Christchurch Pride should not promote an event that excludes transgender people, opposers to the Menfriends Pride Week event say. (File photo)

A Christchurch Pride Week-endorsed event barring transgender people from a sex venue has been postponed after public outrage.

Christchurch's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community are preparing for 10 days of pride events.

Christchurch Pride Week, which launches on March 15, will include an art show, a drinks night, yoga and karaoke, and the No Place Like Homo closing party. Last year, more than 1000 people attended the various festivities, including at Shirley Boys' High School, which ran its own Pride Week after a student came out to his peers during a school assembly.

Volunteers met on Friday after patrons expressed outrage at the cisgender (people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex) only rule at the Menfriends Jocks Party – a "sex on site" venue hosting a 14-hour "marathon" party on March 22, Christchurch Pride chairperson Jill Stevens said.

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Organisers said the rules for the event were about protecting people, not phobia.

The R18 event specified it was only for men whose gender corresponded with their birth sex – a slap in face from an event that prides itself on inclusiveness and celebrating a diverse range of gender and sexual identities, Kayla Collins, who is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, said.

Christchurch Pride said in a Facebook post the Menfriends event had a "specific target audience", hence transgender people were excluded.

"As much as the venue owners dedicate themselves to creating a safe environment sometimes unfortunately attitudes of some patrons are beyond their control.

"Unfortunately not all events will cater for everyone based on physical ability, gender, age, cultural and religious beliefs and or sexual or personal preferences."

Sex on site venues have long been part of MSM (men who have sex with men) culture, but the cisgender only rule was a requirement enforced by the venue owners for the safety of transgender people, it said.

Stevens said on Tuesday that the event had been postponed after "a lot of intense and respectful consideration from all sides".

"We regret any harm caused and hope you will help each other celebrate our diversity and individuality by joining us not only throughout the upcoming week but for the year and years to come."

Menfriends declined to comment, but its website earlier said: "If you have a penis, you qualify for access to Menfriends." The access policy was later changed to say "enter at your own risk, right of admission is reserved".

Collins questioned why Christchurch Pride ever promoted an event that clearly excluded members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"Is it appropriate to promote an event during Pride Week that promotes exclusivity and doesn't challenge intolerant behaviour towards the Trans community?

"Essentially you are saying that it is OK and giving the go ahead for particular sects of the community to be excluded."

She said while she supported specialised and catered events, it was inappropriate for Christchurch Pride to promote them.

Other critiques said the exclusion was "quality bulls..." and reinforced that it was "OK to exclude some parts of our community".

"Will they be checking for penises at the entrance?"

Transgender man Joe Wilson said he "can't believe" there was an issue.

"Being offended by this would be like me being offended at not being able to go to women's things anymore.

"I don't look at the women's events and assume they hate men. This event just celebrates some of the history, and actually looks like a fun night."

Christchurch Pride said the rules for the event were "not made with transphobic ideals". "They are put in place to ultimately keep Trans people safe."