This month has been kind of horrific in terms of trans stuff in NZ politics and government.
First StatsNZ said including questions about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or having anywhere for intersex people to talk about themselves, was too hard. Which sucks, ’cause it means that we’ll be left out of really important research and statistics that will give an indication of how our communities are doing, and how many of us there really are.
Then, Gender Identity was knocked back, again, from being included in the Human Rights Act because apparently it’s too “controversial” to protect a vulnerable minority. Which sucks because there’s some really obvious discrimination that we face.
Then there was a bunch of really gross comments from MPs on all sides about funding trans peoples surgeries, another joke the following day, and a couple of apologies. It seems like a really horrifying type of comedy to prey on vulnerable communities.
It’s demeaning, dehumanising, and just really sucky.
In less sucky news there’s some queer and trans NZ young people you CAN support through these little fundraisers:
PLUS! I’m coming to Melbourne tomorrow and you can come here me talk on Tuesday night! or Wednesday Morning!
Surely the fact that it is controversial is the very reason GI should be included in a Human Rights Act?
The government are arseholes.
That is all.
Wow. Rough Week. *hugs*
I know in time trans & GQ folks will grow, get into the important places and make changes happen. Just hoping it won’t take that long for ANYTHING to go in the right direction, cause this sh*t sucks.
These reasoning’s make me just wanna say “I don’t want to live on this planet anymore” and fly off to colonize a new one.
~One can dream right?
sam, if you are free anytime Wednesday night, I’d love to catch up and interview you for an article in PlanetTransgender on the plight and issues facing trans* in NZ ATM. I will drive to wherever you nominate.
ohhhh i am sorry, i fly out a 6pm tomorrow! There’s some really good blogs and writing I can point you too that are way more articulate than my comic though
Yeah….pretty much par for the course, unfortunately.
Technically it’s *already* generally unlawful to discriminate on ground of gender identity (the Human Rights Commission interprets the existing rules as including gender identity), but actually having it there in the wording outright would be a hell of a lot nicer than relying on interpretation. Or the HRC in general.
But that would rely on politicians not looking for cheap jokes and jibes at easy targets and actually doing their jobs. Not exactly likely in the short term.