Issue 128

MAY 2013
ISSN 1835-4637

Australian TRANSGENDER SUPPORT Association of Queensland. Inc.

ABN 13 319 522 768

07 3843 5024
atsaq.inc@gmail.com atsaq.com PO Box 212 New Farm QLD 4005

THE leading Queensland psychiatric expert on children with gender identity disorder says the number of transgender children is increasing.
BY Kay Dibben May 14, 2013 12:00AM From: The Courier-Mail Dr Stephen Stathis said he expected parents of two children would apply to the Family Court for permission for them to be given feminine hormones within the next year and more would follow as others reached puberty. But he said some desperate parents who were unaware of the professional help available for their anxious transgender children were getting unregulated, unregistered hormones from overseas via the internet. Dr Stathis, Director of Child and Youth Mental Health Services at Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital, has seen more than 20 children with GID in the last four years, including some as young as four. "The numbers are rising and now we're looking at developing a gender clinic," Dr Stathis said. Half his gender identity patients are boys who identify as girls the other half are girls who identify as boys.

But Dr Stathis says research shows that about 50 per cent of children with significant transgender behaviour will desist, or grow out of it, by the time they reach puberty. Dr Stathis said he had seen transgender girls become almost suicidal at having a period, even cutting their breasts and boys hitting their genitals and becoming very upset by puberty changes. "Gender identity has nothing to do with sexual orientation. Transgender children are not gay or lesbian," Dr Stathis said. He said there were no known prenatal abnormalities that caused GID. He prefers that children do not take on the opposite gender until they really have to and tends to be guided by the child's behaviour, with parents providing safe places for their child to express their feelings. But in a couple of cases where the child was anxious, depressed and unlikely to change, he encouraged families to allow the child to live as the opposite gender.

Sweden: High school to open gender-neutral changing room

by Joseph Patrick McCormick 26 April 2013, 2:07pm Pink News A high school in Sweden is opening a gender-neutral changing room, in order to cater for trans students and those who arent comfortable being divided into gender stereotypes. Student leaders and officials at the Sodra Latin school in Stockholm, have said the changing facility will allow students to change one at a time, if they do not feel comfortable using facilities with gender labels. The facility will be offered to those who identify as trans, reports the Local. Its for people who arent comfortable being divided into gender stereotypes, student council member Camille Trombetti said. She went on to say that officials had welcomed the idea when it was suggested by the student council. They were very positive and welcoming but we had to figure out how to do it practically, she said.
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ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 128 | MAY 2013 | PAGE 1

OBJECTIVES of ATSAQ
> To provide Queenslands transgender population with such support as our resources can permit. people. 07 3843 5024 8am-6pm weekdays. Write to us; PO box 212 NEW FARM Q 4005 Atsaq.inc@gmail.com atsaq.com PLEASE NOTE: ATSAQ is run from a private residence and is not an introduction agency. > To continue to address the problem of legal recognition and human rights for > To continue a program of public educa- transgender people in the state of tion aimed at changing the negative imag- Queensland. es which the community may have with Membership is available upon request. transgender people. Pick a form up at the luncheon or we can post one to you. Fees for membership are > To provide support for family and $30 pa single & $50 pa couple. friends of transgender people and help If you require one to one counselling or with understanding issues involved. would like to meet in a friendly, uncon> To provide information on medical and ventional atmosphere, please contact us health services available to transgender
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her boyfriend would be between two people of opposite She continued to express hopes that the public would take the genders, making the Citys lack of same-sex marriage laws new facility seriously. irrelevant. The case was thrown out. In April she went to the Court of Final Appeal for a definitive ruling. Every human being deserves a place where they feel On Monday a panel of five Final Appeal judges decided four to comfortable, she said. one that W should have the right to marry her boyfriend. The decision will take 12 months to come into effect, which Id remind people that hundreds of people commit suicide every year because they feel they are born into the wrong sex judges say will give the government time to amend its Marriage Ordinance legislation. W will be able to marry her and dont feel their surroundings accept the gender they boyfriend after the year is over even if the changes have not identify with. been implemented. The judges said in their ruling: Viewing the realities of Ws The changing facility will be officially opened on 6 May, and position, by denying a post-operative transsexual woman like the ceremony for which will include a speech by Swedish her the right to marry a man, the statutory provisions in artist Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin. question deny her the right to marry at all. They looked to the examples set by other countries in the AsiaIn the US in January, the University of Tennessee announced Pacific region which have upheld marriages between that it was considering joining the ranks of American schools transgender people and their partners. that offer gender neutral housing after the passing of a bill by Chinas ministry of civil affairs clarified in 2003 that marriage the Student Government Association. between a transgender person and a partner of the gender they were assigned at birth was not same-sex marriage, and Hong Kong: Transgender woman wins right to should be allowed. Similar case law has emerged from marry boyfriend in landmark case Singapore, India, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and by Corinne Pinfold Pink News New Zealand. 13 May 2013, 11:15am Ws lawyer, Michael Vidler, read a statement from his client which said: This is a victory for all women in Hong Kong. The top Hong Kong court's decision is being celebrated by Im very happy that the court of appeal now recognizes my trans people and their partners. desire to marry my boyfriend one day, and that desire is no different to that of any other woman who seeks the same here Hong Kongs Court of Final Appeal has ruled in favour of a in Hong Kong. trans woman seeking the right to marry her boyfriend, ending W is one of a small number of Hong Kong citizens to have her three-year-long legal battle and sparking a change in undergone gender reassignment surgery. The procedure was legislation that will affect the citys trans community as a deemed medically necessary for her, and was paid for by whole. government funds. The woman, known only as W, has fought since 2010 to get She was also represented by top UK human rights lawyer Lord married to her boyfriend. David Pannick, who said of the case: The laws of marriage Although she underwent gender reassignment surgery in can and should recognise that sexual identity can change. The 2008, the Registrar of Marriages told her that she could not right to marry is fundamental the birth certificate is a record marry a man as her birth certificate still states she is male. of historical facts. They claimed this would amount to same-sex marriage, which Earlier this year Honk Kong lawmakers sparked anger within is not legal in Hong Kong. the LGBT community by refusing to carry out a public As she could not legally change her birth certificate, W took consultation on LGBT rights. her case to the High Court. She argued that her marriage to Disclaimer For writers wishing to be anonymous, a non-de-plume will suffice, providing a contact number is supplied. ATSAQ is committed to healthy debate and/or constructive criticism upon any subject, we reserve the right to omit material, which is offensive or inappropriate for publication Ideas and opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of ATSAQ or those of our advertisers. Articles appearing in THE UPDATE are written expressly for ATSAQ unless otherwise stated. All articles may be reprinted providing that the source and author is acknowledged.
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NEWS and EVENTS

US: Family file lawsuit against school for barring their Trans daughter from using girls bathroom
by Corinne Pinfold Pink News 8 March 2013, 12:02pm The parents of a trans girl who was barred from using the female toilets in her school have filed a civil lawsuit following the schools refusal to mediate with them over the issue. Coy Mathis, a 6 year old student at Eagle Elementary School in Fountain, Colorado, was born anatomically male but expressed herself as female from a young age. Her parents, Kathryn and Jeremy Mathis, say that from the age of 18 months Coy showed signs of depression when asked to wear boys clothes or act boyishly, and she told her parents that she was a girl. After seeking medical advice they learned Coy had gender dysphoria, and followed the recommendations of doctors who told them she should be allowed to live as a girl. At first this recommendation was also supported by Eagle Elementary, who registered Coy as a female student and allowed her to use the girls bathrooms while in Kindergarten. However, in December 2012 the school told Coys parents she would no longer be allowed to use the girls bathrooms and would have to use facilities in the nurses offices, teachers bathrooms, or boys bathrooms instead. Coy is not sick, she is not an adult, and she is not a boy, her parents responded. They took Coy out of Eagle Elementary for home-schooling and in February lodged an official complaint against the school. Eagle Elementary has rejected calls to mediate over their treatment of Coy, prompting her parents to file a civil rights lawsuit. If the school separates her from all her classmates to use the bathroom, they are singling her out for mistreatment, and teaching her classmates that its okay to discriminate. We are saddened that her school will not even come to the table to talk about this issue, they said. The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) have pointed out that Colorados laws prohibit discrimination against transgender pupils. They said: We are shocked that her school will not even meet to talk about this so that Coy can quickly return to school. Nothing should be more important to a school than ensuring that students can attend safely and without discrimination. TLDEF Director Michael Silverman added: For many transgender people, discrimination is a daily part of life. Unfortunately for Coy, it has started very early. The school have said that their decision took into account not only Coy, but other students in the building, their parents and the future impact a boy with male genitals using a girls bathroom would have as Coy grew older. Kathryn Mathis has dismissed the schools response, saying they should not discriminate against Coy based on speculations. Her body development is none of their business. That is up to her and her doctors in the future, she said. Right now we need to be protecting a 6 year-old, not a middle-schooler or a highschooler. The case will now be investigated by the Civil Rights Division (CRD), a regulatory agency in Colorado. The CRD will have 180 days to investigate before making a ruling, which can then be appealed by the party that is ruled against. From there the case will be referred to the courts. Many thanks to Coles and the Wickham Hotel in the Valley for the Big Gay Day donation cheque and $500.oo from the collection buckets. And all the patrons and volunteers that made a great daynight.

25th MAY 2013

11am
You are invited to come and enjoy the company, the conversations, and share knowledge or learn new things. Yes its the ATSAQ Luncheon ~

Selection of PIZZAs
Greek Salad Dessert Mystre Wine, tea & coffee Vegetarians also catered for please advise when booking ~ Lucky Door Prize Cost $15 ATSAQ Members $10 Contact ATSAQ 07 3843 5024 atsaq.inc@gmail.com by MAY 24 20123 to reserve your place and for the Venue address

~All are Welcome~

(you do not have to be a member to attend)

Krissy & Ruth ; Wickham Hotel; Cheque $7.800.oo

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 128 | MAY 2013 | PAGE 3

BRISBANE GENDER CLINIC, Homeless. within buildings but are also financially supported by governments of the day. As most will know the Brisbane Gender Clinic, BGC, is in a state of hiatus owing Whilst this is commendable and I will to the situation at the Biala Sexual applaud such, why does the Trans Health Service. Community receive absolutely no financial, medical, social, and the list ATSAQ has made representations to goes on, from all political parties once various politicians and candidates for the the obtain the office of government? September elections to help in acquiring an adequate office area, possibly two BIALA TALKS @THE WICKHAM HOTEL rooms, one being for examinations. There was a meeting at the Wickham The Member for Chatsworth, Steve Hotel on Tuesday a 5.30pm for all Minniken made representation to Dr interested parties to discuss the Chris Davies, Assistant Health Minister to imminent closure of Biala Sexual Health no avail. Services. ATSAQ also had a meeting with Dr Davis The object was to enable groups to on 11th February this year without any engage in dialogue with those in positive outcome. attendance and hopefully raise issues pertaining to those they represent. A detailed proposal has been sent to Kevin Rudd and Dr Bill Glasson whom is Unfortunately I was not available, I was standing against Mr Rudd for the seat of still on the M1 at 7pm trying to get back Griffith in September as the LNP to Brisbane and your Secretary was still candidate. Mr Minniken was also given a unwell from oral surgery, having all detailed proposal. bottom teeth removed. At the time of writing no response has been forthcoming from both gentlemen. Our hopes were slightly raised when an offer was made at the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre but on close inspection by Dr Gale Bearman, it did not meet the requirements. Whilst Mr Kevin Rudd and other Labour luminaries were in attendance the LNP representatives were conspicuous by their absence.

Australian TRANSGENDER SUPPORT Association of Queensland. Inc. ABN 15 319 522 768 PO Box 212 NEW FARM Q 4005 trans.atsa@bigpond.com atsaq.com 07 3843 5024 8am-6pm weekdays ATSAQ is run from a private residence PRESIDENT: Gina Mather SECRETARY: Kristine Johnson ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT: Roz Ferguson Gail Fleming J.P. (Qual) SPECIAL THANKS: Aunty Pat & Sally Geraghty many, many things Linda Lovell Volunteering Linda L & Aunty Pat Fund Raisers : The SPORTSMAN HOTEL Alternate Fridays

ATSAQ has for the past 13 years held our monthly Luncheons on the last Saturday of the month. It is well In this day and age one would have advertised and everyone within the thought that it would not be to difficult to LGBTI community are well aware of the have access to 2 rooms for the medical arrangement. needs of the Trans Community. Unfortunately such is the case and it Why is it when there is an event that leads to make one wonder whether any interests ATSAQ they, (hello, you know), other medically associated groups are in put their event on the same day and the situation. same hours. The ones that come to mind, (no names, Come on give us all a break and work no pack drill), not only have resources together.

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 128 | MAY 2013 | PAGE 4