Auckland marchers begin their trek up Queen Street UPDATED: Around 120 people have marched in Auckland calling for the public to reflect on the treatment of transgender people, while gatherings have also been held in Hamilton and Christchurch. It follows global marches and vigils in memory of Ohio 17-year-old Leelah Alcorn, who took her own life as she struggled with finding support and acceptance of her gender identity. The Auckland event began with speeches at Britomart, highlighting recent statistics which show that around 50 per cent of trans students have attempted suicide in the last year. They also object to the Ministry of Education's inaction over transgender issues and ERO not asessing schools on whether they provide a safe environment for queer and trans students, according to rally organiser Jennifer Shields. Jennifer Shields The Auckland marchers then made their way up Queen St chanting “trans rights are under attack”, in an event which finished at Aotea Square. Organisers are delighted with the turnout. Shields says they were hoping for about 50 people and ended up with around 120. “The crowd were also overwhelmingly young, with the majority under 20 - aka trans youth still in high school. I feel that they know now that we're fighting for them, and feel really positive about who was there and how many.” Shields believes a lack of sex and gender education in school creates an environment in which queer and trans students receive no acknowledgement or attention. “Currently sex and gender education is optional in New Zealand, with many principals believing they have no queer or trans students in their schools,” she says. "We don't even have a clear idea of how safe or accepting schools are for queer and trans students. We found out in a recent review that the Education Review Office doesn't investigate this factor or report on it." Shields says today one 19-year-old genderqueer speaker spoke of how if queer gender identities were taught in schools it would've saved them a few years of confusion. "Leelah also mentioned 10 years of confusion in her note. I'm a firm believer in the idea that education in schools is a really good first step - it'll give trans youth representation and the knowledge that they're not alone, it'll improve on bullying in schools and increase acceptance.” Shields says from here, they will keep up the momentum, “and want to put pressure on the Ministry of Education and the Educational Review Office, as well as continuing to keep awareness up and getting public dialogue started. "We want people to be so aware about what's happening and how badly trans youth have it that institutions are embarrassed about how they do things.” ----- A group gathered at the Riff Raff Statue in Hamilton In Hamilton a small group gathered by the city's Riff Raff Statue. Organiser Natasha Cully says the gathering was in memory of Alcorn, “and to discuss and reflect on things in our society and community that are working well in terms of gender issues and things that need improvement”. Some of the points which came up were that it was important to raise awareness and encourage acceptance, allowing children to be raised without expectations and allow them to grow up and be who they are, and suggestions society should move away from dressing people in either pink or blue, “but allowing everyone to wear whatever they want to wear and that colours don't define you as a person”. “Whilst today's meeting was small we were still able to bring up some ongoing issues within today's society and look forward in working on this throughout the year with goals in mind,” Cully says. “At the end of the day it's about being there for one another especially when times get tough.” Cully says there are always places that can help, such as What's up? and Youthline. ---- In Christchurch, a group of around 15 people gathered at the Sanctuary Gardens. “They were mainly youth which was extremely pleasing to see, there was a small representation of older ones,” says Lynda Whitehead from Agender. She addressed the gathering and following that 17 candles were lit, one for each day of Leelah's life. “A minute’s silence was observed in honour of Leelah and the thousands of others who have paid the ultimate price for being themselves,” Whitehead says. “Afterwards, many shared their thoughts and put forward some suggestions regarding trans issues, of notable interest was the call for transgender education at school level and also more information in the health sector.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 10th January 2015 - 4:21pm