New Zealand First’s Bathroom Bill w/ NZ Parents and Guardians of Transgender and Gender Diverse Children Coordinator, Sharyn Forsyth, and trans activist and nonbinary person, Wren: Monday 20 May, 2024

The New Zealand First Party has introduced a member's bill that would ban or even fine people for using a bathroom that does not correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth.

In a statement, New Zealand First said it will "stop the growing trend" of mixed-sex bathrooms.

First, former News and Editorial Director, Jessica Hopkins, speaks to NZ Parents and Guardians of Transgender and Gender Diverse Children Coordinator, Sharyn Forsyth (she/her) about the proposed bill and the prevalence of anti-trans rhetoric in Aotearoa.

She also spoke to Wren (they/them) a non-binary person, parent to a transgender child, and trans activist, about the impact this bill would have on both transgender and cisgender people as well as Facebook messages sent to Wren by a profile claiming to be NZ First MP Tanya Unkovich, suggesting transgender people are quote "mentally ill" and "need to go to the hospital for brain checks". Unkovich has stated the profile who sent these messages is impersonating her.