'Ladyboy' protests amid Thailand's political chaos
28 November 2008 16:12
By Julia Ziemer, pinknews.co.uk
The ever increasing turbulence of the anti-government protests notwithstanding, a demonstration of a different nature was taking place yesterday in Bangkok.
Unaffiliated to any political party, a group of transgender 'ladyboys' paraded past central Police Headquarters in Bangkok to protest at the lack of AIDS awareness in Thailand.
Glamorously dressed in brightly coloured ball gowns and feathered head-dresses, the group struck a contrasting pose to the increasingly militant demonstrations undertaken by the yellow-shirted PAD supporters across the capital.
The PAD has most recently shut down a second airport in Bangkok, following a string of stunts that have taken place over the last four months in an attempt to cause national chaos and topple the government.
With calls for new elections and a plethora of political factions vying for power, the current landscape looks hopelessly divided between the army and various political groups.
Since gaining independence in 1947, Thailand has experienced an endless upheaval in government.
Until 1992 there was intermittent military rule, a period characterised by coups, coup attempts and popular protests.
But despite its instability, the Buddhist country has always been seen as liberal when it comes to LGBT issues.
Though not officially supporting same-sex unions, the LGBT community there is considered one of the most free and open in the world.
As well as holding transgender beauty pageants, trans actors play key roles in Thai movies and soap operas.
Transgender figures are also seen in department cosmetics counters, popular restaurants, cabaret shows and in the famous red-light district.
While observers hope the increasingly fraught situation in the country will end peaceably, the ladyboys, with their stylish parade of singing and dancing showed the world how peaceful yet fabulous protest is all about.
Court removes bar to transgender name changes
27 November 2008
By Michael Virtanen, The Associated Press
ALBANY -- A midlevel appeals court ruled Wednesday that a transgender individual can change from traditionally male to traditionally female first and middle names, regardless of potential confusion.
The case involved Earl William Golden III's petition to change names to Elisabeth Whitney Golden. A lower court had concluded the proposed change was "fraught with possible confusion."
The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court noted that people can change their names "at will," provided there is no fraud, misrepresentation or interference with the rights of others. Done in court, the switch can be "speedy, definite and a matter of record."
While confusion can be one reason for a judge to reject someone's name change petition, "that factor is not, standing alone, a basis to deny a petition inasmuch as 'confusion is a normal concomitant of any name change,"' Justice Anthony Cardona wrote.
The Golden case, which will now be sent back to state Supreme Court in Broome County, was brought by attorney Franklin Romeo of the New York City-based Sylvia Rivera Law Project, a civil rights group that advocates for gender self-determination. The group says that under the law, a judge cannot require medical evidence of a gender change to support name changes, but some still make that mistake.
Cardona wrote that Golden "satisfied the technical requirements for a name change, under the Civil Rights Law, which include, among other things, that the petition specify the grounds for the application and disclose pertinent background information."
The justices sent the case back to the lower court to issue "the appropriate order."
According to Romeo, when the law project started several years ago, transgender people were denied name changes frequently in New York City, but now they are rarely turned down there. The project has helped about 400 people change their names, and many others have petitioned courts on their own. However, the project does get reports of denials from upstate New York "with some regularity" and from other states.
"This is the first time an appellate court in New York has weighed in on it," Romeo said. "The decision will only be binding in the Third Department. We're hoping it will be persuasive on supreme courts and civil courts throughout the state."
While someone can generally use whatever name they choose under New York common law, Romeo said it becomes difficult without a supporting court document when it comes to obtaining a driver's license, passport or Social Security.
Cardona was joined in the ruling by justices Edward Spain, Anthony Carpinello, Bernard Malone Jr. and Leslie Stein.
Silverton rebuffs protest of transgender mayor-elect
25 November 2008 2:11PM PST
SILVERTON, Ore. (AP) -- The nation's first openly transgender mayor won by a comfortable margin on election night.
On Monday, he won by a landslide.
A large group of counterprotesters overmatched three young women and a man from a Kansas church who came to Silverton to protest Stu Rasmussen's election win.
The protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church arrived with an assortment of signs, such as "God Hates You," "Fags Are Beasts," "Your Pastor is a Whore" and "Barack Obama Antichrist."
But the town greeted the quartet with a festive counterprotest. More than 100 people paraded in the street and some men wore women's clothing in a show of support for Rasmussen.
"Today, I'm just Joe the Crossdresser," said Silverton attorney Yossi Davidson, 59, who stood across City Hall from the protesters wearing a dress. "Stu's an institution in this town, which is probably why he got elected. He's a straightforward, genuine kind of guy despite his gender complexities."
Rasmussen, 60, has been a fixture in Silverton politics for more than 20 years, and had twice before been mayor of the small city 45 miles south of Portland. Those terms, however, were before his breast implants and before the once-discreet crossdresser started wearing dresses and 3-inch heels in public.
Rasmussen stood with friends and watched the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and pride. "This is very heartwarming; this is such a great community," he said. "I don't think this is about me as much as it's about community spirit."
The Westboro protesters were less impressed.
"Although Stu's an abomination, these people are enablers because they support him," said Jonathan Phelps, 49.
Human Rights Commissioner talks about transgender death
Updated: 11/25/2008 11:47 AM
By: Andy Mattison, News 10 Now
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It's been 10 days since Moses "Teish" Cannon was shot to death, apparently targeted for being transgender.
On Monday, Cannon's death brought the state's human rights commissioner to Syracuse to meet with local transgender groups and speak out against what they consider a hate crime.
"We agreed to work collaboratively to take really reasonable action that's going to begin to focus attention on the steps that need to be undertaken," said Commissioner Galen Kirkland.
Gene linked to transsexuality identified
26 October 2008 3:26pm
Reuters
Hong Kong - Scientists in Australia said they have identified a gene which may explain why some people are transsexuals.
For decades, there has been debate over the origins of transexuality, with some recent studies indicating that family history and genetics may be linked to gender identity.
In the largest genetic study involving transsexuals to date, researchers in Australia said they found that transexuality may be linked to the androgen receptor (AR) gene - which is known to modify the effect of the male sex hormone testosterone.
"There is a social stigma that transsexualism is simply a lifestyle choice, however our findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops," said lead researcher Vincent Harley of Monash University's Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research.
The scientists collected DNA samples from 112 male-to-female transsexuals and found that they were more likely to have a longer version of the AR gene than another group of 258 non-transsexual men. The longer AR gene was found in 55,4 percent of people in the transsexual group and 47,6 percent of the non-transsexual men, they wrote in an article published in Biological Psychiatry.
Samples were also analysed for two other genes, but no significant differences were found between both groups.
The researchers said the longer AR variant gene may have resulted in less effective testosterone signalling, a mechanism that masculinises the brain during early development.
"It is possible that a decrease in testosterone levels in the brain during development might result in incomplete masculinisation of the brain in male-to-female transsexuals, resulting in a more feminised brain and a female gender identity," they wrote.
One of the researchers, Lauren Hare, said: "We think that these genetic differences might reduce testosterone action and under masculinise the brain during foetal development."
The researchers called for more such studies in other populations to replicate the findings.
----------
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Folks,
The research described in Diana's message is similar to the findings of Professor Eric Vilain, MD, and his research staff at the UCLA genetics lab. About 18 months ago, they found a gene in the Y chromosome that is exactly the same in all transsexuals they tested , but is different in every male they tested that is not transsexual. To explain further, if this gene was assigned a color, it would be the same color in all transsexuals, but a different color in each of the non-transsexual males. I have a slide from one of Prof. Vilain's presentation that show this in detail.
I've talked about this on the list before but since there are new people on the list, I'll repeat it briefly.
The Vilain Lab's initial research was aimed at finding a"gay gene." While they have not conclusively found one yet, they did find that there is an area in the Hypothalamus in the brain called INAH3 that stores gender preference (generally called sexual orientation). By altering the hormone levels in the womb of the mothers shortly after conception, they succeeded in creating gay mice and gay sheep. Slides of the area in both the sheep and mice showed that the INA3 area is small in normal women and gay men, but large in normal males. Note that humans have the same exact structure (INAH3) in they Hypothalamus.
I don't have any reports on research done by the Vilain Labs on the BSTc area, which stores gender identity and is also in the Hypothalamus, but the the research on transsexual MTFs by Gooren et al in the Netherlands found that the BSTc area is affected the same way. It is small in normal women and MTF transsexuals, but large in normal and gay males.
It is interesting that multiple independent labs are
finding the same thing and are providing more and more evidence that there
are biological causes for GLBT. Some of the Vilain Labs findings are
shown on the lab's website www.uclatwins.com
Diane
Imams issue edict against 'tomboys'
24 October 2008 10:22am EDT
The Canadian Press
(Kuala Lumpur) Malaysia's main body of Islamic clerics has issued an edict banning 'tomboys' in the Muslim-majority country, ruling that girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam, an official said Friday.
The National Fatwa Council forbade the practice of girls behaving or dressing like boys during a meeting Thursday in northern Malaysia, said Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state, who attended the gathering.
Harussani said an increasing number of Malaysian girls behave like tomboys, and that some of them engage in homosexuality. Homosexuality is not explicitly banned in Malaysia, but it is effectively illegal under a law that prohibits sex acts "against the order of nature."
Harussani said the council's ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are immoral.
"It doesn't matter if it's a law or not. When it's wrong, it's wrong. It is a sin," Harussani told The Associated Press. "Tomboy (behavior) is forbidden in Islam."
Under the edict, girls are forbidden to sport short hair and dress, walk and act like boys, Harussani said. Boys should also not act like girls, he said.
"They must respect God. God created them as boys, they must behave like boys. God created them as girls, they must act like girls," he said.
Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said the ruling was prompted by recent cases of young women behaving like men and indulging in homosexuality, according to the national news agency Bernama. He did not elaborate.
Malaysian media have reported on recent incidents of school bullying among girls, which have been caught on film and circulated on the Internet. In one film, some girls are seen beating up another girl in a bathroom.
A well-known Malaysian Muslim actress caused an uproar last year when she shaved her head bald for a film. Harussani and other muftis urged Muslims not to watch the movie, arguing that the actress had violated Islam by making herself look like a man.
"Muallaf," or "the convert," is scheduled for release in Singapore next month, but no date has been set for its release in Malaysia.
Muslims make up some 60 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people, and are subject to Islamic laws and the council's edicts, even if the rulings have not been enshrined in national or Shariah law.
It was not immediately clear what kind of punishment awaited those who violate the tomboy edict, or "fatwa." Malays generally follow the council's "fatwas" out of deference, but violators rarely get into trouble unless the edict is incorporated into national or Shariah law.
Transsexuals born with 'female-like' brain
Rex Features
Transsexuals are more likely to have been born with a 'female-like' brain, according to new research.
Transsexuals who say they 'feel female' are likely to be carrying an unusual gene type which strongly reduces levels of the male sex hormone, testosterone.
Australian scientists believe the genetic variant could be so powerful it acts during development in the womb and 'under-masculinises' the brain.
Dr Vincent Harley of Prince Henry's Institute in Clayton said: 'There is a social stigma that transsexualism is simply a lifestyle choice. However, our findings support a biological basis of how gender identity develops.'
When Dr Harley and his team analysed 112 male-to-female transsexuals, they found the modified gene variant that can decrease levels of testosterone.
Professor Andrew Sinclair, of Melbourne University commented: 'These defective copies of the androgen receptor gene could severely reduce normal testosterone levels, resulting in a more female-like brain.
'Consequently, male-to-female transsexuals might be expected to have a more feminised brain and are therefore likely to display a female gender identity.'
The news confirms what many scientists already believed, that transsexualism is down to our biological make-up, as opposed to a psychological disposition.
American Airlines calls for passage of inclusive ENDA
29 September 2008 1:42pm EDT
By 365gay Newscenter Staff
(Fort Worth, Texas) American Airlines has told Congress that it's time to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
"[We are] proud to express our strong support of federal workplace non-discrimination legislation that would extend basic job protections to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans," the company said in a letter to members of Congress.
"Our endorsement of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is consistent with our longstanding Statement of Equal Opportunity ... The principles fostered by ENDA are consistent with our corporate principles in treating all employees with fairness and respect, said the letter, signed by Denise Lynn, American's Vice President of Diversity & Leadership Strategies; Michael Wascom, American's Managing Director of International & Government Affairs; and Betty Young, American's National Sales & Marketing Manager for the LGBT Community.
ENDA, after it was stripped of protections for transgender people, passed the House last year. It has yet to be dealt with by the Senate.
If passed in its present form, ENDA would bar job discrimination against gays and lesbians.
Dozens of LGBT groups have been lobbying Washington to reinstate trans protections in the bill. American's letter, released Monday, supports that effort.
American is the nation's largest air carrier. It was the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits, and the first to implement both sexual orientation and gender identity in its workplace non-discrimination policies. It also was the first airline to have a recognized LGBT employee resource group - GLEAM.
"On behalf of our more than 80,000 employees, we appreciate your consideration and encourage Congress to enact this important legislation," the letter said.
Statistics released last month by Equality Forum, an LGBT civil rights organization, show that 471 of Fortune 500 companies written workplace protections on the basis of sexual orientation.
Exxon Mobil is the largest of the Fortune 500 that does not specifically provide sexual orientation protection and resisted shareholder calls to amend the policy in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
According to Gallup's May 2008 Values and Beliefs Poll, 89 percent of U.S. citizens believe gays and lesbians should have equal rights in job opportunities.
News — Rochester
September 2008
By Kate McDonough
Empire State Pride Agenda
(excerpted)
Transgender 101 Update
The transgender 101 training is continuing to develop and take on an exciting form. On September 16th, clergy, lay leaders and members of the transgender community came together to workshop the goals of the training. The training is truly becoming one of a kind. Stay tuned for updates as we continue this important project.
1.
Empathetic
with
An interfaith service gathers those who support transgender people.
By
EILEEN SCHULTE
Published March 13, 2007
The Rev. Erin Swenson says she has a good sense of what Largo City Manager Steve Stanton is going through as he faces dismissal for planning to become a woman.
In
1996, Swenson, an
When she disclosed her plans to become a woman, she almost lost her job. Her name was Eric then.
"I was open with the church the same way Steve was open" with the City Commission, Swenson said Monday. "Their initial response was pretty negative. They threatened to take away my ordination."
And when things became tense, she and her bosses would "talk about it and pray about it."
At
7 p.m. Thursday, Swenson will help lead an interfaith service of hope and
healing at Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg to support
Along
with Swenson, a transgender Presbyterian minister from
Having
survived the ordeal personally and professionally, Swenson now leads
services at Morningside Presbyterian Church in midtown
She said she is in awe of the moral courage, strength and compassion transgender people, especially those in power, can exhibit. "Transgender leaders can be exceptionally effective leaders," Swenson said. "They've faced the greatest challenge society can offer."
She remains devoted to her former wife, who she said "is as close to a saint as I've ever seen," and her two grown daughters, and still spends holidays with them.
Wynn,
41, associate pastor of Church of the
Because
he made the change while serving at a
Still, Wynn said, it's "a heartbreaking journey and an exhilarating one at the same time."
"It's heartbreaking because you grieve with your family, who feel they are losing a daughter and a sister, but exhilarating because you just feel so free," he said.
He said he accepted an invitation to speak at the service because he wants to raise people's awareness about gender diversity and promote tolerance.
Harry
Knox, the director of the Human Rights Campaign's Religion Council in
"We work to give a megaphone to faith leaders around the country willing to speak out for justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," he said.
When
While he wants to attend the service, he doesn't know if it's his place.
"I want to be there as long as my presence wouldn't be disruptive," he said Monday.
"I feel foolish in a sense," he said.
"When I started this plan, I really felt kind of alone. I knew no other city manager had done what I did, and I felt angry I was alone in this struggle. Since then, the outreach has been overwhelming. I never thought there would be this many people who would care."
Eileen Schulte can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com.
. if you go Interfaith service
An
interfaith worship in support of Largo City Manager Steve Stanton will be
held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg,
3.
by
365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 8, 2007 - 3:00 pm ET
(
Steve Stanton, who still goes by his birth name, filed a written request Thursday for a public hearing into the termination proceedings against him.
Last
month commissioners voted 5-to-2 to begin the three step process to remove
Earlier last month, after a local newspaper acting on a tip began asking questions about rumors Stanton was about to have a sex change, she sat down with the St. Petersburg Times and divulged her status.
In
an interview at
Stanton, who is married and the father of a teenaged son, said she had not intended to go public until later in the year when her son would be out of town and could not be subjected to the publicity. She said that plan changed when the Times began asking questions.
Several
members of the city commission said
"I
do not feel he has the integrity, nor the trust, nor the respect, nor the
confidence to continue as the city manager of the city of Largo,"
Commissioner
After
the vote
Under the city charter a public hearing must be scheduled within 30 days. After the public hearing, the Commission may either adopt a permanent resolution calling for removal or permit the City Manager to retain their position.
"I
have served the City of
"Being transgender is an important part of who I am, but it has no bearing on my ability to do a good job."
©365Gay.com 2007
4.
by
365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 5, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET
(
The bill passed the legislature late last month.
In addition to protecting LGBT students the legislation also covers gender, race and age.
"
"Feeling
safe in school is directly related to academic achievement and student
success.
The bill had a rocky ride through the legislature. It was initially approved by the House with a provision excluding religious schools. That clause was struck out by the Senate.
Republicans who insisted on the exclusion had argued that the legislation was less about protecting students than it was about forcing cultural views on schools.
"There is the potential for a chilling effect on the teaching of religious doctrine through the filing of lawsuits, because of the way the bill is worded," warned Sen. Jeff Angelo (R) during debate in the Senate.
With the clause removed House Republicans attempted a last minute bid to remove all protected classes leaving the bill to condemn bullying in general terms but not define it but House Democrats stood firm.
Gay rights groups had been pressing for enactment of anti-bullying legislation for more than two years.
It was first proposed by former Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2004, but it met with opposition over its inclusion of gay students. When the bill returned this session current Gov. Chet Culver announced his support.
The new law sets in motion a number of steps that the state, local school districts, educators and students must commit to - state rulemaking, local school district policy development, educator training, information sharing with students and guardians, and implementation.
A 2005 study commissioned by GLSEN found that gay-bashing remains a major problem in the nation's schools.
Three-quarters of students surveyed across America said that over the past year they heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school, and nearly nine out of ten reported hearing "that's so gay" or "you're so gay" - meaning stupid or worthless - frequently or often.
Over a third of students said they experienced physical harassment at school on the basis of sexual orientation and more than a quarter on the basis of their gender expression.
Nearly one-in-five students reported they had been physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation and over a tenth because of their gender expression.
The
National School Climate Survey was released in
The study also showed that bullying has had a negative impact on learning.
LGBT students were five times more likely to report having skipped school in the last month because of safety concerns than the general population of students.
©365Gay.com 2007
6.
1.
2. The Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study (THIS) is now complete
1.
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: February 28, 2007 - 12:01 am ET
(
For
14 years Steven Stanton was an admired overseer of the
In
an interview at
Stanton, who is married and the father of a teenaged son, said she had not intended to go public until later in the year when her son would be out of town and could not be subjected to the publicity. She said that plan changed when the Times began asking questions.
Several
members of the city commission said
"I
do not feel he has the integrity, nor the trust, nor the respect, nor the
confidence to continue as the city manager of the city of
In
a 5-to-2 vote the commission began the three step process to remove
Mayor Gerard and Commissioner Rodney Woods cast the dissenting votes. A second vote must be held to confirm the firing once the terms are agreed to with the city's attorney.
"It's just real painful to know that seven days ago I was a good guy and now I have no integrity, I have no trust and most painful, I have no followers," Stanton told the commission. "My challenge here has always been that someday I was going to leave this organization. So I am going to do it with a smile on my face."
In
hr interview last week with the Times,
She
said that she had quietly begun to appear in female clothing earlier this year
on trips to the store and to events outside of
As she continues to transition she said she will change her name to Susan - telling the paper that it is a name her mother would have chosen if she had been born biologically female.
©365Gay.com 2007
2.
In a message dated 2/21/2007 3:50:47 PM Central Standard Time, jessicax@earthlink.net writes:
Dear Friends and Colleagues –
The Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Study (THIS) is now complete. THIS was the first of its kind multi-phase model Initiative
to
improve the health of transgender people at a state level. It was implemented
by the Community Health Research Initiative (CHRI) of
The following THIS reports are now available as downloadable PDF files on the Virginia Department of Health’s website:
Transgender Health Access in Virginia: Focus Group Report (54 pages)
Virginia Transgender Health Initiative Focus Group Study Research Highlight (4 pages)
The Health, Health-related Needs, and Lifecourse Experiences of Transgender Virginians (74 pages)
The
Virginia Transgender Resource and Referral List is a consumer’s guide to
trans-friendly providers and support groups throughout the
Happy reading !
3.
1. Largo official preparing for sex change
1.
tampabay.com
Largo official preparing for sex change
Times Exclusive: City Manager Steve Stanton told the Times this morning he is undergoing counseling and treatments. He plans to remain in his city position.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published February 21, 2007
Through
the process, which could take well over a year,
“He’s a dedicated city manager and puts his job first,” she said.
Married
with a teenaged son,
He and Gerard met a reporter at a private city office Wednesday morning and described in detail his decision and plans. After the interview, he began telling department managers, secretaries and others at the city.
“I’m good at my job,” said Stanton, who makes $140,234 annually for supervising about 1,200 employees and a budget of $130-million. “My gender has nothing to do with my capabilities.”
Stanton
and Gerard acknowledged that some people in
“It’s
not in my nature to flee a challenge,”
The mayor agreed.
“I don’t believe he should have to go away and hide out and have to re-emerge,” said Gerard, who is chief operating officer of Family Resources Inc., a nonprofit social service agency. “The fact that we do that as a society is pitiful.”
He began discussing his private life with a therapist who spoke at City Hall in support of the ordinance, and that led to his decision, he said.
Around
In recent years, for example, he has donned a bulletproof vest to go along on a police raid of a nightclub and broke his nose participating in SWAT training. Within the last week, he rappelled inside the dome at Tropicana Field during a fire department training exercise and dug up a median near a fire station as part of a public works project.
But he said the process of changing his gender, which includes hormone therapy and electrolysis to remove body and facial hair, is the bravest thing he’s ever done.
“I
want to do this with a sense of dignity and worth,”
Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4155.
2.
by
365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: February 23, 2007 - 11:00 am ET
(
The bill passed the Iowa House late Thursday night on a 53-42 vote. The measure passed the Senate earlier this month.
In addition to protecting LGBT students the legislation also covers gender, race and age.
The bill had a rocky ride through the legislature. It was initially approved by the House with a provision excluding religious schools. That clause was struck out by the Senate.
Republicans who insisted on the exclusion had argued that the legislation was less about protecting students than it was about forcing cultural views on schools.
"There is the potential for a chilling effect on the teaching of religious doctrine through the filing of lawsuits, because of the way the bill is worded," warned Sen. Jeff Angelo (R) during debate in the Senate.
With the clause removed House Republicans attempted a last minute bid to remove all protected classes leaving the bill to condemn bullying in general terms but not define it.
House Democrats stood firm.
"People
look to us for leadership, whether it's civil rights issues, whether it's gay
and lesbian issues, you name it. We are the ones who set the agenda and help
change the culture," said Rep.
Gay rights groups have been pressing for enactment of anti-bullying legislation for more than two years.
It was first proposed by former Gov. Tom Vilsack in 2004, but it met with opposition over its inclusion of gay students. When the bill returned this session current Gov. Chet Culver announced his support.
©365Gay.com 2007
6.
1.
More
1.
More
Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
People who change their gender must undergo rigorous mental health evaluations and trial periods that last years, and they sometimes face stigma, but the biggest challenge for many is paying for the process.
In
the past few years, however, following the model of
When
General
Motors, IBM, Eastman Kodak and Hallmark Cards, as well as the universities of
"We
took a look at it, the cost was negligible and we said it was the right thing
to do," said David Kaffnoff, a spokesman for Eastman Kodak in
Company officials compared transition benefits with benefits workers already enjoyed -- like hormone replacement for menopausal women or reconstructive surgery for people disfigured in an accident -- and granted the request, Kaffnoff said.
The surgeries can be profoundly important for transgender people, but the vast majority of employers still don't cover them.
After taking testosterone to begin his transition from female to male, Lance Moore, 46, became depressed when he could not afford a mastectomy, which cost $7,500, and his insurance did not cover transitions. He took out a loan from his retirement account in 2000 that he's still paying back.
"When
I finally got that, my whole life changed,"
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization in Washington, found in a survey released last year that 67 major companies now cover surgeries, hormone therapy, short-term leave, medical visits and mental health services for transsexual employees.
Opposition
in
Cost was the main issue, though.
"There was a great deal of fear because of a lack of actuarial information," said Marcus Arana, a discrimination investigator with the Human Rights Commission.
The
cost of transitioning varies. A female-to-male transition,
including breast and genital surgeries, runs $30,000 to $70,000, according to
Carrie Davis, director of adult programs at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
At
first,
Seeing low claims, the city's insurance carriers -- Kaiser Permanente, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Health Net -- began covering the surgeries. And after reducing the surcharge, the city dropped it in July.
"It's
now actually part of the overall rate structure in the same way as any other
medical condition or need is," said Bart Duncan, executive director of
San Francisco's Health Services System. "It was kind of like domestic
partner benefits. People were scared until
Those
same insurers don't yet offer the benefit to people who buy insurance on their
own, though. More employers must ask for the benefit before it becomes
normalized, said Dr. Robin Dea, chairwowan of the chiefs of psychiatry for
Kaiser Permanente of
"Let's face it: these surgeries are not cheap, and if you're a large insurer in an area with many people who are transgender and only one insurance company has it available as part of the basic benefit, every transgender person would be waiting for the next open enrollment," Dea said.
Even where it is offered, using the insurance can be an ordeal.
Jennifer Milburn, a researcher at UCLA, has had trouble getting reimbursed for the $7,000 she paid out of pocket for her surgery.
"Everyone is honestly trying to help, but it's just so new that there's sand in the gear of every single wheel," she said. UC began offering the coverage in 2005.
Still looming is the question of how transitioning should be classified medically.
"Down the road, the judgment that needs to be made is judging psychologically what is the person's gender identity and, in addition to that, is doing this kind of surgical procedure really going to be a life-enhancing event for this individual?" Dea said.
The
sex-reassignment-surgery
coverage that HealthNet, Cigna,
"Gender reassignment is not a medical necessity in terms of treating disease or injury," said Brad Kieffer, a spokesman for HealthNet.
Still, those pushing for health insurance coverage for transsexual procedures expect to keep making progress.
"Ultimately,
the understanding that this is a life-saving and fundamental service for
people who need it really deals with all those questions," said Andre
Wilson, a
E-mail Wyatt Buchanan at wbuchanan@sfchronicle.com.
This article appeared on page B - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle
1. Music Video on Intersexed Persons – very moving
2. Gender and the Pulpit
3. 12-Year Old Begins Sex Change Therapy
4. Majority In Conservative Judaism Support Gay Ordinations Survey Finds
5. Spitzer Triples Spending on Gay Community Health Programs
1.
Music Video on Intersexed Persons – very moving
This is the first song/video I’ve ever seen on intersex. The shame/secrecy/fear/freak are all part of my experience, but thankfully not the surgery. In all the years I’ve been talking online to other intersexed people I’ve never met anyone who suffered infant genital mutilation and felt any differently than this song/video portrays. Those of us who weren’t forced into surgery were traumatized by the calumny and condemnation of parents and doctors that leaves us all pretty damaged. Intersexed people need allies and the help people give the intersexed is part of freeing themselves from all the unfair gender expectations imposed on them too.
Jim Costich
You might want to see the following video
FYI,
Jim Costich is an intersexed friend of mine. I thank him for sharing
this.
2.