Uplifting Takatāpui and Rainbow Elder Voices

Tukua kia tū takitahi ngā whetū o te rangi

We set out to find out what life is like for Takatāpui and Rainbow elders, in collaboration with Rainbow Hub Waikato.

Underneath this broad question sat two desires – to advocate for meaningful inclusion of the needs of Takatāpui and Rainbow older people in strategies, policies and services for older people in Aotearoa, and identify any specific risks of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.

“Between 1986 and 1998 I lost 44 NZ age peer friends – incl my partner of 22 years – and 38 died of HIV-AIDS related illnesses.” Another ethnicity, gay man, 75-79 years

Woven throughout is the specific, generational contexts our elders have lived through – rampant discrimination and exclusion, including the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s; a more narrow focus than the significant diversity recognised now inside Takatāpui and Rainbow communities; and fierce resistance, pride and celebration that has literally changed our world.

“Ending up in a rest home with transphobic staff who won’t recognise me as being a woman.” NZ European/Pākehā trans woman, 65-69 years

This project heard from:

424 Takatāpui and Rainbow elders via online survey
17 Māori, Pasifika and ethnic people via six focus groups
11 Takatāpui and Rainbow elders via in person interviews

These voices are shared in a report, three factsheets, and sixteen podcasts.

“Unfortunately some people still exhibit biases toward Takatāpui people. It is up to us, society and the communities we work and live in to support change to happen.” Māori lesbian Takatāpui person, 65-69 years

Factsheet 1

Recommendations for community services

Factsheet 2

Recommendations for funders & government

Factsheet 3

Recommendations for our groups

“No one who lives here in my home town knows anything about my life or should I say my personal or private life.” Pasifika bisexual woman, 75-79 years

The eleven Takatāpui and Rainbow elders we interviewed consented to share their voices in sixteen interview podcasts. Each podcast features multiple voices, sharing very different lived experiences. The podcasts include:

Ageing – freedom, changes and ageism
Belonging, acceptance and surviving discrimination
Community hopes and dreams
Emotional wellbeing
Family – sources of joy
Family – sources of pain
Gaps and tensions in communities
Healthcare
Isolation
Joys of building communities
Looking to our histories
Physical and mental wellbeing
Preparing for and avoiding aged-care facilities
Sex
Wairua and spirituality
When can I be my authentic self?

We are grateful to the many organisations who helped us reach elders, all over Aotearoa, and all the Takatāpui and Rainbow elders who took part.

“I yearn to meet with people like me but don’t know where to find them.” NZ European/Pākehā non-binary person, 65-69 years

The report, factsheets and podcasts from Uplifting Takatāpui and Rainbow Elder Voices: Tukua kia tū takitahi ngā whetū o te rangi should be referenced back to copyright holders Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura and Rainbow Hub Waikato. Our research team included Sandra Dickson, Tim Bennett, Nathan Bramwell, Oriana Brown, Dr Catherine Cook, Dr Cayathri Divakalala, Bex Fraser, Dr Huhana Hickey, Lexie Matheson, Kathleen Miller, Maluseu Monise, Hamie Munroe, and Maki Rodriguez.