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    Lexie Matheson

    From Wikitia - Reading time: 4 min
    Lexie Matheson
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    Born1944-1946
    NationalityNew Zealander
    CitizenshipNew Zealand
    Occupation
    • Activist
    • Academic
    • Educator

    Alexandra Mary Raine Matheson is a New Zealand Transgender activist, entertainer, and educator.

    Career[edit]

    Matheson started her career in the 1960s as a teacher, and then became a principal.[1] Matheson was the director of the Maidment Theatre at the University of Auckland from 1998 to 2006.[2] Whilst at Maidment Theatre, Matheson completed a Master of Creative and Performing Arts in arts management.[3] In 2006, Matheson started as lecturer of event management at Auckland University of Technology.[4][2]

    Matheson was working on her doctoral thesis, looking at the history of karate in New Zealand.[5][6]

    As an entertainer, she has been involved in over 400 theatrical productions.[1] Matheson was part of the Theatre Corporate, directed by Raymond Hawthorne, from 1976 to 1979.[7] Following these, she founded two theatre companies, one based at the Four Seasons Theatre in Whanganui, and then the Troupers Live Theatrix in Christchurch, with the latter running until 1998.[7] Between 1998 and 2016 Matheson wrote over 200 theatre reviews.[8]

    Activism and community work[edit]

    Matheson has had a number of governance roles within the New Zealand LGBT community, including chairing the Hero Board that organised the 2002 Hero Festival, and a founding member of its successor, the Auckland Pride Festival.[1] Matheson has also been involved with Agender New Zealand Auckland and was a trustee for Transadvocates.[1]

    Other areas of activism that Matheson has been involved include campaigning to include gender identity as a protected identity under the Human Rights Act 1993, and the treatment of transgender people who are incarcerated.[4][3]

    Matheson has advocated for the mental health needs of older LGBT people in New Zealand.[9] In response to a government policy of mental health needs for younger LGBT people, Matheson said: “We LGBTQI oldies experience all the challenges that other older people face in any ageing community, but we have our own unique challenges as well.”[9]

    Within sport, Matheson has campaigned for transgender athletes to be able to compete in all levels of sporting, and was the first transgender woman to compete in the World Gōjū-ryū Karate Federation Championships in 2017, where she placed bronze.[4][10] She has a second dan Black belt (martial arts)|black belt in Goju Ryu Karate.[10] Matheson is also the chair of Archery New Zealand.[4]

    Personal life[edit]

    Matheson is transgender. Matheson realised she was female when she was eight years old, but only transitioned in 1998, aged 53.[5] Matheson has been married twice, with her first marriage ending because of her transition.[5]

    Honours and awards[edit]

    In the 2016 Birthday Honours (New Zealand) Queen's Birthday Honours, Matheson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to performing arts, education and LGBTIQ rights.[1]

    Matheson has been nominated for Senior New Zealander of the year in 2019, 2020 and 2021.[11][4][8]

    References[edit]

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 - Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit". The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 - Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lexie Matheson: Bio". academics.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dann, Jennifer (9 February 2016). "Twelve questions: Lexie Matheson". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2021-11-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "2021 SENIOR NEW ZEALANDER OF THE YEAR SEMI-FINALISTS". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Queen's Birthday Honours: Honour a sweet reward in transgender campaign". NZ Herald. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
    6. ↑ "What life is like for the gender-fluid". RNZ. 2018-03-22. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
    7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Contributor Bio. Lexie Matheson". www.theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2020 Finalists". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Lexie Matheson: "It's Very Easy to Forget That There Are Actually Queers Over Forty"". express Magazine. 2021-04-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Magazine, express (2017-09-18). "Lexie Matheson Takes Bronze at World Karate Champs". express Magazine. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
    11. ↑ "Former Auckland Pride Chair Lexie Matheson Nominated For Senior New Zealander of the Year". express Magazine. 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2021-11-09.

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