Transgender discrimination in Wellington

Back in the mists of time, Labour MP Georgina Beyer introduced a Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill to amend the Human Rights Act to outlaw discrimination against transsexuals, transvestites, transgenders, and cross-dressers. The bill was eventually withdrawn after much pressure from the government (which didn't want a repeat of the divisive civil unions debate - cowards). But as part of that process, the government produced a legal opinion [PDF] stating that discrimination on the grounds of gender identity was already covered by the existing "sex discrimination" clause.

Its time for the government to put its money where its mouth is. Earlier in the month, a Wellington bar evicted three drag queens after a blatant display of homophobia from staff. In response, Wellington's transgender community planned a "drag-in" protest. They were locked out, apparently on the basis of their gender identity. This sort of discrimination is simply unacceptable, no matter who it is done to, and the Human Rights Commission should investigate. This may lead to court action which tests the validity of Crown Law's opinion, but that's a winning proposition either way: either it shows that sex includes gender identity, or it shows that Beyer's amendments really are necessary and should be passed ASAP.

Postponed again

Almost two years ago, Georgina Beyer introduced her Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill, with the aim of preventing discrimination against transgendered people and transvestites. Since then, its been parked at the bottom of the Order Paper, Labour being too afraid to pursue it for fear of being labelled "PC". The latest deferral expired today, meaning the bill would come up for a first reading next Member's Day, but it has now been deferred again, this time until the end of the month. Something could be read into the fact that this was a short postponement rather than a long one, but given the way things have gone, its looking likely that the bill will simply be deferred again, and again, and again, until either Labour grows a spine, or National a sense of decency. unfortunately, I don't really regard either as likely.

In the meantime, the deferral means there will be another ballot tomorrow. As usual, I'll post the results when I receive them.

Special ballot and interesting motions

Remember the Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill? For most of the past year, it has been hanging around at the bottom of the Order Paper, "below the line", having been postponed by its sponsor before ever receiving its first reading. This has taken up one of the slots for Member's Bills and prevented quite as many being introduced and debated. I have now heard from one of my spies that there is going to be a special ballot today so that four bills are available next Members Day. It will be interesting to see what gets drawn...

Also today, Parliament will be debating two rather interesting government motions relating to the Intelligence and Security Committee, the body which supposedly oversees the SIS. The first would add three new members - Michael CUllen, Winston Peters and Rodney Hide. The second would provide for the Committee to examine bills, petitions, financial reviews, estimates, supplementary estimates, treaties and any other matters relating to the SIS and GCSB - in other words, for it to act like a real select committee rather than a rubberstamp. Though I guess the proof of that will be whether it meets for more than 45 minutes a year...

Of course, this being the government on an intelligence matter, they were effectively moved in secret, appearing at the bottom of the Order Paper (the bit no-one checks) at 11pm last night, and they're likely to be rushed through today using the government's power to alter its own order of business. While I think both are positive steps, it would have been nice if they'd been handled in an open, democratic manner rather than blitzkrieged behind everyone's back...

Removing discrimination

Georgina Beyer has drafted a private member's bill to declare "gender identity" a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Human Rights Act; if passed, it would prevent discrimination against transgendered people or transvestites in matters of e.g. employment, housing, or the public provision of goods and services, and insist that they are treated just like everybody else. It's a small thing, and doesn't affect an enormous number of people, but is worth doing all the same. If we want a society in which everyone can participate, then that means everyone, not just "most" people.

Here's hoping the bill gets drawn from the ballot...