Rainbow Family Represents Cook Islands at Midsumma Pride March
An endorsement by the Te Tiare Association given to the prominent Pacific Island LGBTIQA+ organisation PACIFIQUE X in late 2019, was the start of the process for preparation by the Pacific Islands diaspora community of lgbtiqa+ rainbow family of Victoria to march in the Midsumma Pride March, held on the 2nd of February in St Kilda, Melbourn
In the largest Pride March in history for Midsumma, celebrating its 25th anniversary and a total of 240 groups and organisations, Pacifique X marched under the umbrella of ‘Pacific Islands Rainbow Family’ with the theme of “In Solidarity with Pride Cook Islands”, where they visibly marched with the Cook Island LGBTIQA+ (and allies) leading the march group and holding signs of “Pride Cook Islands” and “Te Tiare” in a crowd of over 10,000 in attendance.
The Rainbow Family of the Pacific Islands had one of the most exciting marching groups with members from all representatives from the Pacific Islands marching behind the Cook Islands members in solidarity.
“We walk in solidarity with our pride cook islands family in their current challenge that they are facing, we are one family and when barriers are placed onto our communities in the islands (across all Pacific islands) it has an impact on our diaspora communities. As an organisation that has a strong cook islander contingent, we have a responsibility to do our best to amplify voices and bring awareness to issues that face their communities back on the islands.” President of Pacifique X, Tony K. Fretton
“Our LGBTIQA+ communities (and Pacific Islander communities) in the diaspora live in a time where suicide and mental health is in a crisis state, we cannot afford to lose another life in our most vulnerable segments of our community, both in the diaspora and on our home islands. When discussions are raised where bigotry and hatred is invited, discussions within families and churches are raised in conversations – not just that, but they are dangerous conversations that are usually unfounded and we do not have the capacity, or funding to run programs that counter these incidents, so for us, we have no choice but to result to bringing awareness on Social Media and engaging community through avenues like Pride March.
The people that you see marching in our Pride March, are marching because they believe everyone deserves the right to love, live authentically and be proud of who they are, not all our marchers are gay, lesbian etc. they are straight allies who see the value in standing up for something bigger than ourselves.”
“We support that fact that the Cook Islands have elected officials that will make sound decisions for the greater good of their constituents, our message is to urge the selected committee and the Government of the Cook Islands to please think of the larger impact that the reversal will have that affects every day people, these are people who are members of families, churches and communities. Please use your heart, we cannot keep burying children who commit suicide due to societal pressures – we are not fighting for our own children, we are fighting for the youth and children of straight parents.”
PacifiqueX will be marching again on the 9th of February in the Geelong Pride March (Australia) and in solidarity with Oceania Pride Auckland – who will be marching the day before in the Auckland Pride March (New Zealand) on Saturday February 8th.