Georgina Beyer

Georgina Beyer, a significant figure in New Zealand's political and social landscape, shares their life story in this comprehensive interview. Born into a challenging family situation, Beyer's early life was marked by their father's incarceration and their mother's struggle as a solo parent. Beyer faced societal and familial resistance due to their gender identity from a young age.

Beyer's journey through education and early work life was unconventional, marked by their keen interest in acting and the arts. This interest led to a move from Auckland to Wellington, where they became more deeply involved in the performing arts community. Their life took a turn towards the streets and nightlife, where they navigated the complexities of living as a transgender person. This period of Beyer's life was challenging, involving encounters with the law and societal prejudices, yet it also fostered resilience and a sense of community among those marginalized.

Beyer's political career, which included roles as a Mayor and a Member of Parliament, is a significant focus of the interview. Their time in politics was groundbreaking, not only for their legislative contributions but also for being a visible transgender figure in a high-profile public role. The discussion delves into the challenges Beyer faced post-politics, highlighting the difficulties in finding employment and dealing with public perception.

The interview also explores Beyer's perspectives on societal change, human rights, and the progress made in LGBTQ+ issues in New Zealand. They reflect on the importance of visibility, acceptance, and the ongoing fight against discrimination. Beyer's story is one of overcoming adversity, advocating for change, and the impact of one individual's journey on broader societal progress.

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Georgina Beyer

1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, about face: jewel's darl (tv, 1985), abuse, acting, adoption, alfies 1, anne kennedy, annie goldson, aotearoa new zealand, april ashley, auckland, australia, bill of rights act (1990), brett sheppard, brian tamaki, butch, carmen rupe, carmen's international coffee lounge, cathy casey, censorship, change for the better: the story of georgina beyer as told to cathy casey (2000, book), chris carter, chrissy witoko, christian heritage party, christine jorgensen, civil rights, civil union act (2004), civil unions, close to home, club exotic, club exotique, community, courts, cracking it, david shearer, destiny church, discrimination, documentary, drugs, employment, equality, exclusive brethren, family, feminism, foreshore and seabed act (2004), gambling, garth mcvicar, gender identity bill (2004), georgie girl (2001), georgina beyer, government, graham capill, growing up, hate speech, helen clark, hero (auckland), history, hiv / aids, homophobia, human rights, human rights act (1993), jacquie grant, john banks, john f. kennedy, john key, jonathan hunt, law, leadership, malcolm kennedy-vaughan, marilyn waring, martin luther king jr, media, michael laws, mmp (mixed-member proportional electoral system), new zealand labour party, parents, parliament buildings, passport, paul holmes, paula bennett, performance, peter wells, phil goff, police, politics, poofter, pride, prison, profile, prostitution reform act (2003), public figure, public office, pyscho-sexual disorder, queer, ramon maniapoto, rape, raymond hawthorne, respect, royal oak hotel, rural, salvation army, sandra coney, shark in the park (tv), sissy, social welfare, sonja davies, sprung, stewart main, striptease, sue bradford, sue kedgley, suicide, sydney, taranaki, te whiti-o-rongomai, television, the balcony / le balcon, theatre, tim barnett, tony katavich, transcript online, transexual, transgender, transphobia, violence, visibility, vladimir luxuria, wairarapa, warren lindberg, wellesley college, wellington, wyatt creech

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