St. Albert public school passes sexual orientation, gender identity policy

in: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Albert+public+school+passes+sexual+orientation+gender/8589739/story.html

St. Albert public school trustees have passed a policy designed to protect staff, students and their families from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The board passed the stand-alone sexual orientation and gender identity policy at a regular meeting Wednesday night.

It is similar to a policy Edmonton public school trustees approved in November 2011, the first such policy to be approved in Alberta.

Last year, the Alberta School Boards Association rejected a policy to protect sexual minorities, saying existing harassment and discrimination policies already protect all children and there is no need to single out a specific group.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/life/Albert+public+school+passes+sexual+orientation+gender/8589739/story.html

American Psychiatric Association drops Gender Identity Disorder from manual

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/american-psychiatric-association-drops-gender-identity-disorder-manual041212

GLAAD says announcement is a 'historic change' but trans advocates are concerned about the definitions that remain in the manual of mental disorders

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) announced on Saturday that its manual would no longer list 'Gender Identity Disorder'.

But the new, fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V) will include 'Gender Dysphoria', which it describes as 'a marked incongruence between one's experienced/ expressed gender and assigned gender'.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) released a statement describing the announcement as a 'historic change' and instructed the media to 'acknowledge that "Gender Identity Disorder" (GID) - as well as the idea that trans people are automatically "disordered" - are now antiquated ideas among healthcare professionals'.

GANDA Filippinas, a trans women's advocacy group in the Philippines told Gay Star News that while they welcome the removal of Gender Indentity Disorder (GID) from the manual, the remaining definitions relating to trans people are 'not exactly something to cheer about'.

'The removal of GID merely shifts diagnosing trans-identities as a mental disorder to highlighting the distress brought about by one's sex assignment at birth, which will be known as Gender Dysphoria (GD),' said GANDA Filippinas founder Naomi Fontanos.

The removal of GID from APA's manual is one of the demands of the Stop Trans Pathologization campaign, but the campaign also asks that APA drop GD from the manual.

Campaigner Kelley Winters from GID Reform Advocates said in a blog post in June that 'the [APA's] proposed Gender Dysphoria criteria continue to contradict social and medical transition by mis-characterizing transition itself as symptomatic of mental disorder'.

The US's National Center for Transgender Equality executive director Mara Keisling told LGBTQ Nation yesterday that the APA's announcement was an 'amazing step forward, and while not perfect, is a huge improvement for diagnosis and treatment'.

The removal of GID from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was last published in 1994, can be compared to when APA stopped listing homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973.

DSM V has been approved by the APA's board of trustees and will be published in May 2013.

In a statement APA said the process of revising the manual has spanned over a decade and included contributions from 1,500 experts in psychiatry, psychology, social work and related fields from 39 countries.

'We believe that DSM V reflects our best scientific understanding of psychiatric disorders and will optimally serve clinical and public health needs,' said APA President Dilip Jeste.

'Our hope is that the DSM V will lead to more accurate diagnoses, better access to mental health services, and improved patient outcomes.'

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/american-psychiatric-association-drops-gender-identity-disorder-manual041212

ARGENTINA: Transsexuals Given Gender Choice ID cards by President Cristina Fernandez

in: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/



Argentine President Cristina Fernandez spearheads new law that grants people ability to choose their own name and gender on ID cards without seeking official approval.

For the first time, transsexuals in Argentina will have the option to be officially recognised with the gender they identify without first seeking court or medical approval.

Speaking at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez handed out the National Identity Cards to a handful of transsexuals in attendance, featuring their name, photo, and for the first time, the gender with which they identify.

Fernandez declared that the new law would bring about greater equality in Argentina.

"I want to say something about all of you. Today you are going to have the same rights that I and millions of Argentines have had from the day we were born. This is the society that we want. A society of reparation for everything you've had to go through to reach this point."

Before the law was passed, applicants had to meet medical or psychiatric criteria in order to change their gender on official documents, meaning that those who desired to be of a different biological sex were discriminated against unless they took hormonal treatments or underwent sex reassignment surgery.

Majamara Abrodos, a transsexual woman whop received an ID card at the ceremony, spoke of what the new law meant to transsexuals across the country.

"It is the freedom to be who you are, to live openly in your country being who you are, that is all. It is nothing more and nothing less for us who for so many years were denied this. It's basically to learn to live in freedom and to live freely, which is tough."

Argentina has been at the forefront of equality issues in Latin America, becoming the first South American nation to pass a law recognising same sex marriage in July 2010.

In another liberal move, the President used the ceremony to sign a decree that allows children of same-sex married couples to have the last names of both their parents on their identification documents.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/

Ontario becomes First Canadian Province to Protect Transgender people

in: http://thinkprogress.org/

As predicted, Ontario’s legislature passed an amendment to the province’s Human Rights Code adding “gender identity” and “gender expression” protections, making it the first in the country to do so. 

Remarkably, the change passed unanimously, demonstrating a unified commitment to protecting transgender people from discrimination in employment, housing, and health services. Just last week, Ontario also passed a significant anti-bullying bill that guaranteed students in all schools the right to form gay-straight alliances.

http://thinkprogress.org/

Christian LGBT group releases transgender documentary

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/

USA non-profit releases sensitive and educational video on transgenderism

A new YouTube released documentary has gained applause for its sensitive and educational portrayal of transgender people.

Voices of Witness: Out of the Box was made by Integrity USA, an LGBT Christian (Episcopalian) organization and features interviews with transgender men and women, Christian bishops and a clinical psychologist.

‘Gender identity and gender expression are issues that can easily be misunderstood and cannot be wrapped up in a neat little box,’ said Louise Brooks, Integrity USA’s communications director. ‘So the goal of Out of the Box was to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.’

The 26-minute documentary includes an interview with clinical psychologist James Walton and Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the first openly gay priest to be ordained bishop.

‘What previous generations understood as givens about gender identity has has increasingly become a complex continuum,’ says Walton in the video, as he explains the difference between biological sex, gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

‘I think God would want us to be talking about this even though it makes us uncomfortable and even though it calls us into unchartered territory,’ Bishop Robinson says.

‘It’s time that we understood the truth being brought to us by the transgender community and we owe it to them, we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to God to explore that truth.’

Watch the video here:

http://www.gaystarnews.com/

Happy Birthday: Christine Jorgensen

in: http://www.advocate.com/

Although Jorgensen was not the first transgender woman to undergo gender-reassignment surgery, she is the first to have been widely known.

George William Jorgensen Jr. (May 30, 1926 – May 3, 1989) grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., with the signature traits of early gender dysphoria. She was an introverted boy who felt at odds with other boys her age. In 1945 she was drafted into the military. And today would have been her birthday.

After her service, Jorgensen began exploring the possibility of gender-reassignment surgery. She began taking the female hormone ethinyl estradiol on her own. She researched the subject with the help of Joseph Angelo, a physician who was the husband of one of Jorgensen's classmates at the Manhattan Medical and Dental Assistant School.

Sweden was the only place where doctors were performing the surgery. During a trip to Copenhagen to see relatives, however, Jorgensen met Christian Hamburger, a Danish endocrinologist and specialist in rehabilitative hormonal therapy. Jorgensen stayed in Denmark and began more advanced hormone therapy as well as the first of a series of operations.

A few years later in the United States, Jorgensen underwent a vaginoplasty under the direction of  Angelo and another doctor, Harry Benjamin, who was integral in advancing transgender rights worldwide.

Jorgensen was preternaturally suited to being one of the first spokespeople for her community. She was unafraid of publicity and made the most of her media fame.

Her sense of humor helped her deal with most situations, but she stood her ground whenever offended.

New York radio host Barry Gray once asked her if 1950s jokes such as "Christine Jorgensen went abroad and came back a broad" bothered her. She laughed and said it didn't bother her at all.

But another encounter demonstrated that Jorgensen could be offended by at least some queries: Jorgensen appeared on an episode of The Dick Cavett Show,during which the host asked about the status of her romantic life with her "wife," and Jorgensen walked off the show. Because she was the only scheduled guest, Cavett spent the rest of the night talking about how he had not meant to offend.

Jorgensen had a fairly successful entertainment career, recording, performing in clubs, appearing on radio and television shows, and writing books and articles. Her autobiography was eventually made into a film.

She became the go-to reference for anything to do with gender reassignment.

The Associated Press wrote more stories about Jorgensen in 1953 than anyone else — more than the new president Eisenhower or Marilyn Monroe. The world did not fear transgender people then as much as hold them in awe, and she was the perfect first experience for many.

Jorgensen imitated many of her favorite stars in her nightclub act: Marlene Dietrich, Talullah Bankhead, and, strangely enough, Doris Day. They all became fans and friends, along with many other entertainers of the day.

She was thwarted by legal technicalities several times when trying to be legally married to a man — a problem that continues for transgender people today. And at the end of her life she said she never regretted the surgery.

http://www.advocate.com/

Transgender Model Lea T. Makes Her First Post-Op Runway Appearance

in: http://fashionista.com/

Photo: Made in Brazil

Lea T. took to the runway in São Paulo Saturday night in celebration of Elle Brazil’s 24th anniversary–but her turn on the catwalk marked an important personal landmark in the model’s career as well: According to Made in Brazil blog’s Juliano Corbetta, this is Lea T’s first modeling job after undergoing sexual reassignment surgery. The model opened up about her plans to have surgery when she went on Oprah in February of last year, tellingOprah, “Of course physically, this operation is a big operation…But at the same time, I think it’s mental too. To think like, ‘Wow, I cut part of my body.’”

Of course, being pre-op never stopped Lea T from tearing up runways and booking major editorials and covers.
She modeled swimwear in an ad campaign for Brazilian swim label Blue Man last fall.

Once again sporting designs by Blue Man, Lea looked gorgeous and tan walking alongside fellow Brazilian stunners Caroline Ribeiro and Isabeli Fontana (who looked suspiciously lighter than in those dermatologist-detested H&M snaps). And according to Made in Brazil, we can look forward to seeing a lot more of Lea this season, as she’s just been confirmed to be walking in several shows during Fashion Rio and Sau Paulo Fashion Week in the coming months.

The fashion world has long embraced Lea T. as a transgender icon–The past several years have seen her walk in countless shows for names like Givenchy, appearing in Vogue Paris spreads, and appearing on magazine covers alongside the likes of Kate Moss. We’re so excited to see Lea walking in Sau Paulo and find out what the future holds for her career now that’s she’s finally undergone her long-awaited procedure. Congratulations Lea T!

http://fashionista.com/

Vídeo LGBT da Semana

You might think that Obama's statement was the biggest LGBT win of the week. If that is the case, you are wrong


Argentina: Transgender rights bill campaign

The gender-free British passport: UK travellers may no longer have to declare their sex, to spare feelings of 'transgender people'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2038965/British-passports-gender-free-spare-feelings-transgender-people.html

Britain is preparing to rip up centuries-old rules by introducing passports which do not contain details of the holder’s sex.

The move, following pressure from the Lib Dems, is designed to spare transgender people and those who have both male and female sexual organs from having to tick ‘male’ or ‘female’ on their travel papers.

Currently, everybody must identify themselves as a man or woman, even when they are undergoing a sex-change operation or if they are considered ‘intersex’.

But with the Lib Dems promising to be ‘fierce champions of equality’, the Home Office has begun a consultation on changing the rules.

To satisfy international laws, the passport would still list a category titled ‘sex’, but would then contain a simple ‘X’ for everybody.

Supporters say it will solve the problem of embarrassing situations at border controls, where people whose sex appears to differ from that in their passport are grilled for long periods by guards.

But some Home Office officials are concerned the change could make life harder for the already stretched UK Border Agency by giving them one fewer piece of information to work from.

Last night, the Home Office said: ‘We are exploring with international partners and relevant stakeholders the security implications of gender not being displayed in the passport.’ Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone is under pressure to act from her fellow Lib Dem MPs.

On your side: Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone is said to be under pressure to agree to the controversial plans

One backbench MP, Julian Huppert, said: ‘There does not seem to be a need for identity documents of any kind to have gender information. It is not a very good biometric; it is roughly a 50:50 split.

Military ID, such as the MOD90, which obviously can have quite a high security clearance, contains no gender information. That might be what we should look at.’

Mrs Featherstone – who has just announced plans for gay weddings – has made a string of promises committing the Government to do more for transgender people.

She said: ‘The UK Government is totally committed to creating a society that is fair for everyone. ‘

We are committed to tackling prejudice and discrimination against transgender people at home and around the world. We need concerted government action to tear down barriers and help to build a fairer society for transgender people.’

And she said in a speech on Saturday: ‘While on my travels as a champion for women’s rights, I am and will be a champion for gay rights too. Britain must not get complacent. We are a world leader for gay rights, but… there is still more that we must do.’

Under existing rules, a ‘transgender’ person undergoing a sex-swap is free to change their identity to a new sex, once the procedure is complete and a gender recognition certificate has been issued.

While undergoing a sex change, a person can also nominate their intended new sex, and place that on their passport. They must produce a certificate from a doctor saying that is the gender under which they live their daily lives.

But people who are classed as intersex – a condition which people carry from birth, where they have male and female reproductive organs – are forced to make a choice.

Home Office officials say the review is wide-ranging and they are considering ‘all the gender options’.

The law in Britain could be changed in a matter of days. Passports come under the royal prerogative, so only a simple ministerial order would be required.

Last night, an Identity and Passport Service spokesman said: ‘IPS is considering the gender options available to customers in the British passport.

‘This is at the early discussion stage and no decisions have been taken. Any changes to the UK passport would need to satisfy our rigorous security requirements.’

On Saturday, Mrs Featherstone announced the coalition will push ahead with plans to introduce ‘gay marriage’ by 2015. At present, gays and lesbians are allowed to enter civil partnerships, which offer most of the legal protections of marriage. But the term ‘marriage’ is not used.