Happy Dunedin Pride!

It's Pride month here in Ōtepoti Dunedin, with various events celebrating LGBTQIA+ diversity around the city. Check out the Dunedin Pride calendar on Facebook or Instagram

Each week, our Hub will feature a rainbow snack table - keep an eye out and come and say hi! Please sign in to help us track attendance for future funding purposes.

For many, being part of the rainbow community is challenging. While some find unconditional support from friends and whānau, others rely on the community and allies for acceptance, and your support and acceptance can mean the world to them. 

Did you know?

Aotearoa NZ Stats - from Census 2023. 

- 1 in 20 NZ adults (4.9%) identify as part of the rainbow community.

- Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington has the highest LGBTQIA+ population at 11.3%, followed by Ōtepoti Dunedin at 7.3% and Ōtautahi Christchurch at 6%.

- 144,960 people (4.1%) aged 15 and over reported a non-heterosexual identity. 

- The census also recorded 26,097 transgender individuals, whose gender differs from their birth sex. 

- 2.3% of the population are intersex.  Many of them may not even be aware.  'Intersex' describes natural genetic and/or physical variations in sex characteristics . The 2023 Census was the first to collect data specifically for the intersex community!

The challenges:

- Rainbow community members experience higher rates of mental health issues compared to the general population. 

- Rainbow people report mixed experiences in mental health settings, with concerns about discrimination and lack of knowledge on the part of mental health professionals. 

- Groups most at risk include trans and non-binary people; Pacific rainbow young people, and rainbow rangatahi (youth) in care.   

If you, or someone you know is experiencing challenges, there are great options available at Student Success.  You can also currently find a display of support agencies helping the rainbow community throughout Aotearoa as a part of the display in the Hub.