How to organise community events

How to organise community events

Learn how to organise community events, with advice from queer, transgender, and rainbow activists. This is your 101 guide.
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Developing your kaupapa

The kaupapa – or foundational principles and ideas – will help to determine who should be in the organising committee, what kind of event to run, how to promote the event, and how to ensure that the event is accessible, appropriate, and useful.

To determine the kaupapa of an event, ask yourself three foundational questions:

Who: what priority group(s) will the event serve?

Consider whether your event will prioritise a particular age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, immigration status, disability, parenthood status, occupation, or experience. Always put the people first.

Why: what need(s) will the event address?

Ask what has inspired this event – what is it that the priority group needs?

How: how will the event address these needs?

Ask how the event will meet those needs – for example, if the need is social connection/addressing isolation, then the event will need to create opportunities to make friends, or make meaningful connections. If the need is housing, or disability justice, then the event should work toward a goal based on that need.

The kaupapa is the foundation, so it’s important to allocate enough time to go through all the details of who and why, before moving on to how. This will help you build a picture of who should be on the organising committee, who should be welcome or not welcome at the event, whether it should be open invitation or if there needs to be a higher degree of risk management.

All members of the organising committee should be in agreement on the kaupapa. 

Your organising committee

The organising committee should reflect the priority group. If it doesn’t, consider why you are organising for people whose communities you may not be a part of, and how appropriate it is to organise for or on behalf of a group to which you do not belong. Inclusion of organisers from the priority group must be meaningful, rather than tokenistic.

If it is still appropriate – for example, if you are older queer people organising for queer youth – then you need to do outreach to young queers and get them involved in the organising in meaningful ways: they have the expertise on their issues, even if you have the expertise in organising.

Within the organising committee

Strong systems are the key to effective organising, and systems must mitigate risk and be resilient to unexpected changes. 

Sometimes organisers can’t make it to meetings, can’t be on time, or can’t follow through on tasks. A good system recognises this and has ways to make sure that everyone knows what is happening and that all tasks get done. 

Accessibility of the committee

Consider disability needs. Many disabilities are invisible, so it’s important to ask everyone what they need to ensure they can attend meetings and carry out tasks.

Simple accessibility planning can include holding meetings in mobility accessible venues, limiting fluorescent lighting and the use of perfumes and other allergens, providing food that caters to everyone’s needs, making meetings accessible via online video conference, good facilitation and minutes in meetings, and taking turns to volunteer for childcare duties or providing financial support for childcare.

Meetings

It can help to decide in advance where and when meetings will be held. This might be the first Saturday each month, every week on Tuesday, or some other regular time. If meetings will be held online, set up a recurring event on a video platform and make sure everyone has a link to this.

Minutes

Having a good, clear template for taking minutes at meetings is important, along with a central place to keep the minutes where everyone can access them. This might be a shared folder in Google Drive or a book which is kept at a shared office. Use what works for everyone in the committee.

Decision making

Decide at the beginning on what process will be used to make decisions, and stick to that process. This could be a matter of majority vote, unanimous consensus, or something else. Sometimes it helps to make a visual diagram or flowchart together, so everyone is clear on how decisions will be made – especially if there are any disagreements later. Remember to include a quorum (number or percent of the committee which must be present to make important decisions), and give more flexibility for simple decisions.

You can download our guide to using a consensus process here.

Funds

It’s important that the committee understands it’s financial position, and that there is no chance of money being misused, or accusations of financial mismanagement. If the group has a bank account it is best practice to require two signatories to make any payments from the account. If not, cash should be kept secure, and a clear record of income and expenses should be maintained.

By planning a budget early on, you’ll know how much funding you’ll need to carry out your event. Remember to factor in any koha or payments to performers, speakers, presenters, etc.

Self care and caring for each other

One of the most important parts of organising is to take care of yourselves and not over-commit. Everyone should be honest with themself and their co-organisers about how much capacity they have to contribute. 

It’s important to create the opportunity for everyone to participate to the extent that they are able. It’s ok for some people to take on a lot of responsibility and for others to only take on a little bit.

Look after your well being and make sure that you and the other organisers have support and time out, and that you are kind to each other, communicate well, and check in regularly.

Let the committee know if you commit to something but later realise you can’t do it- feelings of being overwhelmed happen, and people can make adjustments.

Be kind to people, listen to them, disagree with them without putting them down as a person. Don’t gossip about people behind their backs and, above all, have empathy.

Community input

Where possible, receiving input from a wider group of people can help you to plan better events. Think carefully about tools that can be used to facilitate discussions and receive suggestions, such as feedback forms, hui, or private groups (in person or online). 

Remember that some platforms – particularly on social media – are only accessible to people who have an account on the platform (e.g. Facebook). These often can’t be organised or searched in the same way as platforms which are designed for office use (e.g. Google Drive/forms/spreadsheets).

If you have organising discussions online, you need to be very security conscious, and ensure there is a robust process for who has access to that information.

Be aware that anything you put online could end up public.

Advertising

It’s vital that your target audience is aware of your event, has a clear idea about what it will involve, why they should attend, and how they can access it. 

Your marketing/advertising is your first point of contact with the world, so make sure that imagery reflects your objectives and the tone of the event. Choose strong messaging for your posters/social media/blog page. Your advertising should appeal to your priority group and reflect your kaupapa.

Ensure that your advertising includes important information: what’s happening, the time date and venue (if that’s public info), whether there is wheelchair access, food, childcare, and non-gendered bathrooms, and how to make contact or register to attend. People will exclude themselves when they are used to being marginalised and excluded, so events should be clear that they are inclusive. 

Use plain common language; don’t use activist/industry/community jargon, and don’t use euphemisms.

Consider whether it’s appropriate for people to register before attending the event – the size of the venue and the resources available for food and other things might be determining factors in this. Other factors can include safety, limiting numbers, and whether participants need to meet a certain criteria (eg. are they part of the target group).

If people need to register, consider keeping the location off advertising and sending it directly to registered participants instead.

If it’s an open invitation with the address on the advertising, consider security risks – for example, if you throw an advertised party for young trans people, then it’s your responsibility to make sure no anti-trans campaigners show up and threaten the safety of participants.

Safer spaces 

A safer spaces policy – or SSP – is a bit like a non-discrimination policy and code of conduct.  It is more commonly used for group than for an event, but sometimes events have these as well.

In Te Ao Māori we have kaupapa, tikanga, and kawa, which outline the foundational principles we expect to be upheld, and the specific behaviours we want to see or not see. This is a great approach to safer spaces.

A good safer space policy is one that tells people about the culture of the space, and encourages learning and self empowerment with community support. It should contain minimal jargon, and explain itself clearly in common language.

Many safer spaces policies have been written for and by white cisgender women with a view toward preventing sexual violence against themselves. This is a good goal, but it’s necessary to think more broadly and with more nuance about the people who need to be safe, what they need to be safe from, and how to go about promoting a culture that supports healthy and sustainable communities.

A SSP might include principles and behaviors in relation to racism, transphobia, fatphobia, ableism, transmisogyny, sexism, alcohol and other drug use, violence and self harm, and a number of other social justice and safety issues.

Timeframes

There may be a particular time when it is especially important to have an event – such as during Pride month, trans awareness week, or while a topic is particularly relevant. Consider whether there are other events that you don’t want to clash or compete with. 

Make sure you have enough time to organise. Without an adequate time frame, you may need to limit your ambitions. Give yourself time to have committee meetings and do the ground work, and to contact and confirm anyone you would like to have attend; such as speakers, entertainers or presenters.

Allow time for event promotion, and give attendees enough time in advance so their calendar isn’t already full.

Accessibility of the event

Consider how cost might be a barrier for your event, and how mitigating this might be achieved. If it’s necessary to charge entry, consider a tiered pricing schedule, low cost tickets or sponsored tickets. If you need to raise funds in advance, make sure this is possible.

Choose a venue with good public transport access and easy parking. Choose a venue that will be comfortable for your audience – for example a marae feels very different to a conference centre.

The physical needs of attendees are important, some people need elevators etc for mobility. Other accessibility considerations include lighting (many people can’t be under fluorescent lighting), chemical sensitivity (some people struggle with strong smells like incense and cologne/perfume etc), noise and sound (can everyone hear the speakers, etc), places to sit down/lay down. 

If your event seeks to include people whose first language may not be English, or D/deaf people, then having interpreters will make a big difference for their inclusion. 

Carefully considering the layout, and having support people available can make your event more accessible to blind people. Using a large font in documents and presentations, and dyslexia friendly colours are also things you can do to remove physical barriers to people being included.

For overnight events you should consider proper beds for those who can’t sleep on a mattress or use a sleeping bag. Look for ways to better cater to people with larger bodies, and higher mobility needs, like providing a variety of types of seating, and seats set aside with easy access to the exits. Make it clear to people that these seats are reserved for people with mobility/access needs.

Consider whether your event is accessible for children, and for parents and families with childcare considerations. Childcare subsidies and child friendly spaces/activities/helpers will mean those families can attend without worrying about their children. The gendered division of caring labor is an important part of this as an accessibility concern.

In workshops/discussions have the MC or facilitator give a shout out to parents at the beginning of each session to say that kids are welcome and to remind speakers to just use a loud voice or speak into the microphone if there is any noise in the room. Make it comfortable and not a big deal.

Make sure your sound equipment is appropriate to the size of the room/crowd.

Look for venues with non-gendered bathrooms/changing rooms/sleeping spaces. If they aren’t available, work with your venue to modify what exists. Gender Minorities Aotearoa has non-gendered toilet posters available which can be used to cover gendered signs.

Any environment where bodies are a focus or semi/nakedness is expected will pose additional accessibility barriers for people whose bodies are often stigmatised. This can include stigma because of ethnicity, size, disability, gender etc. Careful consideration for mitigating risk and perceived risk are important.

Events such as pool parties can trigger a wide range of trauma issues, especially for people whose bodies are policed or othered routinely. For some, being casually naked in front of others may feel normal, or even empowering, however this won’t be the case for everyone.

People with more stigmatised bodies are more likely to opt for clothing or private stalls in bathrooms and dressing rooms, etc. It’s cool to feel amazing about showing your body. It’s also cool to keep it private if you want to.

Food

Providing food can be a crucial part of your responsibilities as a host, and it also can make your event more accessible and interesting to more people. However, it can also be a big cost and a lot of work to do properly. If you are providing food, there are several things to cover. 

Food is often a consideration that requires attendees to register, meaning you can ask each person about their dietary needs.

In general, it’s a good idea to provide gluten and lactose free options, options that suit vegetarians, vegans and also people who eat meat, halal, kosher, and a variety of other options. This must be done in ways which do not attach any value judgements to anyone’s diet. The only appropriate thing to say about someone else’s food is ‘Yum! that looks good’.

Make sure there is enough food. People should be able to have as much as they need without worrying about taking too much, and without being shamed by others. 

Spaces designated for eating should be well thought through. Some people may not be comfortable eating around others, or in a noisy crowd, and appropriately spaced out or secluded eating areas can be a good idea. 

Tikanga is an important consideration for serving food in Aotearoa; make sure that Māori hygiene is followed with regard to eating surfaces (as a general rule – no bums/feet/hats on tables, no kitchen cloths used to wipe floors or bodies, kitchen laundry should be washed separately, don’t make table cloths from used sheets). 

Bear in mind that there are HEAPS of issues around food/eating/not eating for HEAPS of different reasons and try to make it non-stressful/not a big deal while providing options – casually. Don’t make a big deal about people with eating or food issues, make it work without added stress to them.

Cultural Accessibility

It’s important to think about the cultural ways people can be marginalised, and how leaning too much into the dominant culture can create barriers to attending. 

We live in a context where all of our cultural assumptions and norms have an extensive and often violent history. Many things which seem commonplace or normal within the dominant culture – Pākehā, cisgender, heterosexual, able-bodied; are actually harmful. For an event to be truly inclusive and effective, it’s important to be aware of these factors, and challenge racism, Eurocentrism, colonisation, transphobia, transmisogyny, heteronormativity, sexism and ableism. 

For example, events about gendered violence that centre the perspectives of Pākehā, able bodied, cisgender women leave a lot of women out of the conversation. Not only is this a problem for inclusiveness and working together in solidarity, but it also means the analysis that results from the event is much weaker and less useful.

The more diverse the input into organising the event, the more likely that the event will cater to a diverse range of people and perspectives, and will attract a diverse crowd. More diversity means better results.

This guide is being released for Transgender Day of Visibility 2023. #TDoV #TDoV2023 #TransDayofVisibility #TransDayofVisibility2023 #TransgenderDayofVisibility #TransgenderDayofVisibility2023

Rest in peace Georgina Beyer

Rest in peace Georgina Beyer

Georgina Beyer, the world’s first openly transgender Mayor and Member of Parliament in recorded history, passed away peacefully at Mary Potter Hospice, 6 March 2023 at 3.30pm.

Our Executive Director Ahi Wi-Hongi wrote a small tribute to her here.

For many, many trans people in Aotearoa, Georgina Beyer was the first – and for some the only – transgender person they ever saw growing up. She inspired so many to accept their own gender, to be proud of who they are, and to insist we deserved more.

For those of us who knew her personally, whether through politics, activism, sex work, or other things, she was a character. Often hilarious, she didn’t have much of a filter and she just said exactly what was on her mind. Whether you agreed with her on the topic or not, you always knew where she stood.

Georgina was a “no nonsense” woman, she believed in “getting on with it”, and she cared deeply about trans people having a fair go. In the early 2000’s she was talking about transgender people needing legal protection from discrimination, and she put forward a Member’s Bill in 2004 to have being transgender added to protected grounds in the NZ Human Rights Act.

The advice in those days was that we were already covered under the HRA sex-based protections, and subsequently she withdrew her Bill. But, here we are in 2023 looking at how it might be made explicit so it can’t be challenged. She was right all along, and we intend to see it through.

In the early 2000’s, Georgina was actually not sure if she supported the Prostitution Reform Bill, but she listened. She knew a lot of sex workers, and right at the end when it was being voted on, she made her raw, impassioned speech in support of the Bill, which many people think of when they think of Georgina. There was no ‘politician-double-speak’ with her, Georgina just said it like she saw it, so people could believe she meant every word she said. Ultimately, the Prostitution Reform Act was passed in 2003, giving legal protection to sex workers so they didn’t have to go through what she, and many others, had in the past.

I think that being direct and honest are lovely things to be remembered by, and while the world remembers her as the first openly transgender Mayor and Member of Parliament, I think her friends will remember her as the funny, soft-hearted, honest, and kind woman she was. We will certainly all remember her as one of a kind.

Rest in peace e hoa.

Read other articles from her friends

This article speaks to Helen Clark and Catherine Healy.

This one is from Chris Carter.

This one is from Louisa Wall.

Memorial

Georgina did not want a funeral, but a memorial will be held at a future date. You can find updates on this here.

Test the new birth certificate process

Test the new birth certificate process

The Department of Internal Affairs is looking for people to help test the new application form for amending the sex on birth certificates. Here is a message they’ve asked us to share.

Message from DIA

Kia ora,

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is looking for volunteers to participate in user-testing a new application form for amending registered sex on birth certificates. We are looking for people who have considered amending the registered sex on their birth certificates. 

If you’ve considered amending the sex on your birth certificate, and you’d like to help us test the application form, we’d be very interested in hearing from you. Please read below for more information on the sessions, your privacy, and how to get in touch with us.

Background

DIA is developing a new process that will allow people to self-identify the registered sex on their New Zealand birth certificates, so the documents better reflect the person’s identity.

Self-identification means people will no longer need to go to the Family Court to complete this process. Instead, people will apply directly to the Registrar-General by filling out and submitting the application, including a statutory declaration, to DIA.

A new application form is being developed to make this process as accessible and straightforward as possible. We are seeking assistance from members of transgender, intersex, takatāpui and non-binary communities to help us user-test the proposed form. This will help ensure that it is user-friendly, inclusive, and accessible.

User-testing sessions

The user-testing session will involve sitting with a researcher, filling out the proposed form, and providing feedback on the process. Interviews are voluntary, confidential and will follow pre-set questions. These questions will be shared with you prior to the session.

User-testing is scheduled for the end of March. We will arrange a time and location convenient to participants, and all participants are welcome to bring along a support person. Sessions will take 45-60 minutes and we will offer a koha for participants’ time.

Privacy

Notes and insights captured during the session will be anonymised to protect participants’ identities. You are welcome to use fictitious personal information if you prefer.

No identifying details will be recorded during the session. The research team does not have access to participants’ records at DIA, and no information provided during these interviews will be associated with any current or future applications.

How can I help?

If you’d like to help us out with user-testing, please get in touch with me at my email address, tavis.milner@dia.govt.nz, to arrange a session time.


Ngā manaakitanga,
Tavis Milner
Kaihoahoa Ratonga Matua | Senior Service Designer
Kāwai ki te Iwi | Service Delivery and Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua | Department of Internal Affairs

The transgender guide to sex and relationships: online course

The transgender guide to sex and relationships: online course

The transgender guide to sex and relationships is a free online course designed to provide interesting, fun, insightful, and practical information for transgender adults.

It aims to assist you in exploring ideas around your body and sense of self, what you like and don’t like, your needs and limits, communication, sex, and relationships.

The course takes approximately 12 hours to complete, and is broken into 6 Chapters. You can stop at any time and continue later by logging in again.

Here’s a quick outline of what you’ll learn.

What each chapter covers

Chapter 1. Foundations

In this chapter, you’ll explore the idea of sexual well-being, learn some interesting history, delve into some of the ways that power can affect relationships, and look at some positive – and negative – ideas about trans people and sex. You’ll also reflect on some of your own ideas about partners.

Chapter 2. Self

You will explore genital development, and language used for genitals, along with some of the ways which transgender and intersex people feel about their bodies, and some common myths and facts. Then, you’ll take a deep dive into your own sexual preferences.

Chapter 3. Communication

In this chapter, you’ll explore having conversations about consent in sexual situations, how to recognise, discuss, and manage trauma memories (or triggers), and you’ll learn a variety of tools and techniques for communication.

Chapter 4. Relationships

In this chapter, you’ll investigate different types of relationships, and discover ways to identify and express your needs and boundaries in a relationship. You’ll look at ways to determine who should get to make which decisions in a relationship, and looking at problems in relationships and how to solve them together. You’ll also look at some safety strategies.

Chapter 5. Safer sex

In this chapter, you’ll master the use of barrier methods for safer sex, gain insight into living with HIV, establish the steps to get STI testing, review ways to identify and manage risks in a wide variety of sexual situations, and learn about steps you can take if you are sexually assaulted. You’ll also learn how to help prevent sexual violence in your community.

Chapter 6. Better sex

You will gain an improved understanding of sex toys and pornography, explore flirting and initiating sexual contact, take in strategies for identifying, experiencing, and working out your emotions, gain skills for enhancing your sexual experiences, practice giving and receiving touch in non-sexual situations, and gain improved confidence in giving and receiving touch in sexual situations.

The transgender guide to sex and relationships is designed by and for transgender adults, including binary, non-binary, and intersex trans adults.

It contains sexual themes, and discusses sensitive topics such as sexual violence and trauma.

You must be aged 18 years or older to take this course.

Sponsored by

With support from

Special thanks to

Feeling Myself – a sexuality workbook for transgender adults

Feeling myself is a sexuality workbook about discovering what feels good to you. It looks at managing dysphoria, exploring sensory experiences, types of touch, and the thoughts, feelings, and fantasies which you like or dislike.

It is from our online course The transgender guide to sex and relationships. It is designed for transgender adults, and may not be suitable for younger viewers.

PDF – read online or download

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Знакомство с собой – Russian translation

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