95bFM Trans-rights counterprotest shows transphobic rhetoric is not welcome in Aotearoa
30 March, 2023
Interview by Caeden Tipler, adapted by Athena Li-Watts
Mīharo (Ngāti Whātua), an organiser of the counter-protest against anti-trans speaker Posie Parker says it was organised to push back against hateful rhetoric in Aotearoa. Photo: Corey Fuimaono.
Last Saturday, a counter-protest against anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker took place in Auckland’s Albert Park.
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, commonly known as Posie Parker, attracted around 200 supporters to the park for her anti-trans event, including several far-right groups.
Thousands of trans people and allies were also in attendance to counter-protest and drown out Parker’s hate speech.
Mīharo (Ngāti Whātua), a cis-ally and organiser of the counter-protest, told Caeden Tipler on 95bFM's The Wire that the counter-protest was organised to push back against hateful rhetoric in Aotearoa.
“It was actually very beautiful to see the entire community and everyone who showed up reclaim that power.”
Mīharo claimed Parker’s rhetoric is extremely dangerous and that the attention of neo-nazi’s poses a threat to minorities.
Mīharo said people associated with far-right groups such as Action Zealandia and Counter Spin Media showed up in support of Parker to antagonise counter-protestors.
Neo-nazis were also present at Parker’s anti-Trans rallies in Melbourne, Australia, with footage of the group marching and saluting seen online.
Mīharo pointed out that Parker and other far-right extremists often use vulnerable communities, such as trans and non-binary people, as a scapegoat, blaming all of society’s problems on them.
“They know that trans-people, non-binary people, and our irawhiti whānau threaten their conservative ideas around gender, sexuality, families, and the patriarchy.”
She added that many anti-trans supporters rely on buzzwords such as ‘grooming’ and push a false narrative that trans and non-binary people pose a threat to children.
“As a grooming and sexual assault survivor, I have only been harmed by cis-men, with cis-women being their protectors.”
With anti-trans hate becoming more prevalent in Aotearoa, Mīharo emphasised the need to maintain the mindset of stamping out hatred to protect our most vulnerable communities.
“What we witnessed on Saturday isn’t something that was organised by no one person, it was a mobilisation of everyone that is set up with this tika. This is exactly what we need to do, this is exactly how we stamp out these views.”
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