Have a Rainbow Health Strategy

I believe, as an older lesbian woman,  that gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, intersex, and other rainbow people need to all have their health needs met under a specific 'Rainbow strategy'. For example,  I believe that lesbians and gay men have high rates of unrecorded suicides. As a young woman, while in my 30s, I knew four lesbians in my community who committed suicide. This experience has certainly affected my later life and commitment to the creation of safe spaces for lesbians.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people also have specific biological sexual health health requirements because of their experiences and need for non-threatening and discriminating environments.  For example, a lesbian may not want to be assisted by male nurses on the toilet,  and vice versa for gay men. Lesbians may also wish to have safe separate sex wards, where they will not be under the ' biological male sexual gaze'.  Similarly, gay men may feel the same about having a safe separate space. Rainbow people may also like a space in which they can express their specific culture and identity. I am aware that NZ society is accepting of different sexualities and identities, and is trying to being inclusive. However, like others in specific cultures (i.e. deaf culture, disability culture, Maori culture), people in the 'rainbow community' may respond better to health initiatives which do not question their very specific culture and ways of being.

For example, transwomen have attacked lesbians for wanting to meet with biological females, because they, as lesbians, are attracted to biological females, and not to the male body. Their voices have not been heard and they are being called 'anti-trans', instead of 'women who simply want a safe space as lesbians.

Also, I know of young lesbians, who are not feminine, who are being encouraged to become a transman so  because they are masculine by their peers and others. However, they may not want to take testosterone, because later in life they may wish to have a child and become happy in their female body which is celebrated by other lesbians. 

So, in order to truely include 'rainbow' people, I think the health system needs to first ask each category of Rainbow people what their needs are, and include them in any discussions about a strategy which values each member of the Rainbow spectrum. No decisions without us is the best mantra.

Why the contribution is important

It will include all people within the Rainbow spectrum.

It will priority safe spaces for all people in the Rainbow community.

It will encourage research and better understanding of, and within, the Rainbow community.

by Bluerain on March 09, 2023 at 09:16PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 2.2
Based on: 7 votes

Comments

  • Posted by natnat2023 March 14, 2023 at 20:41

    For an idea about the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all of our rainbow community, you sure do say alot of anti-tran rhetoric...

  • Posted by paulanz March 22, 2023 at 04:24

    The transphobic language is thick in this post also attempting to stoke the myth of the trans vers lesbian dating issue ppl are adults if they ask you out and you don't want to go just say no hell this has being going on since forever with men and women and men and lesbians
    Yet the author attempts to make a trans person who's asking a lesbian out as a agressive predator purely transphobia

  • Posted by Bluerain March 22, 2023 at 18:54

    I think that my need for safe lesbian spaces is verified by the ‘aggressive comments about my ideas by both commentators. I am not antitrans but would like to feel safe in designated lesbian and women spaces or events.

     I agree that transwomen have rights, but giving other grouos a safe space is common courtesy.. I know that I have been at lesbian dances where non-trans biological males forced their way in saying they liked women too and so were lesbians. This caused a few issues as you can imagine.
    . I believe male, female (as in current law) and, in addition, none binary spaces are needed . So people can have a choice about where they feel most comfortable to interact, or change their clothes (ie changing rooms, toilets, etc),

    i don’t see this as antitrans, but inclusive of everyone. Again forcing others to accept your views just causes animosity which you have displayed to me by namecalling.

    Can you suggest a solution to meet all our needs in regards to safety?

  • Posted by paula March 24, 2023 at 04:41

    You mention safety can you list all of the incidents that are verifiable in new Zealand that actually back up the logic you are using where trans ppl have perpetrated harm to either the lesbian or cis women's community involving these safe spaces or any other space that have resulted in that individual being charged by the police

    Further to this I have being in hospital on a few occasions and housed in a women's ward and we have all got on extremely well much like any other group of women who have being put together because of unfortunate circumstances

    Your call to exclude a entire group of ppl is akin to excluding colored folk because of the color of there skin you are using all of the same arguments that were used back then. And again in your second post you have attempted to liken trans women to a bunch of alcohol fueled drunk men attempting to get into a lesbian club, saying they were non trans points to the belief that you still believe a trans women is a male predator in a dress.

  • Posted by Bluerain March 25, 2023 at 18:56

    No I don't mean transwomen are predators. I mean that lesbians and women need male free spaces, so that females can feel safe and truely understood when talking about their menstration, their abuse by men (1 in 3 women), religious beliefs (Islam), and sexuality. No anti trans is intended. I just believe, that as is now the law, that same sex (biological) are needed and need to be protected.

    see: https://goodshepherd.org.nz[…]suggests%20that%20one%20in,(IPV)%20in%20their%20lifetime.&text=When%20psychological%20abuse%20is%20added,one%20in%20two%20(55%25)._

  • Posted by paula March 25, 2023 at 19:15

    And ironically that same law protects us as well

  • Posted by paula March 26, 2023 at 19:10

    Trans women are no longer male in most cases such as myself never were to begin with your continued belief that trans women are men is harmful and to be fair I myself don't bring certain subjects up because of the audience when in a group of women the language you have used is excluding trans women from everyday life with there peers frankly unacceptable.

  • Posted by Bluerain March 27, 2023 at 20:52

    I think that transwomen can be with their peers and in everyday life. I welcome them into my everyday life, but some biological women for whatever reasons are not comfortable in certain settings with biological males, whether they be trans or not trans. They require same biological sex spaces to feel comfortable and safe. Their needs must be met as well. That is all I am saying.

  • Posted by paula March 28, 2023 at 20:15

    in which case lets build them there own special space as far as toilets and changing rooms are concerned and us trans women will happily join in with the women whom do not mind us being with them.

  • Posted by AngryofEketahuna March 29, 2023 at 09:16

    I agree with you Bluerain

  • Posted by Kiwi8 April 21, 2023 at 19:35

    Trans are no longer males? Ok. But they’re not women either.
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