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Awesome kōrero Emily!! Go ANZ, other banks take note!

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Emily can we talk about the horrendous TERF conference that’s happening in Nelson in August? It’s marketed as a mental health conference for therapists who work with young people but it’s flat out transphobic shit. The Child and Adolescents Therapists Association.

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I’ve been ranting about this on instagram. Mainly Nathan Wallis’ involvement. I’m keen to find out who is funding it. It’s very dodgy. I’ve spoken to a lot of social workers and therapists today - none of them have heard of this group CATA or whatever they call themselves.

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Heard this morning that Nathan Wallis has pulled out.

His social media statement - To those who have enquired/and or messaged me on my participation to present at the CATA conference to be held in Nelson on 5 August. Please note: I will not be presenting at this conference and have asked the organisers to remove my participation as a presenter. The CATA event programme should be updated in due course to reflect this change. To be clear, I do not support the organisers values and they do not align with my own.

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Last time I looked...last night...there were hundreds of unmoderated transphobic comments on his statement. I personally don’t believe he didn’t know what the conference was about. I hope he uses his platform for good and apologises and rectifies the harm he has done so far by giving airtime and credibility to this gross conference.

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I know there is action taking place here in Nelson to fight this, including by local queer youth and their parents

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Yes please! I saw it mentioned today via the PATHA email discussion and was appalled (as were other PATHA members). Really disheartened to see some therapists taking part - I'm an NZAC member, and know I'm not the only one who's going to be asking NZAC what the heck these other counsellors are doing.

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https://www.spots.org.nz/about

There is a really cool research study going on at the moment by SPOTS

They are a research team working with gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men (MSM) to improve their health and wellbeing.

“We will use the information to investigate alternatives to the current blood donation policy that excludes many MSM. The information will also be used to improve HIV prevention and sexual health services.”

Awesome mahi and i can’t wait to see what comes of it 🙌

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Yes! Such a great study. The blood donation policy is a travesty!

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Thanks so much for this Emily

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