calum_v2 « on: 22 September 2010, 11:38:PM » GayNZ .com
http://www.gaynz.com/forum/index.php?topic=8984.0
Earlier today, I found out that Mama Tere Strickland had been
awarded life membership of the NZAF. Their reasons? She is "an
outspoken campaigner for transgender rights and a key advocate for transgender
workers in some of New Zealand's challenging urban areas"
What I say next is as a member of the NZAF, not an employee of NZPC, (although
all staff at NZPC are extremely angry at this award being made).
Where did they get this idea from? Lets have a look.
Around 10 years ago, at a public meeting on street based sex workers in Manukau,
Mama Tere stated "Don't give them condoms, it only encourages
them". She campaigned against the rights of all sex workers,
including transgender street based sex workers in "some of New Zealand's
challenging urban areas" during the debates on the Prostitution Reform
Bill, siding with the homophobic Maxim Institute and appearing for them, during
that debate. She is still opposed to the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 and
makes false comments in respect to sex workers, both transgender and other, in
Manukau. Not so long ago she tried to claim that all transgender street
based sex workers in Manukau are HIV positive.
She also supported the Manukau City Council (Control of Street Prostitution)
Bill 2004 which actively sought to destroy the rights of transgender sex
workers in Manukau.
It is comments like hers, and activities like hers, that have provided impetus
within the Manukau City Council to put forward the Manukau City Council
(Regulation of Prostitution in Specified Places) Bill.
One of the other people who have been awarded life membership this year, Anna
Reed, the Christchurch Co-ordinator of the NZPC community base, has said:
Quote
I have met many
transgendered sex workers who have told me that their lives would have been
very different if they had not met her. As young transgendered, they were
'taken in' by her, she was paid by WINZ (or the equivalent body) to look
after them, there was never food in the house and she put them out to work on
the street and took their money.
She also has a history of 'standing over' other street based workers and taking
their money. These things may have occurred some years ago but have left
lasting shared memories and she is deeply hated and distrusted by many of those
she seeks the funding to represent.
We noted that she aligned herself with the Maxim Institute when the
Prostitution Reform Bill was going through Parliament and was vocal in opposing
it, particularly to the media.
I am unable to share an award or even a media release with someone who has behaved
so offensively within the sex industry.
I would urge all other people who are being awarded life membership to rethink
this award this year. Do they really want to be associated with someone
who is a bully and thug, who has actively worked against the rights of the
people she claims to work for? Do they really want to share the award
with someone who actively works against the rights of transgender sex workers?
If I was to attend the AGM, this is certainly something I would bring up.
The Board have had these issues brought to their attention before.
Rachael has been informed numerous times about what Mama Tere has done in
relation to transgender street based sex workers. I have written letters
of complaint about the Foundation currying favour with MT when she makes such
blatantly false comments about the rate of HIV among transgender street based
sex workers in Manukau.
Why do the Board consider that someone who has opposed the rights of
transgender street based sex workers in Manukau has been a key advocate for
them?
I would like a reply to that question.
Answers on Gay
Nz http://www.gaynz.com/forum/index.php?topic=8984.0