Rainbow and Takatāpui Community Challenges

RAINBOW AND TAKATĀPUI COMMUNITY CHALLENGES

BACKGROUND

Rainbow and Takatāpui people are important members of our communities. In Aotearoa, the community is active, vibrant, and celebrated. According to the most recent data released by Stats NZ, 4.4 % of our population identify as Rainbow, with the highest percentage of the community found in people under 30. The community is made up of diverse ethnic identities and has a higher percentage of disability compared to the general population.

We know that experiences of erasure, rejection and discrimination contribute to poor health outcomes and emotional distress amongst the Rainbow community. Access to representation, resources, and affirming experiences for Rainbow people helps to improve mental well-being, reduce stress and isolation, and help the wider community to empathise with Rainbow whānau and their lived experience.

Libraries across the motu have created engaging and positive programming for this community, focusing on community connection and relationship building. Unfortunately, there is a worldwide trend amongst some groups who have challenged libraries and other services for their outreach to Rainbow communities. Events, groups, individuals, resources and any endorsement of their rights and visibility on display are being challenged, protested, vandalised, verbally attacked and threatened. Groups have mobilised to coordinate and share ideas about challenges, often using the language of ‘child grooming’ and ‘sexualisation of children’ to describe library activities or collections. What children are taught in schools and can access in their libraries has also been targeted.

In the USA, there have been spiraling protests and book challenges, attempts to defund libraries that resist this censorship, and fire librarians who refuse to remove the challenged content.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been a demonstrable rise of anti-trans and anti-queer groups and online and in-person harassment. Personalities behind this harassment include Posie Parker, whose failed speaking tour on ‘women’s rights’ with an anti-trans approach sparked debate. This incident revealed the connection between political issues, religious groups, and their international network.

In August 2023, as part of Queenstown’s annual Winter Pride festival, the library once again delivered a Rainbow reading session. This year, an offensive sign was spray-painted on the pavement outside the library. The Queenstown Mayor condemned this: "My assumption is that one or more people took exception to the inclusivity and tolerance promoted by council in general and specific services such as those offered by our libraries.” The Mayor’s support of libraries is a good example of the organisation endorsing and often leading strategies that recognise and value diversity. Most public and school libraries will have this support from their organisations.

Queenstown mayor calls out transphobic sign at Rainbow reading | Stuff.co.nz

Event management should include careful planning of the event including risk mitigation, environmental scanning for supports and services, strengthening internal culture and allyship within teams to wrap around Rainbow kaimahi, and boundary holding as library kaimahi.

Many public libraries promote Pride Week as part of their wider organization's strategy and commitment to diversity. Communications and media teams and senior managers can support libraries and staff and provide public statements, extra security, and work with community Pride organisations to design safe experiences.

Be aware of titles or events that have been targeted for challenges or protests in other libraries and design displays and events with an eye for visibility by staff to discourage removal or vandalism or inappropriate behaviour. Purchase e-copies which can not be removed or vandalised by challengers.

Have key messages available such as:

We try to have an inclusive collection which represents the diversity of our community. As such we hold a variety of different viewpoints and topics, respecting people’s right to freedom of information.
Our library exists to provide materials, services and information for all members of our community.

WHERE ARE THE CHALLENGES AND PROTESTS COMING FROM, AND WHAT ARE THEIR INTERESTS?

Conservative organisations such as Family First NZ. This organisation calls itself ‘The Family Watchdog’. It promotes ‘traditional’ families and marriage, opposes abortion and surrogacy, sex education for children, transgender identity, euthanasia, and legislation preventing physical discipline of children amongst other issues.
Some churches, such as Destiny Church, who promote traditional religious family and gender norms.
These organisations seek to remove content of opposing views from public consumption, and to stop children from being exposed to views they oppose even by presenting something like homosexuality or trans identity in a positive or affirming light.
Some feminist organisations believe affirming trans identity threatens the hard-fought rights of women and puts them at risk.
Parents and other individuals not associated with formal groups but who wish to determine what content their children may encounter.

WHAT ACTIONS MIGHT LIBRARIES EXPERIENCE?

Book challenges.
Complaints to the library, to elected members, to school boards.
Protests at Rainbow events.
Vandalism of library books or library buildings or displays.
Harassment of library staff.
Books and other items being stolen.
Comments on social media.
Comments on library websites and catalogues.
Attempts to secure appointments to school boards on this issue.
Attempts to secure election to councils, local and community boards on this issue.

IMPACT OF CHALLENGES AND HOW TO RESPOND

The visibility of Rainbow stories and experiences in books and libraries programmes provides this community a sense of acceptance and belonging. It is important to understand that because Rainbow content, events, displays are about the identity of people, protests targeting them can be emotionally charged, and be traumatic for participants, staff and onlookers. Library staff may feel unsafe, particularly those who identify as LGBTIQ+, and it is crucial that organisations have in place support mechanisms both in response to incidents, but also in preparation for them.

Some libraries have provided workshops for staff to help them understand the experience of Rainbow community members and how to use affirmative or neutral language with customers about gender identity and pronouns for example. Organisations can promote public campaigns about treating their staff with respect and kindness.

The impact can be even more significant for Takatāpui, Fa’afafine and Fakaleiti and other indigenous gender identities. Attacks by these groups can also intersect as an attack on their Māoritanga or ethnicity. A good resource for librarians to understand these experiences and the intersections of homophobia, transphobia, and racism is: https://takat apui.nz/

Have key messages available such as:

We try to have an inclusive collection which represents the diversity of our community. As such we hold a variety of different viewpoints and topics, respecting people’s right to freedom of information.
Our library exists to provide materials, services and information for all members of our community.