Supporting the health and wellbeing of the local rainbow community
Our sexual and gender identity goes to the heart of who we are as people. Some of us – especially younger people – can at times find it hard figuring out how we identify.
No one really knows yet what determines a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Some people find it easy to accept, and be accepted for, who they are. Others can find it more of a struggle, especially if our whānau and friends don’t support us.
Feeling comfortable and confident about our sexual and gender identity is crucial to good health and wellbeing. Identifying as LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexed and Asexual) may make you more prone to being labelled, made fun of or abused. It’s a sad fact that people who seem to be different to the ‘norm’ often face discrimination and bullying.
Some resources are available to explore issues around gender and sexual identity as well as support services.
Community and Public Health assists the LGBTQIA+ community by:
- being part of the Pink Health Ōtautahi project; and
- supporting the Pride Committee.
- Get an overview on gender identity (HealthInfo).
- View The Pink Pages online – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Intersex and Transgender Directory of Queer and Queer-Friendly Services in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
- Here We Are is a podcast series on living as a trans, gender diverse or non-binary person in Aotearoa (RNZ).
- Trans 101: Glossary of Trans Words and How to Use Them (Gender Minorities Aotearoa).
Free online course: Supporting Transgender People
Gender Minorities Aotearoa is offering a free online course called Supporting Transgender People. This course is designed to increase your knowledge of issues affecting transgender people in Aotearoa, and to build your confidence in speaking about these issues and supporting transgender people. It is an introductory course and is suitable for people with any level of knowledge on transgender issues.
The course takes 2 to 3 hours to complete, and is broken into three sessions. You can stop at any time and continue later by logging in again. There are links to further reading at the end of some sections – these are optional and are not included in the time allocation.
Content warning: This course discusses stigma, discrimination, and violence experienced by transgender and intersex people. Some content may be distressing.
Simple self-identification one step closer
Beehive media release: 11th August 2021
A self-identification process that supports the needs of transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders is one step closer, Internal Affairs Minister Jan Tinetti said today.
“I’m inviting the Governance and Administration select committee to consider improvements to the self-identification process in the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill”, Jan Tinetti said.
“There has been strong, ongoing public interest in this Bill and I am excited to see it moving towards becoming law. I look forward to hearing from everyone interested in the proposals.”
The Bill had its second reading in Parliament today.
Self-identification was introduced to the Bill by the select committee in 2018 in response to a petition it received. Minister Tinetti has proposed improvements to the self-identification process in the Supplementary Order Paper.
“This Government is committed to making sure we have the best process for transgender, non-binary and intersex New Zealanders to formally acknowledge their gender.
- Read the Supplementary Order Paper on the proposed self-identification changes to the Bill.
- Find about the recommendations of the Working Group for reducing barriers to changing registered sex, including the Government’s response (Department of Internal Affairs).
All Right?: Taking pride in who we are
Research from the All Right? campaign in early 2020 found that the Christchurch rainbow community is optimistic overall and many things are getting better. However many LGBTQIA+ people still face significant obstacles to their wellbeing.
The rainbow community contributes so much to our city – injecting vibrancy, excitement and compassion. Unfortunately, discrimination, bullying, privacy violations and things as simple as incorrect assumptions are holding us back, and our city is poorer for it.
“The LGBTQIA+ communities contribute so much to our community, and needs to be celebrated, not just tolerated” says All Right? manager Sue Turner.
The More than All Right? campaign is designed to celebrate and give greater visibility to our local rainbow community. It shines the light on local members of our rainbow community from all walks of life.
Documents
Research reports on human rights, wellbeing and health
- Youth’19: Brief on Rainbow Young People with a disability or chronic condition (University of Auckland 2021).
- Youth’19: Brief on Pacific Rainbow Young People (University of Auckland 2021).
- Youth’19: Brief on Rainbow Rangatahi Māori (University of Auckland 2021).
- Youth’19: Brief on Same- and Multiple-Sex Attracted Students (University of Auckland 2021).
- Youth’19: Brief on Transgender and Gender Diverse Students (University of Auckland 2021).
- PRISM: Human Rights issues relating to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Aotearoa New Zealand – A report with recommendations (NZ Human Right Commission 2020).
- Wellbeing and Mental Health among Rainbow New Zealanders (Health Promotion Agency 2019).
- Counting Ourselves: The health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people in Aotearoa New Zealand (University of Waikato 2019).
- Wellbeing in the Ōtautahi LGBTQIA+ community (All Right? 2018).
- To Be Who I Am: Report of the Inquiry into Discrimination Experienced by Transgender People (NZ Human Rights Commission 2007).
Support materials for parents and schools
- How to get it right when our kids ‘come out’ or identify as another gender (All Right? and Bounce).
- Ways to help young people deal with questions about their sexual or gender identity (The LowDown).
- Let’s Talk: A Resource Guide for Parents (OUTline).
- Making schools safer for trans and gender diverse youth (Inside Out) – currently being revised.
- Simple changes supporting gender diverse students (Health Promoting Schools magazine).
- Ministry of Education guidelines and resources.
- Families in TRANSition: A Resource Guide for Parents of Trans Youth (Central Toronto Youth Services – Canada).
Downloads
Order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
- Gay and Lesbian Youth Support (Community and Public Health).
- Takatāpui: Part of the whānau (Mental Health Foundation).
Links
- Gender Minorities Aotearoa.
- Rainbow Youth.
- GayNZ.com.
- Be There.
- Inside Out.
- NZ Human Rights Commission.
- Rainbow Rights in Aotearoa.
- Transgender Health Care (Ministry of Health).
- Diverse Church NZ – for rainbow people of Christian faith.
For more information, contact:
CANTERBURY
Diane Shannon
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Support services for LGBTQIA+ community
OUTline NZ
0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 463)
The LowDown
Text 5626
Depression Helpline
0800 111 757
Support organisations for Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast LGBTQIA youth [135KB PDF].
Qtopia (Facebook).
LGBT Community Timaru (Facebook).
Support networks for transgender people (HealthInfo).
Information on Canterbury DHB gender affirming health services (HealthInfo).
Information for Health Professionals
Supporting Aotearoa’s Rainbow People: A practical guide for Mental Health Professionals (2019).
Gender Reassignment Health Services for Trans People within New Zealand (Ministry of Health 2011).
Guidelines for gender affirming healthcare for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and adults in Aotearoa, New Zealand (Transgender Health Research Lab at University of Waikato 2018).
Information on Transgender Health including gender-affirming treatments (Community Health Pathways).