Quite Interesting

“I have to do this, Mother, I’m a tax inspector.”

Being incredibly cool, the highlight of my Saturday night was sitting in front of the TV with a happy furball on my lap whilst watching the new QI episode. Who doesn’t love a bit of Stephen Fry? I have so much respect for the research elves and I adore the mix of intelligence, humour and wit that has turned a simple panel show into something unique.Saturday’s episode was entitled Inland Revenue, focusing on all things financially related. Lo and behold, within ten minutes of the programme’s start came a question about Pakistan’s transgender tax collectors.

In Pakistan, transgender people are a cause of great embarrassment to much of the population. They are part of a third gender called hijra, and are the subject of great discrimination and derision. They are often forced to work as wedding dancers, sex workers, or as mentioned in QI, tax collectors. They are harassed, abused and intimidated by both their fellows and the police.

There is a strong tradition of tax evasion in Pakistan, and the government is constantly seeking new ways of forcing or convincing people to pay their tax bills. In this case, a group of transgender women are sent round to the offending shopkeep who is told to cough up or else. The ‘or else’ generally leads to the women singing and dancing around the shop, causing great embarrassment for the shop owner. This, presumably, ensures the swift payment of the tax bill for fear of more embarrassment.

While this is all very interesting, I think QI makes light of a very serious situation. It was only last year that improvements were made in government legislation in Pakistan which discouraged discrimination and ensured that hijras enjoyed the same rights as other Pakistanis in inheritance, employment and election registration. The Guardian covered the story here.

You can watch the QI clip above (the specific segment is from 2:45 – 5:30). I’d love to hear what you all think of this; please leave your comments below!

Sex-change child back in school

As the school terms begun again, a 10 year old boy in Worchester has chosen to return to school dressed as a girl.

Despite having attended the same school in the past as a boy, the child felt like she was not being true to her true self. His mother is supporting his desire to want a sex change operation once the child has reached the legal age of 18.

The school which the child attends held an assembly at the start of term to let all the children and teachers aware of the situation. Despite the honest way the school has dealt with the situation, some of the parents of the children however have still raised concerns.

The issue of  Gender Dysphoria (the feeling of being born the wrong gender) is becoming more commonplace, and this story is just another example of the problems faced by children that suffer from this condition. Fortunately there are a number of organisations that specialise in helping those dealing with Gender Dysphoria cope with the condition, such as the Gender Trust Charity, the Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES), PACE and Looking Glass.

What are your thoughts? Should others be more accepting of people who deal with Gender Dysphoria/Identity Disorder? Should there be more education on the condition in schools? We’d like to know what your opinions are on the issue, so please feel free to comment your thoughts and feelings.

Link:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/875249-child-who-wants-sex-change-goes-back-to-school-as-girl

Organisations that can help with Gender Identity Disorder issues:

http://gendertrust.org.uk/
http://www.gires.org.uk/
http://www.pacehealth.org.uk/
http://www.looking-glass.greenend.org.uk/

Royal College of Psychiatrists, Make A Right Royal Mess Of It!

Well, well. They may have plenty of letters after their names, but sometimes you do have to wonder about their thought processes! Those (seemingly not so enlightened) people at the Royal College of Psychiatry have had to cancel a meeting titled ‘Transgender: Time To Change’.

Now, this may be due to poor ticket sales, as they claim, or may be to do with the outrage voiced by, and proposed demonstration organised by, trans* people that was to happen if it went ahead.

With an amazing lack of insight, the Royal College of Psychiatry were going to hold a meeting that was, to quote them:

‘exploring the most recent academic, clinical and contemporary thinking on transgender issues, for all people interested in this field.’

with speakers to include every transperson’s bete noir Julie Bindel!! Oh dear!

The Gender Identity Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital had decided to pull out of the meeting, having been aware of the disquiet Bindel’s appearance was causing in the trans* community. Let’s hope the next time the R.C.P decide to talk about transfolk, they actually engage with us first.

 

‘Dude’- Trans Male Zine

Well, I was distracted for rather a long while (!) checking out the blog for the new trans male zine ‘Dude’. Launched in February this year in Australia (which, from the U.K., is a mighty long way to go to pick up a printed copy. So yay to them that it should soon be available on download!), those hot off the press Antipodean folk are hoping to keep up the printed version as well as making it available to us Northern hemisphere types on download.

The blog page for ’Dude’ will help to keep you informed of all the latest news on the zine. It also features a picture of the cover of the first edition, how to get hold of a copy, and how you can help to keep it as good as it, so clearly, is. Originally intended as a ‘How to play with transguys guide’, it hopes to open up to cover more info, help, advice, relevant articles and hot, hot pics for future issues.

Judging by the cover (my, some of us transguys are well fit!), and what’s inside, we can only hope it’s a success. Zines on transmasculinity, that are not afraid to cover our sexuality, are a much needed resource. The more widely this zine is seen the better for our community, our understanding and, let’s face it, our libidos. (Really, the cover pics are very sexy..am I stressing that enough??)

Dude cover by Sam Orchard

From Birth To Chosen

A vibrant treasure of a collection of short films was shown at the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. ‘From Birth To Chosen’  had eight films that explored the areas of gender and family, both born and chosen. With a mix of documentary, drama and comedy, this group of films delighted the audience and left all who saw them contemplating issues of gender identity and what family is all about.

The programme started with a U.S. documentary, ‘The Family Journey: Raising Gender Nonconforming Children’, which interviewed various family members from several families about the issues that both they,  and their children,  faced in society and amongst friends and peers. This touching, candid film was very moving. It was refreshing to see the family love and support that was given to the children concerned. With a wealth of different experiences and emotions felt between the interviewees, this film provided a sense of hope and recognition to many.

Another short film from the U.S., ‘Loop Plane’ was a gem of a film. With a fictional story set in an amusement park, following a day in the life of a transgender teen who lives and works there with his supportive father, this wonderful short took you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Beautifully acted and directed, and with some quite stunning cinematography, this film is definitely worth looking out for.

Nominated by the LLGFF for the Iris Short Film Prize (which is one of, if not the, gay and lesbian short film awards), ‘James Dean’ was a smart, funny short set in Scotland. Perfectly capturing the way families behave, argue and relate, all whilst waiting in a car ready for a family outing, this amusing film pleased the audience no end. Everyone could relate to the way families bicker, support or disagree, and the ‘punchline’ towards the end of the film was fabulous.

‘Spiral transition’ was a personal exploration of the development of relations between a mother and her trans son, from the moment when he first finds out her feelings about his transitioning. ‘Absence’ was an artily crafted short about gender fluidity, and the way some have to navigate between identities, in order to relate to family members. ‘Living Room: Bar Wotever 2008-2009′ is the first installment of an ongoing project by Dr Jane, about the people who go to the fantastic Bar Wotever, and what the space means to them. It gave a real sense of why Bar Wotever is cherished by so many and incorporated some of Dr Jane’s stunning photographs as well.

Filmed as a pilot for a possible series, ‘Traverse City’ followed the adventures of a woman and her trans boyfriend as they cross the U.S. to meet her gay male parents. Much comedy was had from the reactions of the gay father, the seperate sexual adventures of the non-monogomous central couple, and the awkwardness of having a partner meet the parents for the first time, which most can relate to. Incorporating comedy, drama, animation and fantasy, this had the audience laughing out loud and waiting for the next installment.

The final film in the selection was ‘Bella Maddo’. This fantastic comic melodrama was about a self-obsessed pregnant wife and mother, and the hell she brings on most of her loved ones. Although none of the characters in the story were transgendered, all the actors in the film were. Co-writer, director and amazing star of the film, Janice Danielle, wanted to make a film that showcased talented trans performers, in roles they may usually not be considered for. This hilarious film had a great sense of heightened drama (in the best possible way!) and was shot, written, directed and acted to a very high standard. It made ‘Mommie Dearest’ seem tame by comparison, and was extremely well received by the audience.

Hopefully you will all get the chance to see this great collection of films. You will be amused, enlightened and have your heart touched by the films.

Transgender Prisoners Get New Rights

On the 14th March, new Ministry of Justice guidelines  came into effect, making sure that all transgendered prisoners will be allowed to buy and wear gender-appropriate clothing, make-up and prostheses whilst serving their sentences. Prison workers must also address trans prisoners by their chosen name and title. For prisoners with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC), placement in an appropriate prison will also be allowed, unless there are particular security reasons not to. Trans prisoners without a GRC will have their cases decided individually to see where they would best be placed.

Although certain newspapers and their readers have been throwing a hissy fit over the fact that  the various equality Acts put in place by Parliament are being adhered to (as they should be), these guidelines are a mighty step forward to recognising the rights of the transgendered prison population. There is no excuse for the rights of trans people being denied, no matter where they are in the U.K. That is why the Gender Recognition Act (2004) and other anti-discrimination policies were passed in the first place!

Still, there is some way to go to gain full acceptance for trans people. From offensive terms littering articles in the press, such as ‘sex swap‘ (I hate that phrase. It really is insensitive, belittling and demeaning!), and the prejudicial slant from reporting that focuses more on the aspects of the story that they can sensationalise, to some cisgendered people’s lack of knowledge and understanding about trans lives and issues. However, the law is (now) pretty much on our side.

American Firms To Pay For Gender Re-assignment

In America, the Human Rights Campaign are to produce their annual Corporate Equality Index. This year, part of the criteria will include whether a company’s medical insurance will cover the cost of gender re-assignment. Because of the U.S.A’s costly medical system, many transgendered people find it difficult to cover the costs of re-assignment treatment without insurance cover from their employers.

Already some of the U.S.A’s biggest companies, such as Yahoo!, Coca Cola and American Express, do cover the cost of treatment within their company health insurance policy, as they see the benefits of keeping their transgendered employees within the workforce, and not having those employees find themselves in financial difficulties.

If a company wants to receive a 100% rating in the Corporate Equality Index, they must now offer employees medical insurance which covers up to $75,000 worth of gender re-assignment treatment and surgery. Because of this, many more companies are expected to bring this policy in, following in the footsteps of Yahoo! and American Express. As it will only be used by a minority of employees, the scheme would not be too expensive, yet will have a major effect on transgendered employees’ lives and ability to continue working for their companies.This is not only good news for trans employees, but also for the firms who will offer this insurance cover.

From A Top Writer – ‘Boy In The Middle’

Patrick Califia is one of my all-time favourite writers. He is an incredible wordsmith, able to write both fiction and fact in a way that both draws the reader in and informs you. His erotica is some of the hottest writing you will come across. Boy In The Middle is another of his compelling, sexy short story collections of polymorphous perversity and hardcore, sexually charged scenes. Califia has a way of taking the reader right into the story. He has the ability to describe place, character and atmosphere so well, you can’t but help feel a part of it.

cover for "Boy In The Middle" by Patrick Califia

Boy In The Middle has such a collection of differing characters and set-ups that I defy anyone not to get some pleasure from it. Whatever your kink, fetish , gender or sexuality, Califia caters for you in this book. His writing will  surprise you, in being able to turn you on to a story, scene or character you may otherwise not have thought you’d be interested in; such is the power of his imagination. I recommend anyone who enjoys erotic fiction to read this book. Allow yourself some time to indulge and immerse yourself  in it, because it will be hard to put down. Oh, and if you’re reading Boy In The Middle in public, be aware that its effect may leave you needing to find somewhere, for a ‘quiet, private moment’!

Bright Young Things

On the 19th February, at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, there is going to be a special event for young (13-26 year old) LGBTQ and questioning people, as well as their friends and allies. House of Stars, created and run by Wotever World and with LGBTQ advice being offered on the day by Galop, promises to be a place of community, strength, entertainment and convivial fun.

Running from 3-7pm, and with free entry, there will be DJs, installations and performances throughout. Performers include Naith Payton and Rachel and Alice. Anyone else interested in performing should get in touch via woteverworld@gmail.com by Friday.

Wotever World used some of the profits from their Riot Cabaret night at the Scala last December, to fund this important event. It is not always easy for the under-18s to find places to go out in a scene that is mostly aimed at those who are older and able to buy alcohol. Understanding your sexuality and identity, finding others who are similar and can relate to what you’re going through, and being in a space in which you can all feel comfortable can be hard. Having a place that also provides entertainment by, and for, people of that age group is even harder. So well done to all those who have made this event possible!

Support the Trans Clothing Project!

The Trans Clothing Project was set up by a couple of trans guys who met via the Queer Youth Network. Its aim is to be able to provide clothing and trans-specific items to trans folk who, for whatever reason, are unable to access them. It is so important for trans people to be able to ‘pass’, in order to feel comfortable living in what can sometimes be a hostile society.

The clothing and other items, such as binders and tucking pants that help enable trans people get by, can be too expensive for some of us to buy, difficult to find (it’s not as if you can get some of the things in your local High Street – and even when you can, there may well be a fear about buying these things so publicly) and even if you find the items online, it is often awkward for some people to have them delivered to their home addresses. The project also aims to provide information about safe personal care, for example advising trans guys not to use bandages/tape for binding.

Supported by the Queer Youth Network and Gendered Intelligence, the Trans Clothing Project is open to anyone who falls under the trans umbrella. It is strictly confidential and non-judgemental. They have set up a Facebook page which has information about the project and also has pictures of clothing available. It has also allowed trans people who may not have heard about the project otherwise, the ability to access them.

Quite often, for example when you are post-op, you have no need for some items, so this gives everyone the chance to donate them to someone who will. Though it is a peer-to-peer group, that does not mean you have to be trans to donate to this good cause. Anyone may have suitable clothing that they can donate. Also, one of the main difficulties in getting and distributing the items is the cost of postage and transport. The Trans Clothing Project do have a paypal button on their Facebook page, and you know that every donation goes some way to allowing trans people who live both in and outside of London access to what’s on offer from this marvellous project. They are currently applying for grants to help with the running costs of the project, but every donation helps.

The Trans Clothing Project is open to anyone who falls under the trans umbrella. It is strictly confidential and non-judgemental. They are working tirelessly to help their community, so if you can help in any way, if you know someone who can or even letting people know about this worthy project, please do. We should all be able to feel comfortable getting by in our day-to-day lives, and this project is going some way to help trans folk do this.