iew/Print the full text online" href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=7894794&msgid=215572&act=BDDB&c=170322&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hrc.co.nz%2Fnewsletters%2Fto-be-who-i-am%2F2009%2F11%2F%3Fread_all%3DTRUE%26utm_source%3Dto-be-who-i-am%26utm_medium%3DEmail%26utm_campaign%3DNovember2009">View/Print the full text online

Kia ora, talofa lava, malo e lelei, fakaalofa lahi atu, nisa bula vinaka, kia orana and welcome to the fifth issue of To Be Who I Am. This newsletter includes articles about new resources, support groups, community events and opportunities to have a say about human rights issues for trans people.

Cindy (pictured) and other local trans people in Hamilton are helping to run a Trans 101 workshop at Waikato Museum on Thursday 12 November. Two weeks later there is the chance to meet a dynamic panel of trans youth and to watch dancers, singers, animators and performers show you how they celebrate their gender identity. If you live nearby, come along to support them.

We hope to see many of you at the Wellington and Auckland Transgender Inquiry updates in December.

This will also be a chance to catch up with others over some light refreshments.WELLINGTON
Date: Wednesday 2 December
Time: 5.30-7pm
Venue: Human Rights Commission's new offices, Level 1, Vector Building,
44-52 The Terrace.
RSVP: jackb@hrc.co.nz by Friday 27 November (for catering)

AUCKLAND
Date: Tuesday 8 December
Time: 5.45-7.15pm
Venue: Human Rights Commission, Level 10, Tower Centre, 45 Queen St.
RSVP: jackb@hrc.co.nz by Friday 4 December (for catering)

People from other regions are encouraged to contact us if they have any questions, and all updates will be posted on the website.

Health Recommendations
In community briefings around the country at the end of last year trans people said that getting progress on the Inquiry's health recommendations was a high priority.

We had hoped to include an update in this newsletter about what has been called the Trans Health Working Group. This is an opportunity for trans people and health professionals to create a resource describing the types and quality of public health services trans people should be able to access during and after their transition.

Unfortunately, the Human Rights Commission is still waiting to receive final details about this project. We hope these will be confirmed before the end of the year. As soon as that happens, information will be put on the Health page of the Inquiry website and emailed out in a special To Be Who I Am newsletter

In July the Ministry of Justice presented a report to the Minister of Justice, the Hon. Simon Power, on progress implementing the Transgender Inquiry's recommendations. The Minister has asked for another progress report in July next year. Between now and then, there is a lot to be done so that trans people and their families enjoy the same rights as other people in New Zealand. This requires work by the Human Rights Commission, government agencies, trans people, health professionals and the wider community.

Please keep us informed about what you are doing and let us know whether we can profile it on the website and in the newsletter.

Other updates we plan to include in the next newsletter are about:
• how to put your name forward to attend the national human rights training hui for trans people in Wellington next March
• an intersex round table to be held in Auckland on 26 February 2010
• a report from the recent Love Life 3 fono in Auckland
• photos from Transgender Day of Remembrance events.

Please email any photos, material or questions to transgenderinquiry@hrc.co.nz.

In the words of the Chief Human Rights Commissioner Rosslyn Noonan, "for me, most movingly this exhibition gives people a chance to see that gender diversity adds to the richness that is humanity. It is something to celebrate, not something to fear".

Over 80 people attended the opening in Hamilton on 31 October. Come along to three free workshops on Thursday nights, 12 and 26 November, run in partnership with local trans people and the museum. They are a great way for family members, teachers, counsellors, GPs, community groups, workmates and friends to listen to trans people, ask questions and get helpful contacts and resources.

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER
5.30-6.30pm
Artist Rebecca Swan and film maker Kirsty MacDonald share their passion for the Assume Nothing project.
7.15-9pm
Trans 101 -whakawāhine, akava'ine, trans women and men aged from their 20s to their 70s talk about their lives and answer questions. Together with the Human Rights Commission they give practical tips about bringing the Transgender Inquiry's recommendations to life at home, work and in your local community.

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER
5.30-7.15pm
Young and Trans - trans youth explain about how to create schools, youth groups and health services that are positive, inclusive and safe for them. They are joined by a local teacher and health professional.
8pm
Trans Vocal - akava'ine, trans women and trans men share dance, film, performance, animation and songs to express their gender identity. This is a celebration for trans people, their families and friends, and is also open to the public.

You can download a PDF flyer here or read details online.

Bookings can be made with Waikato Museum by phoning (07) 838 6606 or emailing museum@hcc.govt.nz. Spaces are limited so bookings are advised.

The last venue for the Young and Trans workshop will be Waikato Museum on Thursday 26 November.

Since August trans and gender diverse young people in Christchurch and Dunedin have created their own South Island network - Forge. They meet fortnightly in Christchurch and can be contacted on forge.south@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, in Dunedin, Same Difference, a queer social support group for people aged 20 and under, is very trans-inclusive. One of the facilitators is trans and there is a warm welcome for any trans or gender questioning young people. Same Difference has been meeting twice a month and hopes to hold a Rainbow ball in Dunedin's Youth Week next May. You can contact Same Difference on youthlinecommunity@youthline.co.nz.

Trans youth are also active in Transedin, the new Dunedin Agender group that meets monthly. For more details email transedin@gmail.com.

Recent resource:

How Safe?

The Otago University Students Association has published areport on how well Otago secondary schools have implemented the recommendations of the 2005 Safety in Our Schools Action Kit. Pages 40-43 highlight that schools lack policies and guidelines about most issues that impact on trans and gender diverse students.

Copies can be requested from q.support@ousa.org.nz and will be available on the OUSA website.

The Transgender Inquiry recommended that the Department of Labour should provide information about issues that trans people may face at work. After consulting on an initial draft, the Department of Labour has produced two Transgender People at Work guides, one for employers and one for employees. These are available on the Department of Labour's website.

Transgender People at Work - Guide for Employees
[PDF 261KB] HTML

This guide is designed to provide information about legal and employment rights, as well as different workplace issues that trans people may encounter.

Transgender People at Work - Guide for Employers
[PDF 307KB] HTML

This guide specifically addresses issues that employers of transgender employees may need to consider. It builds on best practice approaches and tools currently used by employers and human resource practitioners, including clear policies to change records and protect employees' privacy.

Other recent resources:

Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace (2nd edition, 2008) - a best practice guide for human resource and other employment professionals produced by the US Human Rights Campaign Foundation [PDF 1.14MB] HTML

Trans Research Review (October 2009)-research findings published by the British Equality and Human Rights Commission, identifying actions the Commission will undertake in the next year [PDF 1.24MB] WORD

Based on the Transgender Inquiry's findings, the Commission recommended that any trans person who has taken definitive steps to live fully and permanently as a woman or as a man should be able to identify as that sex on their census form.

The full submission is available on the Commission's website here, and issues for trans people start on page 24.

In 2003 the Human Rights Commission talked to people all over New Zealand to find out what were the most important human rights they faced. Human Rights in New Zealand Today was published in September 2004, followed in March 2005 by an Action Plan 2005 - 2010. One of its recommendations was that the Human Rights Commission should hold a Transgender Inquiry.

Five years on, the Commission is updating Human Rights in NZ Today so it can develop a second Action Plan, to be launched on Human Rights Day at the end of 2010. This is your chance to have a say by answering these two questions.

•1. What is the most pressing human rights issue to you?

What is fair / what is not fair? He aha tana raruraru? If you reflected on your life and your world, what human rights issues come to mind?

•2. What would make the biggest difference to you?

What do you think should happen instead? He aha to pirangi mo te ao? What suggestions would you make to address these?

You can send answers to Julie Watson at juliew@hrc.co.nz or fill out a short survey online here.

The Transgender Inquiry found sobering evidence of harassment, discrimination, assaults and others forms of violence against trans people. These ranged from lower-level insults to very violent physical and sexual assaults. In some severe cases people suffered permanent ongoing health issues after being attacked. Trans people also told the Inquiry about friends who had committed suicide because of the violence directed at them simply for being trans.

In previous New Zealand Transgender Day of Remembrance events the names of trans people who have been killed were read aloud at candlelight vigils, and written on crosses or inside the chalked outlines of bodies drawn on Wellington's Civic Square. It has also been a time to reflect on the fear, violence and discrimination that affects many trans people's lives.

Often New Zealand trans people who have died struggled to have a life free from violence and addiction. lt is not always clear whether they were killed for being trans, but typically they had encountered discrimination because of their gender identity.

Diksy Jones was a cabinet maker, who loved old cars, cricket and cats. In May this year she was killed in her Upper Hutt apartment, aged 64. Two men have been charged with her murder. Diksy Jones is one of almost 100 people who will be remembered around the world this Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Yet trans people remain invisible as victims in crime statistics and crime surveys. That is why Transgender day of Remembrance is so important. It publicly mourns and honours the lives of those who might otherwise be forgotten.

Transgender Day of Remembrance raises public awareness of violence and hate crimes against trans people, and provides an opportunity for non-trans people to stand alongside their trans friends, partners, children and parents. It also demonstrates the power and resilience of trans communities speaking out against violence, proudly being who they are.

Some New Zealand commemorations this year include:

Christchurch - Agender members, significant others, friends and supporters are invited to meet at 6pm for nibbles and drinks, followed by a social time and Christmas festive food. The venue is the conference room, 2nd Floor Te Whakaruruhau ki Ōtautahi | Christchurch Community House. Please RSVP to agenderchch@clear.net.nz by Monday 16 November.

Wellington - Agender has its meeting in Lower Hutt on Friday 20 November and then a BBQ and games in a park at Belmont on Saturday 21st. Contact Natalie Shearer on n_shearer@maxnet.co.nz or 027 675 8373.

Hamilton - there will be a gathering at the Riff-Raff statue on Hamilton's Victoria Street from 7.30pm onwards on Friday evening 20 November. All are welcome to join Agender Waikato and Hamilton Pride there to make a stand against violence and discrimination.

Auckland - A week later, Gender Bridge are hosting a vigil at St Mathew in the City, at 7pm on Saturday 28 November. Email info@genderbridge.org for details.

NZ Police's vision of "Safer Communities Together" aims to reduce crime, violence and victimisation experienced by trans communities and to encourage people to report violence, harassment and assaults.Police Diversity Liaison Officers (DLOs) are police officers and police employees located throughout NZ who liaise with trans communities. An updated list of DLO contacts is available here.