Gay Wellington (covering all the GLBT colours and persuasions of our rainbow community) officially known as the Wellington Gay Welfare Group, is an incorporated society funded from a variety of sources, including the gay community, philanthropic trusts, Wellington City Council and community grants. The group has been active for over 25 years, and since its inception, has met a range of welfare needs for all of Wellington's gay communities.

The objectives of the group are:

• To provide support and empathy for clients
• To increase the self-esteem of clients
• To present a positive model and image of gay life and gay sexuality, and to reinforce the validity and acceptability of being gay
• To offer an information and referral service regarding clubs, venues and other gay related activities in and around the Wellington region.
• To provide links verbally and online to current gay or gay-friendly organisations, professionals and agencies, including lawyers, counsellors, medical practitioners, health organisations, and sexual health clinics
• To foster an increased awareness of homosexuality and issues relating to homosexuality by:
  • Providing information on being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender, and about coming out, and gay family and personal relationships.
  • Providing information about homosexuality to other organisations and groups in the community.
  • Promoting, encouraging and supporting other amenities, facilities, groups and organisations for gay people
  • Fostering awareness of HIV/AIDS, including the encouragement of safer-sex practices

Press Statement: September 2008

Wellington Gay Welfare Group, also known as Gay Wellington, is happy to announce that Hannah Ho Wai Ling is beginning her second year with us as Community Development and Youth Worker after a year working in conjunction with the Mahi ki te Ora Cadetship. Hannah has been assisting WGWG with developing networks across queer communities, as well as enhancing the School’s Out queer youth programme.

Hannah has experience in community work, and has been responsible for a national conference on identity, dominance and colonisation, as well as for anti-racism workshops within Asian communities. There are now 6 Queer/sexuality/gender groups operating in the wider Wellington region, School's Out started in Lower Hutt in August with new people attending each week and Schools Out also delivers presentations, "Homophobia and Racism 101", to each year 9 health class at Hutt Valley High School. Hannah, along with a queer teacher, has created a 1 hour Professional Development programme, "Queer Youth 101", aimed at secondary school faculty staff. This was delivered initially at Wgtn High to 60 teachers with very positive feedback. Whew! Is she ever a ball of fire!

But wait, of course theres more! Currently she has a young man conducting a few sessions about sex, consent, boundaries and healthy relationships, after having a discussion about "getting boozed and hooking up" and hearing that a number of young people are feeling pressured to have sex, not feeling like they can say no, and sleeping with people they don't want to.

You can contact Hannah at the Wellington Gay Welfare Group,
telephone: 473 7878 email: helpline@gaywellington.org



Lesbian Drop In / Support Group

There is a Lesbian Drop In / Support Group for women who are new to Wellington, or just new to the Gay Scene, starting up shortly.

Our first meeting is on Wednesday May 6th, 6pm at Anvil House 1st Floor, Wakefield Street. (opposite Michael Fowler Centre car park) For more info leave a note for Jo with your phone number or email at E-mail: helpline@gaywellington.org or Phone: (04) 473 7878 and I will get back to you. Look forward to meeting you.