The Episcopal Church took a step toward fuller inclusion of transgendered individuals in the life and mission of the church when the House of Bishops voted in favor of legislation prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression.

Resolution D002 states that no one can be refused access to the ordination process because of their gender identity, while Resolution D019 prohibits anyone from being denied a place in the “life, worship, and governance of the church” due to their gender identity.

“I am pleased that these resolutions did pass in that they have the very significant effect of validating, in the eyes of the church, the humanity of those who are transgender,” Rev. Carolyn Woodall of the Diocese of San Jaoquin told Episcopal News Service after the bishops’ vote.

“We are greatly misunderstood and there is a widespread lack of knowledge about what it means to be transgender,” she continued.

During the debate, the bishop who ordained Woodall to the vocational diaconate, Chet Talton of San Jaoquin, told the House that her ordination had been “wonderfully received. The person entered the ordination process and proceeded through that process without any regard really for her gender, but because she obviously possessed the qualities that lent themselves to the ministry of the diaconate to which she was ordained.”

“Their presence and access to the ordination process ought to be affirmed in a way that this proposed change indicates,” Talton continued.

Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who became the denomination’s first openly gay bishop when he was elected in 2003, encouraged his fellow bishops to vote for the resolution, saying that it “talks about access to the ordination process. It does not command anyone to affirm anyone in the ordination process but does say that all members of this church, including those whose gender identity and expression are perhaps different from the norm, have that access.”

But the resolutions did have their opponents. Andrew Waldo, Bishop of Upper South Carolina, advocated a slower approach. “I believe we need to have more discussion in the church, in our congregations, in order to be able to speak in a way that is theologically sound, that gives a deeper understanding of what it means to be a transgender person.”

He was joined in opposition by fellow Palmetto State Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Diocese of South Carolina, who warned that “we are entering into a time of individualized eros.” He went on to express his concern that this would lead to “the freedom of every individual to self-define every aspect of who they are in such a way that we no longer have any kinds of norms. We are entering into the chaos of individuality. It’s an idol that will break us.”

Meanwhile, the House of Deputies passed two significant pieces of structural legislation. Resolution B013 would permit the Presiding Bishop to remain a diocesan bishop after their election. The Presiding Bishop presides over the House of Bishops, serves as chief pastor, and has a range of executive and ecumenical functions. Since 1938, he or she has had to resign their diocesan responsibilities upon election in order to concentrate on their national role.

During the debate on Resolution B013, deputies expressed concern that they were being asked to put the proverbial cart before the horse, since the church is currently engaged in a wide-ranging discussion about its political structure.

“We have no idea what we’re getting into. We have not even begun to talk about re-understanding the office of the presiding bishop and whether or not a move of this sort is appropriate,” said the Rev. Bill Ellis, a deputy from the Diocese of Spokane.

But Dr. Fredrica Thompsett, a deputy from the Diocese of Massachusetts and member of the Committee on Structure, argued that the resolution was a suitable first step in the wider program of structural renewal. “This gives us a creative and permissive possibility to allow wise decision making and options in a period in which we are considering and will be considering the nomination of a next presiding bishop,” she said.

Deputies also voted to give a second reading to a proposed change to the church’s constitution that would abolish the requirement for bishops elected within 120 days of a General Convention to have their elections confirmed by the House of Deputies. In all other cases, a bishop’s election is confirmed by a majority of the diocesan bishops and diocesan standing committees. The Deputies’ vote was the final step needed to make the change official. The amendment was approved by both Houses at the 2009 General Convention and the House of Bishops voted in favor of it earlier in the Convention.

Image Courtesy of Radoslaw Lecyk / Shutterstock.com

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New Dehli, India – In a national event organized by Pehchan, Hijras highlight discrimination and demand equality for their community.

Stakeholders from government, media, policy bodies, the transgender and hijra community, and civil society came together on June 2nd for the first National Hijra Habba. The event was organized by Pehchan, a five-year program that strengthens and builds the capacity of 200 community-based organizations in 17 states to advance HIV prevention. The national consultation discussed efforts to achieve equality for transgenders and hijras and drew attention to the significant challenges faced by these communities.

Addressing the event, Gauri Sawant, General Secretary, Transgender and Hijra Welfare Board, Maharashtra, said, “In India, cases of violence go unreported as the present social and legal environment is oppressive towards transgender persons and hijras. Due to their different gender identity, they are denied opportunities to earn a living, to study, and to access health services. Even changing their names and sex in official documents is not easy.”

Pehchan collaborates with India’s National AIDS Control Program and would reach 453,750 MSM (males who have sex with males), transgenders and hijras by 2015 and is the Global Fund’s largest single-country grant to date focused on the HIV response for vulnerable sexual minorities.

Held at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra in New Delhi, the Hijra Habba included speeches, experience sharing and community performances by leaders from transgender and hijra community. In-depth discussions were held on issues including social entitlements, legal status, violence, economic vulnerabilities, and feminization.

At the heart of the event was the development of an action plan for advocacy for the next three years on priority issues for these communities. Ms. Aradhana Johri, Additional Secretary, National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), affirmed the importance of these populations to the national HIV prevention strategy and acknowledged the need for continued effort to control the epidemic among transgenders and hijras.

According to James Robertson, Country Director, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, “India has been a global leader in defining an effective HIV prevention response for transgenders and hijras. The world has much to learn from this example. While progress has been made, the journey towards equality for transgenders and hijras is not yet over.”

The India HIV/AIDS Alliance (Alliance India) is a partnership that brings together organizations and communities to support a sustained response to HIV in India. Complementing the national program in India, it works through capacity building, knowledge sharing, technical support and advocacy. Through a network of partners, Alliance India supports the delivery of community-based HIV programs to key groups affected by the epidemic.

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When encountering something unusual, abnormal, or strange, we tend to be surprised, shocked, uncomfortable, or even in denial. Something similar happened recently when the Miss Universe Canada candidate, Jenna Talackova, confronted us with something “bizarre.” She is a transgender who wants to take part in the 2012 competition!

This exposure was surely an unusual and difficult case for the pageant committee to deal with. They reacted in an unsurprising way, however, and the pageant announced in an official statement that Talackova was disqualified for the 2012 competition because she did not meet the requirements.

In the list of requirements for the Universe Canada competition, there were no rules mentioned regarding sex changes or cosmetic surgeries. The decision for disqualifying Talackova can therefore only be explained as discrimination and sexism. Talackova reacted bravely when she stated on Twitter: “I’m disqualified; however, I’m not giving up. I’m not going to just let them disqualify me over discrimination.”

Talackova was not left alone with her determination. She is probably the first Miss Universe Canada candidate ever to experience the positive impact of social media. More than 42,000 people signed an online-petition, claiming that the disqualification of Jenna Talackova was unfair. However, behind the social media scene, it is the feeling of injustice and discrimination that made people stand up for her, fighting for something very natural and yet difficult – the basic rights for women.

Basic rights should not be an abstract term, but our reality. Talackova does not need to justify her sex. She looks amazingly beautiful, and she feels, thinks, and behaves as a woman does. She is participating in the competition with her very heart and mind.

It is the social logic and habitus, no less than a historical product, that makes us think in categories – we and the other, whites and blacks, or women and men (non-women). We feel we need to justify ourselves in so-called “particular situations”: a platonic friendship, a different sexual orientation, a relationship between masters and apprentices, and now, a transgender in a Miss Universe competition. Why, and for whom?

Is an unnatural-born woman an alien and should be kicked out? To be honest, what is normal and common in our society anyway? The positive outcome of the online-petition showed us that it is indeed the century to embrace a common identity and a universe spirit. If the Donald Trump-owned beauty pageant has not learned anything from the movement of feminism, it should from Miss Talackova, to whom we say: “Good luck on the competition!”

Image Courtesy of   Jenna Talackova

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The first study to characterize a cohort of U.S. children with diagnosed gender identity disorder, led by researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston, documents significant mental health risks as children struggle with strong feelings of being born “in the wrong body.” Findings appear in the March 2012 Pediatrics (published online February 20).

The study, led by endocrinologist Norman Spack, M.D., at Children’s Hospital Boston, in collaboration with attending psychiatrist Scott Leibowitz, M.D., reviewed the charts of 97 consecutive patients who were seen at the hospital from 1998 through early 2010 and met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) for gender identity disorder: a strong, persistent identification as being of the opposite sex (transgendered) and significant distress and discomfort with one’s biological sex.

Of these patients, who first came to Children’s Hospital Boston at an average age of 14.8 years, 44 percent had a history of psychiatric symptoms, 37 percent were taking psychotropic medications, 21 percent had a history of self-mutilation and 9 percent had attempted suicide.

Fifty-eight percent received a medical intervention. This consisted of opposite-sex hormones (to develop a physical appearance closer to the affirmed gender) for the majority who were in later stages of puberty, and puberty-suppressing drugs for the few children still in early puberty.

Spack and colleagues call for further research to assess these adolescents’ psychological well-being after both kinds of treatment. They urge early evaluation for children who show persistent gender-related issues, including consultation with mental health professionals and consideration of medical treatment when patients near puberty.  Anecdotally, children who receive interventions early do better psychologically.

“Just coming to our clinic for an initial visit was associated with a markedly reduced motivation to self-harm,” Spack notes.

Children’s Hospital Boston is home to the world’s largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 1,100 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and nine members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children’s research community.

Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children’s Hospital Boston today is a 395 bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children’s also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

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Mitchell Katine, local counsel in Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned sodomy laws in the United States, said he was “thrilled” with the finding by a federal appeals court that California’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. He cautioned students at the University of Houston Law Center, however, that the case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and that might take a year or two.

Katine and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder of the Ruth Institute, a project of the National Organization for Marriage Education Fund, were debating the issue of “Defining Marriage” as a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced its decision.

“I’m sorry, but not surprised,” Morse said of the court’s ruling. “I think we have a good chance at the Supreme Court,” she added, noting that Katine had mentioned earlier in the debate that he had lost the sodomy case “at every level” before finally prevailing at the Supreme Court.

The appeals court panel ruled 2-1 that California’s ban on same-sex marriages violated the civil rights of gays and lesbians. “Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,” states the opinion written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, one of the court’s most liberal judges.

The ruling applies only to California and will not go into effect pending a likely appeal to the full 9th Circuit. The Law Center debate was sponsored by The Federalist Society and Outlaw, an organization devoted to the issues of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender students.

The two veterans of the same-sex marriage debate argued the perceived benefits and drawbacks of legalizing gay marriage on society, participants and, specifically, children of such unions.

Morse pointed out “as a cautionary tale,” how no-fault divorce was presented in 1968 as a simple way to lower the cost of divorce for a relatively small number of people. But, she said, it turned out to have a far-reaching effect on society as a whole and undermined the perceived permanence of marriage. Similarly, she argued, legalization of same-sex marriage would undermine basic principles, especially concerning child-rearing.

The significance of marriage as an institution between a man and woman, she said, is how it connects children to their parents and vice versa.  Children are “entitled” to a stable relationship with their parents, she said, and mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Biology is the natural “default mode” of determining parentage, she argued, and legalizing same-sex marriage would be replacing a naturally occurring fact with something created by the state. “The state has no right to interfere.”

Katine countered by saying he and his longtime partner are successfully raising two happy, well adjusted, adopted children. When he asked them what marriage means to them, he said his son answered “family,” and his daughter added that it makes that relationship “permanent.” Katine said, “Gay and lesbian people are not trying to change marriage. We are trying to join marriage.”

He said the procreation argument is specious because many married heterosexual couples choose not to have children, yet enjoy thousands of civil rights and benefits that same-sex couples do not. Citing the First and Fourteenth Amendments, he said the United States was founded on freedom from government intrusion.

And, though religion often plays a large part in debates over same-sex marriage, Katine said, “Advocates are not trying to force civil rights on religions.” Morse later argued that scripture aside, same-sex marriage would affect religious institutions in areas such as employment, benefits, and pre-marital counseling.

Katine said any discussion of gay and lesbian rights, including comments from the Supreme Court bench in his landmark sodomy case, always comes down to the bottom line questions, “Who cares?” and “What’s the harm?” As Lawrence v. Texas, was winding its way through the courts, he said then-President George W. Bush and then-senator Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania,  predicted “the sky would fall” if the nation’s sodomy laws were struck down.

“None of it happened,” Katine said. He predicted same-sex marriage will prevail before the Supreme Court and “ultimately it will show that gay and lesbian parents are good people, and the sky will not fall. I believe I will see in my lifetime same-sex marriage legal and my son will be proud of his family and my daughter will feel it is permanent.”

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This is another victory for the LGBT community, on the road to equality, as time is running out on the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy in the U.S. Military.

“Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.

The 1993 law that disqualified men and women who are gay to serve openly in the military “undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality,”
President Barack Obama said in a statement.

Soon, all men and women in service will be able to serve their country with the pride that they for too long were denied because they had to conceal their sexual preference, Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office explained. “The demise of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ demonstrates that we should not write discrimination into our laws. Now is the time for Congress to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.”

Even though this repeal is a big step forward, there are still laws that discriminate against LGBT Americans and their families.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense the policy was reviewed and accredited by Defense Secretary: Leon Panetta, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral: Michael Mullen, and President Barack Obama. Now those who wish to enlist and join the armed forces will no longer need to lie about their sexual orientation in order to do so.

“‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ has been a discriminatory distraction for far too long, and we welcome its repeal once and for all,” said James D. Esseks, director of the ACLU’s LGBT Project.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all September 20, 2011.

“Every American can be proud that our extraordinary troops and their families, like earlier generations that have adapted to other changes, will only grow stronger and remain the best fighting force in the world,” Obama said, “And a reflection of the values of justice and equality that the define us as Americans.”

Even with this new regulation, work must still be done to ensure it is followed and men and women who are openly gay, bisexual, lesbian or Transgender will not be subjected to illegal discrimination.

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It is believed that Thailand is the home of LGBT people in the world. This status was conferred on them due to the fact that the highest number of LGBT people in the world resides in Thailand. It is also a center of sex rearrangement, and to date, no record of violence towards homosexuals has been recorded. Lastly, the winner of the Miss Tiffany (Transgender) World show emerged from Thailand. However, it is wrong to assume that Thailand is a haven for sexual minorities.

We will analyze the prejudice that these people face in midst of this cultural, religiously accepted and tolerated behavior, and hopefully you will grasp why it is a false myth that Thailand is a paradise for sexual minorities.

In the Thai legal system, there is no provision for LGBT persons. Existing laws do not permit LGBT persons to pursue the career path of their choice and the hope for every LGBT person to have an “ideal, permanent partner” an imagination because while Thai LGBT people can live together as lovers, they are not allowed to be legally married under the Thai customary law.

Transgender people who have successfully, and expensively, undergone the sex reassignments are not allowed to change their gender identity, which is why it is not uncommon to see many female-looking persons with a different gender status in their passport and ID card. The negative aspect about this is that it causes the transgender community embarrassment; especially when they travel outside of their country and have to explain and prove why they are different. This poses a lot of risk in countries where such differences are not tolerated and accepted.

Reuters have reported Ladyboys’ picture confuse election officials; “Thailand’s community of lady-boys complained on Wednesday they were being marginalized in next week’s general election because their ID card pictures were too confusing for polling officials.”

Because transgender people are completely changed, it makes no sense for them to carry their birth identification. Since Thai’s legal system has refused to allow them to amend their status based on their physical appearances, and also refuses to grant them a third sex status in their passport and ID card, it further proves why this behavior is not accepted by the Thai law of culture.

In 2004, a top official at the Ministry of Culture proposed removing homosexuals from the media and government posts. In 2006, the Ministry of Defense branded transgender draftees as suffering from “permanent psychosis” in their military exemption documents known as SorDor 43. To this effect, LGBT persons are not qualified to be military personnel, or hold any other serious government position, including working in Immigration.

Seeking an environment where they fit in and are accepted, many LGBT end up as performers, sex workers, street vendors, make-up artist and the like.

The sad truth about this issue is that at the time when many Thai LGBT become transgendered, they really do not know that they are not accepted and they are quick to be impressed by the tolerance and respect they get from heterosexual people.

If the Thai legal system does not accept LGBT in theory and in practice, they should shout it loud! They should campaign against it in schools, stop high school children from cross-dressing. At least it gives them the idea that when they become one, they do so at their own risk or societal marginalization.

Debu55y / Shutterstock.com

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Around the world, LGBT persons have committed suicide, got depressed, developed psychological and physiological problems because of rejection and stigmatization in the society.

As a result they are open to limited health care and employment opportunities. Although not so many of them likes being stigmatized and discriminated they still cannot avoid being LGBT persons because It isn’t their mind that’s pushing them to be looked down upon. Their mind is what is making them LGBT.

PSN Newsletter vol 5 (2010) Transgender Today reported from a Transgender interview that,” LGBT is not a fashion trend that anyone can follow it is a thing of the mind that they have absolutely no control over it and that while they physically look like men or women, in their heart they are more of the opposite sex”.

Haven lived in Thailand — a country with the highest number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people tolerated by society however, there is much more to it than being treated equally in the society.

Despite the fact that there has not been any physical assaults recorded or refusal of allowing same sex lovers living and doing things together, Thai LGBT cannot be civil servants, nurses, doctors, politicians nor can they serve in the military.

Many of The African countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Ghana, Liberia to mention a few being LGBT are seldom mentioned let alone declared in public. To be LGBT here causes a double rejection by your own family and the society at large. Also the strong religious and cultural roots in many of the African countries like Kenya, Cameroun, Republic of Benin and the likes complicate the LGBT community.

While these countries are members of the United Nations they are not complying with U.N. Human Rights Law with regards to people of diverse sexual orientation, and gender identities which can be categorized as: “(a) non-discrimination (b) protection of privacy right and (c) the ensuring of other general human rights to all, regardless of sexual orientation, and gender identity.”

The LGBT communities in the aforementioned countries operate in secrecy for fear of rejection, losing their jobs and family conflict thus, making them fugitives in their own lands.

LGBT cases are crucial around the world. Even with civilization it still seems impossible to overcome however, some Countries and Organizations have come to accept LGBT communities, affording them human rights notable amongst them is the legalization of same sex marriage in Germany, New York City, Massachusetts of the United State and the U.N. Gay Rights Protection Resolution Passed recently.

We call on other countries to emulate New York Supreme court, the United Nations and adhere to the words of Barack Obama who spoke on behalf of LGBT persons worldwide on the July 24, 2011.

I sincerely believe that “No culture or religion, translated into prejudice by a government official, religious leaders or lay man, should supersede the basics of humanity and respect for diversity.”

And also the fact that LGBT are a small fraction of the World’s population does not mean that they are wrong at least the majority is not always right.

Zherui WU / Shutterstock.com

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