Family First have really excelled themselves this time, commissioning an 80 page report on transgender people. A report full of ‘facts’, ideas and suggestions to parents that they should ignore their child's own understanding of who they know they are and tell them they know best. They also tell every transgender person they should ignore all they know about the gender they know they are and accept they know better. And they must know best, as they chose a professional to write about it and tell the whole of New Zealand that we transgender people are confused about our gender. Shame an internet search on this professional, reveals comments such as "a phony expert" and question his ideas! Sure he may have written many books, written specifically for an audience with strict religious ideals, books that attempt to devalue the existence of LGBT people through misinformation, but does that give him the right to judge. Included in the report is the following disclaimer by Family First: - "The content of this report and the professional opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, and policies of Family First New Zealand". This seriously suggests Family First are hedging their bets here. Society must question if their expert is so great; then why Family First can't stand 100% behind their expert? If they are unable to do that, then why should society afford the report any credit? The report suggests the following: - Adults encourage children to turn up to school confused about their gender, which begs the question who is confused, the kids, or the parents? I suggest: - Kids only suffer when adults try to tell them they are wrong when they know the truth in their mind, this is where the confusion starts! Youth only turn to suicide when parents refuse to accept that they know who they are and fail to support them. But parents think they know best or they refuse to listen, think that might be confusing? Schools are not trying to affirm any student's gender identity. (As the report suggests) Instead, recognising that society has little understanding of what it means to be transgender, they offer alternative thinking as a means of educating, students, staff and parents on the need to fully accept transgender students in their schools. Additionally, because education is truly their thing, they do their best to create acceptance, stamp out violence at school, bullying and inform on the dangers of misinformation, moral judgements masquerading as facts made by bigoted organisations like Family First and others, while trying to be effective and stay neutral!Fact: - Nothing new about Gender Identity. (Been around forever)(Was suggested as new in report Title) Fact: - Bigots have been around for just as long. (Nothing new here)(Same old stories) Fact: - No statistics on youth suicide is available in New Zealand as it is against the law to publish any information about reasons for suicide no matter what gender. Unsurprising then we have no idea of the implications for Trans* youth, this must be changed. Fact: - Statistics show zero attacks by transgender in public facilities. Fact: - The Transgender phenomenon never goes away. Fact: - Research shows even young children know their true gender. Fact: - No transgender person wants to be the opposite gender. They are! Fact: - The report written by the so called expert has a degree in interdisciplinary humanities with an emphasis in philosophy, history and religion. No qualifications apparently to do with medicine or psychiatry, which begs the question, why should anything he says about the concepts of gender be taken seriously when mental health organisations no longer consider being transgender a mental health issue, are we expected to believe this so called expert knows better than the people who have been studying the issue for so long! Question: Research on why certain organisations or more specifically individuals within those organisations that react strongly to the attitudes of others; in particular those who express their gender or sexual orientation in any manner that appears different to what they consider is normal may be hiding Self Phobia. Maybe something serious is hiding in this report! Lastly we must ask ourselves why Family First take it upon themselves to challenge the existence of transgender people, a people who want nothing more than to be who they are. - Diane SparkesGayNZ.com welcomes submissions from members of our communities. If you have something to share, just email news@gaynz.com Diane Sparkes - 1st July 2015