5/14/13

Nevada Legislature Passes Bill Adding Gender Identity To Hate Crime Laws


SB 139 was approved March 21st 2013 by the Senate with 20 ea, 1 nay and one abstaining.

The Nevada State Legislature approved the bill today 5/14/2013 with 30 yeas, 11 nay and one excused.

The bill authorizing additional sentences of up to 20 years for hate crimes motivated by the victim's gender identity or expression now goes to Governor Brian Sandoval who is expected to sign it into law.


5/13/13

Queensland Doctor Calls For A Gender Clinic: She's My Girl

THE leading Queensland psychiatric expert on children with gender identity disorder says the number of transgender children is increasing.
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.

More at couriermail.com.au

Hong Kong Court Rules Post-Op Transgender Woman May Marry Boyfriend: Video

The decision gives hope that other transgender people, both male-to-female and female-to-male, will be able to marry people of the opposite gender. Although it is only likely to affect post-operative transsexuals.

It is likely that, following the judges' recommendations, the government will amend the marriage law to clarify the position for transsexuals.

The team's argument, presented by Lord Pannick QC in the court of appeal last month, was that as the Hong Kong government recognizes W as a woman on her ID card they should accept she is a woman for marriage law as well. ~ Gay Star News



However same-sex marriage or civil unions are still not recognised in Hong Kong.

Read more at the Raw Story.



5/12/13

Study Finds Transmen Aspergers Syndrome Traits Second only to Those Diagnosed with AS

Disclaimer: I am a not endorsing or discrediting this study, only reporting on it hoping to enable a discussion.

The recent Time article titled "Study: Why Some Transgendered People Have Higher Levels of Autistic Traits" incorrectly frames this study as conclusive. It is not, nor is its methodology empirically sound. All of the subjects responded online to a questionnaire that is based on the "extreme male brain" theory. But the conclussions bear examination. Co-author, Emma Martin, herself a transwoman, said in a statement “This new research reminds us that gender incongruence is incredibly complex. Every possibility should be discussed with new clients, but should not delay what can be a painfully slow process for those affected.”

It's in that vein I will continue.

Abstract:

"The ‘extreme male brain’ theory suggests females with Autism Spectrum Conditions are hyper-masculinized in certain aspects of behavior. We predicted that females with Gender Identity Disorder (who are masculinized) would have elevated Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores. AQ scores from five groups were compared: (1) n = 61 transmen (female-to-male transsexual people); (2) n = 198 transwomen (male-to-female transsexual people); (3) n = 76 typical males; (4) n = 98 typical females; and (5) n = 125 individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Transmen had a higher mean AQ than typical females, typical males and transwomen, but lower than individuals with AS. Transmen have more autistic traits and may have had difficulty socializing with female peers and thus found it easier to identify with male peer groups."

"Baron-Cohen has long theorized that people with autism may have what he calls an “extreme male” brain — dominated by a style of thinking called “systemizing,” which focuses on predictable patterns like those found in mathematics or mechanical devices. He contrasts this with a cognitive style called “empathizing,” which allows for better understanding of the minds and emotions of others."

"Typically, women do better at empathizing and men at systemizing, but there is, of course, wide variability: some women outperform men at systemizing, and some men are better empathizers than women."

"Why the difference? Baron-Cohen and his colleagues recently found that giving testosterone to women decreases their ability to empathize, particularly among women whose bodies show evidence that they were exposed to higher levels of testosterone in utero. And previous research has linked high levels of testosterone in the womb to autistic traits. (Interestingly, in-utero exposure to testosterone can be estimated by looking at the ratio between the length of the ring finger and index finger.)"


It may seem that it's a no brainer stereotypically trans men trade a sense of heightened empathic sensitivity for masculinity while transitioning with testosterone. At first glance it would make sense to me because the opposite is true for me as I have realized increased empathic and cognitive skills since transitioning with estrogen.

But I have lived with a trans man who would contradict that theory. Quite the opposite, he delighted in the enlightenment his natal birth gave him and was empowered by his masculinity to merge the two traits together to become the highly successful therapist I knew him as.

Aspergers. It's a discussion trans people must not to be afraid to have.



Ontario Transman Sexually Assaulted. Police Seek Help.

ST. CATHARINES, ON (WKBW) - The Niagara Regional Police Service is investigating a sexual assault that occurred along the Twelve Mile Creek at Glendale Avenue, in the city of St. Catharines early Monday morning.

Police say around 2 a.m. a transgender male was walking along the east side of the creek when he was grabbed from behind by an unknown male.

According to police, the suspect put a knife to the victim’s neck and threatened to kill him if he did not comply. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and left the scene on foot.

The suspect is described as male, white, 5’8” tall, thin build with short dark hair.

Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at 905-688-4111 ext 5131.





5/11/13

Please Sign Transman Issak Wolfe's Graduation Card

We could all but drown out Red Lion High School Principal Mr. Shue as he calls Issak by his birth name at graduation. Despite everything that was done to help him understand transgender people Mr. Shue refused to listen. Instead Mr. Shue attempted to keep Isaak from attending prom trying to bully him and his girl into silence.

Mr. Shue will be summoning him in front of all of his classmates to retrieve his diploma with the wrong name and will hand Issak a diploma, one with a females name inscribed upon it. Oh course Issak will still hear Shue call him but hopefully that won't be his lasting impression of the day. He will remember us for our support and caring.


From the card....
Imagine a graduation ceremony where your principal purposely reads the wrong name. Add your voice in support of trans equality activist and high school senior Isaak Wolfe.

Issak Wolfe is a senior at Red Lion Area Senior High School and will be graduating with the rest of the senior class on June 7th. Issak, who is a female to male transgender student, started his transition the summer before his Junior year and has been going by the name Issak for the past two years. Now, as graduation approaches, his school is refusing to read the name Issak Wolfe when he receives his diploma because it is not the name on his birth certificate. School administration reported that they would only read the name Issak if he got it legally changed but the process takes far longer than the one month before graduation day.

This is not the first time that Issak has run into conflicts of discrimination at his school. Earlier this year, Issak intended to run for Prom King of Red Lion High but school administration refused to put him on the list, instead telling him that he could only run for Prom Queen because they did not identify him as a male.

Despite these conflicts, Issak has been a stellar member of the Red Lion High community. He leads the Gay Straight Alliance group at school and loves taking art and ceramic classes. He also had his prom outfit (seen above) custom made for him and wants to pursue a career in business and fashion after graduation!

Please show your support for Issak by signing this card in celebration of his graduation!