideOUT
