On May 3rd, 2025, LGBT+ activists and allies from around Ōtepoti gathered in the Octagon in a demonstration of solidarity with their trans whānau, who have become an increasing focal point of mainstream media and the global right-wing sphere. The rally represented opposition to New Zealand First’s recently proposed Members’ Bill, which aims to legally define “woman” as “an adult human biological female” and “man” as “an adult human biological male.” NZ First’s Winston Peters denied critiques of transphobia, claiming “it is not about being anti-anyone or anti-anything,” but is intended to cleanse Aotearoa New Zealand of “woke ideology” which, Peters argues, “undermin[es] the protection, progression, and safety of women.”
Such concerns have been amplified since the recent ruling by the UK Supreme Court to legally define gender in the same restrictive fashion, bound by a designated birth sex, which many conservatives and transphobes have celebrated as an indication of safer conditions for and increased protections of the rights of women. However, members of the LGBT+ community and allies identify such moves for what they are, yet another attack on a marginalised community and blatant transphobia. We know all too well that women’s liberation and transgender liberation are inextricable under patriarchal capitalism. University Queer Association UniQ, present at the rally, argues that this bill also “take[s] away spotlight from real issues,” such as the growing cost of living crisis and environmental devastation, issues which the present conservative coalition government is eager to ignore.
The rally was organised by members of the Ōtepoti branch of ISO, with support from Dunedin Pride, UniQ, Pride in Law Otago and Rainbow Medical Students Association. Speeches were given by members of ISO, Neave Ashton and Syl Mulvey-Butler, who pointed out that the trans community represents “less than one percent of the population.” As such, continuing attacks on the community are nothing more than “a scapegoating tactic to stir up people’s worst instincts to win over their votes through fear and hate, to cover up the fact that they are robbing them blind.” Speeches were also held by local drag queen Ann Arkii and local business owner Josh Thomas (Woof! bar), who have been longtime and much-loved members of the local rainbow community.
Despite this government’s efforts to restrict the community, Ōtepoti Dunedin showed that when trans rights are under attack, we will “stand up [and] fight back!” with an estimated 500-700 people gathered and talk of this having been Ōtepoti’s biggest ever trans rights rally. There was also very little backlash present at the rally, mainly just an occasional walker-by who was displeased, which is a win in itself considering Dunedin’s history of few, yet active, transphobic individuals.
We don’t know what the future of this bill holds, but we do know it will not and cannot protect women. Rather it will harm trans folk and anybody who fails to fit into the gender binary. Ōtepoti Dunedin showed that these hateful attempts at discrimination will not work and that the existence of trans people “is not something that can be legislated, debated, or defined by the state” and never will be. If the ruling class is trying to manufacture a culture war against our whānau, we intend to turn that into working class organising, and fight back.
