Matt McEvoy’s 30 Queer Lives: Conversations with LGBTQIA+ New Zealanders has been reviewed in the May edition of Tui Motu InterIslands magazine. Reviewer Shane Coleman says:
‘The book 30 Queer Lives is a collection of heartfelt real-life snapshots into the lives of 30 people who are LGBTQIA+ and call Aotearoa home.
Matt McEvoy introduces the reader to this diverse group of people from many different walks of life. They share their stories of growing up, their experiences of religion and school, relationships with their family and the high and lows of being gay or queer in a heteronormative society.
Each chapter engages the reader in the person’s conversation. The reader shares in the person’s pain, joy and love. And the reader is reminded about the struggle and the challenges that the community is continuing to face in trying to understand and accept those who are queer.
These people feel the impact of colonisation and race in our society. I was struck by Shaneel Shavneel Lal’s statement that “queer people of colour fall to the bottom of the queer social hierarchy”.
I am hopeful that readers will feel as connected to the people in the book as I did — and feel more connected to the queer people in our lives, too.’
