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NZ First MP's prison risk claims met with sighs

Wed 16 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA

Asenati Lole-Taylor says some transgender prisoners may have masculine attributes and strength which could intimidate and pose risks to female prisoners A New Zealand First MP is being accused of ‘a beat up on trans women’, as she attempts to whip up anxiety about safety when trans women are moved into women’s prisons. One of the key reasons for the move is the reports of rape and violence coming from MTF women in custody with men. Read a trans woman's story of prison abuse here New Zealand First’s corrections spokeswoman Asenati Lole-Taylor has now released a statement where she claims safety measures will need to be put in place for the women in the prisons transgender prisoners will be transferred to. "Some transgender prisoners may have masculine attributes and strength which could intimidate and pose risks to female prisoners,” her statement reads. "Having a transgender prisoner in a female prison could cause problems for not only themselves, but also the other prisoners and staff, if the situation is not handled appropriately,” she continues, without being specific about the risks she is concerned about. The MP suggests unused space in prisons to be converted into rooms for transgender prisoners, or for new prisons to incorporate space specifically designed for transgendered prisoners. Lawyer and TransAdvocate Kelly Ellis was among those leading the charge for trans prisoners, something she was compelled to do in the face of horrific reports from clients about the physical and sexual abuse they were being subjected to, among other issues they faced. “This is just a beat-up on trans women from someone who was silent when their being raped in prison was recently publicised,” Ellis says. “If Asenati Lole-Taylor had the slightest concern for prisoner safety, she would have spoken up a long time ago. “Those who are concerned with the safety of prisoners and ‘masculine’ people in women's prisons can take comfort in the fact that at this stage a court order is required or the consent of the chief executive of Corrections who will no doubt be guided by appropriate clinicians.” Lole-Taylor has also been vocal about the bid to ban prostitutes from certain spaces in South Auckland where many trans women work. In her statement in regard to prisoners, she also says she “acknowledges that gender dysphoria is a serious condition”, something which has been met with rolled eyes from Phylesha Brown-Acton, a Pasifika trans woman and longtime outspoken advocate, who says the MP has voiced how ignorant and transphobic she is. Brown-Acton says Lole-Taylor’s comments are unqualified and she is telling others without any knowledge that it's ok to publicly declare transgender people as having a serious condition that does not necessarily affect all trans people - gender dysphoria. “What a unprofessional and unqualified statement at that. Is this really the future of our Pasifika political leaders in this country?” Brown-Acton is urging all across the trans, fa'afafine, Leiti and akava'ine spectrum to write to the MP at her local office in Papatoetoe to declare their new found condition based on her professional diagnoses. “I can't help but feel she is 20 years behind with her train of thought and knowledge on trans peoples and I wish she'd stop oppressing a very vulnerable part of society,” Brown-Acton says. “I guess she made me laugh and maybe the circus is a more suited profession for her.”    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff

First published: Wednesday, 16th October 2013 - 8:30am

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