Wellington Pride Festival I Tū whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara

The Legislation (Definition of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill is currently before Parliament. If passed, it would allow the law to define who counts as a woman and who counts as a man based solely on biology.

As organisations working to support, protect, and advocate for our trans, gender diverse, intersex, takatāpui, and MVPFAFF+ communities here in Aotearoa, we are deeply concerned about the far-reaching impacts this bill would have.

We’ve signed an open letter addressed to the people of Aotearoa and the MPs who represent them because we need your support to ensure this bill does not pass. The full text of the letter is available on our website.

If you’ve ever said you stand with our communities, this is the moment it matters.
Not quietly. Out loud.

TAKE ACTION

You can make a submission before 2 July, it only takes a few minutes, and your voice matters. More links in our comments.

Our communities deserve safety, dignity, and recognition in law, not exclusion. What happens next depends on all of us.

Imagine how great it would be if we didn't live in a world where Wellington City Libraries didn't have to pre-emptively close the comments on this post. And that's not shade on the library, we get it. And it sucks.

Keep up the great work though, Aunty Dana's!

Hey, have you missed us? We missed you while we were taking a little break to rest. But now we're back with a brand new newsletter and all these things to tell you about:

- Meet your new co-chair Molly
- AGM date
- Please take our attendee survey
- National Day of Action against the Gender Definitions Bill
- Festival dates for 2027
- Community events

Link in comments

There's a few events coming up in which we celebrate our rainbow community this month 🌈

First up is tonight, Wednesday 3 June:
7pm - 8pm - Submission writing party, primarily to submit for the definition of woman and man amendment, but also for a range of other government bills out for consultation

Sunday 14 June:
12pm - 2 - Q***r Craft Club - all welcome, free to attend session. BYO craft, we provide the snacks

Tash is also doing Sweat With Pride - find her under Team Sparkle Motion 💫

If you're doing this too, share your link in the comments so we can send a small donation your way 🙌

It’s June again and those rainbow ads are probably hitting your feed again, so it’s once again time to check in - is it actual allyship or just pink-washing capitalism?

Dame Jools Topp
1958 - 2026
Iconic entertainer and fierce rainbow advocate, Dame Jools Topp, of duo the Topp Twins, had passed away aged 68.
Our aroha and condolences to Dame Lynda and all her family and friends.
[image description: Black and white photograph of Jools Topp with text below: Dame Jools Topp 1958 - 2026]

As a committee, we've written to every MP in the Wellington region about the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill, and we encourage you to do the same. Postage to Parliament is free, or you can find email addresses on the Parliament website.

Plenty of organisations like InsideOUT or have more information you can use to educate yourself.

Our letters varied slightly depending on the political party we were contacting, but essentially they read:

"Kia ora Chris,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Wellington Pride Festival, to ask you to remember that you represent Aoteroa's queerest city, and we need you to show up for us.

You must vote down the 'Definition of Woman and Man' bill at second reading, regardless of any party politics. We also ask that you recognise it as more than a "distraction" - it is in fact a weapon aimed at us.

Legislation that seeks to define who counts as a 'man' or a 'woman' does not change the reality that transgender, intersex and non binary people exist in every community across Aoteaoroa. This bill is entirely unnecessary.

The one thing this legislation does is risk increasing stigma, division and harm to our most vulnerable communities.

Do not allow this to happen. Vote against the bill and make Wellington proud. "