Wellington Pride Parade to march on without Corrections

Wellington's Pride committee has refused the Department of Corrections' application to be part of its parade
(Newshub)

Wellington's Pride committee has refused the Department of Corrections' application to be part of its parade on March 18, because of its treatment of transgender prisoners.

It follows in the footsteps of Auckland's Pride committee, who locked Corrections out of the Auckland Pride Parade. 

Wellington's Pride committee made the call after meeting with Corrections representatives.

The committee says it learnt that "extensive changes are currently being undertaken" about transgender prisoners' safety, dignity, privacy and their right to maintain their gender identity while in the care of Corrections.

However, they said that public consultation and staff training were still needed before the changes could be implemented.

In a statement on Friday evening, the committee said they would like to "express our support for all those creating positive change for our LGBTIQ community, including those within the Department of Corrections".

Wellington Pride has been approached for comment.

Corrections told Newshub they're disappointed by the decision.

"However, we appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Board this week to talk about the work we are doing to improve our care of transgender prisoners, and for their careful consideration of our application."

The department says it has been "conducting wide internal consultation and communication" with prison directors and other senior staff about its transgender action plan. 

"To bring our 3000 prison staff with us on this journey, we are developing a training package alongside refining the details of our new approach," it said in a statement.

It would see staff get education to better understand trans people and their specific needs.

They say it will take time to implement the plan.

Corrections did not provide a timeline about when the plan would be implemented or made public.

In making their decision, Auckland Pride said in a letter to Corrections that the department had not delivered on publicly stated intentions to improve conditions for transgender prisoners.

They specifically mentioned "the promised Transgender Prisoner Policy [which] has not been forthcoming despite statements to the contrary appearing in the gay media".  

It then recommended Corrections withdraw their application to take part in the parade, and invited them to consult further with the board about transgender prisoner policy throughout 2017.

No Pride In Prisons, a prison abolitionist group, supported Auckland Pride's decision and said conditions in prison are "deplorable" and transgender prisoners "experience some of the worst cases of this neglect".

Newshub.