When I was younger, before I knew I was a trans woman, I used to wish I was a gay man. In high school I had seen the way the gay guys were surrounded by a gaggle of girl friends and I wanted in. At first I thought it was because I was attracted to the girls, that's why I wanted to be around them, but as I grew older and discovered certain things about myself I began to realise that what I really wanted was just to be part of their group. I felt like I needed an invitation into girlhood.
Last year, I found myself on a drive with a gaggle of my own gal pals. Speeding down the coast, playing Taylor Swift on the radio as loud as it could go and singing their blessed hearts out, I realised that was it. I'd never needed an invitation, I was already there.
This year's Queerlient is centred around that feeling: Invitation. I want to welcome you, the reader, into the intimate. With a focus on lesser-known aspects of queer life, history, and personal interests, I hope this issue can open a door, or at the very least offer a peek through the curtain, to the smaller worlds of queer existence that you wouldn't normally get to see from the outside.
And while I’m normally not a big Swiftie, even I found something special on that car ride. So with luck you’ll find something new and unexpected to love here too.
UniQ President Khai tells us how they learned to embrace their queerness even when it was frightening, while Basil invites you to understand the place takatāpui identities hold in our culture. We have dives into queer history, local and international, and invitations of all sorts to a better understanding of the myriad experiences our people have to offer.
However, please understand that Queerlient can only show so much. It's a tiny glimpse of a broad and diverse community and even a dedicated student magazine can never fully represent us.
This is a snapshot of other worlds, so know that these worlds are separate. Queer worlds are forever detached from the mainstream, and while you don't always need an invitation, these are spaces we have fought to build for ourselves and we will fight to keep them.
So please enjoy this sneaky peek into our space. Stay a while if you like, we’ve got room to spare.
Goose (she/they)