A couple of years ago, I was hanging out with some of my straight gal pals when the conversation turned to sexual health. I will never forget the moment when one of my sweet, naive friends said: βI feel like chlamydia isnβt really a thing anymore.β
It was then I realised, straight people donβt know shit about sexual health.Β
Kia ora π my name is Liam and Iβm one of the multimedia journalists at Re: News. For the past few months, I have abandoned my normal duties of pumping out quality journalism to work on a docuseries called Queer Academy.
Hosted by the comedic genius that is James Mustapic, Queer Academy is a five-part series all about the good parts of being queer. Each episode delves into a lesson LGBTTQIA+ communities have to offer.
Iβve been working on the series since November last year as director/producer.Β
Itβs been my job to plan shoots, find people who want to go on camera and share their story, and make important decisions, like, which dildo do I want the director of photography to focus on in this shot set in a sex store?
We filmed the bulk of the series in March and we were lucky enough to travel around the country to get what we needed. From Εtepoti/Dunedin to MΔwhera/Greymouth, to the Big Gay Out β we met a huge range of incredible queer people from all over the motu.
This week, we finished the series and exported ββ industry term for downloading a copy of the edit ββ the episodes for the final time (in the media world they say you should never call something your βfinalβ export, but Iβm feeling good about this one!!).Β
But because the Re: News publishing calendar is so jam-packed with high quality content over the next couple months, Queer Academy wonβt be coming out until mid-November.Β
So Iβm using this newsletter as a chance to build some early hype and tease you with whatβs to come heheh π
The first episode of Queer Academy answers a question Iβve been wondering for a while, which is: are queer people better at sexual health than straight people?Β
π¨Spoiler alert, the answer is yes.
In the episode, we speak to Joe Rich, chief executive of The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, an organisation that has spent the past 38 years helping queer folk combat the HIV/AIDS crisis and get on top of their sexual health.Β
βQueer people are good at sexual health because for a lot of us, we were forced to in the β80s, it was life or death in the AIDS crisis,β says Joe.
β[The queer community] had to learn very quickly how to mobilise, how to understand what was going on and change our behaviour to save ourselves.β
As a result of this, Joe makes the point that queer people have done something that straight people are yet to do β unshackle the fear of talking about sex publicly.Β
This gives queer people a superpower, as they are now able to talk openly and honestly about the tools they need to stay safe in the sack, far more compared to mainstream society.Β
This is just one of the topics Queer Academy covers.Β
In other episodes we explore how chosen whΔnau can positively impact a queer personβs life, why queer people are more open to non-monogamous relationships compared to straight people, and how clothing can help queer people learn more about themselves.Β Β
For the past four years, Iβve been covering LGBTTQIA+ issues at Re: News.
Iβve written articles and made videos about the work that still needs to be done for queer folk.Β
And although those stories are important and necessary to make Aotearoa a better place for rainbow communities to live, I got tired of focusing on the negatives and had an urge to talk about the good shit.Β
Queer Academy is my answer to that urge. Itβs 100% positive LGBTTQIA+ representation and celebrates the value of growing up queer in a fun and unexpected way.
Also, did I mention that the series is funny? If youβre curious to know what a STI reveal party looks like, then this is the series for you!
Iβm so excited for you to see what Iβve been working on. I know thereβs still a few months to go, but trust me, itβll be worth the wait ππ π
Queer Academy was made with the support of NZ On Air
I know you're incredibly talented behind the camera Liam but wow, you're equally talented in writing! What a well-written newsletter, so real and articulate! Can't wait to watch the series, sounds fantastic, great teaser!
Am so so looking forward to seeing the episodes! You all were a delight to be filmed by ππ