Samesame but different, Aotearoa New Zealand’s first LGBTQIA+ Writers Festival, was launched by the writer Peter Wells in 2016. Peter’s goal was for the festival to be “an exciting event that makes people think about sexuality, difference and community, stretches their understanding, gives them a few laughs and creates a slightly magic space for two days in February.”
Since Peter’s death in 2019, samesame but different has been run by an energetic group of volunteers who have continued the festival’s tradition of bold events, strong attendance and stimulating conversations.
As well as providing a platform to amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ writers, we use our funding to pay all the writers and moderators who participate in our discussions.
