Rainbow Labour says there is still more work to do to improve the everyday lives of lgbti New Zealanders. It says it will listen and learn from the outcomes of last week’s United Nations Development Programme’s Regional dialogue on LGBTI rights and health in Asia and the Pacific, which was attended by Louisa Wall. The dialogue in Thailand covered how laws can support wellbeing and how lgbti mental and physical health issues can be effectively addressed. Delegates discussed how laws could be a positive tool for change and advance transgender rights. They also spoke about policies which can ensure all students are safe from phobia, discrimination, and violence in the education system. “We will be working with Louisa to draw lessons from what was discussed at the dialogue and think about the best ways to achieve positive change here in New Zealand,” says Rainbow Labour co-chair Amanda Hill. “While New Zealand has achieved through changing the law to ensure formal equality, there is still more work to do to improve the everyday lives of rainbow New Zealanders.” Her co-chair David Do says our schools must be made safe and inclusive of students who identify as queer or are questioning their sexuality. “We also must work more with the trans community to ensure they have full access to the rights and freedoms we can all sometimes take for granted,” he says. “This year, we will also be going out to listen and learn from the many organisations which work with the rainbow community to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. This is part of our first steps towards helping Labour win government in 2017.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 3rd March 2015 - 9:31am