Dunedin is fast becoming a star on the LGBTQ+ map
The great Southern city of Dunedin has been named as one of the world's up-and-coming travel destinations for the queer community. Otepoti has the second-largest proportion of LGBTQ+ people in the country, as per our last census, and travel magazine Wanderlust has put it on the map. Emile Donovan speaks to Meihana Potiki-Grayling, chair of Dunedin Pride.
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An international travel site has proclaimed Dunedin to be a friendly place for the LGBTQ+ community, but advocates say much work is yet to be done. Wanderlust Magazine recently published a list of nine up-and-coming LGBTQ+ destinations across the globe, in which it described Dunedin as a "safe haven" for members of the community, as well as acknowledging the city as "the wildlife capital of the country". "Throughout the year, the city hosts LGBTQ+-friendly events, including the Dunedin Fringe, as well as having numerous local queer-friendly and queer-owned eateries and businesses in Dunedin." It comes off the back of the latest census, which reveals Dunedin has a high LGBTQ+ adult proportion of individuals at 7.5%, second only to Wellington at 12%. The national median is about 5%. Dunedin Pride secretary Eliot Weir said while it was always encouraging to get such publicity, constant work and development were always needed. "I think it's definitely a culmination of countless people in the community creating some really cool community spaces. "You've got bars like Woof and other queer-friendly businesses, cafes, board game shops, all that, that are just welcoming spaces, but have also been hosts to Pride Month events or whatever else. "I think, in particular, institutions like Toitū [Otago] Settlers Museum and the Hocken Collection have also definitely taken a lead in that as well." Dunedin was a place where people could be "unapologetically themselves", they said. "It's definitely a close-knit community, both the queer community but also the Dunedin community itself." Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust operations manager Katrina Thomson said she was pleased to hear about the publicity. "It's wonderful that Ōtepoti is building the reputation of being a diverse and inclusive community. "We are lucky to have amazing groups in Ōtepoti that celebrate LGBTQ+-identifying people such as Dunedin Pride, UniQ, our drag community and queer-owned businesses like our friends at Woof!, to name a few." Ms Thomson said there were plenty of opportunities. "Keep supporting queer communities and platforms that champion diversity, and challenge discrimination when you see it." The other destinations listed were Nepal, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Mauritius, Sardinia, Italy, Slovenia, Montevideo, Uruguay, Puerto Rico and Salt Lake City, Utah.
