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Um [00:00:30] uh [00:01:00] uh uh. It is my pleasure as a co-chair of our cross party Rainbow [00:01:30] Network. And on behalf of myself, Janie and Paul Foster Bell to welcome you here tonight, Um, just wanted to share. Uh, I guess our journey is the Rainbow Cross party network. We were only established on the second of June, 2015, and it was an auspicious day because it was Pink shirt day. And so on the 26th of May, which is next Friday, we will again celebrate Pink Shirt Day. And I just wanted to remind us that Pink Shirt Day is about stopping, bullying, [00:02:00] celebrating diversity, promoting positive and positive social relationships. And it's about us, I guess, defining community. And so I see tonight's event about, uh is about defining community. And so I want to acknowledge who has been a critical partner, Uh, in our cross party group helping to to define community. I want to acknowledge I tens I want to acknowledge inside out, and I want to acknowledge the Human Rights Commission, and I thank you, Richard and and the team, [00:02:30] uh, for your support of this. Now, what is this? I hot Ida Hobbit, as we've termed it ourselves, Uh, it's it's really interesting to look at the history, Uh, because the reason that we're here today was because our community mobilised in 2004 to form a day in 2005 celebrated on the 17th of May because that's when homosexuality ceased to be classified as a disease by the World Health Organisation. And [00:03:00] that original, um, celebration was about ensuring that homophobia was eradicated around the world. Uh, in 2009, we added to homophobia transphobia in 2015. We added biphobia and actually here in Aotearoa in New Zealand in 2017, we've had we've added intersex phobia. So it really is, uh uh for us Uh, a monumentous, I think occasion because we are, uh, for the very [00:03:30] first time joining our international community. And so I acknowledge that in over 100 and 20 countries around the world, we all stand in solidarity. We stand in solidarity because we are standing for the up for the rights of our community. And so tonight we're going to hear from our community, uh, in that community in collaboration with our political leadership, Hopefully are developing, developing, uh, defining the solutions that I think are going to make our community better. So let's all enjoy tonight. [00:04:00] [00:04:30] [00:05:00] [00:05:30] [00:06:00] Sure. In that, uh [00:06:30] uh uh. First and foremost, I'd like [00:07:00] to acknowledge the of this place. Uh, and who we gathered into the trust for their welcome and their opening to our evening. I'd like to acknowledge this house and the that is outside the House of Representatives. Uh, that is the house for all people in New Zealand. Uh, and the treasured forecourt, Uh, that is outside. I'd like to pay, uh, our respects to those we are connected to [00:07:30] who have died in recent times. In particular, I'd make mention of the mother of Tom Hamilton, uh, one of the collaborators on this project. Uh, Thomas was who, and his mother's funeral was this week. So to all families who were briefed at this time, I like to also highlight once again the symbolic raising of the rainbow flag on the parliamentary forecourt this morning, which, to me signifies that rainbow people are very much part of this country. And I pay my respects to members of this house that are gathered here [00:08:00] of the different parties, those who've gathered to take part and those who are not here. You have a huge role to play in the life of our democracy. And and it's very important, um, that we engage with you. So thank you very much. Those of you who are here and also I I like to thank you, uh, for the invitation of the parliament to gather here under this roof and to dialogue here and particularly acknowledge the leadership of the cross party Rainbow Group Lesa Jan Paul in particular, for your support to this [00:08:30] and also acknowledge the communities who have gathered all of you who are interested but also to the significant work that our community leaders have, uh, who are going to speak tonight, have done in preparing for this panel, uh, presentation in the the panel discussion. Uh, and last but not least, greetings to my colleagues here from the Human Rights Commission. Briefly, I'm going to introduce to you, um, Joel Crisp, who is, uh, uh, the special projects manager who's been, uh, sharing [00:09:00] the leadership of this work with Moana. I, uh, a senior human rights uh, specialist, uh, in the Wellington office and we also have with us our chief financial officer uh, Kyle Kyle, Lovely to have you with us and alongside the rest of us in the commission and apologies from our CEO. Cynthia Brophy was called away to something else at the last minute, but it was very much her intention to be here. M, maybe if the MP S who are going to speak those who are going to speak can please come up and take these seats here. Um, so please come forward [00:09:30] and we've got Nicola Willis. Nicola here. Good. Hello, Nicola. I just met you just before. Please come up now, Nicola, I'll talk to talk about Nicola as well, So please come up and take a seat. So, please, people, you're welcome to our, um our MP S and Nicola, a parliamentary candidate who's standing in, um so I'll start with the ones the one furthest away from me Grant Robertson from the Labour Party. Please give me your give me a hand. [00:10:00] Jane Lugi for on the greens, uh, Peter Dunn, who is the not just the representative of, uh, United future, but is the party leader of United Future and also great. Welcome to Nicola Willis, national candidate for Wellington Central, please. [00:10:30] So how these people got here is there was an invitation sent to all the party leaders to provide somebody for this, Um, for this panel discussion and one of the party leaders has come in person, which is just great. Um, thank you, Peter. Lovely to have you with us. A lot of choice. And I know that Peter has offered an apology. He needs to leave early. So when he's speaking, we'll be asking him to speak first, Um, the other. Thank you. The other, um, the other ones we've drawn [00:11:00] by a lot. And, um, so there's some random stuff going on there. Um, so apologies from Chris Bishop, who's from the national Party who was due to be here. And this is what this piece of paper was. So, uh, Chris is not able to be here. So what's gonna happen is that our rainbow community people here have a presentation to make to our parliamentarians, and they're going to work their way through that. And then there will be an opportunity to, uh for the parliamentarians to respond how [00:11:30] we're going to work. That is the rainbow community. People are going to speak for four minutes each and there'll be a warning at three ish Says, uh, Elizabeth's going to introduce the overall, and there'll be a little bit bit more time there. The other speakers are gonna try and work on four minutes. And then the parliamentarians again will speak for about five minutes in response. And then we'll open up a discussion at, uh uh uh uh uh And And at that point, we'll be able to take questions from the, uh, Rainbow community reps. But also, we can take questions from the floor. [00:12:00] So now, without further ado, I'd like to hand over, uh, proceedings at this point. Unless I'm missing something. No, I'm good to Elizabeth. Uh, who is going to introduce the Yeah, uh, it's wonderful to be here amongst you tonight. [00:12:30] Uh, in particular. We do thank the Rainbow Parliamentary Network for helping make this happen. Uh, my name is Elizabeth. I'm chair of Trust, and we advocate for so all Maori who are with diverse sexes, sexualities and genders, uh, and sex characteristics. So including, uh, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans intersex and queer. And tonight you saw an example of how we roll where we see that the cultural [00:13:00] is always connected into the political. The, um I don't know that there's evidence or that I can prove this, but I'm willing to bet that in this on this day, the International Day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, I'm willing to bet that we're one of the only places in the world where leading rainbow organisations are sitting down and having a conversation with representatives from the every ruling party in their country. And I'm pretty proud [00:13:30] of that and I'm excited about what will happen after that. So tonight most of the speakers tonight represent, uh, members of the coalition that was formed to create this, uh so as was mentioned, Human Rights Commission I inside out, but also mosaic and Rainbow Wellington So a mixture human rights institutions, national and local organisations. The report that was sent to the MP S brought together [00:14:00] as much research as is available in this country about the issues that are facing us. Uh, but also we we created a survey that went out, and about 250 members of our community, uh responded to say what are our priorities amongst. There are many, many issues facing us, some parts of our communities in different ways. What are the priorities? But also what are the things that actually government can do something about? There are many other issues which we need to work on inside our own communities and things that we will work on with our [00:14:30] and and the different communities that we operate within. So the first thing that we looked at was around. The key issues which have consistently over the last 10 20 years, have consistently been brought up by the Human Rights Commission and by our NGO S across the country are the rights to equality and non-discrimination safety and security for all of us. Uh, with specific concerns about violence for our young people, within schools [00:15:00] and within our communities and places of detention, uh, that we should be able to have the highest levels of health and access to the health care we need when we need it. Freedom from torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment in healthcare settings and protection from medical abuses, particularly for trans and intersex people. The right to recognition before the law uh, partly in relation to legal [00:15:30] gender recognition. Uh, for those who are non-binary, uh, but also in other areas that affect very specific parts of our community, such as adoption. Now, the online survey that we put out and when we we've just done an initial a breakdown of that data. Uh, but the key priorities really resounding. Numbers coming from people were around access to health care, violence and bullying in schools. [00:16:00] Uh, there was a focus on trans people into sex and young people. So our presentation reflects a combination of those things. So we will have speakers to talk about inclusive health care, particularly, uh, including mental health care for all of our communities are barriers to gender affirming health care for trans and gender diverse people. Human rights violations experienced by intersex people, particularly [00:16:30] in health care settings, are bullying and the need for diversity support inside of schools and violence against people with rainbow identities. And their last one is specifically around, uh, legal gender recognition and adoption. So this is not every issue that is facing us, and we understand that these things are interconnected. Uh, we cannot usefully or meaningfully always separate these out for this purpose, though, when we're dealing with government, we have to say [00:17:00] this department deals with this thing. This is this is what happens here. Uh, people have specific policies in different ways. So as a community, we weave those things together. Uh, for the purposes of this and and dealing with government and agencies, we have to find ways of separating. So finally, I would like to just point out that we still need further data collection about the issues facing our communities. We still need significant funding of rainbow organisations who are doing work in this area [00:17:30] and other areas that we have no real infrastructure to support, uh, resources for peer led initiatives, especially in the youth sector, and effective participation by our people and our communities. Whether they identify under a rainbow identity or not, whether they claim a flag or not, Uh, and whether they feel like they're part of a community, actually, anybody with diverse sexes, genders, sexualities and sex characteristics should be safe in this country. [00:18:00] Sorry, And of course, this is not the end of the story. This is just the next stage of we were up to in our relationship with government, uh, projects going forward, Uh, include National Rainbow Strategy, which we're working on and, uh, also the world conference that we're hosting here in this country. I hope that we have some things that come from this night that we've got some pretty amazing things to show off about when we invite the rest of the world to our country. [00:18:30] I It's going to, um, Elizabeth. Thank you for that. I'm just going to introduce the speakers one by one as they're ready to go. So, first up, um, Juana I, senior human rights specialist, Human Rights Commission Wellington. Uh [00:19:00] um um, ladies and gentlemen, members of Parliament. Uh, welcome to this evening's event. Uh, my name is I'm a senior human rights specialist here with the Human Rights Commission in Wellington. Uh, the area that, um, [00:19:30] I wish to address with you this evening is the health care for rainbow people. Um, and I'm probably going to do it differently to what others are, and I'm actually going to read you. Um, what was, uh, what came from the survey? Uh, that we sent out and was taken in the report that was compiled by Elizabeth and particularly Jack. So with regards to health care and Rainbow People research, as you know, uh, shows rainbow communities, like other minorities, experience persistent underlying stress [00:20:00] from being in a hostile environment in which their behaviour, values, appearance and or actions are different from the dominant majority. Homophobia. Transphobia biphobia stigma, including self stigma, isolation and secrecy, are likely to cause chronic stress for rainbow communities and individuals. And it's difficult because few New Zealand services request information and insufficient research has been undertaken on best practise to improve health outcomes, [00:20:30] the development of appropriate programmes and policies and the training for health care professionals have been slow. And studies show, uh, studies have found significant gaps in health service provision. Survey respondents, for example, identified that one health priority for gay men is the securing of pharmac funding for prep when prescribed as an HIV medication. Part of the work, uh, that the commission is doing in this area and in particular will be [00:21:00] covered off a little later on, uh, by Michell under intersex, um is around, um, the, uh, working with the Ministry of Health today. Uh, my colleagues and others, uh, have had meetings with Statistics New Zealand, uh, around the fact that, uh, data, um, is difficult, uh, to collect or has not been collected, Uh, with regards to our rainbow communities And also a meeting this morning with the Department of Corrections as well. Um, around what is happening [00:21:30] with regards to the health and care, uh, for trans prisoners. So all of these issues are issues that you will be aware of. Uh, and, of course, uh, we're looking forward to this evening, uh, to our members of parliament addressing those things, too. Thank you very much. Moana, Uh, the next, uh, speaker is going to be Jim. Jim Tray is an executive member from Rainbow Wellington. [00:22:00] Yo, um, I just want to acknowledge the reason I'm speaking tonight is to stand in for Tommy Hamilton, who, as Richard mentioned before, has suffered a a, um, family bereavement. So I just want to again send our and a out to Tommy and and friends. So, uh, tonight I'm speaking on the topic of trans healthcare. Um, the context really for trans people is, [00:22:30] um, that until probably only half a century ago, we lived in underground existence, and it's been a very long and slow and painful struggle to actually get any human rights for the trans people. Um and I mean, as recently as the 19 sixties, we could actually just be arrested on site. So those are the things that are still within the living experience of of the trans community. And no area is progress probably slower [00:23:00] and more painful and more overdue and more needed than the health care system. Now, this is not a new thing that's been put forward. It's being put forward time and time again. Um, and if we turn the clock back to um, the early nineties, this Parliament passed not only a Bill of Rights Act but also a human rights act to outlaw any kind of discrimination essentially against anybody. And, um, [00:23:30] I think it's it says something about our human rights institutions that about 15 years after those laws have been passed, the Human Rights Commission can conduct an inquiry that concludes that trans people experience discrimination, not like from time to time, or, you know, the odd person here or there. But it's actually part of their daily existence. So that's 15 years after that. That has actually been outlawed in this country. [00:24:00] And, um, then you might think Well, OK, so there are some people out there who have the wrong attitude, but really, what that report was saying was that it was actually government departments who are still, um, responsible for the most important forms of discrimination. And it's government agencies that really needs to be taking attention to this issue. And here we are, 10 years after that inquiry, and still there's been very, very little progress, particularly in the area of health [00:24:30] care. And what progress we have had has really had nothing to do with a response to that report. It's really simply because there are so many Trans people now coming out to their doctors and entering the health care system and the health care system having to respond and a few, um, really good professionals and people in that system who I want to acknowledge, Um, really trying to push this issue along. But it is, [00:25:00] as I said, a very long and painful process, and I think that's what's underlying the course. Action is this overall underlying message that it's long overdue, and it's about time that you know the human rights of trans people in the health care system was taken seriously. Um, now, I also want to acknowledge that as part of this very slow, painful process, that there are district health boards who have set up, um, programmes [00:25:30] and working groups to look into this issue. But again, I think the theme is it's very slow progress, like even three years into a project like that that would have produced a very flimsy discussion document that outlines perhaps the hope of what proper trans health care might look like in a broad outline. So I hope we can achieve much more than that in the next three years. And essentially, yes, it does come down to funding. [00:26:00] And at the moment, I think, um, well, it's great that some DH BS are taking on this responsibility. Um, it's a complex and difficult health care problem to address, and we are a small country, and I think we need to really be a bit more organised with our resources and how we address this problem. And I think, um, it's quite well known that the um, current minister's position is that it's the DH BS responsibility, But I think we need to see more [00:26:30] leadership from the minister and the Ministry of Health on this. And I think our community would also like to point out there is actually one area where the Ministry of Health does have formal responsibility, and that's a certain stream of funding called the High Cost Treatment Pool. And I'd like to point out, given what I said about discrimination, that gender, um, surgeries funded from that pool are the only kind of treatment that has a waiting list. And it's not an insignificant [00:27:00] waiting list. I think everybody knows how significant that waiting list is. So if that's not a clear cut case of discrimination, I don't know what it is, Um, but as well as funding, it's also about helping to create an organised pathway because I think what most Trans people will say that it's just like going into this bizarre kind of epic journey where you get passed from one person to another who doesn't know anything really about what they're doing. [00:27:30] So, um, nobody really knows quite in the system, um, in terms of providing an end to end treatment programme for trans people and you end up navigating your way through this kind of maze. Some people, depending on their background and the DH B may fare better than others. But that's essentially why one of the action points is really about training and awareness and making it clear what the system is supposed to be. [00:28:00] Your last point. I think, um, Well, yes, that was basically the third point, but basically the last, the last thing a trans person wants when they have the courage to come out to a healthcare professional is to kind of be left, you know, met with a blank stare as to how am I supposed to treat you? So, um, so it's about time we really cracked on and solve this problem in this country. Thank you. [00:28:30] Now, I, I thank you so much, Jim. I know it's hard to get these things, um, out and in, uh, such a short time. I know the, uh, members have been offered a full copy of the report back to the programme, and our next speaker is going to be man Manie. Bruce Mitchell, the executive director of Ian Intersex Awareness. Trust a New Zealand. Please welcome this. [00:29:00] Um, everyone, and particularly to you, our our guests who have come to hear us tonight and everybody else who's here. Uh, Marie Bruce Mitchell. I'm an intersex person. Grew up on the banks of the river on my dad's side, led back to Scotland on Mum's side and Milligan to Ireland. So I'm not going to reiterate what's in front of you [00:29:30] with the report. I'm going to go back to something I'm wearing here, um, the the colours and the symbol for the intersex movement. And it's really interesting that our young people have made this badge the colours of yellow and purple. But you can see here a heart we have to change not just for intersex people, but holding the hearts of this community and change homophobia. That's what tonight is about. So [00:30:00] when I think about intersex, let's go back to the birth of the intersex baby and I want to create a New Zealand where when that baby arrives, it's safe that we have staff who have been trained, what to do, that we have staff who know how to talk to the family in a gentle, kind, loving, informed way, and we take away the terror that currently is part of the intersex birth. So for the last 60 [00:30:30] years in this country, we've had a model, um, a medical driven model where we haven't done that. Loving hasn't been part of what is going on. So when we change things, I'm talking about the people there in the room and then providing support for the family for the so that the parents can hold this reality, which is often a shock, and go with it in a different place. Many years ago, I talked [00:31:00] to Rose Petty, who told me what used to happen in Maori community before Europeans arrived here. And she said, the old people used to say yes, they were very familiar with this reality. This is old. It's one of our young people said they were probably intersect dinosaurs, she said. The old people would say This child is a Tonga, a treasure who's [00:31:30] being sent to teach us something, Not what a child who's been sent to teach us something, and I'd like us to get back to that place. So we're talking about making it different for the birth of Children, and then the other thing is we have the 60 year history of people who have been hurt by this system, and we need some compensation and to address that issue. So [00:32:00] how do we do this? It's very simple. We need money, we need funding and we need an education system. And just like the young ones. Who said we need heart? Finally, how many of us are there? People say this is very rare. There's not very many of us wrong. Um, the young people have worked out There are as many intersex people, uh, as there are people with red hair. So if you think of the people that you know who have red hair, that's an equivalent of how many people you know [00:32:30] who are intersex. We can change this. We can change discrimination and fear. We just need the heart and the willingness to do it. Thank you. You the money. So, um, our next speaker is Tabby Beasley, national coordinator for inside out. Please come forward. [00:33:00] You, um I'm the founder and national coordinator of Inside Out. We're a national charity that aims to give young people of minority sexualities, genders and sex characteristics a sense of safety and belonging in their schools. and communities. Safety for our young people is one of the biggest issues facing rainbow young people for rainbow communities in a and across the globe. I think it's really important to recognise that all of the issues that we talk about tonight are affecting our young people. But some of the most pressing [00:33:30] issues are bullying and safety in schools, access to mental health support and transition pathways, and the huge need for resourcing training and support for our youth organisations across the country who are working in this sector a few weeks ago. Inside Out Friend Shift, which is our national youth. It brings young people from across the country all the way from to this time together for four days or workshops. It's an opportunity for young people to connect with their community, be in a space where they were free to be themselves and take away skills, knowledge, inspiration and strength to go back and make changes [00:34:00] in their own lives and communities. I want to share some quotes from the evaluations that young people who attended filled out um and note that these aren't the minorities of those stories. There were many many that I could have shared. And I just want to honour, um those young people for sharing their truth and, um, allowing me to share them as well. I now feel more confident in everyday life just knowing that there are people like those at the in the world who can remind me that I'm valid and that I'm not alone. [00:34:30] I was pretty close to suicide before the Hui. In all honesty, everything seemed too far away and I had no one. Now I feel at least like I need to stay alive for the next. Before coming to, I felt completely alone and like nobody understood the struggles I face daily. But after connecting with people here, I realised I am not alone and I'm going away with a new group of friends going through a similar thing. I now feel more hopeful about my future and transition. Being surrounded by people who understand and respect my identity has made me feel less alone. And I feel like the new skills I have learned will have a huge [00:35:00] benefit to me in lots of different areas. I feel like I wanted and that I'm loved and that I'm valid places like this are so rare that when you find them you have to hold on to them. Young people in New Zealand's Rainbow Communities are five times more likely to attempt suicide. Yet the services that are working to save these young people's lives are constantly struggling. Underresourced shift is just one example of numerous youth and volunteer led initiatives around the country where our communities are vital [00:35:30] to create better outcomes. For our, I think the quotes I've shared illustrate the huge impact that can be had on a young person when they get to experience what it's like to be in a safe environment, one that validates them, cares for them, empowers them, provides opportunity for meaningful learning and gives them permission to just be themselves. Imagine the possibilities for our young people, our country's future. If every environment they were in was providing those basic measures for well-being safety and belonging [00:36:00] just in our schools alone, there is so much potential to create positive change. However, the Year 2000 research by the University of Auckland showed us that there was no change in the huge amount of bullying that young student face in over 10 years. that statistic horrifies me because it shows the severe lack of care and action from government and education providers to do anything about it. I want to challenge all of our politicians in the room tonight to be part of making a difference in this area. I believe these statistics can change [00:36:30] trans bisexual, gay, lesbian, sex, gender queer young people aren't going away. In fact, more and more of us are opening up about our experiences and asking for respect. For the most part, our organisations and our young people know what needs to be done to make it better. We just ask you to please, please start listening. Yeah, Good to telly. [00:37:00] I noticed. Um, Peter, you're, um, looking at your watch. And I know that you're on a time frame. I'm wondering if we might just take, uh, at some point soon we'll take a break. I know you won't have had a chance to hear everybody, but you may be able to offer your response to what you've heard so far before you go. If you want to come here, Peter, please come forward or from there, If you want, we can move a microphone for you, Kilda, and thank you very much for the indulgence [00:37:30] of letting me say a few words at this stage. I'm trying to be in about three places at once this evening, and it's sort of working, but, uh, clocks are rather rigid. I've got to begin with a gentle chide to grant. I'm not here tonight because I have no option. I'm here tonight because I want to be here because I support your cause and because I feel very strongly about the sorts of things that we've seen spoken of this evening. I'm one of, I think, only three members of Parliament today who was in [00:38:00] Parliament to vote for the homosexual law reform in 1980 Bill in 1986. And I've seen a huge change in attitudes since that time when we recall the 30th anniversary last year and the horror stories of what went on around that bill completely unprecedented by today's imagination. But if you look at what's happened over the intervening 30 years, I think that we now are at a space where the tolerance, the understanding and the coming together [00:38:30] that you speak of, we can start to seriously think about achieving I. I don't have time to go through everything in your manifesto. Uh, a lot of it. I have very strong support for And when United Future releases its policy in due course, you'll see that reflected. But I think that comes down to a couple of very basic and important points. They may sound trite, they're not meant to, but they are genuine. Every New Zealander has a right to be tolerated and respected. [00:39:00] That is unconditional. The health system has to respond as best it can to the needs of all New Zealanders. I think the point that Marie made before I think it was Marie might have been the speaker before her, about the shortages of qualified staff in critical areas and the long waiting lists, Um, is, I think, one we've got to do much more to address. I think that we need to start to talk about the reduction of bullying homophobia. [00:39:30] However it's displayed in the education system in the workplace. I think it's diminishing in the community, although I still think there are pretty strong pockets of intolerance that need to be overcome. So I simply want to say, uh that that you have my support. I appreciated the invitation to be here at the time that this was being put together. I didn't imagine I was going to end up in this situation at this evening. It's quite interesting, actually. I've just come from launching some postage stamps to commemorate [00:40:00] the opening of the new exhibition on Friday, the the New Home for the 18 35 Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Waitangi and the Women's Suffrage Petition. And one of you may wonder where I'm heading with this. I'll be very brief. One of the themes of that is about connections, about bringing people together, about making links about building our community. It seems to me it's entirely appropriate that I should have come from that to this occasion this evening because it's the same sorts of connections [00:40:30] that we need to make. Connections are about respect, connections are about understanding. Connections are not about judgement. They're not about whether one has prejudices or not. They are about treating every single one of us as equal and every single single one of us as having a right to enjoy what we regard as the New Zealand way of life. so I believe that this is an important occasion and I'm very grateful for the opportunity of being present. I want to assure [00:41:00] you of my support. And as I say, many of the things you're talking about we will reflect in our policy when it's released. In due course, we will support you and we'll give you all the assistance that we can. But I think at the end of the day, this is a story about the evolution of New Zealand and New Zealanders. Attitudes changing and New Zealand is becoming are much more open minded and tolerant. And I'll just make a slight comment. It doesn't affect anyone on the panel. There are some parties out there at the moment who are seeking to revert away from tolerance. [00:41:30] And you might think that you are the target. You may not be, but remember, Pastor Nila. Thank you. Thank you. The honourable Peter Dunn. Please give him a hand. We're going to continue with our, um, presentation on issues of importance to, uh, to young people. Bella Simpson, a trans youth advocate. Please come and speak to us. [00:42:00] Thank you. Um, so tonight I chose to wear black to acknowledge the young lives that we've lost due to a lack of safety support and LGBTI education within our schools. Um, schools have a responsibility to be a safe environment for students. And as you've heard this evening, that's not the case. At the moment. I'd like to highlight a key point from a lot of these discussions as well. When students talk about being bullied, this isn't just from other students. This is also from teachers, deans, [00:42:30] support staff and counsellors. These are the adults that are supposed to be there to help support students and make sure that they are safe. It's important that teachers have professional development to help learn and understand what some of their students are going through. It's also important that staff put their personal beliefs aside and focus on the student and what will help them. A student shouldn't have to teach their house teacher in class about how sexuality is fluid and that gender isn't just male and female. Sexuality and gender identity are these big, beautiful interchanging spectrums, [00:43:00] and all identities are valid. How does this relate to me and my school experience as a Trans woman who came out at the end of primary school. I've often been the one educating staff and students. I've had to support students who haven't been feeling supported from their schools. And it's a lot of responsibility to put onto a young person who just wanted a normal high school experience. You'd think that as time went on and young people felt more comfortable to be themselves as schools, more of an effort to be more educated, understanding and safe for their students. But again, as [00:43:30] you've heard from te, this is not the case. Time and time again, we see young people fighting and standing up to people in power just to make their high school experience safe and more comfortable not just for them, but for those around them who don't have the opportunities to stand up and say that something's not OK. A simple example is gender neutral bathrooms. Students are working really hard to make them happen in our schools, and I know a lot of people will be thinking it's not that important. I don't know why you're complaining or from a personal experience. I can tell you that holding on [00:44:00] for 12 plus hours is not fun and I'm pretty sure I've, like, screwed my bladder. So being trans can mean that sometimes and sometimes I mean, almost all of the time. Public gendered bathrooms are just not an option. They're just not safe. We need the government to step up and actually say that the education review office is not doing their job well enough. There are huge aspects of our schools that are not safe for our students. Young people are dying while attending our schools, and I don't know why we're OK with that. So thank you. [00:44:30] Thank you very, very much. Uh, Bella, our next speaker is George Colton, Youth and LGBTI, plus peer support worker for Mosaic here in Wellington. Please welcome back. Awesome. I just want to thank you all for being here. Um, I know that it's quite easy to think that we've done quite a lot in New Zealand and we do like to consider ourselves free of violence, but [00:45:00] that's simply not the case. Every single thing we've talked about here is violence against our people. Whether we have gender neutral bathrooms in a school, if it's not there, that is violent. How somebody is supposed to go through their day without even access to a toilet. It's something that's so simple that can be so easily introduced in policy that it's staggering, that it hasn't been done. So the work I do is I work with male victims of sexual violence. The reason I have to work with male victims is and sticking in the binary is because [00:45:30] there's no other way to receive funding currently. So we work all the way up into. We are the only service for males, and there's only two of us in my office. Um, 60% of the individuals I work with are rainbow. That means of the one in six men in New Zealand that will experience sexual violence. 60% of those that I'm seeing are rainbow themselves. I think the fact that this number is so high goes to show that these populations are being targeted. Our people [00:46:00] aren't safe, whether it's in schools or whether it's in the community. I don't think any of us will stand here and say that you know of a rainbow plus person that has been free of violence their entire life. I don't know anybody and I would think that the people coming forward, I would have liked to have seen a really huge change and unfortunately it's not happening. I was invited to work at shift. It was an absolutely phenomenal experience. But I think the hardest thing for me to see from that was all of these bright, beautiful [00:46:30] and coloured individuals are still suffering. These are our youth that are coming forward. These are our future. And if these people aren't free of violence, well, what can they expect of their youth? We need to do this for them and it's simply not acceptable. The levels of violence we have in New Zealand is off the charts and internationally recognise that we are one of the worst in health outcomes for violence. We have such huge suicide rates for our youth and the funding for the services that are working on these front lines [00:47:00] are actively being cut. I know of services up and down Wellington that have lost staff. I know of places that are subsiding entirely on charitable donations, and if we don't have these services, people will die. It's not a question of if it's not a question of when. Sorry, it's a question of When are we going to help these people? If we don't, there's not going to be a future for us. And as much as I'd like to stand here and say that everything's happy and shiny, it's really not. We must do better. And it's down to you [00:47:30] guys to make this happen for us. The communities are out here, and we're doing all that we can. But we can't subside on nothing. We can't keep pushing and pushing and pushing and just hitting a wall. We must do better. Thank you, George. Thank you very, very much. We've got one final speaker from the community presentation, Uh, before we turn the tables [00:48:00] and ask our, uh, parliamentary representatives and and candidate to, um, offer their, uh, responses. But in the meantime, please. Jack Byrne, independent researcher and consultant, including to the A PF, which is the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. And he is based in Auckland. Please give Jack a welcome hand, and I'm gonna be really short because I know people [00:48:30] you know want to hear from, um, the politicians at the front table and maybe have a chance to to talk as Well, um, laws matter, too. The the the better I've got at the end is legal is about how laws protect and recognise our communities, and they're always part of the equation. They're always part of the solution. They're not sufficient on their own. And maybe I'll start, for example, with the Human Rights Act. We all [00:49:00] know, you know, I worked at the commission. I would say to everyone here you are covered by the Human Rights Act. The commission says you are covered. Bring your complaints. But I know the community doesn't feel that, and I know why. It's because it's not obvious in the act. It says sex, including pregnancy and childbirth, and somehow that's meant to cover trans and intersex people. The good news is it does because the commission accepts your complaints. But there are other people out in [00:49:30] the community who will say it doesn't cover us, and I guess one of the things I say changing the law and making it more explicit would be a good symbol. But more than anything, each time crown law or a minister says you are all covered, so we have to do nothing. What we actually need them to do is tell schools what it means for our communities. Tell workplaces what it means for our communities because at the moment it's like it's all fine and it's not so that guidance. If you think we're all covered, then put it [00:50:00] into action. Create guidelines for schools, create better guidelines for workplaces and include gender expression as well. Because that's the one where it's really, really unclear. Um so laws are part of it, but on their own, they're not enough. The next one was legal gender recognition, like we've got world leading policy in New Zealand with passports and driver licence, but it is still really, really, really hard to change your birth certificate. You have to show medical evidence well, it's [00:50:30] hard enough to get to see a hormone specialist in this country, let alone get them to write you something that you can take to the family court. It costs money, and it's inaccessible to go through that process. If we were a country in Europe, we would be now one of the 22 countries in Europe that the European Court of Human Rights told in the last month that they had to remove any medical requirements for legal gender recognition. And we still have full birth certificates, a requirement for medical evidence. So we've got the solutions [00:51:00] with our passports and driver's licence. We've got a petition to the government administration committee saying, Let's do it for other documents because if we don't make it clear for both certificates, then most of us have incongruent documents, and that's not something you want. When in this world now to have documents that one thing says one thing, another says something else. It also is really important at particular times in your life. If you can't change your birth certificate, you die. Your death certificate will have the sex on it that is on your birth certificate. [00:51:30] If you have a child, your child, you will be listed on your child's birth certificate based on what's on your birth certificate. So it is important and the last one was adoption was just to say, sometimes our fights and our challenges are ones that we share with others in the community. So a lot through marriage equality has been one in terms of adoption, but the the the community we need to stand with now is all de facto couples because it's de facto couples who still do not have the right [00:52:00] to adopt as a couple. Thank you, Jack. Amazing people. You've done incredibly well with our even with our little chopping and changing in the middle. Um, and so now is the time for our MP S and Nicola to, uh, offer some responses. And, uh, I said there was a little bit of, uh, a little bit of, um there was a bit of a draw that happened [00:52:30] on. So, uh, I warned Jan that she was going to be up next after after Peter. And then after that, we'll hear from Nicola, and we'll leave Grant to go last but mean of me. I know. Sorry. But, uh, if we could, uh, take speakers in that order and again, please feel free to come this way or to stay in your seats. Um, the So I'm speaking tonight on Oh, actually, first, I've got a message from the Maori party. Um, they were unable [00:53:00] to be here tonight, Um, because both, um Mama Fox and are out of the country. So they've written a message, so I will just read that so that you know that they're here as well. Um So the Maori party joins with other parties today to recognise International Day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia 2017. We join with yourselves and others throughout the world in raising the awareness [00:53:30] of violence, discrimination and repression of LGBT Q communities. While this is an opportunity to acknowledge this day and be part of the dialogue and to hear the and engage with wider society, we also want to acknowledge today as a day of celebration of the strength and perseverance of our rainbow. A has come some way to acknowledging the needs of our rainbow community, but we have a very long way to go [00:54:00] as the findings of the report for the panel Rep Presentation on Human rights issues and Rainbow's Communities details. We acknowledge the 26 recommendations over six sections in the report and will work with the Rainbow Community, the Human Rights Commission, Intersex Trust and the other groups represented here today. To address these recommendations, the Maori Party is committed to supporting the rainbow community and support [00:54:30] everyone here to stand strong against any violation of human rights. We believe in restoring the essence of who we are as to be able to create opportunities to determine our own pathways. It's about our health, our homes and our communities, the future of which lies in our hands. Yeah. [00:55:00] Um, so there's there are a lot of things that need to be done. And first up, I want to, um to thank everyone in this room for the work that you are doing and for the authors of this report, um, who have put these recommendations to us? Um, we know our family and our communities [00:55:30] are hanging in there, and that's not the best we can do as a country and that all of the people we love deserve so much more. And you have been fighting this fight for so long and and I really, on behalf of the Green Party, I want you to know that we [00:56:00] are with you in this struggle. Um, and I want to just specifically address some of the, um, calls for action and let you know that, like, I think we should be judged on our actions as well as our commitments. And so to let you know, some of the things that we have been doing up to this point so that you can judge our, um, commitment based on that. So, um, in terms of the [00:56:30] first point around health care, Um, my colleague who deserted me, Kevin Haig, Um, which I'm still a little bitter about, Um, he accepted the petition from Tommy Hamilton. Um, around access, um, for health care for trans people in New Zealand and wrote the minority report, Um, at the end. And in that report, [00:57:00] Um, and I think we've heard very clearly tonight about the waiting list. One of the other things that just drives me mad and I think is completely unacceptable. That I haven't heard articulated is the fact that in the of DH BS nine DH BS said they provided no services to trans people and that there is no other area of health care in this country where nine DH BS would say they do not provide for [00:57:30] an entire grouping of people, and it is completely unacceptable. And in the minority report to that petition, um, we committed to developing a national surgical service, um, for surgeries and that it should establish minimum requirements for DH BS in connection with endocrinology. I always struggle over that word and mental health services for trans and intersex New Zealanders, Um, and recognising that that will need to be across primary, [00:58:00] secondary and tertiary level health care services and that the government should also clarify for all DH BS that acceptability of the way all services are provided to trans and intersex New Zealanders is a minimum quality requirement and should provide training services if these are required to meet this the standard. So we have a very clear on record commitment to making progress, and I think it's completely [00:58:30] unacceptable that when the case has been made So, um, clearly to this parliament that there has not been any progress and it's not good enough. And I hope people vote to change that. Um, I would also like to say that, um, we were part of, um and it was an incredible honour. I must say to be part of the intersex round table organised, um, by the Intersex Trust and the Human Rights Commission, [00:59:00] Um and that our policy position, um, has been to work in partnership with intersex people, um, to develop appropriate policies and we absolutely endorse the recommendations that were made out of that round table and in government. The Greens will commit to developing and implementing a child's rights based health care protocol for intersex Children and securing bodily integrity of every [00:59:30] child born in this country and to investigate the incident of surgical and other medical treatment. And I say treatment of intersex Children without informed consent because without informed consent, I do not believe we can even use the language treatment. It's abuse and it needs to end. And we are committing to that, um, in terms of bullying in the schools that my colleague again well before my time Kevin initiated, [01:00:00] um research and funded that into, um, what needed to be done in schools and developed a suite of policies for making our schools safe and again commissioned research to investigate whether er were doing their job or not, and clearly found out that they're not. And in the cross-party Working group, we've been working to, um to get this as a special topic for EO to be investigating our schools. And alongside of that, I have been pushing, and I've written to the minister [01:00:30] to be getting resources for our community based organisations to be able to do that, work in schools, to get the teachers up to speed, to make sure that there are appropriate toilets to make sure that there are policies and that those policies are known. And I I think we can train um the mainstream organisations. But we need to resource our people to do it because we are going to do it best because we have the stake in it [01:01:00] and there would be so many more benefits from us having our organisations with permanent funding and resource and our society will know so much more when we have an established ongoing presence where we can develop that thinking and that advocacy. OK, great. Um and so that goes across. We also, um, support the need for research. And um, we got in the, um so in select [01:01:30] committees, we review institutions and so the Families Commission or super and the annual review of that organisation. We got them to, um and the select Committee to recommend that they needed to be permanent research, um, for quantitative and qualitative data relating to our people, particularly under this government, where there's a focus on, um investment, Um, for, um, social investment, which is all going to be data driven. And there's no data about [01:02:00] us. So that means there's no argument and there's no within that model justification for any of our organisations or needs being met. So that has to be there. And we have put that, um, into some of the political system and are calling for a response for that at the moment. We also supported the, um, petition from Alison Hamlet, um, around changes to, um, birth certificates and making that on a basis of self I education. Um, [01:02:30] And for me, it's a core issue, like you don't get much more personal than your gender identity. Why any system ever put that in the hands of a doctor or a court is beyond me, like surely it's a fundamental right to define our own gender. OK, so And on that note, um, I just want to again just say thank you all so much [01:03:00] for the work that you are doing with no resource and no, and without the due recognition that you deserve, because you are saving lives in the interim until we can fix the system. Thank you. Jane. Um I'm not sure how much notice you got, Nicola, but you're very brave stepping in at such short notice. Nicola Willis, national [01:03:30] candidate for Wellington Central. Please come forward. Uh, thank you all for having me. Um, it's really wonderful to be here. I'm here because an invitation went out for this event, and I thought, Well, I have to be there because I want to stand up and affirm my personal commitment, uh, to the rights of the LGBTI community and the rainbow community. And so that's why I'm here. Um, I'm not here because [01:04:00] I'm a member of parliament or because I have, uh, within my hands right now the power to change any of the things that you have talked about tonight. So I stand here on that basis, and I'm, uh, very grateful that I'm getting to speak. Regardless, what I can say, um, is is thank you to all of the speakers. Um, because I have learned a lot from you tonight, uh, and listening to you So Elizabeth Moana Jim Marie Tabby. George. [01:04:30] Jack. Thank you. Um, you, uh, and and Bella, I'm sorry. Thank you very much for, for your words which clearly take bravery and also reflect a great commitment. Um, and I want to acknowledge the work of everyone in this room who has done so much to fight for the rights of a community and who are continuing to fight for those rights. Um, and you've made great advances. Uh, I want to single out Lesa. Um, marriage. Equality has been a wonderful thing for New Zealand. And [01:05:00] I'm so grateful that I've been able to celebrate family weddings, uh, with my Children, that wouldn't that we wouldn't have been able to go to, um a few years ago. And I think you've shown us the power that leadership can have in this area and the advances that are possible. Um, and I think it's in that spirit that I'd respond particularly to what said which is that fundamentally, when we have these things in our hearts, we are it is possible to make changes. So in acknowledging, uh, the work [01:05:30] that's been done, we also need to acknowledge the work that's yet to be done. And it's clear listening today, Uh, and and it's clear from the experiences that so many of you are having, uh, that there is more work to be done. So I, on behalf of the National Party, can acknowledge our party's commitment to the rights of rainbow people. Um, our stand against homophobia biop transphobia, intersex phobia. I want to acknowledge the work of my colleagues, uh, in [01:06:00] particular. Paul Foster Bell, who sits on the committee, uh, with Louisa. And I want to acknowledge particularly the commitment of Nicky Kay, who has in particular ensured an increase in funding for Rainbow Youth to ensure that they are able to expand, uh, the initiatives that they provide to provide services to young people. Um, when it comes to the specific calls to action and the report that you've issued, um, straight up didn't know that I was going to be, um, here didn't haven't [01:06:30] had access to the report. But the commitment that I offer to you is that I am going to read that report in detail, and I'm going to understand it. Um, and I will study it, and where appropriate, I will commend those things to my colleagues. Um, and that is something that I make a commitment to. As I stand for Parliament, I stand here with my conscience that I must ensure that my Children grow up in a community where each of us have the rights that are actually written into our law and that, as a community, we [01:07:00] have decided must be upheld. And so, where there are barriers to that occurring, um, I want to advocate to have those barriers taken down. Um, And so that's how where I stand from a position of conscience. And I'm quite happy to continue that with my party, uh, into the future. And so that's how that's on that basis that I stand here today. Um, I'm not gonna take my full six minutes. Um, but I, I do want to to end by saying that I want to acknowledge the hurt of so many [01:07:30] clearly in this room. Um, that deserves to be acknowledged. Um, but when hearing, uh, the words from the Maori Party, I thought, Yes, yes, I want to do that too. I do want to do some celebrating because we have come a long way. Uh, and we have do so much better in this country than in so many other countries around the world, and we should be proud of that and we should see in that the possibility and the potential that we will continue to do better and that we will continue to have momentum forward. [01:08:00] So I look forward to continuing this conversation with all of you to continuing to learn from you to studying the work that you have done, uh, and to responding to it in more detail and talking to my parliamentary colleagues about it. Thank you, Nicola. Thank you very, very much. Our final speaker from our, uh, parliamentary panel is from the Labour Party. Grant Robertson, Please. [01:08:30] Uh, greetings, everybody. Welcome to Parliament. Your place. Stay as long as you like. Um, I'm gonna take Nicholas' other two minutes too, by the way, because I've got a lot to say. Um, the first thing I do want to do is add my, um, thanks to everyone who contributed to the report, but especially to the people who spoke tonight, [01:09:00] Um, that was an act of courage for everybody, but I really do. I know it's a terrible thing to do, but I really do want to single out Tay and Bella for the leadership that you show among uh um, you are doing marketable things. Both of you. Let's give a big round of and I wanna obviously acknowledge, um, my parliamentary colleagues Nicola, um Willis as well and particularly, uh, Lewis A uh [01:09:30] So the flag outside today, a bit of a history lesson on the flag outside today. We got it up last year for the 30th anniversary of homosexual law reform, and I was not sure we'd ever get it up again, but Lesa made it happen. So, um, Lou, thank you so much for doing that. And the group and Jan and Paul. But but I, I actually I know Jan and Paul worked hard, but if you've ever been on the other end of Lesa wanting something to happen, um, she used to do this on the rugby field as well. It just happens. So, um, Lou, um, thank you so much [01:10:00] for for what you did in making that happen. Um, George, I want to start with something that that you said about how there isn't a person in our broader community who doesn't know about violence. And I think it's a really important place to start. In 1996 I walked out the door of a nightclub in Wellington and took three steps out and a guy punched me in the mouth and said, You fag it as I hit the ground I've never forgotten that ever. It's 21 years ago and you can tell in my voice what it does [01:10:30] to me when I think about it and I'm a a big, bigger then a big white male and that's what happened to me so that legacy of violence is wrong and it affects every single person who makes a call about being who they are about standing up and saying who they are. So we gotta start there. We got to start there by saying That's wrong [01:11:00] and it doesn't happen and we do everything in our power not just as politicians, but as all of us in our community to support people who go through that, but also to make sure that we stop it from happening because we can start with all the policy things I'm gonna get into them in a minute. Labour Party got lots of policy, but but we've got to start at that level of what is and isn't right, what's right and wrong in the world, and that's important. And while I'm on that point, I've got a word I don't want [01:11:30] us to use anymore. And that's tolerance. I'm sick of it. I'm not here to be tolerated. None of you are. What you are are here to be accepted, embraced and understood. That's what we gotta do. So that's that's my little bit on that. 26 recommendations are all good. Let's just do them. Bye. But since you've got me up here, um, [01:12:00] on the legislative side of things, I want to acknowledge Jack and what you said, Jack and, um, I also want to acknowledge him for to be who I am as well in 2008, and and say that it is hugely regretful that we didn't follow through. We went out of government. So we lost the ability to follow through in the governmental sense on that. You're right about, um, the commission and what it does. But the Human Rights Act doesn't currently give, um, people from the trans community from broader genders, communities, [01:12:30] um, any confidence that that is real, and so clearly we have to address that legislative matter. I actually think we need a fresh approach on legislation. And, um, we've been taking a look at Malta's gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics act, um, which actually provides a different model for how you can go about this. It has a very practical purpose, which makes it extremely easy to deal with the birth certificate issue that we've been talking about [01:13:00] tonight that takes away the medical component of it and just makes it something that you say quite a simple approach. It's got a lot more to it than that. And it provides, I think, some of the confidence that, um, gender queer communities are looking for in terms of this. So that's our starting point about a fresh approach of looking at legislation. Um, you know, legislation doesn't easily translate from one country to another, so you've got to take a look at it. But the principles that lie behind that we think are are particularly important, and that would then lead [01:13:30] to the reformation of birth, deaths and marriages and other acts and potentially even the Human Rights Act itself. But I think we need to take a fresh approach now with where we are in the world today. uh, in terms of legislation, I could say a whole lot more about that. But even with stealing everyone else's minutes, I'll run out of time. Um, the the second area I wanna I want to talk about is is in schools. And in 2008, Chris Carter made a change when he was education minister to the way that the education review office did it work, did it work [01:14:00] and asked them specifically to include in every report something about safety in schools. And here's what various people have mentioned good intent, not followed up by action. So now we know that that hasn't happened. And so we now have to go back again, and we've got I'm sitting here in front by the way of our 2017 policy, which actually hasn't been through its final stages. But I'm basically just telling you it, so just, you know, when it gets ticked off later go. Oh, wow. Grant never mentioned that that night, but, uh, but, you know, we we do want [01:14:30] to see, um, intensive intervention and proper support for rainbow youth in the school system. Schools have got to have both policies and then be chased up on their policies. Um and and that is about everything. Sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression into sex. We, uh, yes. Implement the Ministry of Education sexual education guidelines in the health curriculum and then making er actually look at the experience and well being of rainbow community students. It's essential. The health system, everything that everybody has said. Absolutely [01:15:00] yes. In my community here in Wellington, we have the most incredible youth health service in the world that is stuffed at the moment because it's not being funded properly. And, um, this is the bit where I go hyper political on all of you for tonight. The health system is completely being undermined by gross underfunding. There is no target for mental health at the moment. The government doesn't take it seriously. That will only happen if you change the government because that's how we'll get the funding that actually needs to happen into the health system. And organisations [01:15:30] like Evolve can get what they need. We're fully committed to the ending HIV campaign as promoted by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, Um, that includes not only access to drugs, but also early treatment testing, education research and more. Um, we can do that. It's actually an exciting possibility for all of us. I just want to talk about because Richard is gonna bring his bell again in a minute. I've got to talk about two areas that haven't really been mentioned tonight. Homelessness and tackling, particularly youth, homelessness, but actually not just youth homelessness. Our [01:16:00] communities experience higher rates of homelessness just as we do high rates of suicide as well. We have a huge issue there. We need specific housing for young, um, Rainbow Youth. We also need housing as as our communities grow a little older as well. Um, not able, perhaps to have the security that you might have. Um, if you had a a, another kind of life that you would live. So I think that's got to be a really important part. Supporting positive ageing is a hugely significant, um, thing to do. And then just I want to say something to her around the intersex community. Um, we [01:16:30] have to stop the medical model and we join, um, the Green party in in saying that we'll implement a child rights based health care protocol for intersex Children That is one of those things in our society I think we could probably all agree on. I will finish it there. I actually have a lot more that I could say, and I'm very happy to talk to people afterwards. We, too stand on our record in the Labour Party from the very beginning of having been there for our communities. And we're still there today. [01:17:00] Thank you so much for your generosity and, uh, sticking to the times that we've set out. And I, I really appreciate the the volume of work that's been put in by the presenters. Um, and the care that you've taken in terms of reading the reports before you came because you couldn't possibly have heard everything tonight. [01:17:30] So it's that you've had to do some homework and thank you very, very much. Um, and also to Peter for, uh, the work that you've done. Um, so we're getting to that time where we're going to want to move next door. Um, and it's left to me to, uh, do a very quick bit of summing up. I don't really need to sum up things in terms of issues. I think they're very very clear. And the responses that you've heard, um, acknowledge the significance [01:18:00] of the issues that have been put there, some with more weight, some with less weight. But, uh, there there's a lot there. But look, please. My thanks. First and foremost to the cross party rainbow MP S Group who has brought this together under the house. Uh, the the roof of the house of parliament, please. Um and not just the MP S, but their staff, their long suffering PAS who have been. And we've got Joe [01:18:30] here, and I don't think we've got Brady here, and I don't think we've got Jessie here, but they've been amazing in terms of, um, working with us to make this happen. So thank you so much. Um, Nicola and the MP S that have come. Thank you so much for coming and listening and responding and being part of tonight. Please. Um the presenters from the Rainbow Communities and from the Human Rights Commission. [01:19:00] All of you, Um really incredibly valuable work bringing the issues forward. Please, Everybody, give them a hand. Uh, and also, uh, last, but certainly not least, you members of the community, both rainbow and probably no non rainbow communities who have come here to share this share. The acknowledgement of this day, the International Day Against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in this place [01:19:30] with this event and coming and sharing in this, because without you here, um, this would be a pretty quiet experience. We've got an audience, you're going to be able to participate. So thank you so much for being here and being party to this. So give yourselves a hand, everybody. And just one final acknowledgement before I hand over to Kevin, um, to do the And when he's done the we're going [01:20:00] to invite you all to sting to stand and sing to A which was the That was sung when the rainbow flag was hoisted above the forecourt this morning So we can start our day and finish our day with singing that, um but in a further acknowledgement, to make, uh, that we've had here this evening the British High Commissioner to New Zealand. Jonathan Sinclair. Your Excellency, it's been great to have you here. And I hope, um, you've really enjoyed your time. And I'm sure that, um, many of our people are going to look forward to [01:20:30] sharing a bite to eat and a cup of tea with you, uh, in the room next door. But, uh, thank you very much for gracing us with your presence and spending your evening with us. Thank you, Kevin. I'll, um I think I'll finish there, but, uh, lovely to be here. And, um from the Human Rights Commission. It's been great to be part of this and being part of the collaboration with the parliamentarians with the community organisations and with the community at large. [01:21:00] Uh um, probably I should also thank Richard for, um, being for this evening. So Richard and I just have one more job for you at the end. If you could start our song, that would be fantastic. Thank you very much. [01:21:30] Please rise as you are able. Oh, up for Oh, Um [01:22:00] oh. Oh. Here. [01:22:30] Thank you. Thank you.
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