Michelle Robertson

Auckland Transgender Resources

P O Box 68402

Newton

Auckland

 

 

Dick Smith Electronics

Pvte Bag 102903

North Shore Mail Centre

Attn. Darrin Weir

 

My name is Michelle Robertson. I am a transsexual woman, involved in community projects, counselor for Auckland Transgender Resources, Transgender representitive for Auckland Pride Centre and a housewife. I have lived in this area for the past two years, during which time I have always enjoyed a friendly relationship with everyone here. Even those who suspected my gender difference have been polite and friendly.

 

Today (Thursday November 14^th 5.15pm) while making a  purchase at DSE Onehunga I encountered one of the most humiliating and embarrassing experience in all the time I have lived here. The person serving me, Patrick? called me “mate “ in an insulting tone of voice several times despite being asked not to. When he took my bank card (with photo ID) he addressed me as “sir”. When asked if perhaps he was a doctor or maybe even an endocrinologist and qualified to assign me to another gender he replied “sorry sir”. At this point I was approached by another assistant, Michael Wise who informed me that “it was ok in the army to call everyone sir”.  I found this comment insulting, irrelevant and untrue  For one we were in a DSE shop not the army and another, I have attended gender and discrimination workshops for the army and have always been addressed as “mam”.

When I placed my business card on the counter it was knocked onto the floor and left there. Also when I was attempting to write down his name, Patrick ? tried to push me away from the counter. Despite the fact that I was polite, both these people went out of their way to insult and embarrass me in front of the other customers (whose details I obtained as witnesses once out of the shop).

 

My work involves representing others in  their discrimination cases, I have lived and worked in just about every country in the world but this is the first time in many years I have personally encountered such malicious behavior and never before in a DSE shop, neither here nor Australia. This was a deliberate show of contempt and personal problems by a person who is supposed to serve customers politely and courteously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I am experienced in these matters but have still been left traumatized by this  and if it has long term effects on my ability to live in this community I shall be seeking further legal advice. If it had happened to someone less experienced (there are at least 6 of us living in this area) the consequences could have been more serious

If you wish, please feel free to check the photos on my personal website and then tell me you would deliberately address me as “sir” or “mate” 

http://transhelp.net.nz/michelles_own_page.html

 

Unless I receive an apology and the assurance this disgraceful display of  discrimination will never happen again  to anyone else in a DSE shop I intend to take legal action against DSE over this matter. Also, if DSE do encourage a deliberate gender discrimination policy I shall publish this  in all media available to us.

On the other hand….if DSE would like us to provide some type of customer services training regarding gender and discrimination we would be happy to do so through our affiliate group Genderbridge.

 

Looking forward to your reply

 

Michelle Robertson

Auckland Transgender Resources

 

File Copy…Sent 16/11/02