THEGAYUK

Tag: Trans

This is where you can find all articles about and for the trans community. Are we missing something? Send an email to newsdesk@thegayuk.com

  • HSBC announces trans friendly banking

    HSBC will now allow its customers to choose from a variety of different titles as well committing to training its branch staff to understand issues surrounding the trans experience.

    HSBCFrom Friday 31st, trans customers of HSBC will be able to choose from 10 gender titles including, Mx, Ind, M, Mre, Msr, Myr, Pr, Sai, Ser and Misc instead of the binary Mr or Ms. The bank has also pledged to train all its branch and contact centre staff to be more trans-inclusive and aware.

    The decision to offer customers a wider range of options coincides with International Transgender Day of Visibility.

    HSBC UK has also introduced a process which makes it simpler for customers who are transitioning to change their gender on their bank account. Customers simply need to bring a passport, driving licence or birth certificate that supports the change of gender to update their details in a branch. This has been supported by training for all branch and contact centre staff that aims at helping HSBC UK employees understand the issues experienced by transgender customers.

    This has been supported by training for all branch and contact centre staff that aims at helping HSBC UK employees understand the issues experienced by transgender customers.

    The changes were developed in tandem with HSBC Pride, the bank’s LGBT+ employee network, which played a key advisory role in ensuring the new services reflect the financial needs of the trans community.

    Stuart Barette, Senior Project Manager and Trans Lead of HSBC UK Pride Network said,

    “On the day that I went into the branch to change my name and my gender I was terrified, to be honest. Coming out to anyone is difficult, as you don’t know people are going to react. That’s why the changes we’ve been making are so important so that our trans customers can feel confident that they’re going to have a good experience and be speaking with someone who has been trained to better understand them.”

    Stuart Haire, HSBC’s Head of Retail, UK commented,

    “The changes announced today are part of a broader priority for us to ensure our products and services are relevant for the unique financial needs of all of our customers. We want everyone to be able to access simple and smart banking solutions that work for them, and we will continue working with our LGBT+ colleagues and customers to ensure we’re getting it right.”

  • “Reckless” Trump reverses Trans bathroom protections

    “Reckless” Trump reverses Trans bathroom protections

    Trump’s administration has reversed Obama’s bathroom guidelines which protected the rights of trans students.

    CREDIT: andykatz / bigstock

    The rights of trans Americans have been officially curtailed after President Donald Trump‘s administration rescinded the guidelines about trans people’s bathroom rights, which were put forward by Obama during his second term.

    The guidelines allowed for trans students to use bathrooms and changing rooms which match their current gender identity rather than the biological sex written on their birth certificates.

    The White House stated that the previous guidelines did not “contain extensive legal analysis or explain how the position is consistent with the express language of Title IX, nor did they undergo any formal public process.”

    Schools and the Supreme Court were told by letter on Wednesday that the guidance was changing.

    Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary said that Donald Trump was “a firm believer in states’ rights and that certain issues like this are not best dealt with on the federal level.”

    ALSO READ:

     

    A spokesperson for the Campaign for Southern Equality condemned the action saying that “no child should be denied access to basic facilities or subjected to discriminatory treatment” and called the current Trump administration “reckless”

    Despite the rollback, the letter will have no effect as the guidelines were blocked by the federal court after they were issued.

    Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality said,

    “The reality is that the protections of Title IX are still in effect for transgender students. We will fight every day to ensure that these protections remain in place”.

  • There’s been a 47% rise in calls from LGBT kids to Childine

    National Children’s counselling helpline, Childline is receiving around 21 calls a day from children concerned about coming out, acceptance and gender dysphoria and being transgender.

    • Children’s charity says it’s received a 47 per cent soar in calls from children worried about LGBT matters.

    • In 2015-16 the charity carried out 7729 counselling sessions with children.

    • Fear of stigmatisation still a real concern for children between the age of 12 and 15.

    Children’s charity NSPCC which runs the national helpline, Childline, has revealed that calls to their counselling service have risen by nearly 50 per cent from children who have concerns about coming out, acceptance, gender dysphoria and being transgender. The charity’s CEO Peter Wanless said, that children as young as 12 fear stigmatisation and anti-LGBT bullying which could leave to serious mental health issues.

    He called upon adults such as parents, teachers or relations to encourage young people to “speak out” and to make them feel confident in speaking openly about sexuality or gender identity.

    He said,

    “Talking about sexuality and gender identity can be daunting for anyone, but especially for children and young people who are still trying to find their place in the world. Fear of being stigmatized or subjected to bullying can force many to bottle up their thoughts and feelings which can leave them feeling isolated, and can trigger serious mental health issues.

    “It is vital children and young people feel confident and supported to speak openly about sexuality or gender identity without fear of negative reactions and abuse. Adults, be it a parent, relation, teacher or friend,  have a key part to play by helping them  navigate these difficult and confusing issues, encouraging them to speak out, if not to them, then to peers or Childline.”

    12-15-year-olds were most likely to contact Childline online or over the phone to talk about issues including coming out, self-acceptance and gender dysphoria and transgenderism. In a quarter of counselling sessions about sexuality and gender identity issues, the young person told Childline they had not previously confided in anyone else, many told us they found it difficult to talk openly with peers and family members.

    ALSO READ: The best anti-bullying websites

     

    Homophobic bullying was mentioned in almost 450 counselling sessions and can stop young people from speaking out about sexuality or gender identity. In almost a quarter (24%) of counselling sessions about sexuality or gender identity, young people said they suffered from depression, low self-esteem, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

    Dame Esther Rantzen, President of Childline said,

    “I have met young people who were desperately unhappy because they couldn’t talk to anyone about issues regarding their sexuality and I am so pleased that they do feel able to talk to Childline and reveal their feelings without being judged or stigmatised. It is not helpful that children use the term ‘gay’ as a common term of playground abuse.

    “Furthermore, for years the adult world has created a taboo around these issues which effectively imprisoned young people and in some cases has even led to depression and suicide. Childline is calling upon the adult world to listen sensitively and support young people and protect them from this profound unhappiness and loneliness.”

    Any child or young person who wants to talk about sexuality or gender issues can call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit www.childline.org.uk

     

     

     

  • American Boy Scouts to allow trans kids

    Trans children will now be permitted to join the Boy Scouts of America.

    Boy Scouts of America
    CREDIT: ©-smontgom65-Depositphotos

    Transgender children who identify as male will now be able to join the Boy Scouts of America, thanks to a policy change, which does not require the child to have male registered on their birth certificates. The organisation, founded in 1910 only allowed children that had “male” written on their birth certificates to join the organisation. The new policy has an immediate start after the group found that the approach of determining the eligibility of entry via a person’s gender was “sufficient”.

    In a statement The Boy Scouts of America said,

    “For more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America, along with schools, youth sports and other youth organizations, have ultimately deferred to the information on an individual’s birth certificate to determine eligibility for our single-gender programs.

    “However, that approach is no longer sufficient as communities and state laws are interpreting gender identity differently, and these laws vary widely from state to state.”

    Children in the UK are not subject to a gender policy and are welcome to join the organisation regardless of their identity.

     

  • Court rules Jewish trans parent cannot see her children

    Court rules Jewish trans parent cannot see her children

    A British court has ruled that the children of a Jewish transgender woman may not see their parent due to the likelihood that they will be “marginalised or excluded by the ultra-Orthodox community”.

    Manchester Court
    CREDIT: Google Maps 2016

    The Independent reports that a transgender parent has had access to her children denied by a family court in Manchester. The ruling, the first of its kind, found that the children and the biological mother could be “marginalised or excluded by the ultra-Orthodox community”. The family is part of the ultra-orthodox Jewish Charedis.

    The trans parent, who is living as a woman is only allowed “indirect” contact to her children four times a year. The ruling comes despite Orthodox Jewish rabbis suggesting that Judaism should not punish transgender people in this way.

    Justice Jackson concluded that there was a “risk” that the mother and her children could be rejected by their community, if they had direct, “face to face contact with their father”. He express regret before his ruling saying, that the “father’s” application for contact would be refushed.

    He said,

    “I therefore conclude with real regret, knowing the pain that it must cause, that the father’s application for direct contact must be refused.”

    The Independent has the full story

  • Will Donald Trump dance with Caitlyn Jenner at his inaugural ball?

    Apparently Donald Trump is being urged to dance with Caitlyn Jenner at his inaugural ball…

    CREDIT: andykatz / bigstock

    UNPOPULAR: The incoming president of the US, Donald Trump is very unpopular with the LGBT community. Will a dance with Caitlyn Jenner mend bridges?

    In a move some are suggesting might prove that he is “in touch” with the LGBT community, President-elect Donald Trump is apparently being urged to dance with trans star Caitlyn Jenner.

    Many LGBT advocates are fearful of the backward steps a Trump administration might mean for the LGBT community in the US over the next four years, with some fearing that gay marriage could be repealed once he comes into power. Trump has said that same-sex marriage is “fine” with him.

    The Daily Mail is reporting that his advisors believe that a dance with one of America’s most visible trans stars could build bridges with the community.

    CREDIT: © Jean_Nelson / Depositphotos.com

    REPUBLICAN BEAU: Caitlyn Jenner was a supporter of the Republican party before she transitioned. She is reportedly attending the inaugural ball, but not as an official invite by the President Elect.

    Speaking to pagesix.com a member of the incoming administration said that image of Donald dancing with Caitlyn was a “brilliant idea”. 

    Richard Johnson reports that the Republican aide said,

    “The image of Trump dancing with Caitlyn would send a strong message that he supports gay rights and trans rights,” the Republican said. “A picture is worth a thousand tweets.”

    Caitlyn’s publicists hasn’t confirmed whether the star would be up for a dance… saying,

    “Can’t deal in hypotheticals. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

     

  • Big Brother star “think once, twice, three, four five” times before you transition

    Big Brother star “think once, twice, three, four five” times before you transition

    In a teary, emotional late night video, Rebekah Shelton shared her confusion over her transition with her fans.

    Rebekha Shelton
    CREDIT: Rebekha Shelton/ Twitter

    Rebekah Shelton, who fans of Big Brother may remember as Rodrigo Lopez, shared an emotional video on Twitter over her confusion and upset over her transition. Speaking via Twitter, in Tweets that she’s now deleted, she spoke of her journey, since embarking on a series of operations to fulfil her transition. She spoke of her loneliness and the discrimination she’s faced since beginning her physical transition.

    She was left questioning whether the transition was worth it.

    The videos were uploaded after she managed to log into her old Rodrigo Facebook account and left the star feeling emotional. She said,

    “I went on, after five years, I was trying to find the Facebook account, as Rodrigo, you know, from the past. I was shocked, it’s hard to go through everything I’ve been through – having all these surgeries and things. It’s crazy when you look at yourself and the way you used to be, and it makes you wonder, what have I done?”

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819360641186205696

     

    After she logged on to the Facebook account she Tweeted a picture of herself entering the BB house as Rodrigo,

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819356474015158272

    “I used to be a handsome boy. What have I done to myself? I’m lonely. I’m lost. It wasn’t worth it”

     

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819356075367550977

    She finished her video by saying,

    “If you are following me and you want to transition, think. Think, once, twice, three times, four times, five times, because it’s not easy. You have more opportunities in your birth gender because there is still discrimination. There is still discrimination, you know so just think.”

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819362760333127680

     

    Dr Dannii Cohen, who writes for THEGAYUK said,

    “This is something the new transgender community would rather not talk about, understandable: they are getting their voice out at last and do not want people to doubt their validity.

    “But it is important, especially right now and should not be silenced.

    “Trans identity is wonderful – IF it is how you truly feel, but think about it long and hard for months, years and then discuss it with psychologists at least five times. If you do it simply because you are seduced by others on the internet and think it could fill a hole inside yourself or because you think you simply aren’t good enough the way you are I’m not.”

    Read the full article from Dr Cohen here.

     

  • Trans star Rebekah Shelton blasts Stacy Francis over “fake body” jibes

    Trans star Rebekah Shelton blasts Stacy Francis over “fake body” jibes

    Rebekah Shelton who starred in series 10 of Big Brother has slammed CBB star Stacy Francis in a series of Tweets after the US singer blasted Jasmine Waltz for having a fake face.

    Stacy Francis on fake faces
    Stacy.

    In a sweary series of Tweets, Rebekah Shelton blasted Stacy Francis‘s takedown of people who have fake faces and bodies. The former Big Brother star, who has undergone a series of body changing operations said,

    “My face is fake too, my whole body is fake!”

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819290787099844608

    Rebekah Shelton talks about transition on Judge Rinder
    CREDIT: YouTube/ITV

    The BB star started her transition 5 years ago and has had a number of operations. During a recent appearance on Robert Rinder’s ITV daytime show, Judge Rinder, she went into detail about the various operations she had including, facial feminisation surgery, having her Adam’s apple shaved, a nose and boob job.

    https://twitter.com/MissRShelton/status/819290503900446720

    “I should be calling out people with their fake faces and fake personalities! She has a fake face! There are fake b*tches in here though!”

    Later in the programme, Stacy apologised to Jasmine for her words saying,

    “I just want to apologise for the things I said at the table…the reason I was most upset is that I admire you.”

  • A study finds that Male/Female WC signage could be replaced by room descriptions

    A study finds that Male/Female WC signage could be replaced by room descriptions

    A research team were granted £50,000 to study whether terms to describe public toilets were accessible. They’ve released their findings.

    A research team from Sheffield Hallam University were awarded nearly £50,000 in June last year, from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to research the way public toilets are designed, “in an effort to assess if they are fit for purpose for the UK’s diverse 21st Century society.”

    The paper , which was published last month, points out that school toilets are one of the first places where children learn that “disabled and queer bodies are out of place”.

    The research is now complete and they managed to find some interesting ways of ensuring that people don’t feel left out or marginalised when using public facilities. The 7000-word report outlines how some respondents thought that changing the male/female icon with a description of the room’s content could be more helpful.

    Education and Disability Studies researcher Dr Jenny Slater wrote,

    ” A suggestion from participants was to write on the toilet door the contents of the toilet cubicle, e.g. toilets with urinals, toilets without urinals, larger toilet with grab bars.

    “Participants thought it was important for others to not judge people’s choice of toilet, but to allow people to use whichever space was accessible for them (‘accessible’ being used in the broadest sense of the word).

    “This would mean critically considering the signage on toilet doors in order to understand how toilets do not just illustrate categorisation by gender, disability (and historically, race), but also actively produce such categories.”

  • Oxford student union denies “Ze” pronoun story

    A statement released by the Oxford University students’ union has denied it instructed students to use “ze” pronouns.

    An Oxford University student representative has denied that the university requires people to use the “ze” pronoun after The Times reported that a leaflet was distributed to students suggesting that they should look to use non-gendered pronouns.

    A statement released by Jo Gregory-Brough stated that the information published was incorrect and that a leaflet had not been produced implying that all students must use “ze”.

    Gregory-Brough said,

    “As far as we’re aware, the information which has been published is incorrect. We have not produced a leaflet implying that all students must use ‘ze’ pronouns to refer to others, or indeed to themselves.”

     

    However, the statement does suggest that there are other resources that are used by student leaders and welfare representatives, which,

    “…alongside other information and tips, reminds individuals of the importance of not assuming the pronouns of their peers while also aiming to normalise stating pronouns in introductions.”

     

    Jo Gregory-Brough outlined support for the trans community at the university by stating,

    “We would also like to clearly state that we would never tell anyone to use ‘ze’ pronouns instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ if ‘he’ or ‘she’ is the pronoun someone wishes to use. That would be misgendering and would likely have the biggest impact on individuals (ie, some trans students) who may already be struggling to get people to use ‘he’ or ‘she’ for them. It would be totally counterproductive.

    Some critics have slammed the practice of adding pronouns to an introduction as a form of outing and forcing people to acknowledge their gender or sexual identity before they are ready to do so or enforcing a label upon themselves which may not feel comfortable.

    The use of pronoun confirmation is “standard practice” according to Gregory-Brough who said it was “disappointing” that the media storm surrounding the story beset the union’s efforts to “ensure our trans students feel welcome within the Oxford community.”

     

     

  • Oxford University students are being instructed to use “Ze” instead of “he” or “she”

    Students at one of the world’s most prestigious universities have been handed a leaflet explaining why they should start to use the pronoun “ze” instead of gender-specific pronouns such as “he” or “she”.

    The leaflet, which has been distributed by the student union is a campaign they hope will prevent discrimination and offence caused by the incorrect use of pronouns for students at the University. It is hoped that the rules will be used in lectures and in general use around campus.

    The Sunday Times reported that students already face disciplinary action if they purposefully misgender a person. According to its behaviour code, “repeated use of the wrong pronoun to define a transgender person is an offence”. Language that “may amount to harassment” or “deliberately using the wrong name or pronoun in relation to a transgender person, or persistently referring to their gender identity history” could land the perpetrator in trouble.

    Cambridge University is apparently moving to use the gender neutral pronouns. Its student’s welfare officer, Sophie Buck,  said,

    “Events start with a speaker introducing themselves using a gender neutral pronoun. It’s part of a drive to make the union intersectional.”

    However, it the use of introducing gender pronouns or asking people to reveal what pronouns they wish to use, has been criticised by some as a means of forcing someone to use gender pronouns before they are ready to come out or reveal their gender identity before they are comfortable to do so.