Sat 12 Mar 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) Gender Identity and Gender Expression Officer has expressed his concerns regarding the current issues facing transgender people in the Oceania region. Group photo from the Pre-Conference Trans Hui. Photo: Haus of Khameleon His comments come following the Proud Pre-Conference Trans Hui that took place this week in Wellington. Community leaders, scholars and friends from Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Aotearoa, Australia, the Philippines and Singapore were in attendance. Zhan Chiam the Gender Identity and Gender Expression Officer says, “There are challenges in the region, including uneven gender recognition laws, lack of access to hormones and transition-related surgeries and adequate healthcare, climate change, violence, homelessness and poverty. “One clear effect of inadequate gender recognition is the incarceration of trans prisoners in New Zealand based on the gender in their birth certificates, and especially of transwomen in male prisons, putting them at risk of assault and violence. The trans communities need to be consulted on how to make prisons safer.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 12th March 2016 - 3:33pm