Speak Up For Women

In the podcast titled "Speak Up For Women," recorded at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, a representative from the organization, Beth Johnson, discussed a public meeting that took place on July 15, 2021, which drew an audience of around 130 attendees. Concurrently, a trans rights rally occurred outside the center. The content framed the issues within the context of the 2020s decade.

During the discussion, Johnson detailed the organization's national tour that concentrates on the implications of sex self-identification within the Births, Deaths, and Marriages Bill. The group conducted events nationwide, and Johnson noted that there was a positive reception from those who attended and a peaceful protest expected in Wellington, similar to an earlier one in Nelson.

Speak Up For Women's events attracted diverse crowds, predominantly women from various age groups, including a notable presence of lesbian and bisexual individuals, as well as men and transsexual supporters. The key message of the organization for this event focused on the significance of recognizing biological sex in the law, highlighting its relevance in single-sex spaces, services, and sexual orientation. Johnson stressed the necessity for significant legislative changes, such as the concept of gender identity replacing the recognition of biological sex, to be subject to rigorous democratic procedures, including a select committee review for comprehensive public debate.

Founded in 2018, Speak Up For Women originally aimed to influence the government to reconsider the sex self-identification clause, which had been added to the bill without the opportunity for public submissions. Following the deferment of the bill by Tracy Martin in 2019, due to concerns outlined in a Crown Law opinion, the organization has persisted in advocating for public consultation on such changes under the new government.

The organization's ultimate goal is to ensure thorough public discussion through a select committee review to reconcile the advancement of transgender rights without encroaching on the rights of women and girls. The organization asserts that it is feasible to support both without compromising either.

In the face of opposition since its inception, Speak Up For Women has encountered significant pushback, including defamation attempts, being labeled as a hate group, and as anti-trans activists among other derogatory claims. Johnson articulates the belief that these acts aim to prevent the group's perspective from being considered in public discourse to ensure the unchallenged passage of the bill. Nonetheless, the organization perceives a shift in public opinion, noticing a growing recognition of their reasonable stance and genuine concerns, as well as an openness to collaborate on solutions.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Beth Johnson

2020s, aotearoa new zealand, biological sex, births, deaths, marriages, and relationships registration act 2021, crown law office, michael fowler centre, self identification, speak up for women nz, tracey martin, wellington

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