Department of Corrections staff will be marching in uniform in the Auckland Pride parade after agreeing to work with the glbti community on the way the NZ prison system treats transgender prisoners, according to a statement released by Pride and Corrections this afternoon. Corrections originally advised GayNZ.com Daily News that their staff had been barred from marching in uniform representing their employer but statements from Pride were less definitive. For almost two weeks Pride and Corrections have been in discussion regarding the situation, with activists' objections to Corrections' involvement in the parade being based on lack of safety for transgender prisoners. “It has been useful for Corrections to understand the concerns of the transgender community and for organisers of the Auckland Pride Festival and Parade to understand the work Corrections is doing to ensure the safety of transgender prisoners,” says Auckland Pride Festival co-chair Kirsten Sibbit “As a result of this interaction, and with support from the Board, Corrections will be working with support groups which have an interest in the LGBTIQ community to deliver a comprehensive programme of work over the next 12 months to help support transgender prisoners. The Board will have an ongoing role in support of this work programme.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News
First published: Wednesday, 10th February 2016 - 4:27pm