Trans youth mark decade

Bella Simpson came out as a trans girl when she was 11 years old.

She was one of the first members of Tranzform, a transgender youth peer support group which celebrates its first decade on Sunday. Simpson said it represented a place where she didn’t feel like the odd one out.

‘‘I felt quite isolated and quite alone because there was no one else like me at school. [Tranzform] was a place I could go where I wouldn’t be the only trans person and only queer person.

‘‘Back then, there wasn’t a lot of younger trans people out.’’

Founded in 2008, Tranzform caters for transgender and gender diverse youth between the ages of 15 to 30.

Now aged 22, Simpson chatted to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at Government House about transgender rights.

Simpson said groups like Tranzform were important because transgender people would always need a space ‘‘to be themselves and find themselves’’.

You would be hard-pressed to find a trans person in Wellington who hadn’t benefited from the work of Tranzform, she said.

The service was vital for their wellbeing and needed to be better funded.

Brooklynne Michelle, co-founder of Tranzform, said in its first year she funded the organisation. It was born when she and co-founder Wai Ho agreed there was a need for a youth-focused, peer-led transgender group in Wellington.

‘‘I was the one who came up with the name. I was proud of that. Our early logo had an autobot. That’s how committed we were to the whole Transformers thing.’’

Since its establishment 10 years ago, things had changed for transgender people.

‘‘Not just in New Zealand but worldwide. It’s becoming more and more acceptable.

‘‘Through the work of Schools Out and Tranzform, we’re getting more schools on board with transitioning youth and making sure they’re not being bullied and they’re being respected.’’

Michelle stepped down from direct involvement in the group several years ago, because of her belief in its peer-led kaupapa.

Back then, rather than hoping Tranzform would still be around in 10 years, she would have hoped there would no longer be a need for it.

‘‘I would love to see organisations like Tranzform no longer necessary . . . Where we get to a point where we don’t need support groups because we are supported by our whole community.’’

Michelle said she ‘‘couldn’t be prouder’’ of the mahi Tranzform has done.

If you’re interested in heading along on Sunday, contact tranzform.wgtn@gmail.com.

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2.

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