Maggie Barry in Parliament

Claiming the Green Party rarely spoke in Parliament on environmental issues, she asked “What’s your favourite Ms Logie? Ahh … sex change people going into prisons. There’s been a lot of talk of these ‘fringe’ issues.”

Logie tells GayNZ.com conduct in the House is often disappointing but this comment from Barry showed a level of meanness and ignorance that was “jaw dropping”.

“To reduce my questions about the state’s responsibility to protect transgender prisoners from sexual assault to a ‘fringe issue’ is just offensive,” she says.

“I am proud to stand up for the human rights of all New Zealanders, especially the most marginalised. I see this as a core Green value,” Logie says.

The comments are an apparent turnaround from Barry, who has been supportive of sexual minorities and GLBT community initiatives in the past, on HIV issues in particular.

You can see a video of the incident via In The House here