NZ First opposes transgender law changes

Posted at 7:48pm on 18 Jan 2008

New Zealand First has strongly rejected recommendations for law changes to help transgender people.

The Human Rights Commission is recommending the changes in a report after an inquiry into discrimination faced by transgender people. It suggests changing the Human Rights Act, and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act.

But New Zealand First MP Peter Brown describes the report as nonsense, saying its another example of social and sexual engineering.

Mr Brown says the report's reference to transgender children at school should not be condoned.

He says children don't need encouragement from people he describes as "fringe liberals" to wear drag to school.

The commission report has taken about 18 months to complete and includes 200 submissions and public consultation.

Commission spokesperson Joy Liddicoat says four out of five submissions have highlighted discrimination as an issue, ranging from physical and verbal abuse, to transgender people not being served in shops and missing out on jobs.

Other areas included hormone treatment education and improved access to gender reassignment services.

Ms Liddicoat says health professionals and transgender people will gather next month to talk about treatment options and standards of care.

A transgender woman says 80% of people she meets do not have a problem with her transition from man to woman.

Natalie Shearer, who has worked in the building industry as both genders, says most people do not treat her differently at all, but some make jokes and can be quite nasty.

A psychotherapist says a lack of a social category for transgendered people often leads to identity issues, such as which gender should be included on a passport.

Suzanne Johnson says transgender people also need better access to health services such as hormone treatment and psychotherapy support.