9/10/10

"Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign 2012" Globally +40 Cities Direct Actions




Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign 2012

Next October 23 the trans movement is going to carry out various actions as part of the Stop Trans Pathologization Campaign. These actions are pushed by the International Network for Trans Depathologization, which works to eliminate stigma and the pathological focus on trans identities set in the DSM and CIE diagnostic manuals. Its motto: "Trans identities are not a disease"

The campaign of October 17 2009 mobilized more than 40 cities throughout the world. This reflected the impact of the call for depathologization, stressing its global significance for the trans community. Hopefully the event will gather an even larger amount of activists from different cities, committed to the following objectives of the campaign, next October 23, 2010:

1.The removal of TIG from the international manuals of diagnosis (its next versions DSM-V and CIE-11).
2.The removal of the mention of sex from official documents
3.The abolition of treatments of binary normalization for intersex people.
4.Free access to hormonal treatments and surgeries (without the psychiatric trusteeship)
5.The fight against transphobia: educational efforts and the inclusion of trans persons in society and the labor process

In the course of these months a series of events has occurred that reflect without doubt the impact that the STOP-2012 campaign has had on the international stage. Thus the campaign has become a global point of reference for defending the rights of the trans
community; the delay of the publication of the DSM manual for 2013; the call of the 5th Congress on Sexual Education, Orientation and Therapy of the Multidisciplinary Cuban Society for the Study of Sexuality (SOCUMES), in favor of the depathologization of
transexuality; the APA draft DSM-5 publication, which while addressing the modification of "gender incongruence" persists with the stigmatizing and pathologizing concept of transgenderism; the release of a decree by the French Ministry of Health, which gives
trans identities an ALD classification (chronic illness),which allows it to be covered by health insurance, but continues the status of an illness; finally the Spanish government agrees with the need to stop calling transexuality a mental disorder, but if consequent,
should review its own law (3/2007, March 15), as well as the clinical protocols for the gender reassignment process, which allow for an autonomous and informed decision of the person involved.

Let us intensify our actions demanding all governments, international organisms and civil society to support the removal of Identity disorder from the DSM-IV and CIE-10 diagnosis manuals, as it constitutes a clear insult to the dignity of Trans people. It it is the
last bastion of appropriation of our bodies and the imposition of a binary frame for gender and sexuality, which has already been disqualified by what reality teaches us.

¡Stop Trans Pathologization!

¡Trans identities are not a disease!

We look forward to your fighting commitment participating in the campaign. Please tell us about your actions writing to:

contact@stp2012.info

belissa@ilga.org

read the article on ILGA's website: http://ilga.org/ilga/en/article/mBGt6bB1GM

SEXY "Transman 2011 Calendar" proceeds to a$$ist Transitions


Jace is only one of 12 gourgous men featured!

Have a favorite month?


A new calendar project to benefit transgender men is currently under way – and they need your help! Born from one person’s desire to help her friend raise money for sexual reassignment surgery, the 2011 Transguys Calendar Project is a labor of love designed to provide financial assistance to transgendered individuals who need help funding sexual reassignment procedures.

The calendar will feature twelve gorgeous female-to-male models at various stages of transition. 100% of the proceeds from calendar sales will be donated to transgender individuals in need of financial assistance for medical costs associated with transitioning.

According to Project Coordinator, Maegan Beard, the goal is to raise at least $10,000in the first year and to continue the effort annually to help as many people as possible. “Eventually we’d like to be able to expand the project to include an annual Transgirls calendar as well to benefit people transitioning from male to female,” Beard says. “My ultimate goal is to turn this project into a charitable foundation and provide a central resource for people looking for help with funding trans medical costs.”

Maegan's labor of love..........

Volunteers are already lining up for the 2012 edition, and in a few short weeks the project has garnered nationwide support from individuals, corporations, celebrities, and LGBT organizations. If you would like to pre-order a calendar or make a donation to help with printing costs, please visit the Project’s website at theTcal.org.

Other volunteer opportunities are also available! If you’d like to get involved, contact the group through the website to find out what is still needed. You can also email Maegan Beard directly at hey_meg@hotmail.com with any questions or comments.

9/8/10

Seymour Pine, Vice Cop who Led Stonewall Raid Dead RIP

In the begining there were cops and reviled 'transvestites'.

Before the riot at Stonewall, a ambitious cop in good favor might be invited to participate in raiding a gay bar. He would do so energetically, hoping to prove his allegiance, beating patrons indiscriminately in hopes of hauling in a trophy career enhancing transvestite.

It was all about ignorance fueled by ambition as inspector Seymour Pine latter admitted. He has since reconciled his hatred of LGBT people and apologized for leading the Stonewall raid.

In that era the shame society heaped on transgender people was so intense all a arrested transperson could hope for was inconspicuous ignominy earned by silence regardless of the violence and humiliation so we were prime targets.

History repeated itself in 2009 with the gay bashing in Fort Worth. Our contemporary Stonewall at the Rainbow Lounge happened on the anniversary
of the Stonewall raid. Some believe that the Fort Worth Police intentionally staged the raid as a additional provocation. I disbelieve that the concurrence of the dates could have been simply providence. I think the choice was a intentional slap in the face to LGBT people.

Despite our protests FWPD Chief Halstead refused to terminate his favored officers. The only punishment, a few days off and a weak apology.
The truth is, we gotta keep our eyes on the Fort Worth police. Given a change in public perception, we could be once again beaten into silent submission.

9/7/10

Australian Atty Gen Ruling deals deathly discrimination against Transgender people

In the recent ruling won by by Australian Attorney General, transgender people must have completed sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) in order in be legaly recognized in their correct gender.

That's not all. The ruling specifies the original reproductive organs would need to be removed in order for the applicants transitional gender to be recognized.

This ruling will now be challenged in the supreme court.

If the Australian Supreme court upholds the ruling that a FTM transgender person "cannot be considered male if they have functioning internal and external female reproductive organs" a FTM would be required to obtain a prohibitively costly and dangerous surgical operation not available in Australia that would at best produce a sexually inoperative substitute penis.

The alienation and criminalization by Australia making transgender people gender outlaws.

Wouldn't a ruling like that be discriminatory if not applied equally to all of the population including cisgender people and not just a segment?

Perhaps what is needed is a compulsory 'reproductive ability' test administered to the general public determining gender. Male, female and undetermined.

9/6/10

BIG D Gay (& transgender) Rodeo Sept.10-11 @ Alvarado, TX

SADDLE UP my Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender amigos. Hola Hombres and hombre-ess's it's Time to RODEO!

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Location Diamond W Arena & Expo
8901 E. Highway 67
Alvarado, TX

Time September 10 at 6:00pm - September 12 at 11:55pm

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More Info Texas Gay Rodeo Association

We are a Texas non-profit corporation dedicated to elevating the image of women and men in the field of rodeo. Our purposes are to promote and stage an annual rodeo in Texas and to encourage the participation of its members in western-related events and to engage in charitable activities.

We are proud of our twenty five year history of gay rodeos and of our record of donating more than $2,000,000 to Te...xas charities.

TGRA, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization

9/1/10

Transgender female youth study indicates MTF have Highest Aids/HIV Infection Rate

The transgender elephant in the room.....the studies mechanics described for curbing this trend are correct, but without understanding the underlying forces driving this trend, the mechanics are useless.

This study examined our population (MTF) who are early in transition (youth) and compared the results against cisgender, homosexual and bisexual groups of the same demographic and found these alarming but unsurprising results.

From the study "Sexual Risk Taking Among Transgender Male-to-Female Youths With Different Partner Types"

"Methods
We interviewed 120 transgender female youths aged 15 to 24 years recruited from clinics, community-based agencies, club and bar venues, referrals, and the streets of Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

Results
Sexual risk behaviors varied by partner type. Transgender female youths were less likely to use condoms during receptive anal intercourse with their main partner and were less likely to use condoms with a main partner while under the influence of substances. Youth participants were also more likely to talk to a main partner about their HIV status. Our data identified no demographic or social factors that predicted condom use during receptive anal intercourse by partner type.

Conclusions
Research and interventions that focus on understanding and mitigating risk behaviors by partner type, especially those that tackle the unique risks incurred with main partners, may make important contributions to risk reduction among transgender female youths. read the study in full click here
Why would these results not surprise me? As a transgender female in early transition I was living proof of this study.

I engaged in risky sex because;

I had Low self estem, I was alienated from family and I was struggling with adolescent precepts molded by a overbearing patriarchy. I found camaraderie, identity and anonymity in the sex for drug culture. These social mores that brought me to that condition are self propagating. The people who defined our subservience and sentenced us to the resultant perpetual ignominy are the same ones who relied on our sexual availability and shameful silence to live out there secret fantasies, always unknown to their wives.

I was addicted to drugs and while high I temporarily lost my inhibitions and was a willing sexual partner, to anyone. I needed to stay high. Coming down was a bitch maginfing the shame and self hatred I sought to escape.

I could engage in multiple sexual activities in a short time when high and earn enough to 'maintain' my high.

I had a facilitative mainlining partner. We never engaged in protected sex in our open relationship. Becuse I was afraid I was infected I remained untested which served to fuel my recklessness.

My turn around was my higher powers doing. One fine day life, out of the clear blue, not just my own, but the well being of others suddenly became a prime concern.

After 20 some years.

I am employed.

I love Church.

I walk a hour a day for fitness. I am often propositioned, hooted and honked at and I simply smile. I am so happy with my boyfriend who loves me. I have goals, friends, advocacy and a kitty who loves me. I am so at peace with my creator(usually).

I wouldn't, couldn't not again to those depths of despair dive.

What can we do? Continue what we have been doing by feminizing our society which opens avenues for empathy, compassion and eventually sisterhood and brotherhood for all.

So I'll continue to read, write and talk about our female transgender elephant in the room.