no.15
on. . .
Tr ans
an,Gay, onalLesbi i nat er nt I ansgenderandQueer ,Tr sexual Bi on i sat gani udentOr handSt Yout
I GLYO ( ai sbl ) Ruedel aChar i t é17, B-1210Br ussel s,Bel gi um emai l :i nf o@i gl yo. com web:www. i gl yo. com
Pr oj ectCoor di nat or s:Zar a Shushani an & El ena Shevchenko Cont r i but or s:Agat a Chaber ,AshotGevor gyan, KemalOr dek,Nadi ne Chi l i anu,Lukas Ber r edo, Si monSt r achan,Kat ar i naŽupevc,Ri char dKöhl er , Emi l yDai naSar as Pr oof r eadi ng:Est herPat er son LayoutEdi t or :Col et t eFar r ugi aBennet t Desi gn:Laur aVar zgal yt e ( www. cor of l ot . com/l aur a-va)
© 2011I GLYO.Repr oduct i onper mi t t ed,pr ovi ded t hatappr opr i at er ef er encei smadet ot hesour ce. Thi snewsl et t eri spubl i shed wi t ht hesuppor tof t heEur opeanYout hFundat i onandt heEur opean Commi ssi on.The i nf or mat i on cont ai ned i nt hi s publ i cat i on does not necessar i l y r ef l ect t he posi t i onoropi ni onoft heEur opeanCommi ssi on oroft heCounci lofEur ope.Theyar enotl i abl ef or anyuset hatmaybemadeoft hi si nf or mat i on. I GLYO on. . .
Dearmember s,suppor t er sandpar t ner sof I GLYO, Wel comet ot henew i ssueofI GLYO on… On Apr i l 29, 2010, t he Par l i ament ar y Assembl y oft he Counci lofEur ope ( PACE) adopt ed a Resol ut i on on Di scr i mi nat i on on t he basi s ofsexualor i ent at i on and gender i dent i t y. The Resol ut i on par t i cul ar l y hi ghl i ght st he cycl e of di scr i mi nat i on and human r i ght s depr i vat i on t hatt r ansgenderpeopl eexper i ence. The Resol ut i on cal l s f or speci f i c measur es by memberst at es t o ensur et hat i dent i t ydocument scanbechangedt or ef l ect aper son' spr ef er r ed genderi dent i t ywi t hout pr i orobl i gat i on t o under go st er i l i zat i on or ot her medi calpr ocedur es such as gender r eassi gnmentsur ger yandhor monalt her apy. Anumberofi nt er nat i onalhumanr i ght si nst i t ut i ons cl ear l y under st and and shar et he vi ewsofLGBTQ act i vi st saboutt henecessi t y f orant i -di scr i mi nat i onl awst opr ot ectt r ansgenderpeopl ef r om har assment ,per secut i on anddi scr i mi nat i on. Thebasi sf ort hi sasser t i oni st hatI GLYO has beenabl et obr i ng25youngact i vi st sf r om 16 count r i est oKi evf r om Oct ober14t oOct ober 17,t ot akepar ti n“ I t ’ sT-Ti me”-aconf er enceonbui l di ngcapaci t yf orgenderi dent i t y wor kamongLGBTQ yout hor gani zat i ons.The conf er enceenabl edyoungLGBTQIact i vi st st o meet exper t si nt he f i el d of Tr ansgender i ssuesandSOGI Et obeabl et obet t erpr omot e Tr ans act i vi sm and genderequal i t yi nt hei r count r y.I GLYO t hanks r epr esent at i ves f r om key LGBTQ wat chdog or gani zat i ons and exper t sf ort hei rcont r i but i on t ot heconf er ence. Thi si ssue ofI GLYO on… i s an at t emptt o col l ectexper i encesandbestpr act i cesofpr oact i veLGBTQ yout hf r om di f f er entcount r i es i npr omot i ngt r ansmovementwhi chf i t si nt o a br oader st r uggl ef or soci al j ust i ce and humanr i ght sequal i t y.
Cont ent s Tr ansI t !4 WeAr eBei ng “ Hat ed”J ustBecause ofOurExi st ance. . . ? 5 Tr ansSi t uat i oni nChi l e:St opBei ng I nvi si bl e 7 Tr ansgender Yout h Remai ni ng I nvi si bl ei nRomani a 9 Sui ci de or St r uggl e f or Posi t i ve Recogni t i on 11 Pr omot i ng Tr ans Movement i n Mol dova 13 Tr ans Yout h Wor ki s Cr uci al f or LGBTYout hOr gani sat i ons 15 “ A Pr obl em, Not a Per son” : The Si t uat i on of Tr ans Yout h i n Li t huani a 17 Tr anspar ent ? 20
I GLYO t hanksEYF,OpenSoci et yFoundat i ons, TGEU and ourUkr ai ni an memberor gani zat i onI nsi ghtf ort hei rcont r i but i ont ot heconf er ence.Weal sogi veourt hankst oal lt hose peopl ewho wor ked on t hi s i ssueofI GLYO on… and encour aged ot her st o val ue and r espectt hedi gni t yoft r ansgenderpeopl e. Wi shyouapl easantr eadi ng. Onbehal foft heI GLYO Boar d, Zar aandEl ena Tr ans
3
Ri char dKöhl er( 30)i sat r ansr i ght sact i vi st ,whohadbeenact i ve i nEast -WestEur opeanyout hexchangef or5year sandi sf ormor e
t han a decade i nvol ved i nl gbt -act i vi sm.Ri char di s cur r ent l y co-chai roft heEur opeanTr ansgenderNet wor k–TGEU andbeen
i nvol vedwi t hor gani zi ngbot hdescr i bedevent s.Hel i vesi nBer l i n.
The Eur opean t r anscommuni t ysaw i n t he 2nd hal f of 2010 t wo i mpor t ant event s: 3r d Eur opean Tr ansgender Counci l( Mal mö,Sweden 30 Sept– 3 Oct )wi t hmor et han230Eur opeanpar t i ci pant sandI GLYO’ s“ I t ’ sT-t i me! ”-t he l ong-awai t edf i r sti nt er nat i onalconf er ence on t r ans i ssues i n a East er n Eur opean count r y ( Ki ev, Ukr ai ne Oct ober 12 -17) . Seven t r ans yout h act i vi st sr ecei ved f undi ng f r om OSIt o par t i ci pat ei n bot h event s and br i ng i mpul ses, i nsi ght s and new i deas t o Ki ev.Hot l y debat ed wer e and ar et he f ol l owi ng i ssues:Depat hol ogi zat i on – orhow t o ensur et he accesst ot r ansgenderr el at ed heal t h car e( and publ i c f undi ng,wher eavai l abl e)f ort hosewho wi shi t ,whi l eabol i shi ngt hest i gmat i zat i onassoci at edwi t hament aldi agnosi s; I nt er sex – and t he r ol e of i nt er sex demands i nt he Eur opean t r ansgender movement ;Ant i di scr i mi nat i on l egi sl at i on – new devel opment s on t he nat i onall eveland wi t ht he EU Gender Equal i t ySt r at egy2010-2015,aswel las t heexpect ed r esul t soft hemoni t or i ng t wo r el evantEU gender equal i t yl aws ( Di r2004/113/ECandDi r2006/54/EC) i n2011. Yout hi ni t i at i vesl i ke“ I t ’ sT-t i me”Conf er encear enecessar yt o pr ovi despace t or ef l ect about gender i dent i t yi na yout h LGBTQ envi r onment t o shape 4
or gani zat i onalpol i ci es.They oughtt o r espond t o a by-now compl ex setof t heor i esbutmor eovert oconcr et el i vi ng r eal i t i es.Pr ef er abl y,br i ngi ng t oget her peopl e f r om di f f er ent backgr ounds, or gani zat i ons and exper i ence enabl es an at mospher e t hat i nvi t es l ear ni ng ( i ncl udi ng i nsecur i t i esand const r uct i ve cr i t i ci sm)aboutgender i dent i t y whi l e bei ngr espect f ult opeopl e’ sdi f f er ences. At hor ough needs-assessment bef or e anyact i oni samust ,aswel lasapr oact i vei nvol vementoft r ansper sonsand t hei rcommuni t i esi nt hedevel opment , i mpl ement at i on and assessment of r el evant act i vi t i es. Measur es need t o bene-“ f i t ”t heor gani zat i oni ni t sset -up and i t sl evelofknowl edge.Maki ngany i ni t i at i vegr oup,orcl ub t r ans-i ncl usi ve st ar t sal r eadywi t ht hel anguageusedi n f l i er s,st at ut es,aswel lasi nevent st hat donotf ocussol el yont r anspeopl e.Do t r anspeopl ef eelwel come,dot heyf eel saf et ocomeouti nanor gani zat i ont hat has r egi st r at i on f or ms wi t h onl yt wo genderboxesorst at ut esspeaki ngonl y ofmen and women?Reachi ng outand get t i ng t o know t he l i vi ng r eal i t i es of t r ansgenderand gender -queerpeopl e i n your dor mi t or y,school ,uni ver si t y, schoolorci t yi snor ocketsci ence–but i tmi ghthaveagr eat eri mpactt hanyou t hi nk!
I GLYO on. . .
KemalOr deki st hegener alsecr et ar yofPi nkLi f eLGBTTSol i dar i t yAssoci at i on.Kemalhas a pol i t i calsci ence/i nt er nat i onalr el at i ons degr ee and
st udi ed soci ol ogyasapar tofhi rmast er s.Kemalhasbeen wor ki ng on t r ansr i ght sact i vi sm f oryear s;especi al l yonadvocacy&l obbyi ngf orahat e
cr i mesl egi sl at i onandant i -di scr i mi nat i onl aw f ort r ansi ncl usi oni nTur key.
Pi nkLi f e( PembeHayat )LGBTTSol i dar i t y Associ at i on,bei ng t he f i r st and onl y t r ansr i ght sassoci at i on*i nTur key,has wor ked t o el i mi nat e wi despr ead hat e cr i mes, di scr i mi nat i on and vi ol ence agai nstt r ansi ndi vi dual si nTur keysi nce 2006. I nor dert ocr eat eanawar enessandvi si bi l i t y on hat e cr i mes agai nst t r ans* , Pi nk Li f e or gani zed t he f i r st nat i onal Tr ans Remembr ance Conf er ence i n Ankar at oget herwi t ht he par t i ci pat i on of t r ans r i ght s act i vi st s bot h f r om Tur keyandabr oad. Fort hef i r stt i mei nTur key,t r ansr i ght s act i vi st s and t r ans i ndi vi dual s came t oget herwi t ht hei ni t i at i veofPi nk Li f e and di scussed t hei r pr obl ems and demands,and possi bl e st r at egi es f or possi bl ef ut ur eact i onsdur i ng t hef i r st Nat i onal Tr ans Net wor k Meet i ng on 22-23 November2010.Tr ansact i vi st s decl ar edt hatt heyar ei nsol i dar i t ywi t h each ot heri n di f f er entci t i es and t hat t hey wi l l move f or war d wi t h t hei r st r uggl ei ncol l abor at i on. Fort hef i r stt i mei nTur key,t heexhi bi t i onsofDi anaBl okSeeThr oughUsand Gabr i el l e Le Roux Pr oudl y Af r i can and Tr ansgender wer e host ed by a st at e i nst i t ut i on–CankayaMuni ci pal i t ywi t hi n t he f r amewor k oft he Tr ans RememTr ans
br ance Conf er ence bet ween 24 November – 3 December 2010.Thi s cr eat ed ahugeat t ent i on i n medi aand sever alof f i ci al ssentsuppor tmessages f ort heexhi bi t i on. Bet ween 24-28 November2010,Pi nk Li f eor gani zed t hepanel s& f or umsf or whi ch sever al act i vi st s, academi cs, medi a r epr esent at i ves, par l i ament ar i ans,ar t i st s,l egalexper t sat t ended t o speakonhat ecr i mesagai nstt r ans,hat e speechi nmedi a,sexwor k,hat ecr i mes l egi sl at i on, advocacy t ool s, et c. The event s ended wi t h a bi g mar ch i n Ankar a,dur i ng whi ch al lt he par t i ci pant sshout ed,“ t r ansr i ght sar ehuman r i ght s! ” . Tr ans i ndi vi dual s have been subj ect ed t o sever ehuman r i ght svi ol at i ons.The numberofmur der sagai nstt r ansi ndi vi dual si nTur keyi st hehi ghestnumber i n Eur ope.Di scr i mi nat i on i n educat i on, empl oyment and access t o ot her ser vi ces i s wi despr ead whi ch mai nl y endsi nt hef actt hatahugemaj or i t yof t r ansi ndi vi dual sengagei nsexwor kt o sur vi ve. I nst i t ut i onal vi ol ence i n t he f or m of pol i ce vi ol ence cont i nues t o exi stsever el yand t r ansar esyst emat i cal l y i l l -t r eat ed or t or t ur ed by t he pol i ce.J udi ci alaut hor i t i es cont i nue t o decr easet hesent encesoft heper pet r at or sofhat ecr i mesagai nstt r ansduet o 5
t hei rt r ansphobi a. Al t hough t hese pr obl ems cont i nue t o exi st ,t heTur ki shgover nmentt akesno act i on t o el i mi nat et hesehuman r i ght s vi ol at i ons. Pi nk Li f e, f r om t he ver y begi nni ng,has asked f or a const i t ut i onalchange i n whi ch t he r i ght s of t r ans shoul d be pr ot ect ed. Sever al codesshoul d ber evi sed i nt hemanner t hatdi scr i mi nat i onandhat ecr i mesar e i ncl udedf ort hei rpr event i on.Thegover nmentand opposi t i on par t i es’of f i ci al s and r epr esent at i ves do not r espondt oourdemands. Unf or t unat el y,ever ymont hwecont i nue t o wi t nessanot hert r ansmur derwhi l e t he i gnor ance of t he of f i ci al s i s appar ent . The Tur ki sh gover nment shoul d compl y wi t h t he ECHR and i mpr ovei t shuman r i ght sst andar dsby t aki ngt heCoE’ sr ecommendat i onsand t he r ul i ngs oft he Eur opean Cour tof HumanRi ght si nt oconsi der at i on. Thr ought heTr ansRemembr anceConf er ence i n 2010, Pi nk Li f e ai med t o at t r actat t ent i on t ot he pr obl ems t hat t het r anscommuni t ysuf f er . Nextyear , Pi nk Li f e wi l lor gani ze a l ar gerevent wi t ht he par t i ci pat i on of mor e NGOs bot hf r om Tur key and abr oad t o put mor e pr essur e overt he l aw and deci si on-maker sf ort r ansr i ght si nTur key.
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I GLYO on. . .
LukasBer r edo.Br azi l i an t r ansman,hasl i ved i n Chi l e si nce Mar ch 2006 wher e he st udi es Soci alCommuni cat i on and
wor ks i nt he or gani zat i ons:Suppor tGr oup f orTr ansmen, SexualDi ver si t yMovementandTr ansMovement .
TheTr ansgenderEur ope’ sTr ansMur der Moni t or i ng Pr oj ectr eveal st hei ncr easi ngnumberofhat ecr i mescommi t t edt o t r ans peopl e ar ound t he wor l d.Most r epor t ed cases wer ef r om Cent r aland Sout h Amer i ca,whi ch accountf or80% oft he gl obal l yr epor t ed homi ci des of t r anspeopl esi nceJ anuar y2008.Ther e ar e decl ar at i ons f r om t he Uni t ed Nat i ons and t he Or gani zat i on of Amer i can St at es,si gned up by Chi l e, af f i r mi ngt hathumanr i ght spr ot ect i ons ext endt osexualor i ent at i onandgender i dent i t y. Never t hel ess,t her ei s no ment i on of anyt hi ng r el at ed t o genderi dent i t yi n ourl egi sl at i onorpubl i cpol i ci es,whi ch cont r i but esevenmor et ot hei nvi si bi l i t y oft r anscommuni t i es.So,t r anspeopl e dealwi t hacompl et el ackofknowl edge ont hi si ssuef r om gover nmentaut hor i t i es, pol i t i ci ans, physi ci ans, publ i c wor ker s,et c. Tr anspeopl ef acer ej ect i onaf t err ej ect i onf r om t hemomentwe deci det oexpr essourf eel i ngs.Toenr ol l i n an educat i onali nst i t ut i on,t o cash a check,t o geta j ob,al loft hose seem r out i ne pr ocedur es.For t r ans peopl e, however ,t hose ar e si t uat i onsi n whi ch we f ace i gnor ance and di scr i mi nat i on. Many heal t h aut hor i t i es bel i eve t he i nt er vent i ons oft he pr ocess ofsexual r eassi gnmentar epl ast i c,notl i f et hr eat Tr ans
eni ng and,t her ef or e,notur gent .But whodet er mi nest heur gency?Ur gentf or whom? I naddi t i ont ot hesei ssues,t her ear eno l aws t o ensur e t he possi bi l i t y of changi ng our name and sex i nl egal document s.Thati s,wi t hf ew except i ons,t r anspeopl eshoul dr emai n wi t h document st hatr ef erexcl usi vel yt oour bi ol ogi calsex. Hi st or i cal l yi nChi l e,we havebeenhumi l i at ed,beat en,har assed, and di scr i mi nat ed. Obl i gat i ons ar e assi gned t o us,butourci vi l ,pol i t i cal and human r i ght s ar e consi st ent l y deni ed.Thi ssi t uat i onhast ochange. The Suppor t Gr oup f or Tr ansmen ( Gr upo de Apoyo a Hombr esTr ans,i n Spani sh) i s an or gani zat i on wi t ht he vi si on of bei ng a space t hat coul d enhancet hedevel opmentoft r ansmen, al l owi ng t hem t o get i nf or med, t o engageandi nt er actwi t heachot her .We st ar t ed by pr ovi di ng i nf or mat i on and gui dance so t hat t r ansmen coul d deci de, consci ousl y, whi ch st eps t o t ake. But t hat wasn’ t enough. We want edt or eachmor epeopl e.Thi swas whenwebegangi vi ngt al ksanddevel opi ngwor kshopsi neducat i onali nst i t u t i ons,hospi t al sandot herenvi r onment s t or ai seawar enessandpr omot er espect f orr eal i t yandt hewi dedi ver si t yoft r ans 7
peopl e. I n Apr i lt hi s year ,appr oxi mat el yt en or gani zat i ons t hr oughout t he count r y wor ki ngwi t ht r ansi ssuesmett oest abl i sh common gr ound.Thi s way,Tr ans Movementwas cr eat ed,a non-f or mal net wor kt hatseekst obeapl acef ordi scussi on,debat e and r ef l ect i on among t hese gr oups, devel opi ng advocacy act i vi t i es t hatwoul d gener at e speci f i c changesi nbot hl egi sl at i onand awar enessi nsoci et yi ngener al . Ourf i r stact i vi t yt oget herwast oj oi nt he campai gnadvocat i ngf ort hede-pat hol ogi zat i on of t he t r ans i dent i t i es. We or gani zed manyact i vi t i eson t hi si ssue i ncl udi ng:asemi naratt heLaw School oft he Uni ver si t yofChi l e,a pr ot esti n f r ontoft heWor l d Heal t h Or gani zat i on i nChi l eandapr essconf er ence. Al so, t oget herwi t hl astyear ’ sst udent soft he Law Schooloft heUni ver si t yofChi l e,we have devel oped a bi l lt hat ’ s mai n pur posei st oensur et her i ghtt ol egal l y changenameandsexf orpeopl ewhose dat a do notmat ch wi t ht hei r gender i dent i t y.I nt he l astt hr ee mont hs,we have been meet i ng wi t h and l obbyi ng member s of t he par l i ament t o seek suppor t .Al so,t hi s2011we’ l lbeel abor at i ngagui def ort r ansheal t hcar e. Webel i evei n amor ej ust ,mor eequal , mor e di gni f i ed count r yf oral l .We ar e f ul l y convi nced t hat no one shoul d deci def orus.Wemustdeci def r eel yand r esponsi bl yhow t ol i veourl i ves.Wewi l l notset t l ef orsecond-cl assci t i zenshi p.
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I GLYO on. . .
Kat ar i na i s an ant hr opol ogi st ,cur r ent l y pr epar i ng herPhD about t r anssexual i t yi nSl oveni a.Heracademi ci nt er est sal soi ncl udequest i onsofsex and gender ,sexual i t y,st er eot ypes,di scr i mi nat i on and soci alconst r uct i onofr eal i t y.Si nceOct ober2009shei savol unt eerat LGBT NGO Or gani zat i on Cul t ur al ,I nf or mat i onal and Counsel i ng Cent r eLEGEBI TRA,herwor kconcent r at i ngmai nl yont r ansi ssues.
I GLYO:Pl ease,descri be i n shortt he current si t uat i on of t ransgender yout hi nyourcount ry. Tr ansgenderyout h asa communi t yi n Sl oveni ai sver yi nvi si bl e,sameast r anssexualandt r ansgendercommuni t yasa whol e.Ther ei sno t r ansor gani sat i on, no t r ans net wor k and no web page/magazi ne/newsl et t er wi t h r el evanti nf or mat i on et c. The l ack of any ki nd of i nf or mat i on, especi al l y i nf or mat i on aboutmedi calpr ocedur es ofsex change,i s one oft he bi ggest pr obl emst hatt r ansi dent i f i edi ndi vi dual sencount eri n Sl oveni a.Fori nst ance, one t r ans i dent i f i ed per son needed al most6 mont hs t of i nd t he cont act det ai l soft hepsychi at r i stwhol eadst he Commi t t eef orsexchangei nSl oveni a. I GLYO:Whataret hemai nhi ndrances t oprot ectt ranspeopl ef rom di scri mi nat i oni nSl oveni a? One oft he bi ggesti ssues i n Sl oveni a woul dbecompl et el ackofi nf or mat i on– ei t heraboutmedi calsexchangepr ocedur es,oraboutl egalr ecogni t i on af t er sex change et c. So t r ans i dent i f i ed per sonsar el ef twi t hnogui danceatal l ; pr of essi onal s, whi ch t hey encount er ( doct or s,ci vi lser vant s…) ,of t endonot havesuf f i ci enti nf or mat i onandexper i enceei t her .Tr ansi ssuesar eusual l ynot Tr ans
addr essed i n publ i c di scour se,orar e addr essed i ni nappr opr i at e,st er eot ypi caland sensat i onal i st i cways,t her ef or e not cont r i but i ng t o mor e i ncl usi ve soci et y. I GLYO:Whati st herol eofyourorgani zat i oni npromot i ngt ransi ncl usi veness at t he nat i onal and/or i nt ernat i onall evel s? I n 2009 Legebi t r a or gani zed t he f i r st sel f -hel p gr oup f or t r ans i dent i f i ed i ndi vi dual si nSl oveni a.Thi sgr oupr epr esent sasaf espacef ori nf or mat i onand exper i encesexchange.Al lt r ansi dent i f i edi ndi vi dual sar ewel comet ovi si tt he gr oup and shar e t hei r exper i ence, pr obl ems,concer ns,quest i ons… I n addi t i on t ot hi s, our i nt er nat i onal act i vi t i esar ef ornow mai nl yf ocusedon get t i ng t o know good pr act i cesar ound Eur opeandot herpar t soft hewor l dand shapi ngouract i onsaccor di ngl y.Andof cour se net wor ki ng f orf ut ur e pr oj ect s ont r ansi ssues. I GLYO:How i syourorgani zat i on( and you as a young LGBTQI act i vi st ) pl anni ng t of urt her promot et rans act i vi sm and SOGI E work i n your count ry? Wehavel ot sofpl ansf ort heyear2011. We wi sh t o make ourt r ans sel fhel p 9
gr oupmor eact i veandespeci al l ywoul d l i ke t oi nvi t e post -op t r ansi ndi vi dual s t oshar et hei rexper i enceoft r ansi t i oni ng( sof aronl ypr e-opt r ansi ndi vi dual s at t endedgr oupmeet i ngs) .I nt hebegi nni ng oft he year we ar e pl anni ng t o or gani zea3-day-campf ort r ansi dent i f i edi ndi vi dual swher et heneeds,wi shes and pr obl ems oft r ans communi t yi n Sl oveni awoul dbedi scussedandf ut ur e act i vi t i es and act i ons pl anned accor di ngl y.One ofourpr i or i t i eswoul d al so be t he est abl i shmentofsome ki nd of “ i nf or mat i onpackage�wher eal lr el evant i nf or mat i onwoul dbegat her edt oget her and madeavai l abl ef ort r ansi dent i f i ed i ndi vi dual s as wel l as exper t s and schol ar s. We al so pl an t o or gani ze r ound t abl esand publ i cdebat esabout t r ansgenderand t r anssexuali ssues t o r ai sepubl i cawar enessandf i ghtt aboos andst er eot ypes.
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I GLYO on. . .
Ashoti s a young LGBTQ act i vi stf r om We f orCi vi lEqual i t y – a pi oneer communi t y-based LGBTQ or gani zat i on i n Ar meni a. Hest ar t ed t owor kat t he or gani zat i on asa vol unt eerf i ve year sago and i n 2010 became t he LGBTQ Communi t yDevel opmentPr ogr amsOf f i cer . Ashot ’ skeyf ocusof act i vi t i esi sSTI /HI V/AI DSpr event i on,SOGI Ei ssuesandLGBTQ r i ght s.Bei ng opt i mi st i caboutposi t i ve changesi nt he LGBTQ si t uat i on i n hi scount r y.
Accor di ng t ot heWor l d Heal t h Or gani zat i on, t he popul ar i t y of sui ci dal f eel i ngs i n moder n soci et yi s st eadi l y gr owi ng ( ht t p: //www. who. i nt /ment al _ heal t h/pr event i on/sui ci de/sui ci der at es /en/) .Ever yday,ar oundt hr eet housand peopl et aket hei rownl i f e,whi chmeans i ti s mor et han one mi l l i on peopl ea year .I n mostcases,t he l i f e ofpeopl e vol unt ar i l yl eavi ngt het woagecat egor i es,ages15t o34year s,andf r om 40t o 49 year s,most l ymen,r esi dent sofbi g ci t i es.The same st at i st i cs r epor tt hat among t het ot alnumberofsui ci desi n sevent i mesmor ef r equent l yaper sonof homosexualor i ent at i onort r ansgender . Forusi ti snotsur pr i si ng,becauset he t r ansgendercommuni t yi nAr meni ahas al ways been r i di cul ed,humi l i at ed and i nf r i ngeduponi nsoci et y,asunaccept abl e and not nor mal . Tr ansgender st udent s ar e humi l i at ed, r aped and bul l i ed at school . Ar meni an St at e Chur ch st i l ldoesnotacceptt hem.The above ment i oned i ssues ar et he mai n r eason f orhi gh r at esofsui ci deamong t r ansgenderpeopl e,t hought her ei sno st at i st i csonsui ci der at esamongt r ansgender i ndi vi dual s i n Ar meni a. No wondert r ansgenderpeopl e ar er el uc t antt ol i vei nacount r yandsoci et yt hat ar enotcompet enti nmat t er sofgender i dent i t y, and wher e st er eot ypes and het er onor mat i vi t y don’ tenabl e soci et y Tr ans
t ounder st andhow i ti spossi bl et ol ove someone oft he same sex ori dent i f y onesel fast r ansgender . I ti smuch mor edi f f i cul tf orsoci et yt o per cei vet r anssexual ,consi der i ng t hem ment al l yi l l .Tr ansgenderpeopl ei n our count r yl i ve i n a soci et y and even t he soci algr oup t o whi ch heusual l yr ef er s t o( i . e. ,t he LGBT - communi t y) ,r ej ect hi m.Tr ansgenderi s one oft he const i t uentel ement soft heLGBTabbr evi at i on,butonl yf ew peopl e under st and whatt hewor dt r ansgendermeans. As r egar ds t he gender r eassi gnment sur ger y( GRS) ,i tr equi r esavai l abi l i t yof consi der abl ef i nanci alr esour cesand,of cour se, r el evant speci al i st s. At t he moment ,t her e ar e no speci al i st s or medi cali nst i t ut i ons t hatspeci al i ze i n t r ansi t i onorGRSi nAr meni a,aswel las i nt her egi on( Sout hCaucasuscount r i es: Ar meni a,Azer bai j an,Geor gi a) .Butt he wor sti st hatt her e ar e no l egi sl at i ve pr ocedur esf ort hi s. The mai n pr obl em oft he t r ansgender communi t yi nAr meni ai st hei ri nvi si bi l i t yandl ackofi nf or mat i onaboutSOGI E. Tr anssexual i sm,asi tr ef er si n medi cal t er mi nol ogy,i sconsi der edament aland behavi or aldi st or t i on.Themedi caldef i ni t i onsoft het er m and r el evantl i t er a t ur e have not changed si nce Sovi et 11
t i meswhenmedi cali nst i t ut i onsconsi der ed homosexualor i ent at i on and t he so-cal l ed t r anssexual i sm as pat hol ogi es. Tr ansgender i ndi vi dual s i n Ar meni a have a compl ex of soci al , economi c, psychol ogi cal ,l egaland heal t h needs. They f ace l i mi t at i on and vi ol at i on of t hei rr i ght si n anyf i el d -i n educat i on andheal t hspher e,i nwor kpl ace,eveni n t hei r own f ami l i es.Tr ansgender i ndi vi dual scanbef i r edf r om t hei rj ob,t hei r housi ng and pr oper t yr i ght s ar e of t en vi ol at ed.They ar e of t en r ef used t o be pr ovi ded di f f er ent ki nd of publ i c ser vi ces.Duet oal lt hi scompl exofdi f f i cul t i es,mostt r ansgendermal es don’ t haveanot heropt i on butbecomecom mer ci alsexwor ker si nAr meni a. Taki ng i nt o consi der at i on a numberof homophobi c soci al f act or s, i ti s not possi bl et o col l ectst at i st i cson sui ci de r at es among t r ansgender peopl e i n Ar meni a.Somet r ansgenderi ndi vi dual s, f or i nst ance, say t hey pr evi ousl y at t empt edt ocommi tsui ci def orr easons whol l y or par t l y r el at ed t o t hei r “ unwant ed”SOGI Eandt hesamef act or s ar eal soof t enper si st enti nLGBQ yout h sui ci deat t empt s. To achi eve posi t i ve changes i n our soci et y,weneedt oaskour sel veswhydo mostt r ansgenderpeopl ef eelunhappy and r emai ni sol at ed f r om mai nst r eam soci et y?Do we wantt ol i ve i n a si ck soci et y, or do we want t o chal l enge exi st i ng st er eot ypes t o achi eve a posi t i ver ecogni t i on?
12
I GLYO on. . .
Nadi neChi l i anuwor ksast heCoor di nat oroft heSuppor tGr oup f orTr ansgenderPeopl eatt heI nf or mat i onCent erGender Doc-M -Mol dova’ spi oneerLGBTQ or gani zat i on.Herul t i mat egoalas an act i vi sti st o achi eve posi t i ve r ecogni t i on oft r ansgender peopl ei nhercount r ybyef f ect i vel obbyi ngandadvocacy.
Tr ansgender r i ght s advocacy i s a pr i or i t yf orGender Doc-M I nf or mat i on Cent er–t heonl yMol dova-basednongover nment alor gani zat i on t hatwor ks ont hi si ssue. The or gani zat i on l aunched t r anst ar get edpr ogr amsi nMar ch2008when i t set up a sel f -suppor t gr oup composed off ourpeopl e.Est abl i shi ng t hegr oup,Ipur suedt woobj ect i ves-t o l obby f or t he r i ght s of t r ansgender peopl e at t he gover nment l eveland empowert hegr oupmember s. Taki ngi nt oaccountt hatt heRepubl i cof Mol dova st i l ll acks a mechani sm t o set t l e medi cal and soci al i ssues of t r ansgenderpeopl e,t het r anscommuni t ymember sencount erser i ousobst acl es. Obt ai ni ng wi t h di f f i cul t y a cer t i f i cat e on t he t r anssexualst at us, t hey st ar tt he t r ansi t i on pr ocess on t hei rown,wi t houtanymedi calexami nat i on or advi ce. They st ar tt aki ng hor mones,r i ski ngt hei rl i f eandheal t h. Thi shappensbecausenoendocr i nol ogi stwi l lagr eet oexami nesuchpat i ent s duet ot hei ri nsuf f i ci entknowl edgeand exper i encei nt hi spar t i cul arf i el d.Asa r esul t , f emal e-t o-mal e t r ansgender peopl ecanonl yunder got hef i r stst age ofsexr eassi gnment ,t hati s,t ohavea t op sur ger y.Ot hert ypesofsex r eassi gnment sur ger i es ar e si mpl y not car r i ed outi n ourcount r y,even i f Tr ans
per son can pay.Peopl e have t o save moneyf oryear st obeabl et oset t l et hi s i ssueabr oad. Legi sl at i on i s not per f ect and has a dubi ous appr oach t o t he document change. The ci vi l st at us r ecor d l aw t ouchesper f unct or i l yupon t hei ssueof t henamechangef orci t i zenswho“ have changed t hei rsex” .I ti snotdef i ned at whatmomentaper soni sconsi der edt o have changed hi s sex. The ci vi l i an r egi st r y of f i ce r equi r es t hat a per son submi t s a cer t i f i cat e on sex r eassi gnmentsur ger y,butt her ear enosuchpr ovi si ons i nt he l aw.A per son changes dr ast i cal l yand acqui r esf eat ur esoft he desi r edsexwhent aki nghor mones,but hi s/herdocument sr emai n unchanged. Asa r esul t ,t r ansgenderpeopl e cannot f i nd a j ob and come acr ossa r ange of pr obl ems wi t h t he pol i ce, mi l i t ar y, medi cal i nst i t ut i ons, cust oms of f i ci al s et c. At t he moment , Gender Doc-M i s wor ki ng i nt ensi vel y wi t h t he Heal t h Mi ni st r yt o est abl i sh an of f i ci alpr ocedur eofsexandgenderr eassi gnmenti n Mol dova.Wehavehadanumberofconsul t at i ons wi t h t he mi ni st r y of f i ci al s, or gani zedar oundt abl ewi t ht heHeal t h Mi ni st r yr epr esent at i vesand i nt r oduced ourpr oj ectf orel abor at i on ofan ef f ect i ve sex r eassi gnment mechani sm. Accor di ng t ot hi smechani sm,aper son 13
mustgetnew document s af t era psychol ogi stset sadi agnosi soft r anssexual ( wehavesuggest ed r epl aci ng t hewor d “ di agnosi s”wi t h“ st at us” ) .Af t er war ds,a per son st ar t s t he hor mone t her apy whi ch i scover ed byt hemedi cali nsur ance.Si nce no sur gi cali nt er vent i on i s yetpossi bl ei nourcount r y,i ti snecessar yt hatourmi ni st r yset sup r el at i ons wi t ht hose count r i es wher e sex r eassi gnmentsur ger i es ar e car r i ed out ,so t hat our speci al i st s can get t r ai ned abr oad. I ’ ve had meet i ngs wi t hr epr esent at i ves f r om t heJ ust i ceMi ni st r y,ci vi l i anr egi st r y of f i ceand al awyerf r om t hepar l i ament and di scussed possi bl eamendment si n t heci vi lst at usact sl aw. Si nce t he day ofi t sest abl i shment ,t he sel f -suppor tgr ouphasgr ownf r om f our t o el even peopl e.Wi t h our hel p,f our peopl e have changed t hei rdocument s bef or et hesur ger y.Thegr oup meet si n t heGender Doc-M of f i ceonceamont h. Lastyear ,weor gani zedt hef i r stsummer schoolf ort r ansgenderpeopl eandt hei r f r i ends.Thi seventhasuni t edt hegr oup and west ar t ed t o or gani zepi cni csand out doormeet i ngs.Aspar tofl astyear ’ s Pr i de “ Rai nbow under Dni est er ” , an i nt er nat i onal conf er ence “ Sol vi ng Pr obl ems of Tr ansgender Peopl e i n Post -Sovi et St at es” t ook pl ace.Peopl e f r om Mol dova, Ukr ai ne, Geor gi a, Kazakhst an,Kyr gyzst an,Russi a,Pol and, Gr eatBr i t ai n and r epr esent at i ves f r om I LGA-Eur opet ookpar ti nt heevent . Iam pl anni ng t of ur t herpr omot et r ans act i vi sm i nourcount r yt hr oughl obbyi ng andadvocacy.Ast hecoor di nat oroft he gr oup,Iam t r yi ng t of i nd sol ut i onst o i mpr ovet hel i f eoft het r ansgendercommuni t y member s who cl ai m accept i ng Eur opeanval ues. 14
I GLYO on. . .
Si monSt r achani sat r ansact i vi st sf r om Scot l and,hehasbeen i nvol ved i n LGBT yout h wor kf or10 year s,f i r stas a young
per son and f r om 2009 asayout h wor ker . Si mon i scur r ent l y st udyi ngi nEdi nbur ghandpl anni ngal ar get r ansyout hcampt o behel di nScot l andnextyear .
We ar e cont i nual l y gi ven messages t hr oughout our l i ves about what i t means t o be a gi r lorboy,woman or man.Fami l i es,f r i ends,t eacher s,adver t s and magazi nes t el l us t hat we ar e supposed t ol ook,dr ess,behave and f eelacer t ai n wayj ustbecause we ar e bi ol ogi cal l y mal e orf emal e.I nr eal i t y, t hough,peopl el ook,actand f eelbot h mascul i ne and f emi ni ne t o var yi ng degr ees r egar dl ess of t hei r physi cal body.Ver yr ar el yar ewet ol dt hathow wef eeli nsi demi ghtbedi f f er entt ohow we l ook on t he out si de.As a r esul t , mostpeopl ewhof eell i ket hi sgr ow up f eel i ngwor r i ed,ashamed,scar edorj ust somehow di f f er ent . I nt he UK, most LGBT or gani sat i ons begi nt hei rl i vest opr ovi desaf espaces f orl esbi an and gayyout h –t hebiand t r answor kof t encomesl at er .Wear eno di f f er entatLGBT Yout h Scot l and*and al t hough t r ans young peopl e have al waysbeen wel comet o at t end gr oups and ser vi ces,i twasn’ tunt i l2009 t hat wehadadedi cat edgr oupj ustf ort r ans andgenderqueeryout h. 10 year s ago Iused t o be a young per son who came al ong t o gr oups,t o meetf r i endsandt ot al kt osomeone,so Iknow f i r st hand what LGBT young peopl eneedf r om ayout hser vi ce.Ican under st and t he l i f e changi ng r ol et hat Tr ans
suppor tcan have,and asan act i vi stI bel i evet hatt r ansyoung peopl eshoul d have t he same oppor t uni t i est o access suppor tasLGByoungpeopl e. Now, i n 2011 I have been a yout h wor kerf orovera yearatLGBT Yout h Scot l andwher eI ’ vehel pedt osetupand suppor t our f i r st t r ansgender gr oup, BeyondGender .Att hegr oupwepr ovi de 1-2-1 suppor tand i nf or mat i on on a r angeofi ssuesi ncl udi ngsexandr el at i onshi ps,genderi dent i t y,comi ng out , t r ansi t i oni ngandonoccasi onsuppor t i ngt hei rf ami l ymember s.Asal eaderi n t hegr oupIusepar t i ci pat or ygr oupwor k met hods so t hat t he member sf eel i ncl uded,empower edandsoi ti sf unas wel laschal l engi ng.The gr oup i speer l ed and t he act i vi t i es ar ei nt er act i ve. Lastyearwe wer el uckyenough t o be f unded by t he Eur opean ‘ Yout h i n Act i on’ pr ogr amme t oi nvol ve young peopl ei nt he cr eat i on ofa websi t et o i mpr ovet heaccesst ocor r ecti nf or mat i ononl i nebutal sot obr i ngyoungt r ans peopl ef r om ar oundScot l andt oget her . One of t he most i mpor t ant r ol es of Beyond Gender ,apar tf r om pr ovi di ng t hat di r ect suppor t i s t o pr ovi de accur at ei nf or mat i ont oal lt r ansyoung peopl e who mi ght be scar ed and anxi ousbecause t heydon’ tknow how t heyf eelorwhatt heycan do abouti t . Last year Beyond Gender cr eat ed 15
Scot l and’ sf i r st‘ comi ng outgui de’f or young t r ans peopl e. Thi s gui de has been wr i t t en by t r ansgender young peopl e,who have dr awn on t hei rown per sonal exper i ences t o make t he pr ocessofcomi ngoutasat r ansyoung per soneasi erf orot her s. Whet heryou ar e cer t ai nt hatyou ar et r ans or ar e unsur eaboutyourgender ,t hi sgui dei s wr i t t en t o hel p you under st and your own f eel i ngs and how t o shar et hem wi t h ot her s when you f eel r eady. Comi ng outi s di f f er entf orever yone, and al t hough we hope t hi s gui de wi l l hel pwi t ht hatpr ocess,i twon’ tpr ovi de youwi t hadef i ni t i veanswert oal lyour quest i onsort el lyou t he‘ r i ght ’wayt o do i t .Whati twi l lhopef ul l ydo i sgi ve you some usef ult i ps,hi ghl i ghtot her peopl e’ sexper i encesandpr ovi deusef ul l i nks t o f ur t her i nf or mat i on and suppor t . As a yout h wor ker ,a pr oj ectl i ke t hi s was a gr eat way t o encour age ot her t r ansyoung peopl et ot akeact i on and i mpr ovet hel i vesofot her s.Al t houghi t maynotbeseenast ypi calact i vi sm,we bel i eve t hat by empower i ng young peopl et o make a di f f er ence f ort hei r communi t i est heyar epar toft het r ans act i vi st communi t y. Tr ans young peopl e have a l ot of ski l l s,per sonal exper i enceandent husi asm t hatshoul d be har nessed by mor e LGBT yout h or gani sat i ons.I ti sn’ thar dt odevel opT wor kand f orLGBT or gani sat i onst o be t r ul ydi ver sei ti sanessent i alel ementt o anypr ogr amme.
Tocheckoutt hegui def ol l ow t hi sl i nk– ht t p: //www. l gbt yout h. or g. uk/advi ce/comi ngout . ht m Emai l :beyondgender @l gbt yout h. or g. uk * LGBTYout hScot l andi sanat i onalyout hor gani s at i onwor ki ngt owar dst hei ncl us i on ofl es bi an,gay,bi s exualandt r ans genderyoungpeopl ei nt hel i f eofScot l and. 16
I GLYO on. . .
Emi l yDai naŠar asi sanant hr opol ogi st ,oper asi nger ,andact i vi stf r om t he Uni t edSt at es.Shei st hewi nneroft heFul br i ghtFul lGr anti nEt hnomusi col ogy.Ms.Šar asi savol unt eeratLi t huani anGayLeague,andhercur r ent ant hr opol ogi calpr oj ectexpl or eshow LGBTQIyout h wi t hi n homophobi c post -Sovi etspacei magi neandvoi cet hei ri ndi vi duali dent i t i es.
Despi t ei t sst at usasaMemberSt at eof t heEur opeanUni onandpr essur ef r om t heEur opeanCommi ssi on,Li t huani ai s act i vel ywor ki ng t o decr ease t ol er ance andequal i t ywi t hi ni t sl egaladmi ni st r at i vecode.I thasonl ybeent wodecades si nce Li t huani a’ s est abl i shment of i ndependencef r om t heSovi etUni oni n 1991,andLi t huani ast i l lst r uggl eswi t h nat i onalr econst r uct i on and t he r eest abl i shment of an i ndependent soci o-cul t ur ali dent i t y.Popul arpol i t i ci answi t hi nLi t huani a,suchasMember ofPar l i amentPet r as Gr ažul i s,act i vel y ut i l i zehomophobi aandt r ansphobi aas pol i t i calt ool st ol i mi t soci aldi ver si t y and enf or ce nat i onal i st homogenei t y. The t r ansphobi c pol i t i cal agenda i s pr omot edasar econst r uct i onofpost Sovi et Li t huani an i dent i t y and as a r et ur nt o“ nat i onalval ues. ”Whenpai r ed wi t ht he domi nantcul t ur alat t i t ude of i nt ol er ancet owar dsLGBTQIi ndi vi dual s, t hi s pol i t i calagenda wi t houta doubt has a di r ectnegat i ve ef f ecton t r ansgenderandt r anssexualyout h. I n my i nt er vi ews wi t h young t r ans Li t huani ans, I l ear ned about t he per sonal st r uggl es wi t hi n what i s under st ood t o be t he “ ver y pr i vat e, sel f -cont ai ned,andshy”t r anscommuni t y.OneyoungLi t huani anwr ot et ome t hat i n Li t huani a, “ most peopl e ar e Tr ans
r ai sedi nawayt hatmakest hem bl i ndl y and ear nest l y bel i eve i n ant i quat ed nonsense, ”whi ch i nt ur nl eaves t r ans i ndi vi dual s wi t h a weak emot i onal suppor t syst em. Rasa, a t r ans i ndi vi dual , expl ai ned t hat pol i t i ci ans, cl osel yt i ed t ot heCat hol i cChur ch,ar e “ cont i nual l ybl ocki ng passageand di scussi onoft hesexchangebi l l . ”Anot her young t r ansi ndi vi dual ,Lukas,i sf r ust r at edwi t ht heobst acl est hatt r ansi ndi vi dual sf acei n het er onor mat i vecul t ur e i nLi t huani a:“ It hi nkt r ansgenderyout h i sver yuni nf or med and st r angl ed wi t h l i mi t ed possi bi l i t i esi n Li t huani a…most oft het r ansgenderpeopl ear eseenonl y asapr obl em,butnotasaper son. ” Di st ur bed by t hi s bl eak r eal i t y and mot i vat ed byLukas’ sr ef l ect i ons,Iwas eagert oi nvest i gat et he l egalways i n whi ch Li t huani a deal s wi t h t he “ pr obl em”oft r ansi ssues.Il ear nedt hat psychol ogi calt her apy f or t r ans i ndi vi dual si sf unded by t he gover nment , butt hecr i t er i aandmet hodsi nvol vedi n det er mi ni ngadi agnosi sof“ t r ansexual i sm” ( F 64. 0) quest i onabl e.Hor mone t her apyi sf undedaswel l ,butonl yf ora l i mi t edamountoft i me. Ul t i mat el y,genderr eassi gnmentt r eat mentmustr enderper manentst er i l i t y under Li t huani an l aw. Many cr i t i cal 17
sur gi calpr ocedur es,such as vagi nopl ast y,phal l opl ast y,andmet oi di opl ast y ar eonl yavai l abl eonpr i nci pl e,butt her e ar enol egalpr ovi si onst opr ot ectt hese r i ght st o genderr eassi gnment .Acqui r i ngal egalnamechange,sai donet r ans i ndi vi dual ,was“ t heeasi estpar t ”ofher t r ansi t i on.However ,i fyou onl ywantt o change yourname and have no ot her pr ocedur es compl et ed,you ar el egal l y r equi r edsel ectagenderneut r alname– and genderneut r alnamesdo notexi st wi t hi nt hest andar dLi t huani anl anguage!
Hei soft heopi ni ont hat“ mor eat t ent i on t ot hi spr obl em i sonl ycausi ng savage ar gument s, i nst ead of cul t ur ed debat e…youhavet ot hi nkf or war d-how wi l li tmakeyousound i nt hepr ess,f or al lmaj or i t yofpeopl e,who under st and ver yl i t t l eaboutt hi s. ”Rasa,ont heot her hand, bel i eves t hat a sol i di f i ed and uni f i ed voi ce f or advocacy shoul d be t aken, and she t hi nks t hat an “ even st r onger posi t i on” shoul d be hel d by Li t huani an Gay League on t he i ssue i n t hef ut ur e.
Wi t hi n t he 2007 Eur opean Cour t of HumanRi ght scour tcaseLv.Li t huani a, t he St at e ar gued t hatgenderr eassi gnmentsur ger ycoul dbeaccessedbyt r ans i ndi vi dual sabr oad,butt heCour tuphel d t hatt heSt at ewasl i abl ef orgenderr eassi gnmentt r eat ment sandt hepr ot ect i on ofpr i vat e and f ami l yl i f et hr ough t he l egal r ecogni t i on of gender . Yet speaki ngwi t hRasa,Il ear nedt hatmany peopl ei n her si t uat i on have i n f act t r avel ed abr oad t ohavesur gi calpr ocedur es.Thechoi cet o havet heseoper at i ons abr oad, of t en f ol l owed by danger oust r avel shomewi t hl i t t l et ono post -sur ger yr ecover yt i me,i susual l ya r esul toft hel ack ofsuppor twi t hi nt he Li t huani anmedi calcommuni t y.
Thi s di scor dance i n appr oach br i ngs aboutcr i t i calquest i ons: how can we negot i at e our posi t i on as advocat es, sucht hatwecansuppor tand empower t r ansi ndi vi dual swhi l eal sowor ki ngwi t h t he opi ni ons and pr ej udi ces of t he publ i c?Shoul d ournot i on of“ suppor t ” be based on pr ot ect i ng t he pr i vacy of t r ansi ssues,orbased onexposur eand vi si bi l i t y?
Lukas not es t hat i n Li t huani a, t he gener alpubl i c“ seemst ol ackt heunder st andi ng t hatt hi si sj ustoneaspectof l i f e,nott hegener alpur poseofl i f et obe t r ansgender . ”Hi st hought sl ed me t o consi dert her esponsi bi l i t i esofi ndi vi dual sand or gani zat i onst hatadvocat ef or t r ans r i ght s. Lukas, f or exampl e, i s i mpr essed by t he wor kt hatLi t huani an Gay League has done f oradvocacy of t r ansi ndi vi dual s,butr emai nscr i t i calof t he negat i ve at t ent i on t hat t ends t o par al l el , and usual l y over r i de, t he advocacywor kwi t hi nt hepol i t i calar ena. 18
Iam oft he opi ni on t hatwe mustbe i ncl usi ve of al l sexual or i ent at i ons, genderi dent i t i esandexpr essi onswi t hi n our advocacy wor k. I nt hi s way,we accompl i sh our most cr i t i cal goal of educat i ngt heSt at e,heal t hcar epr of essi onal s,andt hegener alpubl i caboutt he i ssuesatst ake.Educat i oni sal ong-t er m pr oj ect ,andi tmi ghtt aket i met or eacha ci vi l di al ogue, but wi t hout i ncr easi ng vi si bi l i t y,t heeducat i onalpr ocesssi mpl y cannotbegi n. Li t huani an Gay League i st aki ng t hi s exactst ance wi t ht hei rnew pr oj ectf or 2011, “ Empower i ng Women” l ed by Vi l maGabr i el i ūt ė:l esbi an,bi sexual ,and t r ansgender edwomen’ sr i ght swi l lal lbe cover ed t oget herwi t hi n a compr ehensi vet wel vemont h pr ogr am f ocused on equal i t y f or al l sexual or i ent at i ons, genderi dent i t i esandexpr essi onswi t hi n I GLYO on. . .
t heheal t hcar esyst em. I tcanbef r i ght eni ngt owat chnegat i vi t y r i se i nr esponse t o ouract i ons wi t hi n Li t huani a,and at t acksf r om t he chur ch andt heSt at eal mostal waysr ecei vemor e posi t i ve at t ent i on f r om t he medi at han our i ni t i al act i ons. Yet I ar gue t hat i gnor i ngt hei ssuesandpr omot i ngi nvi si bi l i t y–especi al l ywhenmot i vat edt odo so by f ear – does a di sser vi ce t o al l par t i es i nvol ved i n t he debat e. We cannott hi nkaboutr emovi ng t hesoci al and pol i t i calobst acl est hatt r ansyout h f aceunl esswecanopenl yi dent i f yt hem i nt hef i r stpl ace. AsIl ook t owar dst he f ut ur e,If or esee t hat i f LGBTQI act i vi st s cont i nue t o excl ude t r ansi ssuesf r om t hei rgr eat er agenda,cr eat i ngconser vat i vemodel sof quasi -t ol er ance si mpl yt o appealt oa wi der ,mor e conser vat i ve audi ence,we wi l lonl yhei ght en l evel soft r ansphobi a and hur tourover al lcause. I fwewant t hepubl i ct ounder st andt hatt r ansi ndi vi dual s ar e peopl e,not pr obl ems,we mustbe sur et o el i mi nat et r ansphobi a f r om ourownadvocacywor kaswel l . * Names have been changed t o pr ot ect anonymi t y.
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Agat aChaberi saPol i shyout hact i vi st ,boar dmemberofCampai gnAgai nst Homophobi aandI GLYO.I nt er est edi ngender ,t r ansandheal t hi ssuesi npar -
t i cul ar .Asapsychol ogyst udentshet r i est oi nt r oducet hesci ent i f i cper spec-
t i veofpr ej udi ce,dehumani zat i onandat t i t udesi nt oLGBTQ act i vi sm,aswel l sensi t i vi t yf ordi ver si t yi nt opsychol ogi calr esear chandpubl i shedpaper s.
When I ’ m asked aboutt hesi t uat i on of t r anspeopl eort r ansi ssuesi n gener al i nPol and–ei t heri nt hesoci et yori nso cal l ed “ LGBT” or gani zat i ons t he f i r st adj ect i vest hatcomest o my mi nd ar e “ non-exi st ent ”and“ i nvi si bl e”–TRANSPARENT. The pr obl ems t r ansgender , t r anssexualandt r ansvest i t epeopl ef ace seem t obenegl ect edbybot ht hegover nmentand NGOs.Butt hen Ir emi nd mysel faboutal lt he act i ons we have t aken dur i ng t he l astcoupl e ofyear s and pr oj ect s we’ r e begi nni ng or pl anni ngf ort hef ut ur eandr eal i zet hat f i nal l yourpol i shLGBTQ movementcan st ar tt el l i ng her o st or i esi nst ead oft he vi ct i m ones. Campai gn Agai nstHomophobi a( KPH) , ast henamemaysuggest ,wasf ounded as an LG or gani zat i on. We st ar t ed i ncl udi ng t he B l et t erqui t ef ast ,buti t t ook us a bi tl ongert o st ar tt hi nki ng aboutt he T.We hel ped t of ound t he Tr ans-Fuzj af oundat i on whi ch began or gani zi ng var i ous suppor t gr oups. Fr om t hei ri ni t i at i veal ar genumberof suppor tgr oupswer el aunchedi nmany ot hercount r i es.Theybegant ol obbyf or t he i nt r oduct i on ofi dent i t y car dswi t h t wo pi ct ur es ( one f r om t he f or malI D andt hesecondonedur i ngoraf t ert r ansi t i on) .Theyst ar t edabr i l l i antwebpage wher e al lki nds ofusef uli nf or mat i on can be f ound: def i ni t i ons, ar t i cl es, per sonalst or i es,voi cechangeexer ci ses 20
and many ot her s. We’ r e st i l lwor ki ng t oget hercl osel yt oday.Ever y yearwe have a Tr ans Remembr ance Mar ch t hr ought heci t y.Wehavet r ansl ect ur es atuni ver si t i esand t r ansexhi bi t i onsi n gal l er i es.Wehavemont hl yt r ansmovi e showi ngs and meet i ngs f or ever yone whomi ghtbei nt er est edi nTi ssues.We havet r anspeopl ebei ngi nt er vi ewedand t al ki ng aboutt r anspr obl emsi n mai nst r eam medi a.A pol i sh Emmy Awar d Wi nnerdi r ect edandpr oduced“ Tr ansAct i on” a document ar y about Anna Gr odzka,MTFPr esi dentofTr ans-Fuzj a. I tai r edont el evi si onandt hemedi awent wi l d. I tal lhappened i n spi t eoft hef actt hat t r ansgender ,t r anssexualandt r ansvest i t e peopl e ar e bei ng di scr i mi nat ed agai nstever yday.Theyl oset hei rj obs and t hei rpensi ons,t hei rCVssuddenl y becomeempt yduet ot henamechange. They can’ tj oi nt he mi l i t ar y,can’ tget t hei rt r eat mentor sur ger i es r ef unded and need t o sue t hei r par ent s t o f or mal l ychanget hei rsexi nt hei rdocument s.Togot hr ought hesexr eassi gnmentt her apyt heyneedt ogetdi vor ced and t hey of t en l ose t hei rf ami l i es. Tr ansvest i t e per sons ar e st i l l of t en dehumani zed and seen as“ pedophi l es and per ver t s” . Non-t r anssexual and non-t r ansvest i t et r ansgender per sons ar ecompl et el yi nvi si bl eandmor eof t en t han notat t empt st o expl ai nt o peopl e I GLYO on. . .
t hatgeni t al i a orhavi ng a bear d don’ t make you a man ora woman end i n l aught eroraggr essi on. Campai gn Agai nstHomophobi ai nvi t ed Tr ans-Fuzj at ot r ai nt hei rvol unt eer son t r ans-i ncl usi veness, we i nt r oduce t he t heor i esandquest i ont hem,weenhance t hegr owt h ofourt r anscapaci t y.Whi l e pl anni ngever yact i onwet hi nkaboutt he t r ans per spect i ve and i ncl ude t r ans i magesi nourcampai gns.Atl eastwet r y t o. I tt akes t i me. We’ r e pl anni ng t o conductar esear ch on t hesoci alsi t uat i on of t r ansgender ,t r anssexual and t r ansvest i t e per sonswhi ch woul d al l ow us t o cr eat et he f i r str el i abl et oolf or l obbyi ngf orl egalchanges.Onal lt hese gr ounds we wor k wi t h Tr ans-Fuzj a, because whatwe have l ear ned dur i ng t hel astyear si st hatl i t t l ecan bedone wi t hout t he hel p of an exper t . So wher everyou ar eand what everyou do, t r yt of i nd someonewho’ si nt er est ed i n t hei ssue.Wor ki ngt oget heri st hef ast est way ofmaki ng t r ansi ssues,pr obl ems, t hei rsol ut i ons and peopl e mor e cl ear , vi si bl eandTRANSPARENT.
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Ever yonehast her i ghtt oi dent i f yt hei rgenderi nt hei rownway–many peopl echooset oexpr esst hemsel vesout si deoft hecommonl yhear d
t er msand I GLYO suppor t sal lt r ansand queeryout h.We t houghti t woul dbeusef ult opr ovi deadef i ni t i onofsomet er mst hatyoumayf i nd t hr oughoutt hi si ssuewhi chmaybehel pf ulf oryout ounder st and.
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I GLYO on. . .
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I GLYO on. . .
I nl at e 2010 t he Fundament alRi ght s Agency ( FRA) publ i shed an updat e r epor tt ocompl i mentt hei r2008r epor t ‘ Di scr i mi nat i on on t he gr ounds of sexualor i ent at i on and genderi dent i t y i n t he member st at es’ . Thi s updat e shows bot ht he i mpr ovement s made acr oss Eur ope and al so hi ghl i ght st he ar eas wher el i t t l e orno pr ogr ess has beenachi eved. Al t hough t he r epor tdoes notspeci f i cal l ydealwi t h‘ yout h’i ssues,manyof t het hemesand poi nt swhi ch ar econsi der edwi l lber el evantt oyoungpeopl e. The r epor tshows a pi ct ur e ofmi xed devel opment t hr oughout t he EU and demonst r at es t hat pr ogr ess i st aki ng pl aceatadi f f er entpl aceand unevenl y bot h geogr aphi cal l yand al so t hemat i cal l y.The FRA ci t esper si st i ng i nt ol er ance, st er eot ypi ng and negat i ve at t i t udes as t he bi ggest obst acl es t o achi evi ng f undament al r i ght sf or al l LGBT peopl e. Over al lt hr oughout t he r epor tt he message f or t r ansgender peopl ei scl ear–t heyr emai nt hegr oup whoexper i encet hemostdi f f i cul tsi t uat i onsand t hehi ghestl evelofdi scr i mi nat i on. Ther epor tdoespr esentevi dencewhi ch poi nt st oabet t erhel dunder st andi ngof genderi dent i t yacr ossEur ope,however i t seems cl ear t hat t hi s has not yet t r ansl at ed i nt o i mpr ovement si n t he Tr ans
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