Corrections managed to convince the organisers of the Auckland Pride Parade of their appropriateness to march as an organisation in the parade on the basis of "engaging" and creating an action plan. The Corrections Department and Pride have both come under criticism from a vocal trans rights protest group which objected to the department's presence in last year's parade because the way the department has treated transgender prisoners in the prison system. The concerns have been based on issues such as Corrections putting trans women prisoners in male prisons and lack of equitable access to appropriate medical treatments. Corrections says it is "engaging with transgender and intersex support groups to provide support to transgender prisoners." Vincent Arbuckle, the Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate Services, says "an action plan to further support the safety and welfare of transgender and intersex prisoners is well underway. It will cover their accessibility to support services, appropriate health care, appropriate rehabilitation and safety plans for vulnerable prisoners."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 11th February 2016 - 9:25pm