Transsexual tribunal member under fire

Act MP Stephen Franks and the Campaign Against the Civil Union and Relationship Bills are calling for the removal of a transsexual woman from a human rights tribunal after she accused the lobby group of hate crime.

Jacquie Grant was appointed to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, the former Complaints Review Tribunal, on November 9 for a five-year term.

The Campaign Against the Civil Union and Relationship Bills wants her removed from the tribunal after she sent the group what it alleges was a threatening email.

It warns: "Rest assured you will be taken to task at every opportunity for hate crime."

Ms Grant, from Hokitika, said she was prompted to write to the group after reading its "hate site". She said she had raised more than 70 children as a foster parent and "none have ever turned out gay".

She added: "By the way, I am a transsexual woman by your definition. I used to be a man." She urged the campaigners to examine their "own backyards".

Campaign spokesman Garnet Milne said the group failed to see how Ms Grant could remain on a tribunal in a statutory role to show impartiality and fairness.

"She has already disclosed her hand as one who has a sinister agenda of bias against those opposing the Civil Union Bill and Relationship Bill."

Mr Milne said the group had referred the matter to its lawyer and lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

Mr Franks, Act's justice spokesman, said Ms Grant should be removed from the tribunal.

"I don't think she has the faintest idea about what human rights is about when she says, `I don't like your ideas, so I'm going to criminalise you'."

It was appropriate for her to be involved in debate, he said, "but to then suggest she should be able to use the powers of the state to punish people whose views are different from hers is wrong."

Mr Franks was concerned the Civil Union Bill was a "stalking horse" for a bill on hate crime.

The Government administration select committee is examining hate crime.

Mr Franks said the essence of freedom was that people were free to voice their dislikes and disassociate themselves from people whose actions they did not agree with.

"It was hard-fought freedom, hundreds of years of people literally losing their lives, to get that established."

A select committee is due to report back to the Government on the Civil Union Bill on Monday.

Mr Franks said he urged the committee to insert a provision in the bill which would protect people who opposed homosexuality.

"Unless there is something like that, I'm not going to vote for it."

Tribunal members are appointed by the Attorney-General.

-NZPA