Gender, Sexuality and Rights session

The summary for the recording “Session 7, Gender, Sexuality and Rights” focuses on the central themes discussed by speakers Susan Hawthorne, Nicola Surtees, and Senthorun Raj. The session was part of the Asia Pacific Outgames in Wellington, 2011, and delved into issues of human rights, gender identity, and legal recognition concerning LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly focusing on the experiences and rights of lesbians, the parent-child relationship legalities in New Zealand, and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ refugees under the current legal frameworks.

Susan Hawthorne highlights the often marginal visibility of lesbians in human rights discourse and campaigns. Hawthorne points out that lesbians' human rights are frequently overlooked, and there may be systemic violence and persecution against them that goes unrecognized. Citing cases from South Africa and Chile, Hawthorne emphasizes the severity of abuses like "corrective rape," which is used to attempt to change lesbians' sexual orientation through violent means.

The speaker appeals for increased visibility and advocacy for the rights of lesbians, arguing that lesbian refugees face unique difficulties in gaining recognition and protection. Hawthorne suggests that their experiences of violence are usually not given the headlines they deserve, and lesbian human rights campaigns are few and far between. The speaker underlines the importance of using accurate terminology and supporting lesbian activism to amplify their rights and ensure they are included in broader LGBTQ+ discussions.

Turning to New Zealand’s legal context, Nicola Surtees discusses the legal recognition of parent-child relationships, focusing on the positive and negative implications for lesbian mothers, gay fathers, and their children. Surtees talks about how laws are lagging behind the diversity of family structures, and the role reproductive technologies play in this gap. The speaker shares findings from a qualitative study exploring the experiences of lesbian and gay parents.

Surtees emphasizes the enabling aspects of the law for lesbian non-birth mothers, providing them with status and security in relation to their children. However, Surtees also draws attention to the shortcomings in legal protection for donor dads who wish to be involved in their children’s lives but are not recognized due to the prevailing legal framework which restricts legal parenthood to two individuals. Surtees calls for legal reforms that would allow for the recognition of three legal parents to address the needs of diverse family structures.

Senthorun Raj addresses the experience of LGBTQ+ refugees and the difficulties they encounter within Australia's asylum system. Raj describes the problematic practice of assessing claims based on narrow, Western-centric stereotypes of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences. Raj criticizes the lack of sensitivity towards cultural contexts and the various forms of persecution faced by this group, particularly where narratives of persecution fall within the private sphere or domestic context.

Raj’s research looks into how sexual orientation as a basis for refugee status is often misunderstood, leading to aberrant decisions in the asylum process. Raj advocates for an understanding of sexuality that is attentive to cultural variances and intersectional identities, highlighting the need for judicial and administrative processes to put forth credible narratives. Raj also calls for legislative and policy changes that cater to the complexities of individual experiences of asylum seekers.

The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment, and the speakers expressed their hopes for outcomes and further discussions that might arise from the conference. Each speaker stresses the urgent need for increased recognition, legitimate representation, and more nuanced responses to the diverse experiences and rights issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals within society and under the law. They seek tangible improvements that recognize the complexities of their intersections of identity, ensuring equitable treatment and meaningful visibility in human rights campaigns, family law, and refugee status determination processes.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Boris Dittrich Nicola Surtees Senthorun Raj Susan Hawthorne

2010s, activism, asia pacific outgames (2011), boris dittrich, gender identity, human rights, nicola surtees, senthorun raj, sexuality, susan hawthorne, wellington town hall, yogyakarta principles (2006)

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