NZ First bill, UK court ruling revamps debate on sex and gender in NZ

The battle over gender and definitions is building steam in New Zealand.

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that “would ensure the biological definition of a woman and man are defined in law”.

It comes after a landmark ruling in the United Kingdom, where Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled a woman is defined “by biological sex under equalities law”.

The court sided with a women’s rights campaign group that argued sex-based protections should only apply to “people that were born female”.

Judge Lord Hodge said the ruling should not be seen as a triumph of one side over the other, and stressed that the law still gives protection against discrimination to transgender people.

But it was largely seen as a victory by campaigners, while trans rights advocates have called the ruling a huge blow to some of the most marginalised people in our society.

To discuss this issue, today on The Front Page, we’re joined by University of Waikato professor of sociology and social policy Katrina Roen.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

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