Trans News/ Issues

[Jesse]

"Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area elected the first transgender trial judge in the country on Tuesday. Victoria Kolakowski, a lawyer who underwent gender reassignment surgery more than two decades ago, won the race for Superior Court judge in Alameda County with more than 50 percent of the vote. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/us...f=transsexuals

[Soon]

Canadian Military Changes Transgender Policy

The Canadian military has changed their policy on transgender troops to be more inclusive of non-cisgender soldiers.

While the United States continues to debate whether openly gay soldiers should be allowed to serve, the Canadian Armed Forces are making themselves more inclusive for their transgender members.

Under the new policy, Canadian soldiers are instructed to wear the uniform of their “target” gender, regardless of their biological sex. Military personnel are also instructed to give transgender soldier privacy and respect for their decision — for example, not asking reasons when a soldier changes his or her name on military records.

However, not all is in favor of soldiers who come out and live as transgender during their tour of service: the new policy does not allow military honors to be reassigned to new names, even names adopted as part of a gender transition. The policy backs up this decision by stating that “there is no legal authority for rewriting history.”

The Canadian Forces have a history of demonstrating respect and inclusivity towards soldiers of all orientations. Since openly-gay soldiers were allowed and granted protection from harassment and discrimination in 1992, gay soldiers have enjoyed the same rights as their straight counterparts. Same-sex couples can get married in military base chapels, and their unions entitle them to the same benefits as other married military couples. Representatives and soldiers from the Canadian Forces are routinely seen at Canadian pride events, with a significant number of straight soldiers opting to participate in the events alongside their gay counterparts. The Forces have even covered sex reassignment treatments for transgender soldiers since 1998, and several soldiers each year undergo the treatments during their time in service of their country.

Even coming from such a good base of respecting the dignity of transgender soldiers, the Canadian Forces’ policy change has been praised as a critical move forward by Canadian LGBT advocates. “This is an important step towards recognising a community that has always struggled for equal rights and basic human protection,” Cherie Macleod, executive director of PFLAG Canada, stated in PinkNews. “When government becomes more inclusive, over time, society will follow.”

[Soon]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

Canadian Military Changes Transgender Policy

The Canadian military has changed their policy on transgender troops to be more inclusive of non-cisgender soldiers.

While the United States continues to debate whether openly gay soldiers should be allowed to serve, the Canadian Armed Forces are making themselves more inclusive for their transgender members.

Under the new policy, Canadian soldiers are instructed to wear the uniform of their “target” gender, regardless of their biological sex. Military personnel are also instructed to give transgender soldier privacy and respect for their decision — for example, not asking reasons when a soldier changes his or her name on military records.

However, not all is in favor of soldiers who come out and live as transgender during their tour of service: the new policy does not allow military honors to be reassigned to new names, even names adopted as part of a gender transition. The policy backs up this decision by stating that “there is no legal authority for rewriting history.”

The Canadian Forces have a history of demonstrating respect and inclusivity towards soldiers of all orientations. Since openly-gay soldiers were allowed and granted protection from harassment and discrimination in 1992, gay soldiers have enjoyed the same rights as their straight counterparts. Same-sex couples can get married in military base chapels, and their unions entitle them to the same benefits as other married military couples. Representatives and soldiers from the Canadian Forces are routinely seen at Canadian pride events, with a significant number of straight soldiers opting to participate in the events alongside their gay counterparts. The Forces have even covered sex reassignment treatments for transgender soldiers since 1998, and several soldiers each year undergo the treatments during their time in service of their country.

Even coming from such a good base of respecting the dignity of transgender soldiers, the Canadian Forces’ policy change has been praised as a critical move forward by Canadian LGBT advocates. “This is an important step towards recognising a community that has always struggled for equal rights and basic human protection,” Cherie Macleod, executive director of PFLAG Canada, stated in PinkNews. “When government becomes more inclusive, over time, society will follow.”

"According to LifeSiteNews, sexually confused service members in Canada will be required to cross-dress as a matter of military policy. Yes, you read that right. Cross-dressing will not just be a privilege in the Canadian military, it will be an obligation.

"According to a just-issued mandate, military personnel must conform to the dress code and standards of their 'target' gender. So a man who believes he is a woman will be required to start dressing as a woman, despite carrying around fully functional male equipment. This is regardless of whether genital mutilation surgery has taken place or not. [snip]

"If you want to see where the overturning of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' will lead in the U.S., just take a glance at our neighbor to the north. It’s not a pretty picture." - American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer.

[Linus]

Ah yes. The AFA. lowering the bar even more.

[betenoire]

Originally Posted by HowSoonIsNow

"According to LifeSiteNews, sexually confused service members in Canada will be required to cross-dress as a matter of military policy. Yes, you read that right. Cross-dressing will not just be a privilege in the Canadian military, it will be an obligation.

"According to a just-issued mandate, military personnel must conform to the dress code and standards of their 'target' gender. So a man who believes he is a woman will be required to start dressing as a woman, despite carrying around fully functional male equipment. This is regardless of whether genital mutilation surgery has taken place or not. [snip]

"If you want to see where the overturning of 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' will lead in the U.S., just take a glance at our neighbor to the north. It’s not a pretty picture." - American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer.

Argh, what a raging douchebag. I am so tired of rightwing extremists in the US bitching about us all the time and trying to use us as an example of "what not to do". Lordy.

Thanks for sharing even though I am angry now.

[EnderD_503]

Well the AFA will certainly disaprove of this then: http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/C...lays-9536.aspx

Closer than ever to giving trans folks basic human rights Canada-wide.

Honestly, I can't help but find it somewhat amusing when religious extremists go on about trans "privilege" and "teh horrors of socialism!...people might have *gasp* rights!" *dies of shock* Anyone else not surprised Harper didn't show up for the vote?

Also, great article that I thought I'd drop in here: http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/M...enda-9527.aspx

[DapperButch]

Once again Canada shows us they are cooler than the U.S.

[Berlmeister]

I can't find the article now sadly, but I very recently read that secretary of state hillary clinton has compaigned succesfully and now transfolk no longer need to prove that they actually physically 'match' in any way to the sex/gender posted on their passports. meaning one doesn't have to have any kind of srs or demonstrate that one's gender matches their sexual traits from birth. now that's not written in My words but the words I can recollect from the original article.