Sydney World Pride, Pacific Caucus Report 27 February 2023, Date:

One would think that when we’re called to spaces like this that champion all diversities and the human rights of all people that we would see some of the most marginalized communities in Oceania represented in droves because they’ll be supported by those who hold power and along with it…money. [...] So, to be Queer in a world where the gender standard is binary, and then be from scattered islands of Oceania in a world where the standard is determined by big world nations, and then be Mela/Black too in a world where the western standard has effectively reduced our existence by othering us to oblivion, I say that the few Mela-queer-nesians here in the room have conquered, survived, still alive. [...] Make no mistake about it: Aside from Homo/Trans/Bi phobia, Colorism, and anti-Blackness, which all arose under the influence of the European colonizers who first conceived and imported them, most certainly exist within the Pacific Islander community." Today, our lone focal from the Solomon Islands was unable to make it to Sydney due to fear of job loss, lack of support from management because of q. [...] Not enough support exists for the core operations of these organizations and funders/donors must consider looking at ways to not only finance projects and activities but in that same light also support the acquisition of warm bodies to bring these activities to life and manage them accordingly. [...] Vinaka." Key themes in discussion from the caucus floor: ● climate justice, LGBTIQ+ disaster inclusion and culturally safe response ● climate emergency LGBTIQ+ displacement ● missionisation in the pacific and role of churches and faith leaders in LGBTIQ+ rights and justice ● ongoing impacts of colonisation and bearing on Pacific lore and law ● decriminalisation of same sex relationships and trans.