Stephen

I want to remind people that we should use Trans is an adjective (a description) and not a noun (a thing). As one of the two people who first coined the specific use of the word Trans, in 1996, at a Transsexual and Transgender Forum Meeting in the Houses of Parliament, when we answered the question of a Member of Parliament, I speak with some knowledge of its development.

The Member of Parliament, Dr Lynne Jones, said I wish there was one word for all of these groups, Kate More and myself proposed Trans (we meant it as a joke), however our comment was taken very seriously, and within weeks Trans was understood to be a descriptive term for all people, old or young, who did not feel the sex designation at birth was an accurate presentation of their gender identities, and also those people who represented themselves, through clothing or any other artifice, to be a member of that sex opposite to that designated on their birth record. And it was used by government departments and ultimately in parliament itself.

However, it was always to be followed by: man, men, woman, women, person, people, community or any other term to represent a human element. We do acknowledge the medicalised nature of the word Trans, and remember that it is not as suitable as a community developed terminology, however it has proven to be very useful in the meantime.

However, my concerns are more to do with the inclusion of intersexuals under this descriptor. This might boil down to community cultures, which are very different in different areas of the world. However, currently in Europe, and the USA, the intersex/ herm organisations protest loudly if they are ever included under the trans umbrella. Some might say that problem arises because these organisations are run by parents. However, it is the case that now, not all groups are run by parents and a new political identity, community, and culture is being formed. The new groups which are not run by parents, whilst accepting that for some intersex people choose a transgendering path, still see their concerns as being very different & separate from those of the trans community. We need to respect their concerns, just as we must respect their cultural values, if there are no countervailing reasons to not do so.

I agree that we must ensure that non-western trans livesand cultures are no longer ignored for many years, however I think we cannot possibly claim any right to devalue the difference of other communities. Try BILGTIA, it has an even better ring about it.

Secondly I was very disturbed to read the answer to the very important question from the young Peruvian (female to male) trans man, who is now living in Spain.

This is clearly a case of value imposition & a patriarchal welfare stance, which recognises no freedom of thought for the person concerned.

The results of this approach are clearly seen in that the young person is told of their societal obligation to be out, without any consideration of his personal situation, or his safety. It is one thing to say this when you have know the person for some time, and have been able to assess fully their situation. However, to say it first without this is one sure way of making sure he does not seek any advice again for a Trans organisation.

Furthermore the response is completely devoid of fact, and in particular the failures of the new Gender Identity Law in Spain. By doing so you leave him open to charlatans who may persuade him to part with money to get his gender recognition, something that is not available to him because of his foreign national status. You could have advised him instead to apply for a gender recognition certificate in the UK, the only country to afford recognition to foreign nationals which, whilst not being recognised in Peru, would ultimately allow him to live a life as a man, without constant reference to his Trans status, even if that life had to be in the UK (it isn't that bad a place to live, in fact, it's society is one of the more accepting of trans people.)

You say, you seek to create a space that gives voice to trans people and those who have collaborated with, and fought for, their social recognition in your first newsletter, and yet you silenced this young person plea [in original]for help, and his desires.

As many of us here in Europe can state, it is perfectly possible to obtain a legal recognition of your gender, and still be an out trans person and activist. A piece of paper can make all the difference to having a job, a family of your own making ,and having the money to feed, house and protect your family. Without it, often a family is just a distant dream. My personal experience has been that having a family, my activism is even more important, because it is their world I am helping to change, not just mine.

Both of these articles showed a complete lack of respect for individual choices. If this is what this newsletter is going to be about, then how can we possibly expect trans people feel they can participate in discussions, policy making, and other activities if their worries and concerns are simply shouted over.

I look forward to receiving a response to my concerns.

With regard to the English Translation it is not very good at all. I would be more than happy to do a final proof read of any translation and ensure it is textually and grammatically acceptable for publication. I have some experience of writing trans documents for publication, over the last 30 years. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

I am happy for you to publish this letter in full, or with edits if approved by myself.

Yours sincerely

Stephen

www.mmu.ac.uk/law
Vice-President of Press for Change, www.pfc.org.uk
President of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, www.wpath.org

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Dear Stephen

I agree with you that we must search a term that wears better in naming the identities of trans people. In a previous article in which I call to receive opinions I clearly point that the trans term is object of debate and as you indicate it well transitorily serves us to get out of trouble.

Any characteristic of our sexuality nowadays becomes in a sufficient reason to determine an identity by itself, although inside the trans spectrum, and each one naturally has its peculiarities. In consequence the trans terminology transitorily links a rate of expressions in an effort to name the variety of identities. I have the idea that intersexual people can be included in the trans term, a position that cannot be taken like a lack of respect, that deserves respect as must deserve other positions. I do not pretend to own the reason, I only have an opinion that I share and add to other in a way to enrich the debate in the search of what indeed we longed for: to approach us to concepts that can express with property our dissidence with the sexual policies and base our freedom on the land of sexuality and identity. But instead to indicate differences, attempt to look for coincidences, in this intention I find that intersexual people share with other identity expressions the quality of not fitting in the gender, no longer by a personal attitude, but by an event estrange to his will, originated in the possibilities that has a biological event of trustworthily not developing sequences by a bad reading of the genetic codes or the alteration of such, during the reproduction.

On the other hand, in the case of the interchange of correspondence with Randy, trans masculine Peruvian living in Spain, certainly the summary edit of his messages don’t well reflect the correspondence sequence. The one will be published in detail, as well as your letter, completely without editing

I do not believe had indicated him the obligation to visibilize itself, I have only explained the weakness of the trans masculine groups, specially in the South-South (Latin America, Africa) having to remain in the closet because of the discrimination that exposes their security: emotional, economic, social.

Randy has knowledge of Spain’s new identity law, I just have confirmed him some things that I knew, but he knows better than me because his stay in Spain, in an existential and practical way. On the other hand, I cannot advise him to look towards UK for a solution to his problems, in spite of knowing about the long favorable situation for trans people, because it would means to transfer his personal situation of illegal permanence from Spain to UK, ignoring what problems will he confront. Shall UK attend his necessities in spite of his illegal staying? For some other cases of my knowledge, is it possible to suggest a travel to UK, learning that the Latin emigration to Europe, in case of trans people coming from social class with limited resources means an impossible? Certainly trans people migration is real, but almost it’s totality illegal.

Stephen, I have not silenced Randy, have not prevented him to express himself, I only have interchanged opinions. In your point of view I had differed of his desires, even so does not mean to silence him, in any case I have differed ideas. You must consider that I’m maintaining correspondence with a Peruvian, and that in our country nothing of the obtained rights in UK for trans people have today far possibilities to be a concretion here.

One of the first achievements in Peru could be the change in our card identity of our chosen name, it does not implies the change of gender, and won’t be translated this achievement in access to the right for having job, for that reason most trans feminine won’t deviate be settled down in sex work.

To have a position, to differ, I repeat again cannot mean lack of respect. We need to express our thoughts: guessed right, preposterous, mistaken, shining, timid, audacious, and controversial.

Finally, the translation is not very happy, certainly, but we do not count on resources to assume this part, we have received collaboration of some people in some bulletin edition, but not always they are available. We pick up your critic and we will put greater fervor in improving the quality of the translations but without resources we are restricted to our limited knowledge of the language and hoped that our readers would excuse us, thus be benevolent.

Yours sincerely

Belissa

Read the correspondence between ILGA Trans Secretariat and Randy