Following last week's political posturing from Christopher Luxon's Government, the Greens promise to do everything in their power to ensure everyone gets the healthcare they need, and that needs to include our trans whānau.
"Trans rights are human rights and our trans whānau deserve access to critical healthcare," says Green Party Co-leader, Marama Davidson.
"Aotearoa can be a country that leads with compassion, evidence and aroha. But right now, the Government is fanning the flames of an imported culture war by targeting trans and takatāpui New Zealanders instead of addressing the issues impacting all of us in a cost-of-living crisis.
"They are lauding a UK-style approach which shows disregard for international expert consensus and has been criticised in the peer-reviewed literature.
"Puberty blockers are healthcare, and gender affirming care for trans young people is recognised as best practice. The Government has continued to allow their use for other conditions, so it's clear this move is politically motivated, not scientific.
"As we have heard again and again, limiting access to gender-affirming care risks undermining the well-being of trans and non-binary youth, whose voices and experiences have been clear: gender affirming care saves lives.
"We have heard the voices of trans people feeling attacked from every direction. Once again, Luxon's Government has espoused some incredibly transphobic rhetoric that aims to cause harm and division. We need to do better for our young people.
"What's needed now is a commitment to support our rainbow communities by delivering equitable, accessible healthcare based on robust evidence and empathy, not imported culture wars.
"The Greens affirm our pledge to properly resource and promote clear pathways for timely, free, non-discriminatory access to all forms of gender-affirming healthcare based on informed consent and self-determination.
"We stand with our trans whanau, always," says Marama Davidson.
