William Greig’s suggestion of starting a Speakers’ Corner in Western Park, seconded by Rosco Thorby in the May and June editions is, in principle, a good idea.
However, the antagonism towards Posie Parker in both of these letters is palpable, eg, “we should have let her spew her spiel” and “it’s our right to ignore it." So I would not like to be the woman that stands up and tries to speak only to be heckled down, or worse as happened in Albert Park on 25 March.
It seems that women's desire for safe spaces and to retain the word ‘women' for ourselves is considered outrageous by many. Sadly women’s needs are not recognised as valid but rather are interpreted wrongly as being the same as being anti-trans. Surely there can be a place for two separate positions and needs?
Few people are as brave as Kellie-Jay Keen and, before she came, I had little awareness of the changes to policies and laws that have been proceeding with stealth and speed up and down the country. The trans-gender movement presents itself as promoting care for the vulnerable youth of a persecuted minority, but this is belied by the tremendous power and speed with which it has influenced the policies of hospitals, swimming pools, libraries, and trans sexuality is now being taught to small children in schools.
On 15 June 2023, a new Gender Self-Identification process made it easier to change the sex recorded on one’s birth certificate. This huge change to the long-accepted reality that sex is defined by biology has huge ramifications and tramples on the rights of more people than it protects, yet no protesting voices nor any critical thought is allowed. I think New Zealand needs to look ahead to the experience of Britain and Europe, who are now making new laws to protect single sex spaces and the rights of people who are of same sex attraction, because sex matters.
Linde Rose, linderose@hearttalk.nz
Speaker’s Corner - Yes please!
It is heartening to see the interest in a regular 'Speakers’ Corner' in Central Auckland. When I was a university student in the early 1970s, that was the rotunda at Albert Park where Tim Shadbolt led 'Jumping Sundays' and which we re-occupied after the council kicked us out.
In more recent times, we have held rallies in Khartoum Place, also known as Suffrage Square, where mainly women have spoken on an open microphone on International Women’s Day, 8 March, or Suffrage Day, 19 September, or when we were campaigning for fair pay for community workers and on other occasions for recognition of midwives.
I think what happened at Albert Park on 25 March highlights the importance of respecting citizens’ right to free speech and freedom to peaceful assembly, both of these being fundamental human rights that must be upheld in a democratic society.
We don’t always agree with the speakers, but if we don’t stand up for their right to speak, and for others to be able to hear them speak, then next time it could be our voices that are shouted down. The 'hecklers’ veto' that shuts down debate is not healthy for society.
Women are saying our rights are being impacted by trans rights and, rather than shout us down, surely we should encourage dialogue to understand the concerns women are raising, not just dismiss us? After all, 'women hold up half the sky".
Jill Ovens, National Secretary, Women’s Rights Party
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Published 3 July 2023