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The world's first transsexual Member of Parliament, Georgina Beyer is visiting Montreal, Canada as a keynote speaker at the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights from 26 to 29 July 2006. The conference is being held in conjunction with the 1st World Out Games.
Georgina Beyer is an internationally-renowned advocate for the rights of gay, lesbian and transsexual people. She believes all genuine and honest people should have equal opportunity to strive, achieve and participate fully, openly and equally. Georgina would like to raise the profile of LGBT human rights at the United Nations level, as she believes strongly in freedom of expression, tolerance and inclusion, and eliminating all forms of discrimination.
Most recently, Georgina has been a vocal supporter of legislation decriminalising prostitution, and setting up an alternative to marriage (Civil Unions) that is accessible to non-heterosexual couples. Georgina also has a member's bill in her name, Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill to include 'Gender Identity' in the New Zealand Human Rights Act (Sec 21) as a grounds upon which a person cannot be discriminated against.
Georgina is the Chairperson of Social Services Select Committee and also serves on the Local Government & Environment Select Committee. Previous parliaments Georgina served on the Law & Order Select Committee, MMP Review Select Committee and Primary Production Select Committee.
Georgina Beyer was born in 1957 in New Zealand, and is part Māori. She worked as a stripper and prostitute in Wellington New Zealand. Ms Beyer then worked as an actor, entertainer and broadcaster.
She became the world's first elected transsexual Mayor in 1995. Georgina was elected to Parliament in 1999 for the mainly conservative rural Wairarapa constituency with a 32% majority, achieving the largest swing in the country and thereby becoming the first transsexual MP. She was re-elected in 2002 as Wairarapa MP with a doubled majority of 6372, and in 2005 Georgina returned to Parliament as a List Member of Parliament.
Georgina's election and the ensuing intense media focus threw her into the media spotlight and her life became the subject of the documentary Georgie Girl. The film has screened on POV in America to an audience of 15 million (potential audience of 250 million), CBC Canada, Channel 4 in the UK, Ireland and SBS in Australia, amongst many other countries. Georgie Girl received awards at the Sydney International Film Festival Audience, San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, Festival International de Films de Femmes de Créteil France, Queer Doc Sydney Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and the Madrid Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Personal statement from Georgina Beyer MP:
'It is important to allow people who want to be positive contributors of our society regardless of sex, race, creed and gender reach their human potential. We need all human potential to make our communities thrive, to make them more vital, the very centre of our reason for being and living. The most important thing at the end of the day is about people, people and people!'.
Media Interviews
Please contact Pascal Dessureault, Press Secretary at the Outgames, who will be managing press conferences. Details below:
Pascal Dessureault, Press Secretary, Phone: 1-514-252-5858 #5378
Email pdessureault@montreal2006.org
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