A Protest For Rights in Hamilton’s CBD.

A controversial lobby group denied access to Auckland and Christchurch council venues was allowed to stage a public meeting at Hamilton Museum on Sunday, August 1.

Speak Up for Women (SPFW) attracted an audience of about 40 people – and a protest outside.

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, in response to an email,
says there were no legal grounds to deny Speak Up for Women from using council
facilities for its meeting.

The group is on a 10-city tour raising the profile of the
Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act being debated in
Parliament.

The Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act as it stands is not easily accessible for all trans-people. The amendments allow the process to be carried out through a simple statutory declaration, as opposed to a family court process.

The LGBTQIA+ community say the group are campaigning
against transgender rights – and they staged a protest outside the museum last
Sunday.

Speak Up For Women say they support the bill as it currently stands and “are not seeking roll it back”. They just want to focus on women’s rights and feel that speaking on the impact of women is not synonymous with being Anti-Trans.

SUFW main focus is on Trans Feminine individuals and Trans Women.

Speak Up For Women won a court battle in Palmerston North to
be allowed to hold a public meeting.

Wellington was unable to stop the controversial group from speaking at their venues.

Speak Up For Women has already been barred from using
Auckland City Council venues and Christchurch City Libraries. These councils
expressed fears around the safety and wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community if
the events went ahead as planned.

“The Hamilton City Council independently sought its own legal advice to the booking at the Waikato Museum,” says mayor Paula Southgate, “We have been advised Council has no legal grounds to reject the group’s venue hire booking in Hamilton.”

 “This reform to the bill will allow more accessibility to the trans community the respect of living legally as their true selves.” says Elijah Dawson, who attended the Sunday’s Protest, “space was created to affirm trans-feminine individuals and trans-woman, to show that they are loved. Allow them to be loud, visible and unashamed.”