Members of the rainbow community, allies, whānau and concerned city residents, bearing banners reading ‘‘Unite for Trans Rights’’ and ‘‘Stop the Gender Bill’’, gathered in the Octagon yesterday where they were encouraged to engage in the select committee process and reject the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill.
The rally followed a series of large protests in five other cities the previous weekend as opposition grows to a New Zealand First Member's Bill which seeks to define all women as ‘‘adult human biological females’’, and all men as ‘‘adult human biological males’’ across all legislation.
The proposed law change would affect how courts interpret the law without obliging anyone to change how they speak or identify.
Supporters argued it clarified sex-based rights and reflected biological reality.
Advocacy groups strongly opposed it, arguing it threatened transgender, non-binary and intersex peoples’ visibility and rights, and potentially had unintended consequences, such as restricting access to abortion for under-20s.
‘‘I was very inspired by the younger people who spoke with such passion and told very moving personal stories and just reminded us of who they are, the dreams they have and the lives they have ahead.
‘‘Crazy how they want this legislation to take that away from people.’’
Neave Ashton told the crowd to fight hate with hope.
‘‘We are a community and we will not be divided.’’
The Bill was just a distraction, they said.
‘‘What better distraction than punching down on an already marginalised community?
‘‘It’s a cynical attempt at a culture war, to use this community as a scapegoat, from a government that has been a disaster.’’
One mother spoke with her son.
‘‘The government says [my son] does not exist.
‘‘[My son] makes this world a better place and he’s made me a better person.
‘‘We know this Bill will result in further harm because its purpose is to manufacture suspicion and fear and justify discourse against the queer community,’’ she said.
Her son told the crowd he hoped the Bill did not pass its second reading as it would ruin much of the work done to make New Zealand a proud and diverse country.
The Bill passed its first reading in Parliament in May and has been referred to a select committee for public submissions, which close at 11.59pm on Thursday, July 2.
What happens next?
The select committee usually takes up to six months to examine a Bill and prepare a report for the House. There may also be public hearings on the submissions. The committee can recommend changes to the Bill, before it is presented for a second reading. If the Bill fails a second reading, it’s finished, but if it passes, it goes to a debate before the committee of the whole House and a third and final reading on whether to pass or reject the Bill. In the first reading, parties voted as blocs, but if future readings are considered in a conscience vote then MPs can vote however they like — using their conscience, as the term implies. There has been no indication yet whether there will be a conscience vote on the gender Bill. Many huge social issues and human rights debates for New Zealand have been settled in conscience votes such as gay marriage, homosexual law reform, medicinal cannabis, end of life choice and anti-smacking legislation. — RNZ
