The Queer Avengers and their supporters are getting ready to hit the streets of Wellington in their second Queer The Night march, to stand up against bullying. The group is marching to support Pink Shirt Day, an international event designed to challenge bullying in schools. This event started with a mass action of people wearing pink shirts to support a boy targeted in homophobic bullying in school, for wearing a pink shirt. "We're opposing all forms of oppression, but in particular we're challenging homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying," says Queer Avengers spokesperson Kassie Hartendorp. Hartendorp also works as a youth advocate, and says what queer youth have to go through in unacceptable, saying research shows 20 percent of LGBT kids attempt suicide - compared to four percent of their straight counter-parts. The Queer Avengers say there is very little statistical information on the problems affecting trans youth in NZ schools. However a recent US study, Childhood Gender Nonconformity Linked To Higher Abuse Risk (Roberts et al, 2012) found something the trans and gender variant community know perfectly well: children who do not conform to gender norms are targeted for psychological, physical and emotional abuse which has lifelong consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The Queer Avengers support the formation of Queer-Straight Alliances in all schools, education on sex and gender, and recognition of all gender and sexual identities. "We're here to say that in schools and everywhere else, it doesn't get better until we make it better," Hartendorp concludes. The march will be departing from Waitangi Park at 7PM, and ending with speeches and performances in Cuba Mall.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 11th May 2012 - 3:42pm