Transsexual News

[sosed]

I'm from Europe, more exactly from Slovenia and State University here means it is state/national property and is equally open for all citizens without discrimination. But as you say, every country/state have its own rules and laws.

[smc]

Originally Posted by sosed

I'm from Europe, more exactly from Slovenia and State University here means it is state/national property and is equally open for all citizens without discrimination. But as you say, every country/state have its own rules and laws.

The United States has no universities that are "national" except for the so-called service academies that train military officers.

As for "discrimination," it is a specialty in the United States, whether explicit or implicit.

[randolph]

Janet Mock, her transition

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/peopl...am-transgender

This was on CNN this morning. As of the time I read the article there were at least a few positive comments which I found encouraging. The others?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...ex.html?hpt=T2

[smc]

Originally Posted by aw9725

This was on CNN this morning. As of the time I read the article there were at least a few positive comments which I found encouraging. The others?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...ex.html?hpt=T2

Encouraging, indeed. As for the "others" ... well, as anyone who reads even the TLB site knows, the anonymity of the Internet tends to bring out the useless pieces of excrement who masquerade as humans.

[randolph]

HIV infection is very high in some transgender groups.

http://aids.about.com/cs/aidsfactshe...ransgender.htm

[Tsweet]

Good to see another state in the United States is officially recognizing the rights of transgenders:

Connecticut Passes Transgender Rights Bill
Associated Press June 3, 2011 HARTFORD, Conn.

Connecticut has moved to adding transgendered people to the list of classes of citizens protected from discrimination. Early Saturday morning, the Senate passed a gender identity protection bill on a 20-16 vote. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, and Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he will sign it into law.

"This bill is another step forward in the fight for equal rights for all of Connecticut's citizens, and it's the right thing to do," he said in a written statement issued shortly after the vote was taken. "It's difficult enough for people who are grappling with the issue of their gender identity, and discrimination against them has no place in our society."

Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford, said the bill codifies a ruling by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities that made it illegal to discriminate against transgendered people. People with gender identity issues have repeatedly asked the General Assembly to include the protections in state law, saying they've experienced discrimination with employment, housing and other matters.? These are things that get in the way of real people living their lives fully," said Bye, adding how 13 other states provide similar protections.

As was the case in last month's lengthy debate in the House of Representatives, some Republicans raised concerns about restroom usage, whether a man could misuse the transgender law to enter a women's restroom. The Family Institute, a conservative group that dubbed the legislation "the bathroom bill," has questioned whether sex offenders could misuse the law.
GOP efforts to amend the bill, such as exempting restrooms, locker rooms and boarding houses from the law, each failed.

Some Democrats said it was offensive to the people who've asked lawmakers for the legal protections to refer to the legislation as "the bathroom bill." Longtime Sen. Eric Coleman, D-Bloomfield, said he had never seen the degree of "mean-spiritedness" before that he has seen regarding this bill.

Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, who supported the amendments, said it was unfair to suggest that people who question the transgender rights bill are bigots. He said they simply respect the customs and practices of the forefathers." We should not jettison them and throw them overboard," he said.

At times, senators brought up personal experiences to make their points during the late-night debate. Sen. Edward Meyer, D-Guilford, told the story of his lifelong friend Richard Raskind, who later became Renee Richards, a former professional tennis player who underwent sex reassignment surgery and made headlines for challenging the U.S. Tennis Association's decision not to allow her to enter the 1976 U.S. Open. The New York Supreme Court ruled in her favor.

"The change was really remarkable. It was totally genuine," said Meyer, adding how his friend not only physically became a woman but looks like a woman and thinks like a woman.

"To send Renee Richards into a men's bathroom, that would be very dangerous, very dangerous, because Renee is a woman," he said with a chuckle, adding how it would be "utter discrimination" to prevent her from using a women's restroom.

"I want you to think about Dick Raskind and Renee Richards and what it means to change your gender," Meyer said. "It's a real change. This is not someone who has put on women's clothes. This is a real change. We're talking about substance."

AP-WF-06-04-11 0530GMT

[spacecase9128]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/08/news...tune/index.htm

maybe this has been here already,if so tell me or delete this

[smc]

Originally Posted by spacecase9128

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/08/news...tune/index.htm

maybe this has been here already,if so tell me or delete this

Well, on the one hand health plans should cover SRS unequivocally. On the other hand, it would be a shame for anyone to go to work for a company that does nothing of any social value whatsoever, and that exists only to suck the lifeblood out of people, just to receive the benefit.

[spacecase9128]

Finding out about Goldman Sacks, they appear to treat the help well. At least according to not sure if its CNN or Fortune magazine. For a few years in a row in the top 100 employers.

The economy be Damned treat the help well. When do they treat them like serfs; before or after the bottom line suffers for big wigs @ Goldman Sacks

[smc]

Originally Posted by spacecase9128

Finding out about Goldman Sacks, they appear to treat the help well. At least according to not sure if its CNN or Fortune magazine. For a few years in a row in the top 100 employers.

The economy be Damned treat the help well. When do they treat them like serfs; before or after the bottom line suffers for big wigs @ Goldman Sacks

Yeah, well, despots throughout history always treated their minions well, too, so long as there was the wherewithal to do so and the minions did their masters' bidding. In this case, the wherewithal comes through everything from deception to criminal fraud to government "bailouts." As for the latter, spacecase9128, and assuming you're a U.S. taxpayer, you're funding the million-dollar-plus bonuses these scumbags get for their "good work."

But let's remember, this thread is not about Goldman Sachs. So let's leave the discussion about them for a thread in "General Discussion." I, for one, don't think there's anything more that needs to be said, but others may want to chime in there.

[SluttyShemaleAnna]

Originally Posted by spacecase9128

Finding out about Goldman Sacks, they appear to treat the help well. At least according to not sure if its CNN or Fortune magazine. For a few years in a row in the top 100 employers.

The economy be Damned treat the help well. When do they treat them like serfs; before or after the bottom line suffers for big wigs @ Goldman Sacks

If ur a finaciomonkey at GS then sure they treat you well, if ur a cleaner tho, they will fuck you like a long legged duck.

[smc]

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia


When does a woman become a man?
Peter Veness

AAP

June 22, 2011 - 4:49PM

Do you need a penis to be called a man?

That is the question facing the High Court after two female-to-male transsexuals took their quest to be legally identified as men to the
court on Wednesday.

In 2007 and 2008 the appellants had their request for gender reassignment heard by authorities in Western Australia and it was rejected.

In 2010 the Supreme Court of Western Australia upheld the earlier decision rejecting the applications.

The unnamed pair have now taken their case to the High Court.

While the genitals of transsexuals were discussed, the court also heard debate suggesting both the lifestyle and appearance of people needed to be taken into account if gender reassignment was to be allowed.

If the transsexuals are successful it will be a major blow to Western Australia's Gender Reassignment Act which defines gender characteristics as "the physical characteristics by virtue of which a person is identified as male or female".

The hearing continues.

[smc]

Originally Posted by smc

Hundreds turnout to protest McDonald's beating

With video links:

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/cri...e-mcdonald%27s

Teen Gets 5 Years in McDonald's Transgender Beating

Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 | Updated 5:36 PM EDT

A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the beating of a transgender woman inside a McDonald's restaurant in Maryland.

Teonna Brown pleaded guilty last month to first-degree assault and a hate crime and was sentenced in Baltimore County Circuit Court Tuesday.

The beating at the McDonald's in Rosedale in April attracted national attention after a video of it was posted online. A girl who was 14 at the time of the attack acknowledged her role in juvenile court and was committed to a detention facility.

State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said the beating was one of the worst he has seen, especially because surveillance video revealed that over 15 minutes, the attackers left and came back to beat the woman again.

Copyright Associated Press

Originally Posted by smc

A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the beating of a transgender woman inside a McDonald's restaurant in Maryland.

Thanks for sharing this, smc. This is good news. I also want to recognize Vicky Thoms, the 55 year old woman who stood up for Chrissy?indeed she was the only person to come to her aid.

[DeaconBlues]

Originally Posted by smc

Teen Gets 5 Years in McDonald's Transgender Beating

Tuesday, Sep 13, 2011 | Updated 5:36 PM EDT

A 19-year-old woman was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the beating of a transgender woman inside a McDonald's restaurant in Maryland.

Teonna Brown pleaded guilty last month to first-degree assault and a hate crime and was sentenced in Baltimore County Circuit Court Tuesday.

The beating at the McDonald's in Rosedale in April attracted national attention after a video of it was posted online. A girl who was 14 at the time of the attack acknowledged her role in juvenile court and was committed to a detention facility.

State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger said the beating was one of the worst he has seen, especially because surveillance video revealed that over 15 minutes, the attackers left and came back to beat the woman again.

Copyright Associated Press

Oh my GOD! The videos of this beating are terrible! The two attackers were clearly just cruel and sadistic, kicking and stomping on the victim while she was down on the floor. If either one of those attacking girls were my daughters, I would be very very ashamed!

I am bothered though, what in the world caused this eruption of hatred? What could the victim have done (or been accused of doing) that was so so so horrible to have caused this? Did these two sick sadistic attackers just out of the blue decided to do this? Did one of them think the victim was "trying to steal her boyfriend" or something? Was it just the fact that the victim was a TS girl? Good GOD what could have possibly possesed the two attackers?

[Bisatinlover]

I have followed Chrissy Lee Polis' story since it broke in April. I would like to make a modest contribution to any verifiable fund if any that has been established for her. My friends in Manila were appalled to learn of what she went through and are pleased to see that some form of justice has been rendered.

Unfortunately many of my transgendered friends have experienced similar incidents although not as severe as Chrissy's.

[Bisatinlover]

Some interesting articles about transgendered people in the PI can be found by searching for "STRAP Philippines". A young transgendered woman (Sass Rogondo Sassot) has some very interesting articles about being transgendered and the problems that they face. Sass is the president of STRAP and very articulate. She has given an impassioned speech to the United Nation several years ago which was well received. I have met a number of members of STRAP and they are great folks.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeaconBlues

Good GOD what could have possibly possesed the two attackers?

Old fashioned stupidity?

[smc]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Old fashioned stupidity?

Hatred, homophobia, a sense of alienation from society sown by poverty ... etc.. etc. Do not confuse the stupidity of acting out on these things with the things themselves. Otherwise, those who would do nothing to fix society have an excuse for their inaction.

?Stupidity? implies a lack of understanding one?s own actions. In fact in a court of law one can be found ?mentally incompetent to stand trial.? No. I believe that the people who commit hate crimes know exactly what they are doing?

[JodieTs]

I'm surprised that this was tried in part as a trans hate crime.
Was trans any component of the attack?

I understand from the video interviews that Chrissy Lee Polis gave after the attack, that the attackers were doing so totally for some other reason,
and that the attackers were unaware of her trans status.

If you are totally unaware of my trans status
when you attack me:
1. to rob me or
2.coz you think I'm giving your man the "come on" or
3. coz I support the wrong football team {Ice Hockey if you are in the USA}
then trans hate crime, it is not.


Anyone any more info on the trans component of the case?

[randolph]

A lot of misunderstanding out there.

[not2old]

Transsexual makes debut in Polish parliament
A transsexual woman and an openly gay man took seats in Poland's newly elected parliament Tuesday, historic firsts that reflect profound social change in this traditionally Roman Catholic country.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45205649...t/from/toolbar

Thank you good news for Poland!
Right now Polandball is made of a little less suck and lame.

[sosed]

Excellent news from Poland. I hope she will use wise politics, because people will more carefully watch for her mistakes.

[smc]

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), MA, USA

Nov 16, 2011

Transgender Equal Rights Now a Reality in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is proud to announce the passing of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill in the House and the Senate extending civil rights and hate crimes protections to the state?s transgender residents.

Last night, just before 9:00 PM, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Transgender Equal Rights bill without any amendments. This morning by 10:30 AM, the bill passed in the Massachusetts Senate. As we wait for Governor Deval Patrick to officially sign this bill into law, we can celebrate the impact this will have on our transgender youth, adults, and families across the Commonwealth.

MTPC thanks our legislative lead sponsors Representative Carl Sciortino, Representative Byron Rushing, Senator Ben Downing, and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz; all of the House and Senate co-sponsors, and the leadership of House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray for providing vital protections for approximately 33,000 transgender residents here in Massachusetts.

This bill will give transgender people equal protections when seeking employment, housing, credit, and education.The bill also expands the state's hate crimes protections to now include transgender people; a community that experiences alarmingly disproportionate levels of harassment and violence.

The final version of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill passed by the legislature unfortunately does not include protections within public accommodations. MTPC and our coalition partners fought hard to try to get public accommodations restored in the Senate version of the bill, and were unsuccessful in doing so. Although this bill does not include public accommodations, this is a historic and important victory in the fight for achieving transgender equality in Massachusetts.

?This is not the end of our fight, and MTPC is committed to getting public accommodations protections for our transgender youth, adults, and families. MTPC plans on introducing a bill for the 2013 legislative session for those public accommodations protections,? said Gunner Scott, Executive Director of MTPC. ?For now, let?s be proud of the difference this bill will make in the daily lives of thousands of people across the state who need jobs, a safe place to live and access to education.?

MTPC expresses our deepest gratitude to our community members, who have spent countless hours educating their legislators and the general
public about the issues transgender people face. "It is because of the bravery of our community members to come forward and tell their personal stories about themselves, their family members, and their friends that we at this victory point," said Nancy Nangeroni, Steering Committee Chair of MTPC.

[not2old]

From MSNBC.com this morning

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news...niverse-canada

[not2old]

Another headliner from the web today.
Chinese dancer becomes cultural icon after sex change operation

http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_new...ange-operation

Originally Posted by smc

Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), MA, USA

Nov 16, 2011

Transgender Equal Rights Now a Reality in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) is proud to announce the passing of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill in the House and the Senate extending civil rights and hate crimes protections to the state?s transgender residents.

Last night, just before 9:00 PM, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the Transgender Equal Rights bill without any amendments. This morning by 10:30 AM, the bill passed in the Massachusetts Senate. As we wait for Governor Deval Patrick to officially sign this bill into law, we can celebrate the impact this will have on our transgender youth, adults, and families across the Commonwealth.

MTPC thanks our legislative lead sponsors Representative Carl Sciortino, Representative Byron Rushing, Senator Ben Downing, and Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz; all of the House and Senate co-sponsors, and the leadership of House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray for providing vital protections for approximately 33,000 transgender residents here in Massachusetts.

This bill will give transgender people equal protections when seeking employment, housing, credit, and education.The bill also expands the state's hate crimes protections to now include transgender people; a community that experiences alarmingly disproportionate levels of harassment and violence.

The final version of the Transgender Equal Rights Bill passed by the legislature unfortunately does not include protections within public accommodations. MTPC and our coalition partners fought hard to try to get public accommodations restored in the Senate version of the bill, and were unsuccessful in doing so. Although this bill does not include public accommodations, this is a historic and important victory in the fight for achieving transgender equality in Massachusetts.

?This is not the end of our fight, and MTPC is committed to getting public accommodations protections for our transgender youth, adults, and families. MTPC plans on introducing a bill for the 2013 legislative session for those public accommodations protections,? said Gunner Scott, Executive Director of MTPC. ?For now, let?s be proud of the difference this bill will make in the daily lives of thousands of people across the state who need jobs, a safe place to live and access to education.?

MTPC expresses our deepest gratitude to our community members, who have spent countless hours educating their legislators and the general
public about the issues transgender people face. "It is because of the bravery of our community members to come forward and tell their personal stories about themselves, their family members, and their friends that we at this victory point," said Nancy Nangeroni, Steering Committee Chair of MTPC.

That's great that Massachusetts is on board. Though there will still be the discrimination that happens. Thought at least we transgender people have a legal recourse in the justice system.

Originally Posted by not2old

From MSNBC.com this morning

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news...niverse-canada

Awesome!

Originally Posted by not2old

Another headliner from the web today.
Chinese dancer becomes cultural icon after sex change operation

http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_new...ange-operation

Good for Jin Xing.

[tslust]

It's about time.

TRANSGENDER BREAKTHROUGH
EEOC ruling that gender-identity discrimination is covered by Title VII is a ''sea change'' that opens the doors to employment protection for transgender Americans


By Chris Geidner
Published on April 23, 2012, 10:38pm | Comments


An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.

full story here
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7288

[smc]

Originally Posted by tslust

It's about time.

full story here
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7288

Truer words ("it's about time") were never spoken. This is really good news.

[sosed]

Originally Posted by tslust

It's about time.



full story here
http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7288

Good news, I hope more countries will follow with law protection against discriminations. The bad thing is, that you still have to have money to pay lawyer in such cases.

[smc]

Originally Posted by sosed

Good news, I hope more countries will follow with law protection against discriminations. The bad thing is, that you still have to have money to pay lawyer in such cases.

In the United States, cases before the EEOC are typically brought by lawyers on a contingency basis (meaning they take a percentage of the damages that are awarded or the back pay that is won), or by an advocacy group that assumes the legal costs. In this particular case, it was the Transgender Law Center (TLC), not the individual plaintiff, that absorbed the legal costs.

One thing about the U.S. legal system that may differ from other countries is that the barrier to bringing discrimination cases before the courts or agencies such as EEOC is relatively low, because of such advocacy groups, pro bono work by attorneys, or the ability to join together hundreds and even thousands of cases as class action suits.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by smc

Hatred, homophobia, a sense of alienation from society sown by poverty ... etc.. etc. Do not confuse the stupidity of acting out on these things with the things themselves. Otherwise, those who would do nothing to fix society have an excuse for their inaction.

Wise words, point taken.

I would have responded with something earlier except that one is not alerted when you are responded to.

[not2old]

Self-explanatory

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...A_E9po-o.email

A Dallas transsexual woman was issued a ticket for using the women?s restroom at an area hospital. Parkland police cited Paula Witherspoon, whose legal name is Paul Witherspoon, for disorderly conduct on April 25.

Originally Posted by not2old

Self-explanatory

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...A_E9po-o.email

A Dallas transsexual woman was issued a ticket for using the women?s restroom at an area hospital. Parkland police cited Paula Witherspoon, whose legal name is Paul Witherspoon, for disorderly conduct on April 25.

That's pretty despicable. I wonder why she hasn't had her gender and name changed yet. I guess Texas law is that messed up. Though she could have a case in federal court for discrimination against Dallas police.
I don't have my name or gender changed on my license, but than I pass well enough to not have that happen. And even if it happened to me, my state wouldn't allow the discrimination. So I most likely wouldn't be sited. Though that is one of my fears. :/
And the reporter Ellen Goldberg slipped with the wrong pronoun. Though it is understandable. But the media should be up to par by now. :/

Just read this and thought it was worth sharing...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...ef=mostpopular

Originally Posted by aw9725

Just read this and thought it was worth sharing...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...ef=mostpopular

It's awesome to hear that we are getting another high profile ally in the media. But the sad thing is. I went to check out some of her songs on you tube, and happen to see all the ignorance that's being spouted in the comments sections.

Originally Posted by ThirdEyeGirl

It's awesome to hear that we are getting another high profile ally in the media. But the sad thing is. I went to check out some of her songs on you tube, and happen to see all the ignorance that's being spouted in the comments sections.

The comments posted on the Huffington Post story were bad enough, so I think I'll steer clear of YouTube.

It'll be interesting to see if things have moved on in the music world since Wendy Carlos, as transitioning basically finished her career - I know that was back in the 70s but I wonder just how much attitudes have changed since then.

[smc]

Originally Posted by Natalie_J

The comments posted on the Huffington Post story were bad enough, so I think I'll steer clear of YouTube.

It'll be interesting to see if things have moved on in the music world since Wendy Carlos, as transitioning basically finished her career - I know that was back in the 70s but I wonder just how much attitudes have changed since then.

One thing will never change, at least in my attitude, and that is calling what Wendy Carlos did "music"!

[transjen]

Originally Posted by smc

One thing will never change, at least in my attitude, and that is calling what Wendy Carlos did "music"!

come on now just think what would have happend if Wendy didn't develope the MOOG we would have missed out on great music like
http://youtu.be/LatorN4P9aA

And music in the 80s would not be what it was
Jerseygirl Jen

[smc]

Originally Posted by transjen

come on now just think what would have happend if Wendy didn't develope the MOOG we would have missed out on great music like
http://youtu.be/LatorN4P9aA

And music in the 80s would not be what it was
Jerseygirl Jen

It was Dr. Robert Moog, not Wendy, who developed the synthesizer to which you refer. Just sayin'.

As for music in the 1980s ... okay, I'll admit I like some of it, but in many respects it may well be the "lost decade."

[Florian]

Thank goodness the Moog with its "ringtones" seems to have disappeared. The good old piano is back with Adele, Coldplay & Keane.

[smc]

Originally Posted by Florian

Thank goodness the Moog with its "ringtones" seems to have disappeared. The good old piano is back with Adele, Coldplay & Keane.

Without taking a position on the music of Adele, Coldplay, or Keane (I haven't even heard of the latter), I will simply say that I take responsibility for bringing up music in response to Natalie's post about Wendy Carlos, an I encourage everyone to let this thread get back to it's intended purpose.

[Tsweet]

Great for those in Argentina ... hopefully the rest of the world follows this country's lead ! :

Argentina gender rights law: A new world standard
Posted: May 10, 2012 5:27 PM EDT Updated: May 10, 2012 9:17 PM EDT
By MICHAEL WARREN
Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Activists say Argentina now leads the world in transgender rights after giving people the freedom to change their legal and physical gender identity simply because they want to, without having to undergo judicial, psychiatric and medical procedures beforehand.

The gender identity law that won congressional approval with a 55-0 Senate vote Wednesday night is the latest in a growing list of bold moves on social issues by the Argentine government, which also legalized gay marriage two years ago. These changes primarily affect minority groups, but they are fundamental, President Cristina Fernandez has said, for a democratic society still shaking off the human rights violations of the 1976-1983 dictatorship and the paternalism of the Roman Catholic Church.

Activists and academics who have tracked gender identity laws and customs worldwide said Thursday that no other country has gone so far to embrace gender self-determination. In the United States and Europe, transgender people must submit to physical and mental health exams and get past a series of other hurdles before getting sex-change treatments.

Argentina's law also is the first to give citizens the right to change their legal gender without first changing their bodies, said Justus Eisfeld, co-director of Global Action for Trans Equality in New York.

"The fact that there are no medical requirements at all - no surgery, no hormone treatment and no diagnosis - is a real game changer and completely unique in the world. It is light years ahead of the vast majority of countries, including the U.S., and significantly ahead of even the most advanced countries," said Eisfeld, who researched the laws of the 47 countries for the Council of Europe's human rights commission.

Marcela Romero, who was born a man but got a sex-change operation 25 years ago, spent 10 years arguing in Argentina's courts before a judge ordered the civil registry to give her a new identity card listing her gender as female.

"It's something humiliating ... many of us have had to endure psychiatric and physical tests," she told The Associated Press on Thursday. "With this law we'll no longer have to go through this."

Romero, 48, said she personally knows 40 people who had to get judicial approval for sex-change operations, and are still on waiting lists. The law should help them get the treatment they need, she said.

Romero leads the Argentine Transvestite, Transsexual and Transgender Association, whose legal team helped draft the law with help from an international coalition of activist groups pushing for governments to drop barriers to people determining their own gender identity. None of those groups have managed to find politicians willing to go as far as Argentina's, however.

"This law is saying that we're not going to require you to live as a man or a woman, or to change your anatomy in some way. They're saying that what you say you are is what you are. And that's extraordinary," said Katrina Karkazis, a Stanford University bioethicist who wrote "Fixing Sex," a study of the legal and medical boundaries around gender identity issues in the United States.

"Rather than our more sedimented ideas about what it is to be male or female, this sort of throws all of that up in the air in a really exciting way," she said.

Next up for Argentina's government is an overhaul of the country's civil and penal codes, an often-contradictory conglomeration of laws dating back nearly two centuries that cover all aspects of society. Encouraged by the president, congressional commissions representing all leading parties and the Supreme Court are drafting wide-ranging legislation to modernize how the country deals with abortion, adoption, artificial insemination, divorce and many other difficult issues.

The Catholic Church, which had an outsized role in forming these codes over the country's 200-year history, has opposed many social reforms, and not just those affecting gay, lesbian and transgender people.

"The Argentine lawmakers are introducing profound changes in society that don't respond to any social demand and without taking into account the real consequences," Nicolas Lafferriere, who directs the church-sponsored Center for Bioethics, Personhood and Family, complained Thursday in "Religious Values," an online publication sponsored by the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

"We have found ourselves faced with the most permissive law in the world in this area. Now, to change all the civil registries you don't need any more justification than a personal desire, based on someone's self-perception. It won't be easy to predict the consequences." Lafferriere warned.

Most Argentines still identify themselves as Catholic, and Catholicism remains the nation's official religion.

But fewer and fewer Argentines regularly attend Mass, and priests and bishops don't have the same power of the pulpit anymore. The church has become so weakened politically that the government has treated it more like a useful enemy than a force capable of influencing vast numbers of voters.

The Catholic hierarchy also has been inexorably linked with the military junta that killed as many as 30,000 people during the dictatorship. Both enforced conservative social values at the time.

Karla Oser, 38, underwent hormone therapy before surgeons transformed her male organ into a vagina in 2006, becoming one of only 40 people to have sex-reassignment surgery at a public hospital in the provincial capital of La Plata over the years. But first, she said, she had to present a judge with testimony from two psychologists, a psychiatrist, an ear-nose-and-throat specialist, a gynecologist and a urologist.

Even after her sex-reassignment surgery, she has failed to get judicial permission to update her national identity card to reflect her new gender, according to a public health ministry announcement.

The new law gives her hope, she said: "The operation changed my life and today I'm celebrating that everyone who faces a situation similar to mine can get their surgery without having to make it through the judicial labyrinth I went through."

The ministry quoted Oser as part of an announcement saying government surgeons are now open for business, ready to provide similar treatment for anyone who decides they want it - no more questions asked.

[tonywaits]

I am a firm believer that the gender that an individual wants to be identified as, is not the governments business.

This is not new news but saw this story this morning and thought others here would enjoy it. There are some nice photos of Jenna as well. Hope she wins!

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05...l#s=more226959

[Florian]

Originally Posted by aw9725

This is not new news but saw this story this morning and thought others here would enjoy it. There are some nice photos of Jenna as well. Hope she wins!

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05...l#s=more226959

Thanks for posting - I didn't know they'd let her back in until now. I'm sure that many people both inside and outside the trans community found the ban unjust.
Go on Jenna - the world is watching!

[not2old]

From MSNBC this morning -

Transgender pageant winner murdered in South Africa
A South African who had won a Miss Gay pageant was found in his rented room with his throat slit, news24 reported

http://www.worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_...cGUnalYA.email