Best practice in gender care
Overview
Join us to hear from leading academics, researchers, and clinicians in approaches to gender dysphoria .
Experts will share best practice on gender care including Genspect's newly launched Gender Framework. There is analysis of affirmative guidelines, policy, and treatment rates. The nature of sex and gender in early Maori society is discussed as well as how schools contribute to gender distress, and how families and parents are impacted and responding. The webinar ends with a discussion of the psychology behind widespread institutional capture and a discussion of next steps.
The webinar features a discussion with Australian doctor Jillian Spencer across the Tasman.
This webinar promotes respectful and open discussions regarding sexuality and gender in the light of current scientific and clinical evidence. We will discuss questions such as:
̶ How strong is the evidence base for gender transition in New Zealand?
̶ Are puberty blockers safe and reversible?
̶ Do children have the capacity to consent to gender treatments?
̶ Do we do more harm by giving or withholding treatment?
Issues covered
̶ Introducing the Genspect Gender Framework
̶ Analysis of New Zealand's transgender health guidelines
̶ Sexuality and Gender in early Māori society
̶ Medicalisation of gender questioning NZ children
̶ Sex, gender, identity in NZ schools
̶ Parenting amidst social contagion and gender confusion
̶ Psychological underpinnings of institutional capture
Programme
Programme: 9.15am - 10.15am Joe Burgo & Alasdair Gunn: Introducing the Gender Framework
10.15am - 11.00am Jan Rivers: Affirming Distress as Identity: NZ's transgender health guidelines
11.00am - 11.45am Ngahuia Awekotuku: Sexuality and gender in the early Maori world
11.45am - 12.30pm Simon Tegg: Puberty blocker use in NZ: Overmedicalisation or unmet need?
12.30pm - 1.15pm Lunch Break
1.15pm - 2.00pm Jillian Spencer: Comparing medical systems & systems of change in Australia and New Zealand
2.00pm - 3.00pm Sue Middleton & Margaret Curnow: Sex, Gender, Identity & Schools
3.00pm - 4pm Discussion hosted by Alasdair Gunn - Parenting in the age of social contagion & gender confusion
4pm - 4.45pm Dianna Kenny: Psychological Underpinnings of Institutional capture
4.45pm - 5.15pm Summing up
Speaker Biographies
Joe Burgo is a clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst, writer, and media commentator. As the Clinical Lead for Genspect’s Beyond Trans programme, he supervises other psychotherapists who work with gender distress.
Jan Rivers is a former public servant whose roles focussed on libraries and information systems. As a lesbian she is concerned about gender ideology and its impacts on young same-sex attracted people.
Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku MNZM is an Emeritus Professor who has published extensively over the decades on culture, heritage and sexuality, and worked in the museum and university sectors. She is a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and a Fellow of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Simon Tegg is software engineer with an interest in evidence based medicine. He founded the Fully Informed group in 2020 to scrutinise the use of puberty blockers for paediatric sex trait modification in New Zealand.
Jillian Spencer has worked as a psychiatrist in Australia since 2009. She completed subspecialty certificates in child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. She was removed from clinical duties in April 2023 for raising concerns about gender treatments for children.
Sue Middleton is an Emeritus Professor of Education. Her research explores New Zealanders’ involvement in global education movements, including feminism. She taught courses on women and education and education and sexuality.
Margaret Curnow spent her working life in health and education. She is a lesbian, a mother, and a grandmother. She retired in 2019 and has worked for ideology free education since then.
Alasdair Gunn was working in academia when he met a group of parents of trans-identified boys, and as a result wrote a series of Quillette articles. A gay man who tackled body dysmorphia in adolescence, Alasdair brings unique understanding of teenage male development.
Dr Dianna Kenny is a former Professor of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Australia and is now in full time private practice. She is an expert in child development and developmental psychopathology with a focus on children and adolescents with gender dysphoria.
Lower cost and free tickets
We have to charge to cover our costs but we don't want anyone to miss out because the ticket price makes it prohibitive to attend. If that is your situation email jan@genspect.org to arrange for a low-price or fee free ticket.
Early bird tickets are available until the 4th of November for $75
Terms and conditions
Genspect's Events Cancellation Policy
Event fees must be paid in full at the time of registration. If full amount is unpaid the registration will be deemed to be a non-registration.
Cancellation or postponement: Genspect reserves the right to cancel, postpone or reschedule the event.
Event withdrawals: If no longer able to attend the event please notify us as soon as possible. Withdrawal from the event must be made in writing. Genspect has the right to retain 15% administration fee for withdrawals up to 21 days prior to the event. 30% of the registration fee up to 14 days prior and the full fee will be non-refundable in the ten days before the event. Genspect also reserves the right to change content or presenters of the event.
Genspect Information
Genspect's mission is a healthy approach to sex and gender
Our international organisation includes professionals, trans people, detransitioners, and parent groups who work together to advocate for a non-medicalised approach to gender diversity.
Genspect in New Zealand is launching Genspect's Gender Framework locally on November 10.
It is currently being finalised by Genspect's Think Tank, the Killarney Group and will be launched internationally at Genspect's the second international conference - Genspect: The Bigger Picture Continues to be held in Denver, Colorado on 4 and 5 November.
Social media information Twitter @genspect
Frequently asked questions
How will you look after my privacy?
Your registration details will be kept confidential between the core conference team of three people. Names will not be used for any purpose except in relation to this event. At the webinar registered guests will join anonymously through a link to the webinar live stream. Only speakers will be identified. Attendees can submit questions to the speakers during and after each presentation. Questions will be used without attribution and attendees will remain anonymous throughout and will not appear on screen, or be recorded or photographed or named during the event.
What if I can't afford a ticket?
We have costs to cover to run the event but we don't want anyone to miss out because they cannot afford to pay for a ticket. If this is your situation please email jan@genspect.org. Options are either a free ticket or a smaller contribution to attend the event.
Can I get a refund of my registration?
If you areno longer able to attend the event please notify us as soon as possible. Withdrawal from the event must be made in writing to jan@genspect.org. GENSPECT has the right to retain administration fees. 15% up to 21 days prior to the event. 30% up to 14 days. No refunds after 31 October.
Why was Genspect founded?
Genspect is an international, non-partisan, interdisciplinary professional and educational organisation devoted to advancing a healthy approach to sex and gender. Our team and members strive to promote high-quality, evidence-based care for gender-nonconforming individuals all around the world.
When will I get the Zoom link to join the conference?
The Zoom link will be sent by email to registrants in the days before the conference.
What will happen with any surplus funds raised from holding the webinar?
Any additional funds will be used to assist in Genspect's work in New Zealand and Australia.
Who should I contact if I have a question about the conference?
You can email jan@genspect.org with questions including about registration.
Why is this webinar happening now?
Genspect will be launching a new Gender Care Framework at the The Bigger Picture Continues in Denver, Colorado in the week before the NZ webinar. New Zealand will be the first country to hold a specific event to launch the framework locally.
What are Genspect's rights in relation to changes?
GENSPECT reserves the right to cancel, postpone or reschedule the event. GENSPECT also reserves the right to change content or presenters of the event.