Lillian McArthur

Lillian tells us she’s been part of the rainbow community since she was 11 years old. She joined Wellington East Girls’ College Gay Straight Alliance group RECOGNITION in her first year, has led the group since Year 10 & this year was also a Wellbeing Prefect.

Two years ago she achieved gender-neutral uniforms and held regular meetings with school staff to educate them on diversity issues, and last year also spoke at the Wellington Teachers Conference. Lillian also led her school’s PRIDE week inviting Grant Robinson, Tamati Coffey & Tabby Beasley to attend, and last year created the school’s first drag show featuring GAG Drag Collective.

Lillian received the schools Absolutely Positively Student Award for leadership & community service, along with multiple academic awards over many years. Lillian’s chosen study is a combined Bachelor of Laws & Bachelor of Arts at Victoria Uni. Her career objective is Humanitarian Law.

Outside of school, Lillian works part-time, and attends SchoolsOut and QSA leader meetings organised by InsideOut. She also met with the Ministry of Education about improvements for rainbow students, particularly LGBTQI+ sex education in schools.

Lillian was nominated, alongside InsideOut’s Stacey Dalziel, to attend Women’s Words, the Suffrage 125 Reception held by the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House.