Details of AKL memorial for Carmen confirmed

Posted in: New Zealand Daily News

By GayNZ.com Daily News staff - 17th January 2012

An Auckland memorial service for the late and great Carmen Rupe will
be held on the eve of the Big Gay Out.

The service will be held on Saturday 11th February from 5.30PM-8.30PM
at St Matthew-in-the-City.

Carmen passed away peacefully in the presence of friends and family on
15 December and was buried, in accordance with her wishes, in Sydney's
Rookwood Maori Cemetery.

The Auckland memorial is open to anyone who would like to attend.

Jordon Harris, a taktatāpui community member and one of the
organisers, says the memorial is an opportunity for people to gather
and pay their respects to one of New Zealand’s most respected and
successful transgender legends.

"Many whānau and friends were able to farewell Carmen in Sydney and
this is an opportunity for people in New Zealand to do the same. Some
of her close friends from Sydney are coming too and they will be
bringing her portrait which was used at the tangi in Sydney."

The service has been organised by Carmen's whānau, close friends, the
New Zealand AIDS Foundation and Mika Haka Foundation.

It will be followed by a gathering at DNA from 9PM, then Family from midnight.

A Wellington memorial for Carmen is being held this Sunday at S&M's on
Cuba St, from 7PM.

Mardi Gras tribute planned

Meanwhile Sydney Mardi Gras has granted the Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust
special dispensation to put in a late application to have a Carmen
memorial in this year's parade.

"Whilst we are still unclear as to whether they'll be able to squeeze
us in as a float or a walking group behind Carmen's scooter - we're
now looking for expressions of interest from people who might want to
be involved and/or help coordinate this entry should we get the go
ahead later this month," the Trust says.

The Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust can be contacted at
carmenrupememorialtr...@gmail.com or through its Facebook page here

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Related Links:

Official Trust aims to protect Carmen's legacy
<http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_11282.php>
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