World’s first openly transgender MP and mayor Georgina Beyer dies aged 65

“Georgie was surrounded by her nearest and dearest 24/7 over the past week, she accepted what was happening, was cracking jokes and had a twinkle in her eye, right to the final moments.”

Former prime minister Helen Clark said Beyer had been a much-valued Labour MP in her government.

“Georgina broke new ground in becoming the world’s first openly transgender Member of Parliament,” Clark said.

“Her election [as mayor of Carterton] speaks volumes about both Georgina’s personal skills and dedication to community service and the district’s willingness to accept her on her merits without discrimination.

“Georgina showed tremendous courage in stepping into public life. She published a book about her past and the public warmed to her honesty.”

Clark said Beyer had a sharp wit - “a great asset in the debating chamber”.

She conveyed her condolences to Beyer’s wider family and friends.

“Her death at 65 has taken her from us far too young.”

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins paid tribute to Beyer, saying he didn’t know her well but extended his condolences to all her family.

He believed she made a lasting impact on Parliament.

“I certainly think that Georgina blazed a trail that has made it much easier for others to follow.”

Tributes have started to flow for Beyer, including from leaders in the LGBTIQA+ community.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said on Facebook Beyer was “a trailblazer at so many stages of her life”.

“She always stood up for the marginalised and the stigmatised. I will always remember her courage. I was with her on the steps of Parliament when Brian Tamaki and his mob arrived to oppose civil unions.

“And then followed her when she went to confront them. With a mixture of awe and genuine fear for her safety I saw the very best of Georgina that day,” Robterson wrote.

“I considered Georgie a friend and to be so meant the odd difficult moment. I know that she struggled at times, especially post-Parliament to find her place.

“But I also know that she knew she was an inspiration to so many people, especially in the rainbow community, and that she played her part in many significant social changes like prostitution reform, civil unions and marriage equality.

“Thank you Georgie for your life of creativity, drama, activism and aroha. Rest easy now.”

Auckland Pride co-chair Christian Rika said on social media that Beyer led the way.

“Her advocacy for sex workers, and on some queer issues, made a difference for communities. Moe mai rā.”

Former Auckland Pride executive director Max Tweedie said: “Deeply saddened by this, Georgina Beyer was a fearless trailblazer and icon. Her courage and determination will continue to be an inspiration to many.”

Queer activist and Herald columnist Shaneel Lal paid their respects to Beyer, remembering her as a “formidable leader” at a time of hostility towards the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The passing of whaea Georgina Beyer is deeply saddening,” Lal said.

“I spoke on the phone with her and she always said that she wanted trans people to be allowed to just live. That was her dream. Trans people will inherit her fight. Rest in power!”

Green MP Golriz Ghahraman said Beyer was indelible and she remembered their last encounter where Beyer told her: “Being a 1st matters so much.”

The Carterton District Council said Beyer served her community there with distinction.

Carterton mayor Ron Mark said: “’Rural, conservative’ Carterton elected her a councillor, and then mayor. Wairarapa, a supposedly conservative place, chose her as MP.

“She’s shaped people’s thoughts and people’s minds, and made us all confront our prejudices. She certainly helped shape mine,” Mark said.

Current Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty remembered Beyer as a beloved family member, a loyal friend and a passionate advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I’ve known Georgina since i was a kid. She used to babysit me back when she worked with my mother in Carterton,” McAnulty said.

“She was always kind and supportive. And always laughing and having fun. We have lost a great one.”

Former MP and government minister Peter Dunne said on Twitter that Beyer was a “genuine, committed trailblazer, who will be missed.”

The United States Embassy in New Zealand said: “We are absolutely devastated by the news of Georgina Beyer’s passing. We’re honoured to count her as a friend of the embassy. Her wisdom and the day she helped us raise our Pride flag remain unforgettable. Fitting the Pride flag flies on our flagpole now in honour of Wellington Pride.”

Māori academic Dr Rawiri Taonui said Beyer was “a dignified voice, caring person and great community leader against a tide of injustice”.

Beyer was “humbled, grateful and delighted” to be made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to LGBTIQA+ rights in 2020.

Speaking at the time, Beyer said there wasn’t one single victory she would point to and say: “That was it, that was the win.”

Instead, she said it was a slow, steady and patient battle fought over decades to achieve broad acceptance of the rainbow community.

Beyer identified as a woman at the age of 5 and took up choir for the dresses and acting for the dress-ups. Her life took a turn when she became a sex worker because of a lack of job opportunities for a trans woman.

Beyer was educated for a period at the private Wellesley College boys’ school before going to a state school in Papatoetoe in Auckland.

Eventually, she returned to Wellington, which was then in its heyday as the transgender capital of New Zealand.

“Because of my transitioning at that time and the lack of social compassion, it forced you to live in this ‘twilight world’. Among ‘people of the streets’, if you like, there was an odd bond because we were all enduring the same sort of social exclusion.

“I guess I got a bit more forceful and assured about who and what I am - and nothing was going to alter my path to achieve what I needed to achieve in becoming a woman.”

In 1979, she was sexually assaulted by a group of men. Beyer never reported it to the police, but it gave her a new fire in her belly to change the status quo.

She turned to local government to effect change and in 1995 became the first openly transsexual mayor in the world in what had been considered the conservative town of Carterton.

Four years later, Labour shoulder-tapped her to run for the Wairarapa seat but she wasn’t expected to win. It had always been a deep shade of blue and Beyer was up against high-profile Paul Henry.

“I had a name as a mayor and I suppose I ticked a lot of the identity politics boxes: Māori, transgender, woman.”

Beyer spent eight years in government and counted decriminalising prostitution and bringing in civil unions among her proudest achievements.

She credited the latter for being the building block for the wave of support for marriage equality a decade later.

In 2017, Beyer had a life-saving kidney transplant and it took her a long time to get better.