Wellington Pride Festival - Legal Givealittle

Kia ora koutou

Wellington Pride Festival is being sued by representatives of an anti-trans group called Lesbian Action for Visibility Aotearoa (LAVA). The case will be heard by the Human Rights Review Tribunal (HRRT) in 2025.

In early 2021, Wellington Pride Festival (WPF) made the decision to not accept LAVA’s request for a stall at a gala event after the community alerted us to their anti-trans views. LAVA is a small group of anti-trans activists.

This was to protect trans*, non-binary, intersex, and all gender minority attendees who we wanted to feel safe, accepted, and supported to be themselves by everyone at Out in the City.

WPF representatives have been through two Human Rights Commission mediation processes with LAVA, but LAVA is insisting on taking us to the HRRT. The hearing will likely take place in 2025 in Wellington.

Given that this is a live case, we're limited in what we can say publicly at this stage. We will do our very best to answer questions from the community about what is happening and how it is going.

It’s really important that the rainbow community does not engage with Ms Oxley, Ms Curnow or LAVA about this case due to rules about intimidation between parties in the HRRT.

People who want to support WPF can help by donating to our Givealittle to raise money for upcoming expenses in the case, such as for our expert witness support and other legal costs.