- National
- ACT
This was published 7 years ago
Tranz Australia's Jenni Atkinson hands over the leadership reigns
Cody Smith is channelling negative emotions into positive change as part of the new leadership team of an advocacy group for trans, non-binary and intersex people.
Tranz Australia runs education sessions to inform the community and increase visibility around gender diversity.
Cody Smith is part of the new leadership team for Tranz Australia, taking over from founder Jenni Atkinson.Credit: Kimberley Le Lievre
The group began as a YouTube channel and then Facebook page, as a way to connect trans people across the country, particularly those who lived in rural or remote areas.
Founder Jenni Atkinson went on to provide education to groups across Canberra, including government departments, schools and community organisations.
"There wasn't a lot of education going on at the time, so we tried to fill that gap," she said.
Jenni has stepped back from the organisation to focus on music and the arts. She believes the new leadership team of Cody Smith and Kim Talbot will help inject different ideas and reach more people.
Cody said becoming part of the Tranz Australia leadership has helped channel negative emotions into positive outcomes.
"It was better than being angry all the time," Cody said.
"For a lot of different queer identities, it is very easy to get caught up in how unfair everything is. It's a feeling of being thrown into an unending fight that you don't want to be part of."
"For me, activism gave me a chance to take that anger and turn it into something that helped other people better themselves," Cody said.
'It's just a better thing to do with that time, that stewing and that negativity."
As well as running education sessions in Canberra, Cody has also been active on the national stage helping contribute to the Darlington Statement, by Australian and New Zealand intersex organisations and advocates.
The statement, addressed to anyone with an interest in bettering things for intersex people, outlines the community's priorities and advocates for change.
"It's a 59-point statement designed as a living document. It will be further developed as needs arise," Cody said.
"This has been a huge genuine effort to get everyone on the same page, and focused on the same fight."
One of the points particularly close to Cody's heart was a call for more resourcing for support groups to build inclusive communities.
"What it comes down to is what makes you happy," Cody said.
"My choice to identify openly and proudly as an intersex person is authentically acknowledging something I was born with, something I live with, and something I needed to acknowledge to feel right in my own skin."