Around 150 people gathered in the Octagon last Saturday to stand in solidarity with the transgender and irawhiti community. The gathering came in lieu of the arrival of Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (aka Posie Parker), an openly anti-trans woman who recently attracted controversy in Melbourne when neo-nazis could be seen among her supporters. The organisers of the Ōtepoti rally celebrated the fact that Posie was “shut down [by trans rights counter-protesters] before she even got the chance to speak at her own rally” in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Scout, one of the speakers, told the crowd, “Poser Parker and her mates aren’t gonna stop but we aren’t gonna roll over…haere atu [Posie]; your whakaaro is not welcome here.” The message was clear: transphobia is not welcome in Aotearoa.
The solidarity action was organised by members of Environmental Justice Ōtepoti and Anti-Fascist Ōtepoti in just 48 hours. Al*, one of the organisers and member of the irawhiti community, said the turnout was “really impressive for something on such short notice.” Rose, another organiser, told Critic Te Ārohi that “it’s really important to tautoko Pōneke, Tāmaki and Otautahi in their actions which have been really successful so far.”
“We are angry and we are full of grief for our trans siblings overseas facing genocide and at home who are a couple steps away from it,” said Scout. “There have been multiple attacks on the queer community in recent times, someone like Posie Parker coming here really emboldens them,” said Rose, “If you sound like a nazi, you probably are a nazi.”
Sid, a transgender person and Otago alumni, told Critic Te Ārohi, “I’ve just heard all week long that I don’t exist and I’m right here…no one’s trying to be anyone other than who they are.” For Sid, the issue is not about freedom of speech, as Posie claims, but rather “acceptable speech versus unacceptable speech…It should be common sense that you shouldn’t say something that upsets or really hurts someone else.”
Despite being directed against Posie, the event was positive and joyfill, with songs like ‘Dancing Queen’ playing between speeches. “Despite their hatred we still have joy and community - something they can never take away,” said Al.
Al encouraged the transgender/irawhiti community to “live our lives loud proud and unashamed who we are.” Sid added that “cis and heterosexual people need to come to the party too” to help amplify trans voices. Sid further encouraged “participation and communication” from students to “keep the conversation open [and] challenge those you know that might have slightly less open views than you.”
In light of the recent protests across the motu, Posie has abandoned her speaking tour of Aotearoa and returned to the UK.