Hey 👋🏽 I’m the letter writer in question! Just an update - when I learned that TU was claiming an impersonator, I sent the letter to her “real” MP FB messenger account with an intro saying “I understand that I may have previously sent my letter to a page you say is a false account. In case that is true, I am re-sending the letter, as it's an important issue that needs to be heard.”
She has seen the message but has not responded to say that the other account is a fake, nor to refute the things the “fake Tanya” said to me.
Thanks for this post, e hoa, and for sharing my work - always appreciated!
I'm really feeling for the whānau and parents, and the non-binary person at the centre of this. What a horrible thing for them to experience, regardless of what Unkovich wants to say about this. I don't know what's wilder - that an MP would do something this horrible, or that her bill has empowered someone to impersonate her and take it upon themselves to harass trans people in her name.
At the VERY least Unkovich needs to condemn this behaviour.
Yes, such a good point. If someone did this in my name, I’d be absolutely horrified. I’d be on the phone straight away to the person apologising and making sure they’re ok, and making sure they know I absolutely don’t agree with anything that was said. Note that she hasn’t said anything about what was actually said…
But I’m sure she will, right? Wouldn’t it be horrible that someone made statements on your behalf which were not things that you would say? She must disavow those statements, strongly!!
Hey, so was there actually a DUPLICATE facebook page to the original one, because that is what the RNZ article seems to suggest (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/516875/netsafe-investigating-facebook-page-pretending-to-be-new-zealand-first-mp-tanya-unkovich) in which case I have to give her claim more credence, or credit. I thought this was an after the fact clean up action, I mean, setting up a second fake page to make silly public statements would be some decent planning ahead....so not the scenario I'm picking as likely.
She has multiple pages. The one that sent the message was set up in 2015. If you click on the edits you will see what it was previously. Based on that I wouldn’t give her credit.
How about we just have toilets and don’t separate them by sex? Yeah urinals, fine put several of them in one big stall. I’m tired of long lines for mine and often skip to the other side anyway. Having a door with a dress on it doesn’t save anyone from anything, we’d be more efficient in toilet usage and increased traffic might reduce the risk posed for those little waifs when they go to a toilet on their own. Why is the solution the forced separation by gender assigned at birth? I’d really prefer toilets that provide privacy for everyone. Can we raise a counter proposal?
But yes we must mock legislators who put up crap proposals that make for lousy laws. I shouldn’t cloud the issue by engaging in solution definition, this is just politics trying to pass as governance. Shame on her. And Peters, who indulges in this far too much.
100% agree. The current designs of mens' vs womens' toilets is dumb and inefficient. If we just had non-gender based toilets (including some urinals in a private area) it would make things more efficient and get rid of this whole gender-based nonsense, as well as hopefully shut down these ignorant bigots.
Thank you so much for supporting us. The writer of the original letter is a member of our parental support group, and is an absolute legend. We all believe the fake profile is absolute bollocks. Again, thank you! It’s scary having our precious children out in this world, and awesome to know we have kick arse supporters!!! X
I'm glad you wrote that. I've had a half written newsletter, "Who is Tanya Unkovich? Parliament's resident cooker" sitting in my drafts for weeks but lacked the appetite to delve further. Holy heck she's nuts, and some of her videos are hilarious - you have to remind yourself this is actually someone that's an MP. You don't even need Sue Grey, Brian Tamaki, or Liz Gunn, NZ First really has become the party of the cooked.
Aside from my fucking outrage at the harm this will cause to our trans whanau, I’m furious that this bill would mean that I can’t piss in the men’s bathroom at a concert when the line is too long in the ladies…like it’s mind bogglingly stupid that we have to have these kind of debates rather than the actual problems NZ has. I really loved Anna Rawhiti-Connells article on this today as well. Thanks for sharing this Emily, and sending aroha to our trans/non binary whanau x
ALSO this better get the same level of media attention that Julie Anne Genter has faced this week, directly harassing a citizen seems a bit different to telling a man to do his job
Perhaps we on the Left need to jump up and down and scream and shout more, like the Right do, rather than being coldly academic and sensible abput stuff - if you look how Shanan Halbert tried to deal with being intimidated in Select Committe by Tim Van der Molen, only making a formal complaint (which was upheld by parliament's relevant committe), when all else failed, then you see how doing the right thing doesnt get you the mainsteam media attention that it should - being boorish and baying for blood wins attention and, sadly, votes
And, just to clearly state the point that so often gets skimmed over, “narrow and subjective gender norms” basically mean white cis women. I think that TERFs love these laws because they provide a smokescreen for racism.
One of the four reviews of her book on Amazon is from herself. I'm not saying that's good or bad I'm just pointing out that fact. Also if you like her book Amazon recommends you would probably like one called Hungry For More of Jesus. So that's also something.
Every day another outrage. Apart from being utterly stupid, this bill is once again diverting attention from the existential issues. And setting out to hurt people who have enough problems just trying to live. What is wrong with these people?
It’s such a distraction for sure. Jen has some great points on this in her newsletter “One suggestion as to why NZ First have now introduced this bill is as a distraction from exactly how well this coalition is tracking (that is, not well). And it's not not a distraction - rather, it's not just a distraction.” https://blog.jenniferkshields.nz/nz-first-the-phantasm-of-gender/
I am pretty horrified that someone like TU is in parliament spouting her craziness. I support MMP but suggest checking mental stability of potential candidates rather than genital checks at toilets. Sheesh.
Also why haven't you told the shiny floor shitting story again and why haven't you pointed out that if the member's Members Bill passes we could all have that in our lives? Gatekeeping lefties 😂
It's a quarter century since the late (and sorely missed) Georgina Beyer became an MP. She was widely admired for her guts and advocacy, by fellow MPs of all stamps, and though she was the first openly trans MP in the world, this soon became secondary to her activism, or so it seemed to me.
So where did this rampant trans phobia spring from? I'm afraid social media are to blame, for connecting people with like minded poisonous views.
By that logic I am a man - because the amount of times I'm told I sound and look like a man (especially by kids, bless) is so often it helped me realised I'm non-binary because "hello Sir" was gender affirming 🤣 gonna start pissing against walls then I guess
I find it oddly ironic that she has clearly chosen a dog trapped inside a cat's body for her pet - or are politician's pets not allowed to be made fun of?
Hey 👋🏽 I’m the letter writer in question! Just an update - when I learned that TU was claiming an impersonator, I sent the letter to her “real” MP FB messenger account with an intro saying “I understand that I may have previously sent my letter to a page you say is a false account. In case that is true, I am re-sending the letter, as it's an important issue that needs to be heard.”
She has seen the message but has not responded to say that the other account is a fake, nor to refute the things the “fake Tanya” said to me.
It’s been a weird week 😆
It says so much eh? And amazing that she could post on the profile that’s apparently hacked to say it’s fake haha like come on now.
Obviously her 'real' messenger has also been hacked as has every other account she's ever had ;-) She really needs to upskill on internet security.
Thank you for writing that letter. You articulate the issues so well.
Thanks for this post, e hoa, and for sharing my work - always appreciated!
I'm really feeling for the whānau and parents, and the non-binary person at the centre of this. What a horrible thing for them to experience, regardless of what Unkovich wants to say about this. I don't know what's wilder - that an MP would do something this horrible, or that her bill has empowered someone to impersonate her and take it upon themselves to harass trans people in her name.
At the VERY least Unkovich needs to condemn this behaviour.
Yes, such a good point. If someone did this in my name, I’d be absolutely horrified. I’d be on the phone straight away to the person apologising and making sure they’re ok, and making sure they know I absolutely don’t agree with anything that was said. Note that she hasn’t said anything about what was actually said…
But I’m sure she will, right? Wouldn’t it be horrible that someone made statements on your behalf which were not things that you would say? She must disavow those statements, strongly!!
Hey, so was there actually a DUPLICATE facebook page to the original one, because that is what the RNZ article seems to suggest (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/516875/netsafe-investigating-facebook-page-pretending-to-be-new-zealand-first-mp-tanya-unkovich) in which case I have to give her claim more credence, or credit. I thought this was an after the fact clean up action, I mean, setting up a second fake page to make silly public statements would be some decent planning ahead....so not the scenario I'm picking as likely.
She has multiple pages. The one that sent the message was set up in 2015. If you click on the edits you will see what it was previously. Based on that I wouldn’t give her credit.
Thanks I can return to my judgement! Plus, being linked to by the nz first party page, that’s hard to explain
How about we just have toilets and don’t separate them by sex? Yeah urinals, fine put several of them in one big stall. I’m tired of long lines for mine and often skip to the other side anyway. Having a door with a dress on it doesn’t save anyone from anything, we’d be more efficient in toilet usage and increased traffic might reduce the risk posed for those little waifs when they go to a toilet on their own. Why is the solution the forced separation by gender assigned at birth? I’d really prefer toilets that provide privacy for everyone. Can we raise a counter proposal?
But how can I listen to you piss if you’re in your own separate stall ??? I need shared toilets to listen to you piss!
Honestly, I don’t get it lol I’m 100% with you.
But yes we must mock legislators who put up crap proposals that make for lousy laws. I shouldn’t cloud the issue by engaging in solution definition, this is just politics trying to pass as governance. Shame on her. And Peters, who indulges in this far too much.
God he loves it doesn’t he?
100% agree. The current designs of mens' vs womens' toilets is dumb and inefficient. If we just had non-gender based toilets (including some urinals in a private area) it would make things more efficient and get rid of this whole gender-based nonsense, as well as hopefully shut down these ignorant bigots.
IKR!? Can someone get this started? It is the very best solution
As a middle aged cis white man I have to say I hate urinals - gross, smelly, easy to miss (apparently) - give me a cubicle anyday
Thank you so much for supporting us. The writer of the original letter is a member of our parental support group, and is an absolute legend. We all believe the fake profile is absolute bollocks. Again, thank you! It’s scary having our precious children out in this world, and awesome to know we have kick arse supporters!!! X
Arohanui ❤️ my heart is really with you x
I'm glad you wrote that. I've had a half written newsletter, "Who is Tanya Unkovich? Parliament's resident cooker" sitting in my drafts for weeks but lacked the appetite to delve further. Holy heck she's nuts, and some of her videos are hilarious - you have to remind yourself this is actually someone that's an MP. You don't even need Sue Grey, Brian Tamaki, or Liz Gunn, NZ First really has become the party of the cooked.
I’m generally supportive of MMP but when it lets people like that get into parliament you can understand the push back against it.
Someone save that cat!!!
It seems she is naked in photo with cat which is v odd.
Honestly in every photo the cat looks like it’s screaming inside which fair enough, she probably won’t let it piss in private either.
I can't unsee that now 😨
It looks like she’s nonconsentually using the cat as a puppet. Almost as disturbing as her views.
That is clearly a dog, trapped inside a cat's body
Aside from my fucking outrage at the harm this will cause to our trans whanau, I’m furious that this bill would mean that I can’t piss in the men’s bathroom at a concert when the line is too long in the ladies…like it’s mind bogglingly stupid that we have to have these kind of debates rather than the actual problems NZ has. I really loved Anna Rawhiti-Connells article on this today as well. Thanks for sharing this Emily, and sending aroha to our trans/non binary whanau x
ALSO this better get the same level of media attention that Julie Anne Genter has faced this week, directly harassing a citizen seems a bit different to telling a man to do his job
Omg right???
Perhaps we on the Left need to jump up and down and scream and shout more, like the Right do, rather than being coldly academic and sensible abput stuff - if you look how Shanan Halbert tried to deal with being intimidated in Select Committe by Tim Van der Molen, only making a formal complaint (which was upheld by parliament's relevant committe), when all else failed, then you see how doing the right thing doesnt get you the mainsteam media attention that it should - being boorish and baying for blood wins attention and, sadly, votes
Exactly, it’s bloody grim.
And, just to clearly state the point that so often gets skimmed over, “narrow and subjective gender norms” basically mean white cis women. I think that TERFs love these laws because they provide a smokescreen for racism.
👏👏👏👏👏
One of the four reviews of her book on Amazon is from herself. I'm not saying that's good or bad I'm just pointing out that fact. Also if you like her book Amazon recommends you would probably like one called Hungry For More of Jesus. So that's also something.
Haha I was like “who is publishing this dreck”?! Then I saw 😂
Mmmm Jesus. (Burp). Don’t give me that, Catholics do it every week!
Eat the rich, not the meek
Exactly!
Every day another outrage. Apart from being utterly stupid, this bill is once again diverting attention from the existential issues. And setting out to hurt people who have enough problems just trying to live. What is wrong with these people?
It’s such a distraction for sure. Jen has some great points on this in her newsletter “One suggestion as to why NZ First have now introduced this bill is as a distraction from exactly how well this coalition is tracking (that is, not well). And it's not not a distraction - rather, it's not just a distraction.” https://blog.jenniferkshields.nz/nz-first-the-phantasm-of-gender/
I am pretty horrified that someone like TU is in parliament spouting her craziness. I support MMP but suggest checking mental stability of potential candidates rather than genital checks at toilets. Sheesh.
👏👏👏👏
💯 to this
Also why haven't you told the shiny floor shitting story again and why haven't you pointed out that if the member's Members Bill passes we could all have that in our lives? Gatekeeping lefties 😂
Hahahaha omg blast from the past
It's a quarter century since the late (and sorely missed) Georgina Beyer became an MP. She was widely admired for her guts and advocacy, by fellow MPs of all stamps, and though she was the first openly trans MP in the world, this soon became secondary to her activism, or so it seemed to me.
So where did this rampant trans phobia spring from? I'm afraid social media are to blame, for connecting people with like minded poisonous views.
It definitely feels imported. It’s so grim.
By that logic I am a man - because the amount of times I'm told I sound and look like a man (especially by kids, bless) is so often it helped me realised I'm non-binary because "hello Sir" was gender affirming 🤣 gonna start pissing against walls then I guess
😂😂😂😂
I find it oddly ironic that she has clearly chosen a dog trapped inside a cat's body for her pet - or are politician's pets not allowed to be made fun of?
I’ll be there on Saturday