Artwork Information

Georgina Beyer (born November 1957) is a New Zealand politician and former Labour Party Member of Parliament. She is of European and Māori (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāti Porou) descent. She was the world's first openly transgender mayor, as well as the world's first openly transgender Member of Parliament. She is also among a very small number of former sex workers to hold political office. In her maiden speech in Parliament, Beyer stated; "I began as a stallion, then became a gelding and then a mare and now I'm a full member again."

Beyer lived in Australia for some time, and on her return to New Zealand began seeking work as an actor with increasing success, culminating in a GOFTA award nomination for "Jewel's Darl" in 1987.

The information above was sourced from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgina_Beyer and accessed 29 March 2019.

On page 76 of Assume Nothing, Beyer is quoted stating; ‘My name is Georgina Beyer. I’ve been Transsexual since 1976. I was in my mid teens when I assumed the lifestyle. Before I made the transition I was introduced to Carmen’s Balcony with the drag shows and the Coffee Lounge.