Quick things you can do for your community this week...
You don’t even have to move from your computer or phone!
I already had this post scheduled for today, but I have been thinking that I want to say something about the devastating hate crime in Colorado Springs.
When my heart aches and I feel hopeless - I try to recognise that it’s at that very time that community care is most needed. I know that when I do something, even a small thing, for someone else - it helps somehow.
It’s a choice to reject violence. To reject hate. And to instead embrace community. Love. Hope.
Violence against queer people, particularly trans people, feels like it’s increasing due to this violent and unhinged “grooming” rubbish being spouted by politicians.
That this attack happened on Transgender Day of Remembrance (for Americans) makes it all the more devastating. This day is a direct response to the brutal violence we see against trans people.
On these days around the world we honour the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. But it’s also a day that cis people need to affirm their commitment to ending anti-transgender rhetoric and violence. It’s also a day where if you’re cis (like I am) you commit to using your privilege as a cisgender person to fight for and protect the rights of trans children and adults.
You don’t have to do everything. You won’t always do it right. Do just one small thing.
Here are some causes to learn more about and potentially support this week. I’ve included links and petitions to sign if you feel like they align with your values.
The ideas is that the action doesn’t take a heap of time.
Just one small thing helps. Arohanui, Emily x
Fight hate
Educating yourself on queer issues is the best way to fight hate against queer people. Especially trans people who bare the brunt of hate against the community. When you next have five minutes - head over to the resources page at Gender Minorities Aoteaora. There are awesome resources available that are super easy to read.
There’s even a Supporting Transgender People online course. You can also be visible in your support for the community by buying merch. Or you can donate to GMA here.
If you’re a parent the Rainbow Support Collective has a series of free online workshops as part of it’s Be There awareness campaign for whānau. The message is simple - You don’t need to get it, just be there!
Outline have a dedicated Transgender Peer Support Service. There are lots of ways to support Outline - you can give to their Givealittle page, visit their One Percent Collective page to make regular donations. Or you can use internet banking to donate into OutLine’s account 01 0249 0178488 00
Raise the Youth Justice age
I support raising the age of Youth Justice to 21. Currently we are processing 17-21 year olds through the adult criminal justice system. Instead of rehabilitating, it's leaving young people likely to continue offending - causing more victims and more harm. You can help by signing the Action Station petition supporting this kaupapa.
“Our Youth Justice system is praised around the world. Every year scholars and practitioners come to New Zealand to watch us in action. But as soon as a child turns 17, they're processed through the adult criminal justice system where 91% of under 20s are reconvicted within two years after release.”
“Young people need support to help them learn from their mistakes while still holding them accountable to their victims and communities. The adult justice system blindly punishes with no solutions for stopping future harm.”
“Our youth justice system, currently available to 14-16 year olds gets young people on the right track while giving victims a say in the process.” Sign now.
Keep families together
There are concerns that women at Arohata prison in Wellington will soon be moved hundreds of kilometres away to Auckland or Christchurch, moving them far from their whānau, children and loved ones, making visiting incredibly difficult if not impossible. This would be devastating. The Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis to immediately intervene and stop these plans before they start. You can send him a quick email at k.davis@ministers.govt.nz reminding him of the rights of prisoners.
Remind him also that in Ara Poutama Department of Corrections’ own words, in its Women’s strategy ‘Wāhine – E rere ana ki te pae hou – Women rising above a new horizon’, it states that they - “…recognises the importance of children and whānau in the rehabilitation and reintegration journeys of women, and that treatment and support needs to be personalised, trauma informed, and culturally responsive”.
Save lives
It feels like every other week we are begging Pharmac to save the lives of our tamariki. I feel despondent sometimes at the way Pharmac behaves. A man with diabetes recently requested the minutes of a Pharmac meeting on Continuous Glucose Monitors and found some officials suggested "due to the nature of people's laziness" diabetics would use the sensor instead of doing skin prick testing. It made me so angry but also just sapped me of my energy. It just seemed like there was no point to continuing to fight for funding because not only do THEY NOT FUCKING CARE they don’t even know how CGMs work. The whole purpose of them is to reduce finger pricking. But hopelessness is the enemy of activism. Breathe, keep going.
The first petition is fairly specific - Pharmac is currently consulting on a change to rule 8.1b of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, which could limit access to life saving, changing and extending medicines for Kiwi kids with cancer. Instead of taking medicines away from children with cancer, we want Pharmac to extend rule 8.1b to all New Zealand children living with illness. Sign here.
The second petition is another petition to fund CGMs. We did a huge petition last year. But we need to keep the pressure on. So please sign this one too if you wish. You can see all of the millions of reasons for funding CGMs here.
Support non-speaking tāngata whaikaha Māori
If you use Google Maps you’ll already know how shithouse the reo Māori directions are. Imagine being a non-speaking person trying to speak?
Tua o te Pae is a kaupapa that will give all non-speaking tāngata whaikaha Māori (disabled Māori) the opportunity to communicate in Te Reo Māori through the creation of a synthetic voice that is compatible with speech generating devices.
Geneva Hakaraia-Tino is absolutely incredible and she’s the project lead for Tua o Te Pae. Geneva is studying Te Reo which has posed significant challenges for her as she uses technology to communicate.
Voice Keeper, a text-to-speech company, wants to support Tua o te Pae with this amazing kaupapa. They don’t want any ownership over the voice once developed. The process will cost around NZ$800,000. Once created, the voice will be free for ALL who wish to have Te Reo on their device. Support his kaupapa and share it here.
You’re a legend. Thank you for this. My partner and I (both trans) have been immobilised by the attack in Colorado. I’m going to work through your list this week. I know it will make a difference for my peers but I also know I need to reach outwards to keep going. This is a great way to do just that ❤️
WTF! People will be too lazy to finger prick to test if they had a CGM? THAT'S THE FUCKING POINT! Sheesh, were they at least educated at that point? Can someone get them to prick their fingers multiple times a day? I'm livid 😡