page_title: Carmen Rupe
section_title: Legacy
hierarchical_section_title: Carmen Rupe / Legacy
context_page_description: Carmen Rupe, born Trevor Rupe and often simply known as Carmen was a New Zealand-Australian drag performer, brothel keeper, anti-discrimination activist, would-be politician, and HIV/AIDS activist. Carmen Rupe was New Zealand's first iconic drag queen. She was a transgender woman.
context_section_description: Rupe has been cited as a role model by MP Georgina Beyer, the world's first openly transgender Member of Parliament. Long time friend and ex Grey District Councilor Jacquie Grant MNZM wrote this moving tribute for Carmen and at her Tangi delivered an equally moving Eulogy. .
  In a heartfelt tribute, Sydney Mayor Clover Moore stated that "Carmen Rupe was an icon for Sydney's Transgender community and a tireless advocate for GLBT rights. She was a quiet achiever who spent decades as a volunteer with many organisations who provided support to some of our cities most vulnerable people. I knew Carmen and was saddened by her passing. She will be missed by the people she touched and the community she was such a strong part of. It is heartening that, in accordance with her wishes, the Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust has been established to raise awareness of some of the issues faced by our GLBT community. This is a fitting tribute to someone who dedicated so much of their life to helping others"
  Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown supports erecting a statue of Rupe in Wellington: "I admired her strength in living her life on her terms and standing up against discrimination."
  Four sets of traffic lights along Cuba Street in Wellington's central business district are fitted with green pedestrial lights depicting Rupe. The lights were installed in August 2016 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Homosexual Law Reform Act.
  In 2020, the short film GURL was released based on Rupe's life. The short film was a prequel to the feature film "The Book of Carmen", which is currently in pre-production. The film was directed, produced and written by Mika X.
caption: A green pedestrial light depicting Carmen Rupe on Cuba Street, Wellington
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