The Human Rights Commission is currently holding an inquiry into discrimination and human rights issues for transgender people, believed to be the first of its kind worldwide. Coordinator Jack Byrne says the inquiry is focusing on three key issues: transgender people's personal experiences of discrimination, their access to health services and ability to legally change their gender on identiy documents. "The inquiry welcomes submissions from all parts of the transgender community, for example transgender and transsexual people, whakawâhine, takatâpui, fa'afafine, cross dressers, queens, akava'ine, fakaleiti and mahu,” explains Byrne. "We would also like to hear from other individuals and groups that are aware of the discrimination and human rights issues faced by transgender people. This includes, for example, transgender people's partners and other family members, community organisations, unions, health professionals and government agencies.” Claudia McKay, National Co-ordinator of Agender, NZ's transgender support network, welcomes the inquiry. “There's a whole raft of issues that we would like to see improvements on,” she tells GayNZ.com. “The wonderful thing about having this inquiry is that it will give us community-wide overview that we've never had before. “We know there are issues around housing, identity documents, and the health system. If all those can be highlighted, then it gives us the document to then approach the appropriate authorities within government, to actually try and make some changes. McKay believes the Human Rights Commission has had many complaints over the years from transgender people on human rights issues. “Over the last several months they've held consultation meetings with the trans community to pin-point what they need to do”, she explains. “They don't do inquiries that often, as they're expensive things for them to run. I know they've looked overseas to see if anything like this has been done regarding the trans community in any other country, and apparently this is the first-ever anywhere in the world.” Public hearings being held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin in October and November. The hearings start next week in Wellington on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 October. Written submissions are due by 30 November 2006. Ref: GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 4th October 2006 - 12:00pm