Maori politician speaks out on subculture

Page 7

Georgina Beyer, Labour MP from Wairarapa, New Zealand, received a standing ovation at her first speaking engagement in Canada.

Beyer, who spoke at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto on Oct. 20, has won recognition internationally as a leader in the Aboriginal and the transgender communities.

She is the first Maori to be elected to Carterton District Council in her home country, and the first transgendered person in the world to be elected as a mayor and to a national parliament.

Born George Bertrand in 1957, Beyer took her name from her mother's second marriage.

Beyer underwent sexual reassignment surgery in 1984.

Sandra Laronde of Native Women in the Arts organized Beyer's trip to Canada.

Laronde was moved to bring Beyer to Toronto last year after seeing Georgie Girl, a documentary feature on Beyer. Laronde and David Oyez, artistic director of Buddies in Bad Times, introduced Beyer to her first Canadian audience.

In a speech marked by the humour and passion that she said, "have won her the affection of New Zealanders," Beyer told her incredible life story-a life that she described as "very cruel in lots of ways." That life included working in the sex trade and surviving a gang rape, which she said "was a defining moment in my life."

After pointing out "the term transgender was not used in those days," Beyer related how she ended up "living on the streets with no hope for the future."

These days, though, she said, "That person does not exist anymore."

Through her most difficult days, Beyer wanted to be an actor. She always had wanted to be an actor.

In 1987 she received a Best Actress nomination for her role in a TV series with a transvestite/transgender theme.

"People seem to think that we are living a false life. It's not a facade-no one would choose to live this kind of life," said Beyer.

"I knew nothing about politics," Beyer said about being asked to run for local council in 1992.

Working in a community centre at the time and seeing the results of severe budget cutbacks and radical economic changes, she ran, but lost by 14 votes.

Beyer later won a byelection, and "had to learn what local government was about."

On council, she said she was "careful to pick her issues," and she worked to "establish some form of co-operation and some form of influence over them [council]."

Although she said she "knew almost zero about my culture," she was asked to establish a consultative process with the Maori in the district.

Beyer said, "It had been almost 100 years since anyone from the local council had been out to [visit] the Maori." The basics of the process Beyer initiated are still in place today.

Beyer was elected mayor in 1995 and 1998, and MP in 2000.

Her advice to anyone seeking political office is "Always be honest with yourself; be proud of who you are."

She added, "Candidates who have tried to use my history against me have fared badly."

The past 20 years have seen Maori society and culture enjoy a renaissance.

Beyer stated, "New Zealand is way ahead of other places in the role First Nations play and in gender equity."

Although Beyer recognizes that "Indigenous cultures have suffered immensely," she believes the Maori are "fortunate compared to some Indigenous peoples."

Some of Beyer's relatives were instrumental in having Maori recognized as an official language.

Beyer identifies similarities between the Aborigines of Australia and Canada's First Nations.

She said one common struggle "is plagiarizing of the culture." For the Maori people, that means Maori symbols "end up on a Milan runway on a dress."

She added, "Permission needs to be granted for such things to be used in a commercial way."

Beyer seeks to use her influence as a role model for the Aboriginal and transgendered communities to break down political and social barriers. She said she was "touched by people who dissolved into tears when they asked her questions," aftr her address given at Buddies.

Beyer's private member's bill to include gender identity in human rights legislation has been selected for first reading in the New Zealand legislature.

"Politics," said Beyer, "affects every aspect of our lives. If you can't be politically active, support those who are."

Her immediate plans are to run again for a seat in the national parliament in 2005.

Beyer said that New Zealand is "a country that values diversity in our parliament," but she sees threats to that diversity and wants to preserve rights that are under attack. Long-term plans include learning about Maori culture and language, contributing to the performing arts, and working for human rights for minorities.

In Toronto for a week, Beyer planned to lead an Aboriginal leadership intensive Oct. 22 and attend a special screening of Georgie Girl on Oct. 27.