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Andre Garcia Becerra
Master Teacher and Student - School of Gender Studies
Faculty of Humanities
Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogota

Hi, I'm Andre, a transsexual Colombian anthropologist. I’m worried about the mobilization against appearing in the next DSM - V manual, which is a complex issue with multiple edges. It is not something so simple I think, especially for transsexuals and transvestites like us who change our bodies to search our true identity. Despite the fact that it is important to fight for not classifying the transsexuality and transgender as a pathology; I believe that it may be advantageous for us that we are recognized as a disorder of gender identity, because in that way you can fight to ensure the variety of health systems to cover our treatment of gender and sex changing. Hundreds of trans girls in our cities prescribe their own medicine and are operated on risky interventions without any medical supervision or with the slightest care. To me this should be shown as a pubic health problem, as many other seriously ill or causes of death while the search of true identity. The states and health systems keep silence about it. I think it can be good to appear on the DSM - V again (as we appear on the DSM - IV), to claim our right to continue processing treatments and that they can be charged on the state. It doesn’t mean being recognized as sick people, but to be strategic in our struggles and to give priority to the body because it is the foundation of our identity for many of us. In my opinion, not all transgender people should be included in the DSM - V, but maybe the trans ones that transform our body. From my point of view it is a matter of "strategic essentialism" to use an idea of Spivak (an important indian post-colonial feminist). We must not think that the debate is over and that all of us are against the DSM - IV. This is to simplify the multiplicity of our struggle. It is to impose a perspective and treat ourselves in the same terms. Our movement is diverse, like all social movements. Not all of us agree with the idea of being excluded from the DSM - IV, and thus we do not feel sick. I’m straight against the mobilization that looks to arrange us in the same category of the DSM V. We can think different according to the way we look like or the role we develop, such as academic person, trans and activist. Not all the people who belong to the T are equal. There are differences about social status, race, identity, age, etc., and we must recognize these differences in the group. Let’s recognize the particular side of it, to be independent without creating environments of separations. Let’s fight together, not only the T members but also lesbian, gay, bi, farmers, the proletariat, women, immigrants, etc. We’d better join our forces against this heterosexist system, sexism, capitalism, classism, racism; but not losing the autonomy.

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Spain: Urgent Action Trans Commu

Director of the show La Sexta TV

In the show La Sexta, SLQH, on the 30th Day had mock of transsexual woman named her as a man, she had appear in a talk show in Antena 3, El Diario, and told she had a sex resigned surgery but she defined as a lesbian. It seems that screenwriter don’t understand about sex resigned surgery and don’t know that a resigned sex person could be a heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual.

Men and women transsexual lived too much wrong situations in the family, social and labor, etc.

From ATA (Transsexual Association of Andalucia) we denounced this shamed treatment against collective that fight for the real understanding and respect of trans population.

One of the main duties of the TV is through its programs cultivate respect of minorities, tolerance and social integration of all collectives as transsexual community.

ATA ask for a content not denigrated of transsexual people. Be transsexual don’t have to be an excuse for amusing.

As women we deserve respect and as transsexual women also. Transsexual people are trying very hard to demonstrate society that we are respectable people and that gender identity is not a problem for being part of the society and development as a person. As transsexual women we demonstrate that we are as capable as anyone.

We want transsexual women and women had access to be represented in the media with respect and dignity as all human being deserve.

That is the TV that we want.

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Hello,
¿How are you? The thing is that I'm undergoing self-medication and I don't know if I'm doing right. I'm from Pachuca (Lambayeque) and there isn't enough information. Could you help me.
Violeta

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Hello, I'd like to ask for information about how to start the procedures to change identity documents, because in this province of San Juan it is something new and we want to make it the right way. In 2007 in Argentina the contraventional code was eliminated, girls are not repressed under any circumstance. The friend that wants to do it will not undergo a change of sex. I'll be waiting for you answer.
A big hug,
Zulema

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Jó Bernardo

Dear Colleagues,

As a co-participant of the research work conducted in 1998 by the PPortuguese AIDS Association Abraço, I would ask the authors of the article the rectification of certain inaccuracies contained in the article:

1 - ILGA-Portugal never funded the research project concerned: the financing was the sole responsibility of the Association Abraço in collaboration with the CNLCS - National Commission of Fight Against AIDS;

The participation of ILGA-Portugal in this project is do to the exclusive fact that at the time of the elaboration of the project, I together with Dra. Maria José Campos ware respectively founder and collaborator at GAT-(Transgender Support Group of the Association ILGA-Portugal;

2 - Just as there was no specific law that enshrines rights to Portuguese transgender population, such laws still do not exist today. The text referred to in the article published by ILGA Word is performed the case law in recent decades that served and continues to serve as a legal reference in Portugal and showing that the latest decision is leaning in the opposite direction of legal developments in other countries.

On behalf of the team that conducted the study in question, we appreciate your disclosure and ask their rectification.

Yours sincerely,

Jó Bernardo

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Gavriel Ansara

Interesting and disturbing that you provide the Diane Arbus photo "Hermaphrodite and Dog at Carnival" without any commentary, as this photo is blatantly dehumanising, offensive, and objectifying. The term “hermaphrodite" is also now considered offensive by most intersex people and those who use it consider it an in-group term inappropriate for usage by non-intersex people.

I'm surprised and disappointed at this, since I have previously experienced ILGA as an excellent resource. Now I will think twice before referring anyone to ILGA. Simply displaying anything that pertains to or depicts trans or intersex people does not make you a supportive or affirming resource.

Critical enquiry when displaying imagery about marginalised populations is crucial to ensuring that you do not reinscribe oppressive meanings and connotations.

Please consider these comments and edit your site accordingly.

Gavi

Hi, I would like to know about your Institutional Program, I want to change my gender, I don’t know how to do it, what to do. I’m waiting for your answer. Thanks.
Angie

Hi, I’m Andrés García Becerra, anthropologist and student of Master in Gender Studies in Colombia State University. I would like to contact with you, I’m working in my master thesis about transvestite and transsexuals in Bogota, I’m observing manner in which they build their bodies and gender identities, an also relation between gender identity and social marginalization and violence. I’m a trans and I want to star a hormonal treatment as soon as possible. I’m very interested in political action as trans and as anthropologist of gender, that is why I want to be in touch with you.
Huges and thanks for your time.
Andrés.

Regards from Puerto Rico

My name is Jaqui Nieves, I am a nurse and I work in a laboratory. I am 47-years-old and I am a transsexual. I would like to tell you that my work treats me as a woman, even though I have not had sex reassignment surgery, but I have had my testicles removed. I seek your help. I would like to know if you could give me the name of any hospital or clinic that does sex reassignment surgery. There are not any in my country. I would also like to know the cost of the surgery. I hope to receive a positive answer to my question.

Take care and a big hug from the charm island.

Your new friend,

Jaqui Nieves

T-Informa February 2008; the problems of paternalism

Dear Editor

On reading two of the articles in what is usually an excellent Trans Secretariat newsletter, T-Informa, I was very distressed to see the extent of the disinformation published.

Firstly, in the editorial on the proposed name change of ILGA, you refer to the community trans (travestis, transexuals, transgender and intersexuals). There are some problems in translation (which I will address later), however I fully support this move to create a more appropriate name for the association, but personally think the whole alphabet of letters should be tossed out and a better term developed.