Show your support for trans and intersex people with our beautiful ”We Belong” transgender flag bunting!
The design includes the transgender flag colours, with yellow stars for intersex. The starts are in the pattern of the Southern Cross constellation, otherwise known as Te Pae Mahutonga. Te pae mahutonga is also a Kaupapa Maori public health framework, based on the constellation, which guides our organisation. You can read about it here. It also carries the transgender symbol, with the words ‘We Belong’.
Transgender Awareness Week runs from November 12th – 20th, it’s purpose is to raise awareness about trans people, including intersex and non-binary people, our lives, our humanity, our struggles, and our joys. It ends with TDoR, Transgender Day of Remembrance, on November 20th – a day to remember the trans people around the world who have been lost to murder. It is also a day to affirm our resolution to fight for the living, and to end all stigma, discrimination, and violence against trans people.
This Transgender Awareness Week, we have a simple message for Aotearoa New Zealand: Trans people exist, and that’s a positive thing.
Thanks to our friends at RainbowYOUTH, OUTLineNZ, and Like Minds, Like Mine, our transgender diversity posters are up in Whangarei, Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin this week.
Invercargill and Hamilton can also expect to see them on November 18th.
Big shout out to trans folks in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas – let’s work together to make sure every local community embraces us fully and gives us the opportunities, respect, and love we deserve.
March 10th 2018, takataapui, transgender, and intersex people and supporters walked, danced, and rode along in the Wellington International Pride Parade with a clear message: trans health care now!
The float was hosted by Gender Minorities Aotearoa, The Gender Centre, Aunty Dana’s Op Shop, and InsideOUT, with support from NZPC.
Float participants carried a large banner, waved transgender flags, and held placards painted in trans flag colours with slogans such as ”stop non-consensual surgeries on intersex babies”, ”protect trans youths”, ”non-binary not confused”, and ”trans intersex taonga”. One placard posed the question ”40 year wait list?”, another read ”access to health care saves lives”, ”transgender lesbians need HRT too”, ”support sisters, not only cis-ters”.
Behind those walking, Bicycle Junction cycled along playing an upbeat pop play-list compiled by one of the volunteers at Aunty Dana’s Op Shop. Following the music, Aunty Dana’s van ”Pash” carried participants with mobility access needs. A mannequin reclined in a chair on the roof, draped in a huge transgender flag which spread over the sides and back of the van. She wore a trans flag coloured headband and carried a sign that read ”health care for all”.
”Indigenous genders are real” read the final sign in the transgender health care float – strapped to the back of the van.
“The float was FABULOUS and beautiful and fierce and fun! Super amazing. It was such a great combined effort from everyone. From the playlist, to the bike guy, to the van driving, to the snacks! And the face paints! And placard painting! and the folks who coordinated the banner carry! and the waving of that flag in those heels!”
says Gender Minorities Aotearoa’s National Coordinator Ahi Wi-Hongi.
”A huge thank you to Amanduh and the WIPP organisers for all your hard work, to our pals at InsideOUT who we love working with, to NZPC who are strong advocates for trans health, to Jaye, Kerry, Sam, Jess, Ada, Lola, Dan, Dylan, Ella, and everyone who got involved and helped to make this happen. To the beautiful people of all genders who joined the float, and to the folks out there who came to watch and support.
”Nga mihinui ki a koutou katoa, we look forward to appropriate health care in the near future.
Gender Minorities Aotearoa is opening The Gender Centre in Wellington, Transgender Day of Visibility March 31st.
InsideOUT is holding Shift Hui n Wellington, April 20 – 23.
Follow Gender Minorities Aotearoa, The Gender Centre, and InsideOUT on Facebook
Our 2017 poster on binding safety. Please see our main binders page here for more information, exercises and stretches, binders for sale, and our free binder programme.
The Sex and Gender Diverse Health Outcomes Working Group – or SDGWG – is a group of people who bring their expertise in working across the health care sector and community organisations. People in the SGDWG are working together to create better health outcomes for sex and gender diverse people in the Wellington region, with a focus on youth well being.
The SGDWG has representatives from Capital and Coast DHB, Wairarapa DHB, and Hutt Valley DHB, endocrinology, mental health, youth health, student health, transgender takataapui and intersex organisations including Gender Minorities Aotearoa and ITANZ, and people who fill various other health roles in the well being of sex and gender diverse people.
