Human rights issues for transgender discussions

By KATIE WYLIE - The Press | Friday, 30 May 2008

The South Island's first transgender conference will open in Christchurch today with an update on the impact of a ground-breaking report into the rights of transgender people.

About 56 transgender people will attend the three-day Agender Conference 2008, alongside staff from the Human Rights Commission and politicians, to discuss the Transgender Inquiry report.

The report, released in January, called for "gender" to be added to the grounds of discrimination under the Human Rights Act, giving transgender people protection by law. It also recommended simpler procedures for changing sex on passports, birth certificates and other legal documents to match a transgender's identity.

Agender Christchurch chairwoman Joanne Clarke hoped a further four recommendations would be made to the commission after discussion at the conference. These related to media coverage of transgender issues, the introduction of an official identity card recognising transgender people in their preferred gender, generating correct information about transitioning the process of changing gender and clarification about transition at work.

These recommendations would help ensure transgender people had the same rights as others, Clarke said.

"It's for the person's own peace of mind that society sees you as who you are. We're a very misunderstood community. There's a similarity of discrimination, which we're trying to change. We've got a dream of where we want this to go."

Commission spokesman Gilbert Wong said the commission had been working with government, community organisations and district health boards since January. Commissioner Joy Liddicoat would present an update tonight.

The inquiry found that four out of five transgender people experienced discrimination, at school, at work, in the street and in daily interactions with shops, government agencies and health professionals.

"They're a community who have often felt left out or disenfranchised from the process," Wong said.

Greenkeeper Rebeka Abercrombie was among the delegates eager to discuss changes and hear from politicians about issues facing the transgender community.

"Anything that makes it easier has to be good and positive."

IDENTITY IN FOCUS: Agender Christchurch chairwoman Joanne Clarke says the transgender community is "very misunderstood".