On March 18-22, 2019, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) participated in the World Conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in Wellington, New Zealand. The ILGA World Conference is the largest gathering of LGBTI civil society activists worldwide and also serves as a key meeting space for experts, funders and other key stakeholders working on LGBTI-related topics. PGA was represented at the ILGA World Conference in Wellington by Jennifer McCarthy, Deputy Secretary-General, and Alex Roche, SOGI Campaign Program Officer.
On March 20, PGA and the New Zealand Parliament organized in the Parliament building in Wellington a side event to the ILGA World Conference. The event, entitled Promoting Equality and Inclusion for LGBTI Persons in the Pacific, was co-hosted by New Zealand MPs and PGA members Adrian Rurawhe, Assistant Speaker, and Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki. It consisted of a reception and screening of the documentary film Leitis in Waiting, presented by its protagonist, Tongan LGBTI activist Joey ‘Joleen’ Mataele and by PGA member Lord Fusitu’a, MP from Tonga, who also appears in the film. Leitis in Waiting tells the powerful story of the Tonga leitis, a group of native transgender women fighting a rising tide of intolerance in their South Pacific Kingdom. Also in attendance were New Zealand MPs and PGA members Hon. Aupito William Sio, Minister for Pacific Peoples, and Louisa Wall, as well as PGA member Lord Fakafanua, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, and the Netherlands Ambassador in New Zealand Mira Woldberg.
The film Leitis in Waiting was also featured on March 21 within the main program of the ILGA World Conference, introduced by Joey ‘Joleen’ Mataele and followed by a question-and-answer session.
The PGA delegation at the ILGA World Conference took advantage of their presence in Wellington to discuss matters of mutual interest and opportunities for collaboration with key funders and partners of the SOGI Campaign, including activists from the Pacific and Caribbean regions where PGA will be working over the next few years.
