I was 12 when this debate erupted. Prior to it, my rural school’s bible studies classes had taught me that Jesus was like this cool hippy marxist who was all into peace, forgiveness and basic socialism – but the Christians I saw take to the streets to scream about the sins of homosexuals dispelled hippy kind Jesus from my boyish mind.
I believe the homosexual law reform 30 years ago was an important milestone for the progression of our democracy, and it is a reminder that we still have far to go for Trans and gender fluid people.
There is nothing more sacrosanct than the way we personally identify sexually and gender wise. To allow a state authority to step in between your true self and whom they demand you to be is the very antithesis of a liberal, modern democracy.
The role of the state is to enable you to live your life with as much freedom and autonomy as you are capable of, it isn’t there to tell you who you can love and what toilet you must use.
Gay rights, trans rights, women’s rights, worker rights, Indigenous rights, children’s rights, migrant rights, renter rights and human rights. They all build the argument that working together with respect and genuine recognition is the best way to build a society of communities.
That’s not to say we still don’t have a long way to go, when Gay parents still face opposition to adoption, when gay men can’t donate blood, when we see trans gender prisoners put into prisons that don’t match their gender, when we see trans gender students banned from toilets or Trans gender people barred from jobs or the appalling rate of suicide for the LGBT community – we must be fully aware that the fight for their rights has not ended
It seems like an ancient time in NZ when simply being gay could get you arrested – surely those who have been stained by this ridiculous and ugly law should be able to have those crimes wiped off their record.
We are a fairer nation and a better people for expanding the universal suffrage of democracy and human rights.
