Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
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wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
@wellingtonpride.bsky.social
150 followers 28 following 190 posts
Wellington Pride Festival is the longest-running annual Pride celebration in Aotearoa.

The 2026 Festival is happening 6 - 22 March.

https://www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/
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wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Hey it's our last newsletter for 2025! Probably!

In this edition:

🥂Pride Holiday Drinks on Monday 15 December at the Green Man Pub
🎤 Applications open for WPF 2026 events
🛍️ And for stallholders at Out in the City 2026
🎁 Perfect presents for practically all the people

mailchi.mp/3eeaff7f1eb3...
a white mailbox opens to reveal magical rainbow smoke, and the following words Newsletter #9 out now - Pride Holiday Drinks on Monday 15 December - Applications open for WPF 2026 events - And for stallholders at Out in the City 2026 - Perfect presents for practically all the people along with a WPF logo
December 4, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
Support this open letter written by trans and takatāpui rangatahi: "To be transgender or takatāpui is a taonga. To deny our young people access to life-saving medication on the basis of an imported culture war is cruel and abhorrent."

our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/re...
Reverse the decision to deny transgender and takatāpui young people access to puberty blockers
Dear Minister Simeon Brown We write to you as transgender and takatāpui young people of Aotearoa New Zealand to ask you to reconsider your decision to ban the use of puberty blockers (gonadotropin-re...
our.actionstation.org.nz
December 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
kellywhyte.bsky.social
If you have a few spare bucks to support PATHA's legal action and the people affected by it, you can do so here: patha.nz/donate
December 1, 2025 at 12:09 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Want to be a stallholder at Out in the City 2026? Applications are open now for you to join our all-day family friendly fair! www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/events/out-i...
Wellington Pride Festival
Be part of our all-day family friendly fair event with stalls, stage performances, delicious food and drink and a jam-packed day of LGBTTQIA+ celebration and vibes.
www.wellingtonpridefestival.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
For context, these were due to be published in March 2025. The NZ govt prevented their publication because they intended to ban puberty blockers and the guidelines show they are safe, effective, and standard care internationally. Today they were released in an OIA putting them in the public domain.
jennifilm.nz Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 9d
In some good news, today PATHA has finally been able to release the 2025 Guidelines for Gender Affirming Care in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read them here: patha.nz/resources-an...
Clinical Guidelines | Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa Inc. (PATHA)
patha.nz
November 28, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
In some good news, today PATHA has finally been able to release the 2025 Guidelines for Gender Affirming Care in Aotearoa New Zealand. You can read them here: patha.nz/resources-an...
Clinical Guidelines | Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa Inc. (PATHA)
patha.nz
November 28, 2025 at 5:21 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
On Friday, we had the absolute pleasure of giving a preview of Wellington Pride Festival 2026 to a range of community members, sponsors, politcians, artists, collaborators & others.

There's a ton of thank yous and pics on our website www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/news-1/a-par...
Wellington Pride Festival
On Friday night, we had the absolute pleasure of giving a preview of Wellington Pride Festival 2026 to a wide range of community members, sponsors, politcians, artists, collaborators and other allies....
www.wellingtonpridefestival.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
I spoke to Midday Report at RNZ - you can listen to the interview here: www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
Government blocks puberty blockers for new patients
The coalition government has announced a ban on new patients accessing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues - also known as puberty blockers - from next month. Professional Association for Transge...
www.rnz.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
"Inclusion is never a neutral choice. It is always a statement. It signals who we value, who we protect, and who we celebrate."

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3608...
The power of inclusiveness, and how the Breakers have got it wrong
OPINION: If players cannot wear the pride insignia because of personal beliefs, the principle is clear: they should sit out rather than undermine the visibility and dignity of LGBTQIA+ communities.
www.thepost.co.nz
November 20, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
runningwhio.bsky.social
Puberty blockers save young lives. This govt is literally admitting it's about anti-"woke" (their word) ideology. Which is why cis kids can still access them!

I'm begging you to take 3 min to write your MP, write to Labour MPs 🙏

Our dead kid rate is high enough tbh

www.1news.co.nz/2025/11/19/g...
NZ First Casey Costello said quote the move was a promise kept and a win in the battle in the war on woke End quote
November 19, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Our most vulnerable young people are endangered by this Government's decision to restrict access to puberty blockers.

Wellington Pride Festival condemns this latest attack on the rainbow community by NZ First. We urge the Ministry of Health to listen to actual medical experts instead.
text in post
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
jennifilm.nz
E hoa mā, the Gender Agenda is a real excellent web series from Aotearoa for and about trans people, and the season 2 premiere has just landed! Keep an eye out later this season for a familiar face 👀 youtu.be/t9rlYnNmieE?...
How To Transition: Am I doing it right? | Episode 1 | The Gender Agenda S2 🌈 ⚧
YouTube video by The Gender Agenda
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 8:20 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Hey see y'all at 7pm tonight to discuss? Yay!
wellingtonpride.bsky.social Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara @wellingtonpride.bsky.social · 27d
Thinking about creating an event for Wellington Pride Festival 2026, but got some questions?

This online event is for you!

We’ll also be joined by some of our partners who’ll have more information on grants and venues. Full details www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/events/onlin...
Wanna create pride events? Join us for an online Q&A session We'll answer all your questions about: - deadlines - how to apply - what kind of events - venues 7pm - 8pm Wednesday 12 November via Teams Wellington Pride Festival
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Reposted by Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Thinking about creating an event for Wellington Pride Festival 2026, but got some questions?

This online event is for you!

We’ll also be joined by some of our partners who’ll have more information on grants and venues. Full details www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/events/onlin...
Wanna create pride events? Join us for an online Q&A session We'll answer all your questions about: - deadlines - how to apply - what kind of events - venues 7pm - 8pm Wednesday 12 November via Teams Wellington Pride Festival
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Thinking about creating an event for Wellington Pride Festival 2026, but got some questions?

This online event is for you!

We’ll also be joined by some of our partners who’ll have more information on grants and venues. Full details www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/events/onlin...
Wanna create pride events? Join us for an online Q&A session We'll answer all your questions about: - deadlines - how to apply - what kind of events - venues 7pm - 8pm Wednesday 12 November via Teams Wellington Pride Festival
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
We're incredibly grateful to all y'all for donations to our #GiveOUTDayNZ and to the Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust for matching your donations.

As a reward, please enjoy some footage of some good cats purring.

Oh, and we'll also throw an amazing festival too - 6-22 March 2026. See you there!
November 9, 2025 at 7:11 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Hey friends, there’s still matched funding available to double your donations for #GiveOUTDayNZ so if you’re able, we’d very much appreciate it! giveout-2025.raiselysite.com/wellingtonpr...
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GiveOUT Day 2025: Make a donation today to support the Rainbow community
giveout-2025.raiselysite.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
There’s still matched funding available, so please donate to us if you can!
wellingtonpride.bsky.social Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara @wellingtonpride.bsky.social · Nov 6
It’s time! #GiveOUTDayNZ is now live! All your donations to us through the portal will be doubled until the pot runs out so please support us if yoi can! giveout-2025.raiselysite.com/wellingtonpr...
November 6, 2025 at 9:24 PM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
It’s time! #GiveOUTDayNZ is now live! All your donations to us through the portal will be doubled until the pot runs out so please support us if yoi can! giveout-2025.raiselysite.com/wellingtonpr...
November 6, 2025 at 6:21 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Our time in the Human Rights Review Tribunal finally finished yesterday. This has been a long four and a half years in the making, and a long time spent in court too. We want to thank everyone who stood with us www.wellingtonpridefestival.com/news-1/updat...
A trans flag background with text that says "An update on our HRRT case November 2025"
November 6, 2025 at 2:08 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
The wonderful Indigo Bloom tattoo studio (super queer, very good with fat bodies) is doing a tattoo flash raffle and proceeds are going to us! Full details here www.indigobloomtattoo.nz/flashraffle
Indigo Bloom Tattoo - Saturday November 8th Tattoo Raffle Flash Day Tickets available now and drawn during our flash day Win a flash tattoo, aftercare and merch pack valued at over $500 Raffle proceeds donated to Wellington Pride Festival and doubled by Rainbow Charity Trust NZ $5 plus the WPF logo and a QR code that goes to the link shared
November 3, 2025 at 12:16 AM
wellingtonpride.bsky.social
Tomorrow (Tues 4 Nov) is our monthly drop-in session in Lower Hutt at Te Whare Kahukura from 5.30pm to 7pm. Come along to talk all things Festival, including any questions you might have about creating your own events!
All text in the post
November 2, 2025 at 11:55 PM