Trans News/ Issues

[Kelt]

So the last couple of days I've been immersed in watching the panel discussions at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland (What? Doesn't everyone?) and came across this, the last place I would have thought;



It is hosted by the National Geographic coinciding with the release of this months issue that the NG Gender show is apparently derived from. There is interesting discussion also about binary/non-binary millennial perceptions and the idea of a post-identity world that I found interesting too.

[*Anya*]

Transgender Americans Race To Finish Paperwork Before Trump Administration

December 17, 2016

Jeff Brady/NPR

Many transgender people in the U.S. are rushing to change their designated gender on government documents before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. They worry the next administration may take that ability away.

There's no indication so far that this is a priority for Trump. Mara Keisling with the National Center for Transgender Equality says Trump's positions on trans issues are not clear. But she's concerned about people he's nominated for key positions in his administration.

"Virtually every — if not every — appointment he has announced so far has been an extremely anti-LGBT person," says Keisling. She says trans advocacy groups around the country have been fielding calls from concerned people ever since the election. And they are not alone.

"The calls to our office have increased a lot," says Benjamin Jerner, managing partner of the Philadelphia law firm Jerner & Palmer, which specializes in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal issues.

States control many government documents, such as birth certificates and driver's licenses, Jerner reassures his clients. A new president won't affect those.

Of more concern, he says, are gender designations on federal documents such as passports, immigration papers and Social Security accounts.

Jerner says passports are the biggest concern because State Department rulescould be changed relatively easily under a new administration.

Deciding whether to change gender designations on documents can be an especially tricky question for parents of transgender children. Jerner recently held a legal clinic for such parents in Philadelphia and says 18 families showed up.

"I think that just tells you the level of fear and anxiety that's out there," he says.

Among those attending were the parents of 10-year-old Dylan, who was born a boy but — with her parents' encouragement — has long hair, wears pink and lives as a girl.

That fits with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading U.S. group of doctors serving children. The general idea is that parents should support their child and not make any big decisions that could limit the child's options in the future. That's because some children who appear to be transgender early on are not when they grow up.

NPR agreed to use only first names for Dylan and her family. Some groupsconsider it a form of abuse to allow a child to transition to the opposite gender — even though it's in line with the AAP. Dylan's parents — Marla and Jennifer — say other families have had child abuse reports filed against them after they were identified in news stories.

Marla says Dylan has identified herself as a girl for as long as she could talk. "It took us about three years to really sort out with Dylan what that meant," Marla says. "We kept telling her, 'Oh, there's lots of ways to be a boy — you can be a fancy boy, you can be a sparkly boy.' " But Marla says Dylan steadfastly insisted she's a girl.

Marla says they plan to administer puberty blockers when Dylan reaches that stage. That will make it easier for Dylan to physically transition to female later if she chooses.

Dr. David Levine, a professor of pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, says this is a good approach.

"I predict this 10-year-old is going to do great, because the parents are so on board and so supportive of their child," he says.

Levine says he's not too worried that a Trump administration will make big changes that will affect transgender people. But he also is not opposed to parents who want to change their child's gender designations now because, technically, that's something that could be reversed in the future if it became necessary.

Dylan's parents had planned to change her gender on government documents when she got a driver's license. Because of their concerns over the political climate, they are doing that now instead.

So, on a recent evening — just as Dylan and her siblings were finishing up homework — a notary came to their home to witness Marla and Jennifer signing a short stack of papers. Once filed, they will change the gender listed on Dylan's birth certificate, Social Security account and passport — when she gets one — to female.

Correction
Jan. 12, 2017

A previous Web version of this story labeled the American College of Pediatricians an "anti-LGBT group." That is not an accurate description because the group holds opinions on a wide variety of issues.

http://www.npr.org/2016/12/17/503753...administration

[DapperButch]

It is relatively easy to change one's gender on a passport and it is also easy with social security. No surgeries required. All trans people should do this right away. The other pieces are connected with states, so don't believe that he can touch those.

Originally Posted by *Anya*

Transgender Americans Race To Finish Paperwork Before Trump Administration

December 17, 2016

Jeff Brady/NPR

Many transgender people in the U.S. are rushing to change their designated gender on government documents before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. They worry the next administration may take that ability away.

There's no indication so far that this is a priority for Trump. Mara Keisling with the National Center for Transgender Equality says Trump's positions on trans issues are not clear. But she's concerned about people he's nominated for key positions in his administration.

"Virtually every — if not every — appointment he has announced so far has been an extremely anti-LGBT person," says Keisling. She says trans advocacy groups around the country have been fielding calls from concerned people ever since the election. And they are not alone.

"The calls to our office have increased a lot," says Benjamin Jerner, managing partner of the Philadelphia law firm Jerner & Palmer, which specializes in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender legal issues.

States control many government documents, such as birth certificates and driver's licenses, Jerner reassures his clients. A new president won't affect those.

Of more concern, he says, are gender designations on federal documents such as passports, immigration papers and Social Security accounts.

Jerner says passports are the biggest concern because State Department rulescould be changed relatively easily under a new administration.

Deciding whether to change gender designations on documents can be an especially tricky question for parents of transgender children. Jerner recently held a legal clinic for such parents in Philadelphia and says 18 families showed up.

"I think that just tells you the level of fear and anxiety that's out there," he says.

Among those attending were the parents of 10-year-old Dylan, who was born a boy but — with her parents' encouragement — has long hair, wears pink and lives as a girl.

That fits with guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the leading U.S. group of doctors serving children. The general idea is that parents should support their child and not make any big decisions that could limit the child's options in the future. That's because some children who appear to be transgender early on are not when they grow up.

NPR agreed to use only first names for Dylan and her family. Some groupsconsider it a form of abuse to allow a child to transition to the opposite gender — even though it's in line with the AAP. Dylan's parents — Marla and Jennifer — say other families have had child abuse reports filed against them after they were identified in news stories.

Marla says Dylan has identified herself as a girl for as long as she could talk. "It took us about three years to really sort out with Dylan what that meant," Marla says. "We kept telling her, 'Oh, there's lots of ways to be a boy — you can be a fancy boy, you can be a sparkly boy.' " But Marla says Dylan steadfastly insisted she's a girl.

Marla says they plan to administer puberty blockers when Dylan reaches that stage. That will make it easier for Dylan to physically transition to female later if she chooses.

Dr. David Levine, a professor of pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, says this is a good approach.

"I predict this 10-year-old is going to do great, because the parents are so on board and so supportive of their child," he says.

Levine says he's not too worried that a Trump administration will make big changes that will affect transgender people. But he also is not opposed to parents who want to change their child's gender designations now because, technically, that's something that could be reversed in the future if it became necessary.

Dylan's parents had planned to change her gender on government documents when she got a driver's license. Because of their concerns over the political climate, they are doing that now instead.

So, on a recent evening — just as Dylan and her siblings were finishing up homework — a notary came to their home to witness Marla and Jennifer signing a short stack of papers. Once filed, they will change the gender listed on Dylan's birth certificate, Social Security account and passport — when she gets one — to female.

Correction
Jan. 12, 2017

A previous Web version of this story labeled the American College of Pediatricians an "anti-LGBT group." That is not an accurate description because the group holds opinions on a wide variety of issues.

http://www.npr.org/2016/12/17/503753...administration

[Soon]

BBC Two - Transgender Kids: Who Knows Best?

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Soon

BBC Two - Transgender Kids: Who Knows Best?

I have not watched the documentary....

What is this about? What is balanced? And what is your goal in posting this?

Honestly, if it is another post where you, as a cis person, are questioning the accepted medical care/looking to debate the care or rights given to trans people, I wish you would create another thread for that.

It doesn't feel good to see those kind of posts in a trans thread, by a cis person. I will be honest and tell you that I am not sure of your agenda and it makes me uncomfortable.

[Soon]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

I have not watched the documentary....

What is this about? What is balanced? And what is your goal in posting this?

Honestly, if it is another post where you, as a cis person, are questioning the accepted medical care/looking to debate the care or rights given to trans people, I wish you would create another thread for that.

It doesn't feel good to see those kind of posts in a trans thread, by a cis person. I will be honest and tell you that I am not sure of your agenda and it makes me uncomfortable.

It's a documentary discussing the varying ways of treating GNC and/or trans kids. I thought this WAS the appropriate thread. It doesn't "feel good" for me to post a documentary on this issue and I must have some nefarious agenda? My *agenda* was only to give people the link if they were interested. I don't appreciate the accusatory and arrogant tone of your post or suggesting that I create another thread. As for the word "balanced"--there is much to be discussed with not just one way of treating children who are GNC or trans. I can't help that you are uncomfortable with a link to a documentary that presents different approaches, personal stories, and medical opinions/treatments. You haven't even *watched* the documentary and you're coming at me like this b/c of the word "balanced" in the title of my post? Wow.

ETA: As an educator who teaches GNC and trans kids, this phenomenon of children transitioning is of great interest to me. This IS the Trans Zone. It is a documentary on this issue. I thought others may wish to view it. Don't watch it if you're not interested.

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by DapperButch

I have not watched the documentary....

What is this about? What is balanced? And what is your goal in posting this?

Honestly, if it is another post where you, as a cis person, are questioning the accepted medical care/looking to debate the care or rights given to trans people, I wish you would create another thread for that.

It doesn't feel good to see those kind of posts in a trans thread, by a cis person. I will be honest and tell you that I am not sure of your agenda and it makes me uncomfortable.

I frequently post articles or medical peer reviewed studies in this thread that I think may be of interest to trans folks and I am a cis person, too.

Are we not allowed to?

I have never posted anything in this thread that was insulting or transphobic and have always posted coming from a place of genuine care.

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by *Anya*

I frequently post articles or medical peer reviewed studies in this thread that I think may be of interest to trans folks and I am a cis person, too.

Are we not allowed to?

I have never posted anything in this thread that was insulting or transphobic and have always posted coming from a place of genuine care.

I suppose anyone can post anything that they want as long as it is not against the TOS. I have enjoyed the things you have posted. I have never thought anything that you posted was insulting or transphobic.