The Te Tiare Association (TTA) is the LGBTQI++ advocacy organisation in the

Cook Islands The Cook Islands is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands whose total land area is approximately . The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers of ocean. Avarua is its ...

. It works to celebrate the country's ' akava'ine, ꞌakatututāne and LGBT communities.

Background

The Te Tiare Association Inc. (TTA) was formally incorporated on 30 November 2007 at the

Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040. The Parliament of the Cook Islands, Coo ...

High Court. It is an organisation established to bring together ' akava'ine in the Cook Islands for education and advocacy purposes. On 21 June 2008 the Te Tiare Association was officially launched as part of a partnership with the Pacific Islands Aids Foundation. It is the first LGBTQI++ advisory group in the

Campaigns

From its inception the TTA has promoted sexual health awareness, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and the prevention of HIV. Community building has also been an important aspect of its purpose, since some members of its communities are estranged from their families due to their identities and sexualities. The TTA campaigns for the repeal of discriminatory laws in the Cook Islands which make homosexuality illegal. In order to counter the current legal situation the TTA is using Section 64 of the Cook Islands Constitution, which protects people from discrimination. TTA launched the Pride Cook Islands Campaign on the 27th of November 2019. Activist

Sonya Apa Temata Sonya Apa Temata is a takataapui human rights activist and nurse of Cook Islander, Māori, and Tahitian descent. She specialises in advocacy for the LGBTQ community in Oceania. She has spoken out about how the criminalisation of gay men is a le ...

organised a petition in 2020, which gathered over 5000 signatures of people for were in favour of a repeal of the laws against homosexuality.

Louisa Wall Louisa Hareruia Wall (born 17 February 1972) is a New Zealand former double international sportswoman, former politician, and human rights advocate. She represented New Zealand in both netball as a Silver Fern from 1989 to 1992 and in rugby uni ...

MP has been vocal in support of the TTA's work, stating that the Cook Islands homophobic laws are a direct inheritance of

British colonialism The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts establish ...

. In 2020 Cook Islander Alex Nicholls married his husband, Joshua Nicholls, in

Sydney, Australia Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 km (50 mi) from the Pacific Ocean ...

due to the criminalisation of homosexuality in the Cook Islands. In 2019 the TTA led a campaign which challenged a ban on the screening of the

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

biopic '' Rocketman,'' which was due to be imposed by the Chief Censor. The TTA successfully argued that a ban was unconstitutional.

Culture

The Te Tiare Association organised the Cook Islands inaugural Pride Day in 2020, however the event was cancelled due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

. The TTA dance troupe performed in 2021 at the Cook Islands Business and Professional Women's Association's (BPW) International Women's Day event.

Notable people

* Tuaine, Lady Marsters (patron) * Valery Wichman (former president) * Regina Potina (former president)

References

External links

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

TAGATA PASIFIKA: Pearls of Meganesia are a group of young Fa'afafine and Akavaine
{{Authority control LGBTQ rights in the Cook Islands LGBTQ organizations based in Oceania Organisations based in the Cook Islands Transgender organizations