Transsexual Road Map Notes

Twenty hallmarks of fake trans personae

2009-06-21T22:55:01-08:00

Excerpted from “Twenty hallmarks of fake trans personae” by Andrea James http://www.tsroadmap.com/early/online-hoaxes.html In June 2009, a “transkid” murder hoax perpetrated by “KuryousKyooty” aka “Rachel” aka “Roo” aka “Raychel Edeyn Wilson” was greatly exacerbated after being spread by a number of normally credible people who didn’t bother to confirm any basic facts independently: * Laura Amato at Laura’s Playground * Zoe Brain at A.E. Brain * James/JayTee on YouTube * Cindi Knox at Pam’s House Blend * Tobi Hill-Meyer at Bilerico * Anonymous poster at SoCal Voice * Vanessa Edwards Foster at Trans Political Repeating these rumors without any independent verification is the height of irresponsibility for citizen journalists. These kinds of hoaxes do incredible damage to the community at large and to the credibility of the people who post them without any independent verification. These hoaxes and unconfirmed reports cheapen the real violence our community faces, and they make people less likely to take us seriously in the future. I have been exposing fake “transkids” for about ten years, and this latest hoax had all the hallmarks of fakery. It is a classic case of something that has been happening on the internet for decades and has had an official name since 2000: Münchausen by Internet. Some people seek attention by feigning illness or injury, happening either to themselves or to others. Unfortunately, what psychologists call “factitious disorders” and “malingering” are not uncommon among trans people. A lot of trans people take the sick role as a form of identity. Identifying as disordered or diseased is much more common among people who embrace professional and populist disease models like “gender identity disorder” or “Harry Benjamin Syndrome.” It’s part of a culture of victimhood that unfortunately lends itself to fakery and hoaxes. If you have a forum or blog, you have a responsibility to the community to avoid spreading misinformation and lies. To help avoid these problems in the future, I have compiled twenty key hallmarks of fake trans narratives/personae. The key points in the section: *Hoaxers seek to establish their credibility at the expense of your credibility. *Hoaxers avoid any details that can be independently confirmed. *Hoaxers will prey on your respect for their privacy. *Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. *Trust, but verify. *An ounce of prevention is always best. Full article: Twenty hallmarks of fake trans personae http://www.tsroadmap.com/early/online-hoaxes.html

Paper: Revision Suggestions for Gender Related Diagnoses in the DSM and ICD

2009-06-19T19:17:00-08:00

At the 2009 WPATH conference in Oslo, a reformed disease model was presented based on work by Randall Ehrbar, Psy.D., Kelley Winters, Ph.D. and Nick Gorton, M.D. It reconfigures gender dysphoria as an acute form of distress that can go into “remission.” Summary of Proposed Diagnosis: Dx Criteria – Both A and B • A: Strong and persistent distress with physical sex characteristics, or ascribed social gender role, that is incongruent with persistent gender identity. • B: Distress is clinically significant or causes impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, when this distress or impairment is not solely due to external prejudice or discrimination. GD in remission • No longer meets criteria, needs treatment to maintain remission ‘Exit clause’ • No longer meets criteria, doesn’t need treatment to maintain remission Full article: http://www.gidreform.org/wpath2009/

Toronto LGBT academics meeting June 18 at The 519 (researchwithpride.org)

2009-06-16T17:57:00-08:00

Planning is underway in Toronto for Research with Pride: A Community Forum that will be hosted in October 2009. They note: We are lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans students and allies at the University of Toronto who are concerned with the health needs of our communities. We come from different disciplines including public health, nursing and health policy and we share the recognition of a gap between LGBTT2IQQ health needs and the health resources our community actually receives . . .We know that certain members of our communities have been exploited, pathologised and made invisible by research that was supposed to be “for our own good.”. . . As more LGBTT2IQQ individuals have entered academia and/or engaged in community-based research, some of us are trying to redefine what research into LGBTT2IQQ health can look like.” Website: http://www.researchwithpride.org Contact: info@researchwithpride.org

Chinese transsexuals now face regressive Toronto-style requirements

2009-06-16T17:50:00-08:00

It is now as difficult for transsexual people to get access to health services in communist China as it is via government-funded programmes in Toronto at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-06/16/content_8290858.htm China posts rules of sex change (Xinhua) 2009-06-16 23:05 BEIJING - To change gender in China costs more than money. One must be free of a criminal record and be single if he or she wants to have a sex change, the Ministry of Health said Tuesday in a new regulation. Other conditions include having lived publicly as the other gender for more than two years, at least five years of unwavering desire to change, more than one year of psychotherapy and a commitment by local police to issue a new ID card after the operation. The ministry posted the regulation online to solicit opinions from its local bureaus, which are due by July 10. Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. The regulation also set thresholds for medical facilities and doctors eligible for transsexual operations. For example, hospitals must have an ethics committee to evaluate applications and a plastic surgery department that has operated for more than 10 years. Surgeons must have more than five years of experience in transsexual operations. There are an estimated 1,000 transsexuals in China. Related: Close the CAMH Gender Identity Clinic http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=72087499258

Arizona name change for out-of-state students

2009-06-15T17:22:00-08:00

A helpful reader has explained how to do an out-of-state name change for Arizona residents. Basic info is here: http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name/arizona.html The process is similar in many states, but you need to check with the state where you legally reside. It’s usually your parents’ residence if you are a dependent, and the state where you are registered to vote and where your tax return lists you as residing. If work or school does not allow you to travel to your home state to complete a name change, there are other options, as this resourceful reader explains: How to legally change your name in Maricopa county when you are living out of state (ex. attending college), but still a resident of Arizona: 0. Note that at any time if you have questions, you can call the clerk of the court. Technically they’re not allowed to tell you a lot of things, but don’t let them hang up on you and ask your questions anyway. They might be able to answer anyways. 1. Go to the Superior Court website, find the self-service center, and select the link “Court Forms.” Legal name changes are civil cases, and so select that category. Select the appropriate link; for example, I needed to use “Name Change for an Adult who has no Minor Children.” 2. Open the appropriate packet as a PDF, and print it out SINGLE-SIDED. The court does NOT accept double-sided papers (something to do with their scanning system). That part is a legal law, but they do not tell you directly on the website. Because it is the Superior Court, they either assume you know what you are doing or that you have hired a lawyer. After printing, carefully read the directions. I had to read them a few times, and check back and forth between the forms to understand what they were getting at. 3. Note that you can ignore Step 5, “Notify Any Interested Party,” if you are not married. This also means you don’t need a few of the pages included in the packet. 4. Fill out “Application for Change of Name for Adult” and “Civil Cover Sheet” papers. You do not yet have a case number; don’t worry about it. In case others are confused as I was, you are the Plaintiff. You probably don’t have any Defendants. Don’t forget about the question of “Interpreter” on the top right of the civil cover sheet, and sign that box. 5. Locate which Superior Court to send your documents to; they do it by zipcode. (In Maricopa County there are 4 of them.) You can call the clerk of any of the courts and ask; tell them the zipcode of your permanent residence in Arizona, and they’ll tell you which court to send the stuff to. 6. Get the “Application for Change of Name of Adult” paper notarized (your local bank can probably do that) and copied the appropriate number of times. If they notarize things with a press-seal rather than a colored seal, have them photocopy the pages and then notarize all the copies individually. Photocopy the Civil Cover Sheet the appropriate number of times as well. (And don’t forget, you might want an extra copy of each to keep at home with you.) 7. Check the fees, and either fill out a check or money order for the filing of a legal name change. I wouldn’t recommend cash, because that’s a lot of money you can lose if you just stick it in the mail. Gather that, the appropriate number of copies of forms (you just need the Civil Cover Sheet and Application for name change at the moment), and a 9” x 12” envelope addressed FROM the appropriate Superior Court with TO address of where you want stuff sent back to. ALL ADDRESSES ON THE FORMS SHOULD BE OF YOUR PERMANENT ADDRESS IN ARIZONA. Take these all to your local post office, and have them stamp that 9” x 12” envelope based on having about 10 to 15 pages inside. (That’s more postage than will probably be needed, but being on the safe side is good.) FINALLY, put everything in an envelope large enough to contain the 9” x 12” envelope. You can expedite this if you want, or not. I recommend at least getting a tracking code on your stuff. Mail it to the appropriate court. So, in the bigger envelope: fees, forms, and 9x12 envelope. 8. Now you wait. It’s annoying. If you filled everything out right and payed the fees correctly, they give you a case number and a phone number to call. By the time you get your envelope back, the waiting period will probably be over, but don’t freak out if your case isn’t in the system yet the first couple of days. 9. Schedule a telephonic hearing. They DEFINITELY prefer you to be in person, so if you can schedule it over a break from school, that’s awesome. Otherwise, keep pestering them and explain why you need it done telephonically and can’t wait. At this point, I was actually in Arizona and scheduled my hearing while there, but if not, you may need to send in another few forms and return envelope(s). I am uncertain on this point. Call a Clerk of the Court, or ask the secretary of your judge/commisioner. 10. Congratulations, it’s your hearing day! Just be truthful, because they swear you in. Once your hearing is over, ask if they’d be willing to fax an unofficial copy (if you have access to a fax. Sometimes people in college offices can be friendly and lend you theirs). The unofficial copy doesn’t do anything, unless (like mine) your school is willing to take that as “good enough” and change their systems. The only difference between and unofficial and an official copy is a notarization, and the fact that the legal change has been processed through all the court systems. 11. Find a form requesting a copy of the court order of your legal name change. (You may have to wait two or three weeks to do this, while stuff in their systems gets processed.) I didn’t actually have to do this and so don’t know where to find the form online. If you can’t find it, I suggest calling the Clerk of the Court, or possibly one of the libraries. If you call enough lawyers, one MIGHT be willing to help you out for free. Mail in that form, the appropriate fees, a return envelope, etc. 12. Congratulations, you now have an OFFICIAL court order stating your legal name! Unfortunately there’s a bit more. 13. Go to the nearest Social Security office and file for a new social security card. Once you get that (it took me a week), go to the post office and file for a renewed passport due to a legal name change. Note that this passport form is DIFFERENT than the one to simply renew a passport. I think mine was purple in color; I apologize for not having more details on that issue. 14. If you can, as soon as possible after getting your new social security card, get your driver’s license or state ID changed. I’m pretty sure you have to be in person to do that, however. 15. Tell everyone else who needs to be told that your name has been legally changed (i.e. doctors, credit card companies, the bank, AAA, your parents perhaps, etc.) This may take a while, and can actually be done on an as-needed basis. 16. Congratulations! You’re done! Have a party. Invite friends. Enjoy your new legal name. See also: Legal Name Change Project for Transgender People http://www.tsroadmap.com/reality/name-change.html

Megan B. McCormick, transsexualism, and J. Michael Bailey

2009-06-15T16:02:00-08:00

I am a prominent critic of psychologist J. Michael Bailey, whose 2003 book, The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism, led to a formal investigation and an undisclosed response by his employer Northwestern University. What kind of person decides on a lark to get involved in a dispute between a controversial academic and the victims of his pseudoscience? What kind of person engages in fraud to obtain a signed gift for J. Michael Bailey from someone who helped file charges against him? Only Megan B. McCormick can explain her troubling behavior, but she’s been too busy trying to erase materials she published on the internet. Megan B. McCormick, transsexualism, and J. Michael Bailey http://www.tsroadmap.com/info/megan-b-mccormick.html

Trial for Teish Green’s murder-- let’s raise awareness!

2009-06-14T20:46:00-08:00

Gina Morvay notes: While I’m sure you’re well acquainted with it, in a month the trial of Dwight DeLee will commence. He is accused of murdering a 22-year old Syracuse, NY African American transwoman named Teish Green back in 11/08. Teish and her gay younger brother were sitting in a car in front of a house where a party was going on when a man they didn’t know (possibly DeLee) shouted hate statements at them and shot them with a rifle. Teish (born Moses Cannon-- which is how she’s referred to in much of the media surrounding the trial) was one of many transwomen of color who are murdered each year and whose murders go unsolved and often lightly prosecuted. This case is going to be prosecuted with a hate crime amendment. In the month we have before the trial begins, we’re trying to generate some of the same interest which occurred for the Angie Zapata trial. Unfortunately, far too many murders of African-American transwomen go under-reported. I’ve created a Facebook page for those remembering Teish Green and supporting respectful coverage in the media of the trial and her life. I’d greatly appreciate it if you could give it a mention of it on Transsexual Roadmap. I am sad to report that this was the first I’d heard of it. As Monica Roberts notes: The trial of the alleged killer of Lateisha Green, Dwight DeLee was supposed to start yesterday in Syracuse. You wouldn’t know that because if you Google it, check the local Syracuse media, the website of the Onondaga County DA’s office, and even the websites of GLBT groups in the area, you won’t find anything on the DeLee trial except old stories and link backs to TransGriot. I guess if the victim is a Black transwoman, nobody gives a shit, especially if the trial is falling just before the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion that peeps who share Lateisha’s ethnic heritage helped jump off. What If There Was A Trans Trial And Nobody Cared? by Monica Roberts http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-if-there-was-trans-trial-and.html Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=91245428796

40 Trans Heroes named in honor of Stonewall 40th anniversary

2009-06-14T20:41:01-08:00

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the International Court System, in collaboration with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is recognizing 40 transgender and gender- nonconforming individuals for their contribution toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. “This is by no means a complete list or a ‘best of’ or ‘top 10’ list. It is merely a beginning tribute to the thousands of transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals that have made our modern-day movement possible,” says Thom Hansen, president of the International Court Council. “This momentous tribute to the transgender community is a long time coming. The International Court System is honored to partner with the Task Force. Together, we pay tribute to those whose lives and works have impacted each and every one of us.” 40 Trans Heroes http://www.impcourt.org/Trans40/

UK Paper: 1 in 166 gender variant; trans clients double every 5 years

2009-06-13T19:17:00-08:00

United Kingdom-based Gender Identity Research and Education Society (GIRES) has issued a report on prevalence of trans people in the UK that challenges the conventional wisdom that gender variance and transsexualism are very rare. Lead author Bernard Reed will present a paper on this topic at the June Symposium at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The DSM-IV published by the American Psychiatric Association says small studies suggest “roughly 1 per 30,000 adult males and 1 per 100,000 adult females seek sex-reassignment surgery.” These prevalence numbers are significantly different from the report released today. Highlights of the report prepared by Bernard Reed, Stephenne Rhodes, Pietà Schofield, and Kevan Wylie: • The number of people reporting is doubling every 5 years at the current rate. • The report estimates as many as 1 in 166 (600 in 100,000) experiences some degree of gender variance. • 1 in 8,000 people in the UK have already transitioned, with another 4,000 planning to transition or in the process. • Male-to-female gender variance may be reported more often (currently 80% of all reported in the UK) If the gender balance is equal, the number could be 1% of the UK population. • GIRES predicts that anywhere from five to nine times as many people may present for treatment in the future. The report discusses other demographic trends, including the trend toward transitioning earlier in life. Webpage: http://www.gires.org.uk/prevalence.php PDF: http://www.gires.org.uk/assets/Medpro-Assets/GenderVarianceUK-report.pdf

Lynn Conway files a formal complaint against Ken Zucker

2009-06-10T22:15:01-08:00

Professor Lynn Conway has made a formal complaint against Ken Zucker at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Zucker has a habit of making legal threats against trangender people who criticize him. Not only did Dr. Zucker apparently misappropriate University legal funds to press a personal action aimed at intimidating and silencing a transgender critic, thereby defrauding the people of the Province of Ontario, he also abused his position of authority as a senior faculty member to co-opt CAMH into enjoining this unethical action – i.e., joining into a false accusation of libel. Furthermore, he has engaged in a pattern of such activities, i.e., repeatedly co-opting CAMH into launching libel threats against his critics – thus terribly frightening and intimidating others too. The evidence of this is quite clear, for several other transitioned women have recently posted legal threats that they have received from CAMH and these are likely just the tip of the iceberg.” Website: http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/News/US/Zucker/Complaint/Academic_Misconduct_by_Ken_Zucker.html PDF: http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/TS/News/US/Zucker/Complaint/Academic_Misconduct_by_Ken_Zucker.pdf