March 30
1998
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March 30 1998 |
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Request for Study Participants[Via AEGIS Internet News]
I am the instigator and co-director of the International Longitudinal Transsexual and Transgender Aging Research Project. We are trying to contact as many "T" people as possible around the world. We have a survey we are trying to get filled out so that we can make an accurate demographic description of the community. "T" people includes pre/post-op transsexuals, transgenders (individuals who live full time in their non-natal gender) whether they are on hormones or not, cross-dressers, transvestites, agendered, individuals with other gender perceptions, dual spirits, and any non-Western gendered viewpoints. I would appreciate your help in connecting with individuals in these categories, All work is medically confidental and anonymous. It has been approved by the University of Michigan School of Public Health Institutional Review Board. If you feel you can assist in this matter, I would greatly appreciate it. Please circulate this message to anyone who might have access to the aforementioned populations. Tarynn M. Witten, Ph.D.
Top of page ... GenderNews Headlines ... IFGE Home [Via AEGIS Internet News]
Within the burgeoning field of transgender studies, a focus on language
is often seen as a powerful methodological tool in working toward more
complex understandings of trans lives, as well as more general
understandings about the relationship between gender, sexuality and
language.
This panel aims to draw scholars from a variety of disciplines to
discuss the intersections of language, gender, and sexuality in trans
communities. Some possible questions might be: What does language use
in transgender communities indicate about gendered language use more
broadly? How do trans people talk of themselves in gendered terms? How
does a focus on transgender language use require the researcher to think
about h/er own gendered language practices? What role does language use
play in defining transgender identities and communities?
We define "language" and "transgender" broadly, but we also ask that
proposals directly address these concerns. In keeping with LLL's
approach, we encourage scholars from all disciplines, and at all stages
of academic careers, to submit papers.
Proposals with titles and abstracts of no more then 250 words will be due
by April 1, 1998. Completed papers will be due by Sept. 1, 1998.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Sixth Annual Lavender Languages/Linguistics Conference
Panels under development include: Recovering Lavender Messages in 19th
Century Texts (Walt Whitman, but more than that, too); Issues in studying
Bisexual languages, Issues in studying transgendered languages,
Workshop on Lavender issues in ESL classroom, lavender languages in other
than English language/cultural traditions... as well as another all day-work-
shop on analysis of lavender text, and a panel discussion reviewing wher.
we've been and where we are going in Lav Lgs research.
Presenters from the UK, Austria, and several US campuses have already
submitted
proposals. The conference remains non-attitude and international.
Abstract deadline is April 15th. Email to wlm@american.edu. Fax to
Lav Lgs VI @202-885-1837, or s-mail to Lav Lgs VI, Dept of Anthropology,
American University, Washington DC. Phone 202-885-1831 for more information.
Top of page ... GenderNews Headlines ... IFGE Home A conference on "Gender, Health and History" will be held at the Univ.
of Illinois at Chicago, April 24-25, 1998. The conference will explore
the gendered effects of medical theories and practices, the gendering
of bodies and diseases, political conflicts in reproductive health,
and cultural constructions of health. Interdisciplinary panels will
draw attention to ethical dimensions of these issues, interrelating
perspectives from the present and the past. The conference is
sponsored by the Institute for the Humanities, Medical Humanities
Program and Center for Research on Women and Gender at the U of
Illinois, Chicago.
For further information contact Lind Vavra, Asst Director, Inst for
the Humanities, 701 S Morgan Ave, MC 206, U Illinois at Chicago,
Chicago, IL 60607-7040, 312-996-6354, fax 312-996-2938, lvavra@uic.edu
Top of page ... GenderNews Headlines ... IFGE Home From: OLA Hi folks! The message below will appear in the upcoming OLA Newsletter,
but that publication will likely arrive at your door after this event is
over, so I thought I'd pass this article on, in case any of you live close
enough to Oberlin that you might want to attend these events. They look
great. The article is by Cara Wick, the LGBT Community Coordinator at
Oberlin. See announcement forwarded below.
OBERLIN LAMBDA ALUMNI (Previously OLGBA)
MISSION OF TRANS AWARENESS WEEK:
With the recent addition of "T" to LGBTU (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender Union--the campus LGBT student group), confusion about the
word transgender permeates both the LGBT and straight communities at
Oberlin College. In light of this confusion, Trans Awareness Week 1998
will examine meanings of gender and different transgender expressions with
lectures, groups discussions, and performances. We will also explore
where events like Oberlin's Drag Ball fit (if at all) in transgender
liberation movements.
Speakers:
Discussions:
Workshops: Passing as Man and/or Woman - Wednesday April 1 4:30 PM 'Sco
Performance: HIS Kings of Columbus, Ohio - Drag Kings at the Drag Ball - April 4 11 PM 'Sco
Everyone is invited to come! Thanks again to Oberlin Lambda Alumni for helping to sponsor this event!
Top of page ... GenderNews Headlines ... IFGE Home [Via It's Time! News Service]
Dear Friends:
I am planning to edit and publish a book of collected writings by
parents, siblings, childrens, partners and other relatives of trans persons.
More than one family member, close friends and employers are also invited. It
will be similar to "Different Daughters", ed. Louise Rafkin, a book by mothers
of lesbian daughters and very successful in that community. My working title
is "Our Trans Loved Ones". There is no such book abailable for trans
families.
Submissions should be positive and accepting of your loved one's trans
nature, but may describe the journey getting to that place of acceptance.
Writings may cover anecdotes about family reactions, the struggle to learn
about and understand trans issues, your emotional reactions, dealing with
other family members and friends. Families of TG, TS, CD, inter-sexed and all
variations of gender benders are included.
Submissions should NOT be by trans persons, themselves, though they may
assist and coach others. Submissions should be approximately 1000 - 2000
words. Poems and others lengths also considered. Prior writing experience is
not required; we will assist.
Send by email (maryboenke@aol.com) or surface
mail (Mary Boenke, 180 Bailey Blvd., Hardy, VA 24101) or call to discuss
(540-890-3957). Inquiries invited.
Top of page ... GenderNews Headlines ... IFGE Home From: tada@sympatico.ca
INFORMATION ON METOIDIOPLASTY AND CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR
LEGAL CHALLENGE
Dale Altrows, a 34-year old FTM, is challenging the province of Quebec's
refusal to change his birth certificate from "F" to "M". Dale has been
taking testosterone for many years and has already had a mastectomy and
a hysterectomy. Until recently, these were the only requirements to a
legal change of sex status. However Dale was refused the change in sex
status on the grounds that he has not had any genital reconstruction.
We have been informed that a metidioplasty is the surgery that the
Registrar of civil status of Quebec is requiring, although this has not
been specified and a vaginectomy was the original reason given for
refusal. The decision makers in this situation who are enforcing this
decision know nothing about transsexual lives, let alone transsexual
surgeries, and therefore we are desperately in need of documentation
explaining the limitations of such a surgery. We are aware that the
health risks are minimal; unless a urethra is extended and attached
and/or this surgery is accompanied by a vaginectomy, at which point the
risks become highly elevated.
We are also aware of the many emotional, psychological, and sexually
related reasons why a person would choose to have this surgery. However,
for the purposes of this case, we are in need of documentation and
letters explaining how a metoidioplasty has no functional benefits,
specifically mentioning size, the inability to urinate or penetrate.
Letters from any knowledgeable people, and especially professionals and
testimonies from people who have undergone metoidioplasties would be
greatly appreciated.
Dale is urgently in need of information on legal requirements in other
Canadian provinces for the change from "F" to "M" on legal documents.
Signed letters specifying what operations and/or medical interventions
FTMs have had in order to get their legal sex status changed from
organizations and individuals would help to document the case. Letters
detailing the medical, financial, or other reasons why FTMs would not
want genital surgery would also be appreciated (although this would
preferably be written as a separate letter, and is not as critical to
the case).
The most important documentation, at this point in the legal
proceedings, is the information on legal requirements in other
provinces. In order to be accepted by the court, Dale needs copies of
the pertinent legislation or letters from organizations stating that the
organization is aware of the law, and that the law is "........".
This information is needed IMMEDIATELY, as the hearing will be taking
place this April.
The decision on Dale's case will set legal precedent for all FTMs in
Quebec. It is therefore extremely important that he makes as strong a
case as possible. It is also important that he get support from other
FTMs, as he is enduring not only the legal battle, but an enormous
emotion stress as well. The media attention is yet to come.
For more info or to send letters, please e-mail Dale at: tada@sympatico.ca
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