Brian Tamaki protests puberty blockers outside Te Tahi Youth

Monday, 6 May 2024

Counter-protesters for the transgender community sending off Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki after he spoke at a puberty blocker protest outside Te Tahi Youth.

Destiny Church protesters gathered outside Te Tahi Youth on Bealey Ave in Christchurch on Monday, calling for a ban on puberty blocking medication.

Puberty blockers are designed to give transgender youth time to make decisions about further gender affirming interventions such as taking hormones or surgery, by pausing puberty.

There has been mounting contention around the use of puberty blockers in New Zealand after Britain recently banned the routine use of the medication for transgender youth and teenagers.

Tamaki arrives at the protest outside Te Tahi Youth on Bealey Ave.

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora is expected to publish its own review on the issue soon.

Te Tahi Youth, which was created in 1995 by Dame Sue Bagshaw, provides medical support for the gender diverse community amongst other services.

Brian Tamaki, leader of Destiny Church, called out Bagshaw and Te Tahi Youth for helping youth access puberty blockers.

Destiny Church protesters and advocates for the transgender community face off outside Te Tahi Youth building on Bealey Ave.

He said the medication was “the biggest medical scandal in New Zealand history” and compared Te Tahi Youth to a cartel.

Tamaki was quickly met with a counter-protest from those calling for transgender youth to be protected.

Bagshaw said if medication like puberty blockers were banned in New Zealand, there would be an increase in self-harm rates.

Destiny Church protesters encourage cars to honk in support as they hold signs facing the road.

Tamaki and supporters call out Te Tahi Youth for providing access for puberty blockers.

Counter-protesters face off against Destiny Church members.

Destiny Church protesters hold signs that say “block puberty blocker”, while counter protesters hold paper that show phrases like “gender affirming healthcare is life saving healthcare”.

Tamaki speaks at the protest with a microphone, backed by Destiny Church supporters.

Things become heated as counter-protesters defend the right of the transgender community to have access to puberty blockers.

Tamaki says the use of puberty blockers in New Zealand should be banned as he believes they’re a danger to New Zealand children.

She said support for gender-diverse youth needed to be normalised, and New Zealand needed to “move on” from Tamaki and his views.

“We are hoping that it won’t just be Te Tahi that are seeing gender diverse young people, that it will be a normal part of healthcare for New Zealanders from their GP’s,” she said.

“These young people deserve to be listened to and cared for just as much as any other young people.”