New Zealand Human Rights Act includes gender identity

[Kate Thomas]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=500838&ObjectID=10397580

Beyer to withdraw transgender rights bill

Wednesday August 23, 2006


Labour MP Georgina Beyer will withdraw a bill aimed at protecting the rights of transgender individuals after a legal opinion suggesting they are already legally protected.

Ms Beyer's Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment bill has been a potential source of controversy and embarrassment for the Government, which is trying to distance itself from legislation that can be easily labelled politically correct by opponents.

Last term the Prostitution Reform Act and the Civil Union Act became focal points for morally conservative critics of the Government.

The former was a private member's bill, but nevertheless became associated with the Government.

When Ms Beyer's bill was drawn from the ballot in the last term it was initially put on the backburner.

After the election, Labour Whip Tim Barnett said it was likely Ms Beyer's bill would be later withdrawn, continually delayed or defeated.

However, Ms Beyer yesterday announced she would withdraw the bill herself after a legal opinion from the acting Solicitor-General suggesting transgender people were already protected under the Human Rights Act.