Lexie Matheson

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Lexie Matheson

ONZM
Lexie Matheson ONZM (cropped).jpg
Matheson in 2016
Born1944/1945 (age 76–78)[1]
OccupationActivist, entertainer, educator

Alexandra Mary Raine Matheson ONZM (born 1944/1945) is a New Zealand transgender activist, entertainer, and educator.

Career[]

Matheson started her career in the 1960s as a teacher, and then became a principal.[2] She was the director of the Maidment Theatre at the University of Auckland from 1998 to 2006.[3] Whilst at Maidment Theatre, she completed a Master of Creative and Performing Arts in arts management.[4] In 2006, she started as lecturer of event management at Auckland University of Technology.[5][3]

As of 2018 Matheson was working on her doctoral thesis, examining the history of karate in New Zealand.[1][6]

As an entertainer, she has been involved in over 400 theatrical productions.[2] 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[]

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.[2] She has also been involved with Agender New Zealand Auckland and was a trustee for Transadvocates.[2]

Other areas of activism that Matheson has been involved in include campaigning to add gender identity as a protected identity under the Human Rights Act 1993, and the treatment of transgender people who are incarcerated.[5][4]

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, she 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 Goju Ryu Karate Federation Championships in 2017, where she placed bronze.[5][10] She has a second dan black belt in Goju Ryu Karate.[10] She is also the chair of Archery New Zealand.[5]

Personal life[]

Matheson was assigned male at birth and realised she was transgender when she was eight years old. She transitioned in 1998, aged 53.[1] She has been married twice, with her first marriage ending because of her transition.[1]

Honours and awards[]

In the 2016 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.[2]

Matheson has been nominated for Senior New Zealander of the year in 2019, 2020 and 2021.[11][5][8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Queen's Birthday Honours: Honour a sweet reward in transgender campaign". The New Zealand Herald. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "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 9 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Lexie Matheson: Bio". academics.aut.ac.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ a b Dann, Jennifer (9 February 2016). "Twelve questions: Lexie Matheson". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 November 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e "2021 Senior New Zealander of the year semi-finalists". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ^ "What life is like for the gender-fluid". Radio New Zealand. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Contributor Bio. Lexie Matheson". www.theatreview.org.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b "Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealander of the Year 2020 Finalists". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Lexie Matheson: "It's Very Easy to Forget That There Are Actually Queers Over Forty"". express. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Lexie Matheson Takes Bronze at World Karate Champs". express. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Former Auckland Pride Chair Lexie Matheson Nominated For Senior New Zealander of the Year". express. 4 January 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
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