Queer Histories Found in the Archive
A collection of queer audiovisual material held in the Ngā Taonga archive, spanning from the early 20th century through to Homosexual Law Reform in 1986.
Ko te aumihi o te ngākau e rere atu nei ki te rangapū i tohea te tohe i te tau 1986, kia whakahou i ngā ture o aua rā, ara ki tā te ture kaore i whakaaetia te moe whakaeneene.
Inā hoki te huhua o ngā tāngata kia whakaingoatia i ēnei mihi, me te aha, koutou te taiopenga manawa rahi, koutou ngā aumangea kua ngaro nei i te tirohanga kanohi, nei ka mihi, nei ka tangi.
Tāne mai, wahine mai, te iti, te rahi i porotēhi mō te hemo tonu atu, hei aha rā! hei whakamana i ngā mōtika o te hunga moe whakaeneene, e kore e mimiti te puna o mihi ki a koutou.
Ko te pātaka o Ngā Taonga tēnei e mihi kau ana.
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou
Tēnā tātou katoa.
Examples of queer life in Aotearoa can be found across the Ngā Taonga collection. However, it is often hidden as the queer individuals of history were in hiding themselves. Between 1893 and 1986, homosexuality was effectively illegal, and LGBTQIA+ people faced social stigma, discrimination, and violence. Sexual acts between men were explicitly banned, and those who got caught faced harsh punishments under laws originally imported from England. All other queer people, including lesbians, takatāpui, and anyone gender non-conforming lived in a legal grey zone that could have disastrous personal consequences if they were outed.
In such a hostile legal and social environment, there were many good reasons for keeping gay relationships and nonconforming gender identities private. Nevertheless, some queer New Zealanders have always been visible – and audible.
Excerpt from F4491 NEW ZEALAND SOUNDSCENES. LIQUID LUCRE, BALCLUTHA GOES GAY (1933)
Below is a collection of queer audiovisual material held in the Ngā Taonga archive, spanning from the early 20th century through to Homosexual Law Reform in 1986. Under the section Hidden Queer Identities we look at people who were in same sex relationships, but either concealed or stopped just short of naming them. Early Queer Organising Through to Law Reform tracks the long legal path to decriminalisation, introducing some of the individuals and organisations on both sides of the debate. Transgender Identities in the 1970s contains some remarkable early TV and radio appearances by openly trans women, who risked public ridicule and worse to have their say.
Hero image: 'Grace' (Freda Stark and Len Wilson) by Herman John Schmidt, circa 1933. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 973-22.
Hero image: March in support of homosexual law reform, 24 May 1985, by a Dominion Post photographer. Ref: Dom/1985/0524/1/23A-F Alexander Turnbull Library.
Hero image: Niccole Duval at Mojo's Nitespot, 1975. Rykenberg Photography. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 1269-19750215-21.
