Fa’afafine Association to issue media guide

By Sina Filifilia Seva’aetasi 12 May 2017, 12:00AM

The Samoa Fa’afafine Association (S.F.A.)  is in the final stages of launching its first ever Media Guide.  

 Yesterday was the final consultation at The Edge Marina View in Matautu where media representaives from every outlet met with the Samoa Fa’afafine Association(S.F.A.) . 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, So’oalo Tootooalii Roger Stanley said, “The guide is our initiative that we feel we need to actually share with all the media industry, so that when they report on issues or cases on fa’afafine, they need to make sure they comply.”

“Our number one worry is the terminology. In the guide we have different terminologies and their definitions.”

The guide covers LGBTQI terms and their definitions as well as guidelines for the best media practices.  

“In this guide, we encourage inclusivity. When you report , respect everyone.  We have all these different sorts of people around. As I said, Samoa is already small as it is and we need everyone to be included.”

“We want to ensure that the media and J.A.W.S. reps have a clear understanding of the issues and our preferences in the pronouns.  So when they report in the future, it reflects well and no one is being hurt or has had their human rights breached,” So’oale added. 

“We do notice. 

We’ve had a few people calling up and checking in to see if  their articles are okay, especially the pronouns and their names.  It’s a work in progress, it only gets better when we move forward.”

S.F.A. has set out an ambitious agenda which includes launching the final copy of the media report as well as meeting with the Council of Churches later in the year.  

“We met them couple of years ago. This meeting is long overdue.  I’m sure you’re aware of all those issues.

This is a meeting with them so we can share.  It’s just a dialogue with leaders of churches to see where they stand and where we stand. 

It’s a matter of working together and living in harmony in Samoa and making sure we continue to live in this paradise without a breach of basic human rights, any issues or problems.

“Samoa is paradise, we’ve been living here, fa’afafine ourselves, way before Christianity . Samoa is already small as it is, and it’s a matter of living in harmony and trying to embrace everyone.”

“Everyone lives in harmony and moves forward,” So’oale concluded. 

By Sina Filifilia Seva’aetasi 12 May 2017, 12:00AM

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