My concern about NZ #HateSpeech Bill that adds religion to grounds in #HumanRights Bill but doesn't cover #LGBTQ+ or disabled people, is the community impact. Conservative religious groups will be emboldened to abuse other minority groups like trans people, and could threaten legal action if groups speak up against this. We saw similar during consideration of Conversion Practices Prohibition and #BDMRR Bills with some concerned Christians calling LGBTQ+ people broken or worse @civillibertynz

@goatsarah Following the Committee's report a revised #BDMRR Bill was introduced and floodgates opened for submissions from LGBTQI+ supporters and anti-trans activists and a range of bystanders. Not as many submissions as on the related #ConversionTherapy #ConversionPractices Prohibition Bill that followed but lots of overlap of content and submitters.

Don't worry, both Bills passed in NZ but it was an anxious time for LGBTIQ+ community
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/the-house/audio/2018807955/births-deaths-and-genders-a-quiet-bill-goes-loud

@goatsarah Aotearoa New Zealand had a similar story. A simple change to NZ's Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships Registration Act (#BDMRR Act) was introduced to reduce administrative requirements for registering a change of gender on a birth certificate. Law change was proceeding quietly thru Parliament when anti-trans activists lobbied politicians against this "radical change". The Minister withdrew the Bill and set up a Committee to work on a the issue
https://www.dia.govt.nz/bdmreview---history-of-the-BDMRR-Act