Unsanitary Napkin Unleash Two Songs In Support Of Gender Minorities Aotearoa

Unsanitary Napkin have unleashed two urgent anthems in support of Gender Minorities Aotearoa (GMA), a nationwide transgender organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand, run by and for transgender people; including binary and non-binary, intersex, and irawhiti takatāpui. Pointedly titled 'TERF War' and 'Speak Up For Women, You Don't Speak For Me', both tracks will feature on the Te Whanganui-a-Tara punk trio's forthcoming new album All Billionaires Are Bastards. Launched in resistance to transphobia and transmisogyny in Aotearoa, as affirmations of trans rights as human rights, we've reprinted the band's words on their thoughts behind the songs' release in full below. You can show your support via 'name your price' Bandcamp purchase (all proceeds go to GMA) and / or donating direct to GMA right HERE.

"Tēnā koutou <3

We are releasing two songs from our upcoming album, 'All Billionaires Are Bastards', in solidarity with our trans and gender-diverse whānau, and in solidarity with the trailblazing New Zealand weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard. We stand with you against all transphobia and transmisogyny.

We think it’s important to do this because transphobic ideas have taken root in Aotearoa and this is a movement that is only continuing to grow. We see this as particularly dangerous because these ideas enter the mainstream quickly and effectively.

Transphobes often pretend their ideas are feminist. For those unaware, TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist (though Feminism-Appropriating Reactionary Transphobes, or FARTs, may be even more accurate). We know they are not feminist because equating peoples’ bodies with their gender relies on the same essentialism used by misogynists. Gender is far more diverse, and biology is far more complex, than the binary division of man/woman. Gendered power dynamics are similarly complex and not universal.

TERFs scaremonger and stir up fears about trans peoples’ access to women’s bathrooms and participation in sports. TERFs are hyper-fixated on the private lives of trans people. They often claim to “care” about trans and gender-diverse people whilst refusing to respect their gender or their pronouns, often surveilling them online to uncover private information, and campaigning against anything that might benefit trans peoples’ access to legal rights, healthcare, and quality of life. It’s creepy.

TERFs have found allies amongst conservative politicians, far-right reactionaries, conspiracy theorists and Christian fundamentalists. We are seeing similar alliances between TERF organisations and right-wing politicians in Aotearoa, particularly from the National and ACT parties who have defended and assisted TERFs in spreading their transphobic ideology. They have also found allies in the left, which Daphne Lawless has written about here: fightback.org.nz/2019/08/26/swerf-and-terf-the-red-brown-alliance-in-policing-gender/

Cis people should all stand up against this, and stand in support of trans and gender-diverse people worldwide. There are so many ways to connect with and care for each other, and to make the world a brighter, freer, and more beautiful place.

To our trans and takatāpui whānau: You are loved and supported. Kei te kaha tonu koutou.

All proceeds from this release will be donated to Gender Minorities Aotearoa. GMA are a nationwide transgender organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand, run by and for transgender people; including binary and non-binary, intersex, and irawhiti takatāpui. Find them at genderminorities.com

Or donate directly (inc. international transfer) here: genderminorities.com/donate-to-transgender-support-rights-advocacy-health/

With love,
Unsanitary Napkin xox"