Queer Coco

Here's a quick episode from Pacific Wave Radio, a show I co-host with @kimaea_unfiltered. I talk about my own struggles with internalised homophobia and why it is important to unpack those feelings.

Ezra Phoenix is a singer/songwriter & artist based in Porirua, Aotearoa. Ezra dropped his self-titled album, so we catch up with Ezra to chat about the album, as well as his experience as a gay Samoan man.

Pele has some things to get off his chest! We also feature his full interview with LGBTQI+ Activist and Co-Founder of End Conversion Therapy. Shaneel Lal (@shaneellall)

JUST BECAUSE YOU ACCEPT YOUR GAY BROTHER, it does not make you excempt from being homophobic much like having Black friends doesn’t make you anti-Racist. It means that your work begins at home to provide a safe place for the queer people in your life but extending this to the world. Speak up when people say offensive shit about gay people, not just because your brother or friend is gay but because it’s the right thing to do. We are sick of being the “exception” to your so-called values. You are no martyr.

Sapati Apa (aka Disciple Pati) is a Samoan singer/songwriter, based in Auckland, NZ and is part of a new generation of young Pasifika women doing it for themselves and their community by speaking truth to power. 

This is not a regular episode, I repeat THIS IS NOT A REGULAR QC EPISODE. 

We chat about her sexuality not being an issue for her parents, and how it usually takes a back seat to her Instagram posts which often sees a DP scantily clad and standing on our necks; Beyonce, Living Legend; Church & more.

Well known for his incredible works of art in the world of baking, the beautiful Niuafe shares the other side to his story that MANY Queer Pasifika & Maori Youth have experienced. These are things that we as the P&M community don’t like to talk about because everything is so fucking taboo and inconvenient. I am in awe of Niuafe and the way he has managed to come out of his situation with such grace and I’m so honoured that he was able to entrust me with helping him tell his story.

Today we have the newly appointed President and Director of PacifiqueX. PacifiqueX is a platform for LGBTQIA+ Pacific Islanders. - being the first of its kind in Victoria. We chat about the future of the organisation as well as Markus' own experience growing up queer in a Pacific Island family.