Georgina Beyer
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Georgina Beyer is the world's first transsexual Member of Parliament, currently (2004) MP for the Wairarapa electorate in New Zealand.
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Early life
Born George Bertrand in 1957 in Wellington, Maori of Te Ati Awa, Ngati Mutunga, Ngati Raukawa, and Ngati Porou descent, Beyer spent her early childhood on her grandparents' farm in Taranaki. Later she shifted to Wellington to live with her mother, who had subsequently married Colin Beyer, a prominent lawyer and businessman. Shortly after leaving school at Wellington's Onslow College, Beyer discovered Wellington's gay scene, and at the age of 17 realised she was transsexual.
Night clubs and Sydney
Adopting the name Georgina, she became a stripper and prostitute working in nightclubs and on the street. She eventually gravitated to Kings Cross, Sydney, probably Australasia's most notorious red-light district. There she got into a car with four men who brutally raped her. This incident apparently persuaded her to seek to change the course of her life.
Return to New Zealand
Returning to New Zealand she continued to work as a stripper and drag queen, but also began seeking work as an actor with gradually increasing success, culminating in a Gofta award. At this time she also finally underwent sexual reassignment surgery.
After shifting to Carterton in Wairarapa, she worked as a radio host.
Political career
Local politics
She also began to take an interest in local politics, first winning election to a local school board, and subsequently being elected mayor of Carterton in 1995, serving in that role until 2000. This made her the world's first transsexual mayor.
Parliament
In 1999 she surprised the political commentators by beating National's Paul Henry to win the Wairarapa seat for Labour and become the world's first transsexual MP.
In June 2004, she spoke for the UniQ: Queer Students Association national conference at Waikato University, Hamilton, where in a moving, emotional speech she reiterated her support for the Civil Unions Bill, although did not believe that gay marriage would be legal in New Zealand for at least 20 years, and expressed fear that gay and lesbian New Zealanders were facing the beginning of a turbulent time whereby their rights gained since homosexual law reform in 1986 would be questioned and attacked. She also broke down while referring to the internal battle within herself that she had to face dealing with being a member of the New Zealand Parliament, which she described as the world's oldest "true" democracy, and being Maori, when it came to the Seabed and foreshore legislation of May 2004.
In early 2004, Beyer announced that she would not be standing in the 2005 elections, citing what she saw as the unpleasant atmosphere of national politics. Tensions with her own electorate committee, which opposed Beyer's views on the seabed and foreshore, may also have contributed to the decision. In September, however, Beyer reconsidered her decision to leave Parliament, and announced that she would be seeking a position on the Labour list (but not recontesting the Wairarapa seat). A large rally by the Destiny Church the previous month had been a factor in this decision, with Beyer believing that the message of such rallies must continue to be opposed.
Maiden speech
Georgina has become an instantly recognisable New Zealand personality, widely admired for her intelligence and wit, and her maiden speech to parliament is regarded as one of the best. Traditionally, newly-elected MPs have the floor for 10 minutes to introduce themselves to their new colleagues. An excerpt from her speech follows:
- Mr. Speaker, I can't help but mention the number of firsts that are in this Parliament. Our first Rastafarian...our first Polynesian woman...and yes, I have to say it, I guess, I am the first transsexual in New Zealand to be standing in this House of Parliament. This is a first not only in New Zealand, ladies and gentlemen, but also in the world. This is an historic moment. We need to acknowledge that this country of ours leads the way in so many aspects. We have led the way for women getting the vote. We have led the way in the past, and I hope we will do so again in the future in social policy and certainly in human rights.
Shortly afterwards, she brought the house down:
- I was quoted once as saying that 'This was the stallion that became a gelding, and now she's a mayor.'* I suppose I do have to say that I have now found myself to be a Member! So I have come full circle, so to speak.
*In New Zealand "mayor" is pronounced like "mare".