Will Hansen
Will Hansen is researching Aotearoa's history of queer activism.
PhD Candidate in History
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations
Qualifications
MA in History, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2020
BA(Hons) in History, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, 2018
Profile
Will is currently researching histories of queer activism in Aotearoa, from the 1960s through to the 2010s. This is building off his Masters research, which analysed trans resistance in the 1970s and 80s, focused on the various ways trans people struggled toward their liberation in Aotearoa. Will is also a trustee of Te Pūranga Takatāpui o Aotearoa, the Lesbian and Gay Archives of New Zealand, and is passionate about exploring how knowing and preserving our histories can support current queer activist efforts.
Supervisors
Senior Lecturer
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations
Professor of History
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations
Publications
Will Hansen, ‘The Cold War and the Homophile, 1953-1963,’ The Australasian Journal of American Studies 38:1, (2019), pp.79-96
Will Hansen, ‘A trans history of gay liberation in New Zealand,’ The Spinoff, 27 March 2022, https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/27-03-2022/a-trans-history-of-gay-liberation-in-new-zealand
Will Hansen and Kerryn Pollock, ’50 years of gay liberation in Aotearoa,’ The Spinoff, 28 February 2022, https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/28-02-2022/50-years-of-gay-liberation-in-aotearoa
Will Hansen, ‘Honour Thy Queer Ancestors: On Queer Progress,’ Pantograph Punch, 10 October 2019, https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/Queer-Progress-Aotearoa
Will Hansen, ‘“The Face of Gayness”: A Trans History of Resistance in Aotearoa,’ Fightback (Aotearoa/Australia), 9 September 2019, https://fightback.org.nz/2019/09/16/the-face-of-gayness-a-trans-history-of-resistance-in-aotearoa/
Will Hansen, ‘The Un(der)employment of Trans People in New Zealand,’ Labour History Project Bulletin, 27 November 2018, https://lhp.org.nz/2018/11/16/labour-history-project-74-november-2018/