Category: Reports

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #103, Fall 2003.

Part 1 of 2: Melbourne Photographs by Mariette Pathy Allen Text by Katharine Coleman

Mariette was invited to speak at the Fifth International Congress on Sex and Gender, which was held at the University of Western Australia in Perth, October 24-27, 2002?but one doesn?t spend twentysome hours flying just to visit the most remote city in Australia. Such an investment of time justified stopovers in Melbourne and Sydney?all of which Mariette would have done solo had her command of Australian been up to par. But it wasn?t, and since I spoke the language and had a bad case of wanderlust, she let me go along.

Once word got out that Mariette was coming to Australia, she was asked to also speak in Melbourne and Sydney. These occasions, along with the conference in Perth, provided wonderful opportunities to witness different aspects of the transgender communities in Australia. Our experience in each of these cities was different, so we decided to generate two articles?this one on Melbourne, and another on the conference in Perth and the Gay Games in Sydney.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #102, Summer 2003.

by Milton Diamond, Ph.D.

Language is fluid. The use and meaning of words change constantly. In most cases, the new is incorporated with the old, so confusion is rare. The field of sexology, however, seems to have a particularly difficult time keeping up with all the shifts in terminology and usage. This is probably related to the multitudes of words used in sexual contexts, the double entendres that accompany many words, and the symbolic and socio-political nature of much that accompanies language. But there is obviously more to this. And if the terminology is confusing for those dealing with it daily, how much more difficult is it for those who come upon it only occasionally?for instance, reporters, historians, and laypersons?

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #102, Summer 2003.

After more than three decades of governmental hostility towards British transsexuals, there?s good news. Recent decisions by the European Court of Human Rights have forced the U.K. government to grant certain rights to transsexuals. The battle is far from over, but things are at long last looking up. This is primarly due to the efforts of the pressure group (i.e., lobbying organization) Press for Change, of which Stephen Whittle is a principal. ?Ed.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #102, Summer 2003.

LARGEST MULTI-VENUE TRANSGENDER EVENT EVER

The 4th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, held November 20th, 2002, was an event on a scale never before seen in the transgender community. In over 90 different locations across the world, transgendered people and their supporters took a stand against anti-transgender violence.

Events were held in eight different countries?Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Israel, Italy, Spain, and the United States. In the U.S. alone, events could be found in 31 states and the District of Columbia, stretching across the country from Massachusetts to California.

Originally appeared in Transgender Tapestry #101, Spring 2003.

What does it mean when an employer agrees not to discriminate against workers or customers based on ?gender identity??

Gender identity has been defined as ?a person?s various individual attributes as they are understood to be male and female.?? In a psychological sense, gender identity refers to a person?s internal, deeply felt sense of being either male or female, which may differ from the person?s anatomical sex.