25/07: Journal club -- Conceptualizing trans populations in research and implications in HIV prevention
Lifetime Risk Factors for HIV/Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male-to-Female Transgender Persons.
Nuttbrock L, Hwahng S, Bockting W, Rosenblum A, Mason M, Macri M, Becker J.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2009 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19550351 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Sex Workers, Fem Queens, and Cross-Dressers: Differential Marginalizations and HIV Vulnerabilities Among Three Ethnocultural Male-to-Female Transgender Communities in New York City.
Hwahng SJ, Nuttbrock L.
Sex Res Social Policy. 2007 Dec;4(4):36-59.
PMID: 19079558 [PubMed]
The Nuttbrock, et al article, while brief, has an interesting finding. That the degree of one’s “social expression of transgender identity” was associated with HIV in a sample of transwomen of color. That is, the more people know about a person being trans and the more one interacts in public in female attire (their definition) the greater the likelihood of being HIV positive ( as well as for hepatitis B and C). This is somewhat similar to the finding made by Boles and Elifson in 1994 (PMID: 8066491) that “Transvestites from the high prevalence area are strongly committed to transvestism” ignoring the use of transvestite the findings of both studies indicate a difference within transgender feminine samples. Individuals who have a fulltime feminine gender presentation will experience greater problems than those with limited exposure. What this comes down to is the difference between groups that can be classified as crossdressers versus those who can be classified as transsexual (This is my classification and not related to the variation in identities and lives found among trans feminine individuals, but I do so now for ease of writing).
This is why I also want to include Hwahng and Nuttbrock’s 2007 article (from the same project) where they identify and describe three groups of trans feminine individuals involved in sex work. To sum them up, white crossdressers involved in sex work do so from a more privileged position compared to Asian sex workers, who are then better off compared to those from the House Ball Community. Hwahng and Nuttbrock’s summary is that white crossdressers benefit from their race privilege and from the fact that they are still embedded within masculine social and employment contexts. There is also the issue of social presentation in that the crossdresser group are not as focused on body-modifications as those in the House Ball and Asian Sex Worker groups. In the end, the crossdresser group are not at risk for HIV compared to the other two groups. Nuttbrock’s recent article supports this as well. In that study HIV was found among 3.5% of the White participants compared to 49.6% and 48.1% of the Hispanic and African-American participants. White participants also reported fewer years of injecting female hormones, less sexual interest in men, less identity disclosure, and less presenting in public as female compared to the transwomen of color. The finding that transwomen of color have high rates of HIV infection mirrors many other studies of transwomen and HIV. Although, other studies (like San Francisco) still reported rates of HIV infection among their White participants as being greater then what Nuttbrock found in his sample. I think that this is a sampling and conceptualization issue that needs to be discussed.
Studies examining transwomen tend to group together a wide range of identities and behaviors. While these identities are many times dependent upon one’s own socio-cultural context and viewpoints, what is more crucial is the issue of public exposure (described in Nuttbrock, et al). Men who crossdress, for the most part, do not have the same social exposure as those who are male bodied, but identify as women and seek to have a fulltime feminine social role (using transsexual to refer to these people for now). Men who crossdress do not have the same problems as transsexual women. Crossdressers are able to retain a level of privilege and social benefits than those transitioning from one gender to another. Crossdresser gender performances tend to be more restricted in social space and time than that of transsexual women. Greater social exposure as transwomen is associated with greater problems. Nuttbrock found this in regards to HIV infection, while I found a similar thing in a recent paper myself (Lombardi, E. Varieties of Transgender/Transsexual Lives and their Relationship with Transphobia. Journal of Homosexuality. In Press.). When conceptualizing transpopulations at risk for HIV we must focus on those with greater exposure, that is, those with fulltime social presentation rather than those who only dress on occasions.
There are already interventions designed for transpeople, much do seem to be oriented toward those who have a fulltime (or close to fulltime) social presentation. Crossdressers tend to not get the same level of resources, but based on Nuttbrock’s study, they may not need it. In addition, would inclusion of crossdressers into an intervention like TWISTA (an adaptation of SISTA for transwomen of color) be beneficial to them or the other participants. People have been voicing the need to conceptualize transwomen as distinct from MSM within the HIV field (and rightly so), but I don’t think that crossdressers should be. Interventions targeting MSM categories could be adapted for white men who crossdress and have sex with men. But in light of the current economic crisis and the lack of research noting a clear risk for HIV, I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.
Nuttbrock L, Hwahng S, Bockting W, Rosenblum A, Mason M, Macri M, Becker J.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2009 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19550351 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Sex Workers, Fem Queens, and Cross-Dressers: Differential Marginalizations and HIV Vulnerabilities Among Three Ethnocultural Male-to-Female Transgender Communities in New York City.
Hwahng SJ, Nuttbrock L.
Sex Res Social Policy. 2007 Dec;4(4):36-59.
PMID: 19079558 [PubMed]
The Nuttbrock, et al article, while brief, has an interesting finding. That the degree of one’s “social expression of transgender identity” was associated with HIV in a sample of transwomen of color. That is, the more people know about a person being trans and the more one interacts in public in female attire (their definition) the greater the likelihood of being HIV positive ( as well as for hepatitis B and C). This is somewhat similar to the finding made by Boles and Elifson in 1994 (PMID: 8066491) that “Transvestites from the high prevalence area are strongly committed to transvestism” ignoring the use of transvestite the findings of both studies indicate a difference within transgender feminine samples. Individuals who have a fulltime feminine gender presentation will experience greater problems than those with limited exposure. What this comes down to is the difference between groups that can be classified as crossdressers versus those who can be classified as transsexual (This is my classification and not related to the variation in identities and lives found among trans feminine individuals, but I do so now for ease of writing).
This is why I also want to include Hwahng and Nuttbrock’s 2007 article (from the same project) where they identify and describe three groups of trans feminine individuals involved in sex work. To sum them up, white crossdressers involved in sex work do so from a more privileged position compared to Asian sex workers, who are then better off compared to those from the House Ball Community. Hwahng and Nuttbrock’s summary is that white crossdressers benefit from their race privilege and from the fact that they are still embedded within masculine social and employment contexts. There is also the issue of social presentation in that the crossdresser group are not as focused on body-modifications as those in the House Ball and Asian Sex Worker groups. In the end, the crossdresser group are not at risk for HIV compared to the other two groups. Nuttbrock’s recent article supports this as well. In that study HIV was found among 3.5% of the White participants compared to 49.6% and 48.1% of the Hispanic and African-American participants. White participants also reported fewer years of injecting female hormones, less sexual interest in men, less identity disclosure, and less presenting in public as female compared to the transwomen of color. The finding that transwomen of color have high rates of HIV infection mirrors many other studies of transwomen and HIV. Although, other studies (like San Francisco) still reported rates of HIV infection among their White participants as being greater then what Nuttbrock found in his sample. I think that this is a sampling and conceptualization issue that needs to be discussed.
Studies examining transwomen tend to group together a wide range of identities and behaviors. While these identities are many times dependent upon one’s own socio-cultural context and viewpoints, what is more crucial is the issue of public exposure (described in Nuttbrock, et al). Men who crossdress, for the most part, do not have the same social exposure as those who are male bodied, but identify as women and seek to have a fulltime feminine social role (using transsexual to refer to these people for now). Men who crossdress do not have the same problems as transsexual women. Crossdressers are able to retain a level of privilege and social benefits than those transitioning from one gender to another. Crossdresser gender performances tend to be more restricted in social space and time than that of transsexual women. Greater social exposure as transwomen is associated with greater problems. Nuttbrock found this in regards to HIV infection, while I found a similar thing in a recent paper myself (Lombardi, E. Varieties of Transgender/Transsexual Lives and their Relationship with Transphobia. Journal of Homosexuality. In Press.). When conceptualizing transpopulations at risk for HIV we must focus on those with greater exposure, that is, those with fulltime social presentation rather than those who only dress on occasions.
There are already interventions designed for transpeople, much do seem to be oriented toward those who have a fulltime (or close to fulltime) social presentation. Crossdressers tend to not get the same level of resources, but based on Nuttbrock’s study, they may not need it. In addition, would inclusion of crossdressers into an intervention like TWISTA (an adaptation of SISTA for transwomen of color) be beneficial to them or the other participants. People have been voicing the need to conceptualize transwomen as distinct from MSM within the HIV field (and rightly so), but I don’t think that crossdressers should be. Interventions targeting MSM categories could be adapted for white men who crossdress and have sex with men. But in light of the current economic crisis and the lack of research noting a clear risk for HIV, I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/07/the_9_unconfirmed_enda_house_votes_in_pe.php
One of which is my Rep. John Murtha. The other is Jason Altmire, who I've seen attend many Steel-City Stonewall Democrats activities.
Now that the Allegheny County Ordinance has passed, we can now focus on the state and federal legislation now.
Perhaps the reason why the ENDA unconfirmed count is so high here in PA is that we've been focusing more on local legislation. Just a thought.
One of which is my Rep. John Murtha. The other is Jason Altmire, who I've seen attend many Steel-City Stonewall Democrats activities.
Now that the Allegheny County Ordinance has passed, we can now focus on the state and federal legislation now.
Perhaps the reason why the ENDA unconfirmed count is so high here in PA is that we've been focusing more on local legislation. Just a thought.
The Allegheny County Council voted Wednesday evening, July 1, 2009 to approve the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance, legislation that will ban discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression with limited exceptions. Although similar protections have been in place in the City of Pittsburgh for over 20 years, this week’s ordinance marks the first time these protections will be extended to County borders. This is a historic step forward and true cause for celebration.
The bill, which passed by an 8-6 vote, established a county-wide Human Relations Commission that will be responsible for investigating claims of discrimination. The ordinance is set to become law once it is signed by County Executive Dan Onorato on Thursday, June 9, 2009.
The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance, along with many other individuals, worked with County Executive Dan Onorato and County Council this week to modify the bill after a previous amendment was found to include an unreasonably broad loophole per religious exemptions. The final amended language, while explicitly stating an exemption by religious organizations, sidesteps the issue of organizations that receive tax-payer funds. This language allows for further dialogue on this particular issue.
LGBT rights organizations from across the state also praised the Ordinance for its inclusive protection of transgender individuals. The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance called the new legislation “the highest standard of trans-inclusive language in the Commonwealth.” The county is now the fifteenth municipality in the state to grant protection to LGBT individuals.
For the past year, our community has worked with determination and persistence to bring this day about. Throughout this process, we have formed important relationships, and the unique collaboration between LGBT organizations, allies, grassroots activists, and public officials will continue to serve as a model of effective partnership. We thank all those involved, particularly Council Members Burn, DeFazio, Cleary, Fitzgerald, Macey, Martoni, Robinson and, of course, the prime sponsor Amanda Green. We also thank County Executive Dan Onorato and his staff for lobbying in support of the Ordinance in recent weeks.
While the individuals and groups involved in this effort are numerous, several groups and grassroots outlets offered frequent input into the process in recent days: Speakers at the Council meeting, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission, ACLU-PA, Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, Equality Advocates PA, GLCC Pittsburgh, GLEC Group, New Voices Pittsburgh-Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, One Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania NOW, PERSAD Center, Steel-City Stonewall Democrats, Trans Working Group, Women’s Law Project, Women & Girl’s Foundation of PA. Bloggers also were a vital part of getting information to the community and include pghlesbian.com, pghcomet.blogspot.com, thomascwaters.com amongst others.
We will continue to work for equality at the local, state and national levels. But, before we get back to work, let’s take this moment to celebrate and affirm that together, we can move equality forward for our entire community-LGBT and straight.
Thank you for your support!
Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance
People should contact Council Members Burn, DeFazio, Cleary, Fitzgerald, Macey, Martoni, Robinson, and Green and thank them for their support.
The bill, which passed by an 8-6 vote, established a county-wide Human Relations Commission that will be responsible for investigating claims of discrimination. The ordinance is set to become law once it is signed by County Executive Dan Onorato on Thursday, June 9, 2009.
The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance, along with many other individuals, worked with County Executive Dan Onorato and County Council this week to modify the bill after a previous amendment was found to include an unreasonably broad loophole per religious exemptions. The final amended language, while explicitly stating an exemption by religious organizations, sidesteps the issue of organizations that receive tax-payer funds. This language allows for further dialogue on this particular issue.
LGBT rights organizations from across the state also praised the Ordinance for its inclusive protection of transgender individuals. The Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance called the new legislation “the highest standard of trans-inclusive language in the Commonwealth.” The county is now the fifteenth municipality in the state to grant protection to LGBT individuals.
For the past year, our community has worked with determination and persistence to bring this day about. Throughout this process, we have formed important relationships, and the unique collaboration between LGBT organizations, allies, grassroots activists, and public officials will continue to serve as a model of effective partnership. We thank all those involved, particularly Council Members Burn, DeFazio, Cleary, Fitzgerald, Macey, Martoni, Robinson and, of course, the prime sponsor Amanda Green. We also thank County Executive Dan Onorato and his staff for lobbying in support of the Ordinance in recent weeks.
While the individuals and groups involved in this effort are numerous, several groups and grassroots outlets offered frequent input into the process in recent days: Speakers at the Council meeting, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission, ACLU-PA, Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, Equality Advocates PA, GLCC Pittsburgh, GLEC Group, New Voices Pittsburgh-Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, One Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania NOW, PERSAD Center, Steel-City Stonewall Democrats, Trans Working Group, Women’s Law Project, Women & Girl’s Foundation of PA. Bloggers also were a vital part of getting information to the community and include pghlesbian.com, pghcomet.blogspot.com, thomascwaters.com amongst others.
We will continue to work for equality at the local, state and national levels. But, before we get back to work, let’s take this moment to celebrate and affirm that together, we can move equality forward for our entire community-LGBT and straight.
Thank you for your support!
Coalition for the Allegheny County Human Relations Ordinance
People should contact Council Members Burn, DeFazio, Cleary, Fitzgerald, Macey, Martoni, Robinson, and Green and thank them for their support.
04/07: Is CIS Stigmatizing
There is a heated debate at Pam's House Blend and other places about the use of 'CIS" as in cissexual and cisgender.
It is summarized here:
http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/cis-is-hostile-terminology-really/
http://gudbuytjane.livejournal.com/9562.html
and here is the comment that sparked it all.
http://pamshouseblend.com/showComment.do?commentId=147378
What is interesting to me is that I'm beginning to see cisgender/cissexual used more in academia and in journal papers. At first I was confused by this the term cis is used to parallel trans and is generally neutral in intent. "Its just used to describe a particular population" is what I thought.
I then thought about the use of terms like "homosexual transsexual" and "autogynephilia" aren't people using those in a similar way, to describe a particular population. The distinction I see is the difference between what a researcher is thinking versus what the research subject is thinking. The terminology like "homosexual transsexual" is fundamentally contrary to how the research subject may view themselves (as heterosexual). So I wonder if Cis can have similar interpretation.
Cisgender/cissexual are used instead of nontransgender or nontranssexual. The goal is to move away from discussions that refers to a normal population (cis) and a nonnormal population. Much like heterosexual and homosexual. The only alternative to CIS is to refer to people as nontrans, which gets us back identifying one group as the norm and the other as deviant rather than as 2 equivalent groups. What about hetero? Removing it from use removes discussions of heterosexism and heteronormativity. Removing cis and also disallows a discussion of similar forms of oppressions because it makes a nontrans perspective as normal. The usage of CIS has greatly expanded the discussion of the social oppression faced by trans people. Is this what the person was objecting to? Of having his privilege being pointed out to him?
That is not to say that cis and trans are without valid criticism. Much like hetero and homo focuses attention away from sexuality that is not binary, cis and trans does tend to take attention away from discussions of gender and sex that is not easily one or the other.
I personally will continue to use CIS as well as trans, but I will need to remain conscious of their use and their limiations.
It is summarized here:
http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/cis-is-hostile-terminology-really/
http://gudbuytjane.livejournal.com/9562.html
and here is the comment that sparked it all.
http://pamshouseblend.com/showComment.do?commentId=147378
What is interesting to me is that I'm beginning to see cisgender/cissexual used more in academia and in journal papers. At first I was confused by this the term cis is used to parallel trans and is generally neutral in intent. "Its just used to describe a particular population" is what I thought.
I then thought about the use of terms like "homosexual transsexual" and "autogynephilia" aren't people using those in a similar way, to describe a particular population. The distinction I see is the difference between what a researcher is thinking versus what the research subject is thinking. The terminology like "homosexual transsexual" is fundamentally contrary to how the research subject may view themselves (as heterosexual). So I wonder if Cis can have similar interpretation.
Cisgender/cissexual are used instead of nontransgender or nontranssexual. The goal is to move away from discussions that refers to a normal population (cis) and a nonnormal population. Much like heterosexual and homosexual. The only alternative to CIS is to refer to people as nontrans, which gets us back identifying one group as the norm and the other as deviant rather than as 2 equivalent groups. What about hetero? Removing it from use removes discussions of heterosexism and heteronormativity. Removing cis and also disallows a discussion of similar forms of oppressions because it makes a nontrans perspective as normal. The usage of CIS has greatly expanded the discussion of the social oppression faced by trans people. Is this what the person was objecting to? Of having his privilege being pointed out to him?
That is not to say that cis and trans are without valid criticism. Much like hetero and homo focuses attention away from sexuality that is not binary, cis and trans does tend to take attention away from discussions of gender and sex that is not easily one or the other.
I personally will continue to use CIS as well as trans, but I will need to remain conscious of their use and their limiations.
Received from a public health list.
>>> "Maria de Bruyn" 3/24/2009 9:12 AM >>>
It is my pleasure to share with you the English version of the statement read by Lohana Berkins on behalf of Trans Feminists and their allies during the
11th Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentro (Gathering) that took place in Mexico City, March 16-20, 2009. It has been translated by myself on behalf of Translingua and kindly edited by Radhika Chandiramani. Please distribute it widely (French and Portuguese versions forthcoming; for the Spanish version, please contact Lohana at the address below)
======================================================
Dear colleagues,
Travestis, transgenders, transsexuals and women who have the pleasure of sharing this space with you all celebrate this event and above all we
celebrate the presence of all Feminisms and all feminists.
We are not, nor do we consider ourselves to be, new subjects for Feminism. We are a diverse group: travestis, transsexuals, transgenders, muxes, women, vestidas, parecidas, colitas and the thousand different names that our identities take. We are here because, like all present, we are feminists,
each one in her own way and after her own fashion.
We are also struggle, resistance, names of our own. We are feminist bodies and passions confronting the patriarchal system that oppresses us sometimes exactly in the same way and other times in a different way in which it oppresses every single person, female subject or male subject, who does not fit into its normative parameters of privilege.
We raise the flags of all our struggles: for decriminalization of abortion; for the right to decide over our bodies, our pleasures, our sexualities, our
histories, our identities.
We condemn trafficking and exploitation of children. We are people who have been placed by patriarchy in situations of prostitution but we do not accept prostitution as our fate. We demand to be recognized as producers of labour.
We are Feminists of difference and also of equality, autonomous feminists. Autonomous, with the powers to decide over our own bodies, to transform, to transvestite them.
We are lesbians, straight, travestis, transsexuals, bisexuals, transgender, intersex. We are the ones confronting patriarchy every day, in our acts.
We are Black, Indigenous, Jewish and Palestinian women. We are tarts, we are poor, peasants, young, old - we are Feminists of all the colours in
existence.
We reject the criminalization of our identities through repressive laws, contraventional codes, misdemeanor codes or any other law based on the
so-called moral and good customs.
We reject all fundamentalisms, including our own, those invoking biology as destiny and we invite you all to allow the margins of bodies, subjectivities
and desires to fade away.
We demand that our history and our activism against all oppressions be recognized, not only by those who are oppressing us but also by our comrades
in the struggle. We also demand secular states because we understand that without religion many oppressions will cease to exist.
We demand our right to education, health, and housing, as inallienable human rights, because to defend the human rights of travestis, transsexuals,
lesbians, vestidas, colitas and other women is to defend human rights.
We celebrate the presence of the artists, and in particular of the cabaret performers in this Gathering, because we believe that humour and irreverence
are deeply feminist features.
We thank the more than 300 hundred endorsements to this declaration, of which we mention the following below.
And, if you want to endorse our declaration, please send your name and country to lohanaberkins@yahoo.com.ar
Trans Feminists attending the Gathering:
Belissa Andia Pérez, ILGA, World Trans Secretariat; Instituto Runa (Peru)
Lohana Berkins, Asociación de Lucha por la Liberación Travesti (Argentina)
Hazel Gloria Davenport. Humana Nación Trans (Mexico)
Amaranta Gómez. Organización Binni Laanu (Mexico)
Sharloth Pérez. Asociación Nicaraguense Trans (Nicaragua)
Vicki Yáñez, Organización por la dignidad trans (Chile)
Thalia Almenares. Transaa (Dominican Republic)
Dorian Edith Hérnandez, Comisión Nacional del PRD (Mexico)
Angie Rueda Castillo (Mexico)
Glenda Prado. Colectivo La Libélula A.C. (Monterrey, México)
Nathalia Marquez (Colombia)
Endorsements
Groups:
Airea na - Grupo por los Derechos de las Lesbianas (Paraguay)
AMMAR Capital (Argentina)
ASOMUPAR (Colombia)
Claustro Sor Juana (Mexico)
Colectivo Cabildeo (Bolivia)
Colectivo Feminista VESPRICAS
Coordinación de Mujeres del Paraguay
Elige Red de Jóvenes por DD, SS, y RR
Fondo de Mujeres del Sur (Argentina)
Glonatobon CL
Grupo Feminista 8 de Marzo (Mexico)
Grupo Género Parral (Mexico)
Grupo Promotor de los Derechos Políticos de las Ciudadanas (Mexico)
IGLHRC- Latin America and Caribbean Program (Argentina)
Kuña Roga (Paraguay)
Las Reinas Chulas (Mexico)
LIFS (Peru)
Movimiento Feminista de Nicaragua
Mulabi- Latin American Space for Sexualities and Rights
Organización Puerto Rico para Todos.
Programa Democracia y Transformación Global (Perú)
Radio Feminista Internacional (Costa Rica)
Red Mal de Mujeres (Colombia)
RedLAC, de Jóvenes por DD, SS, y RR
Taller Comunicación Mujer (Ecuador)
Individuals
Adriana Gallegos Mendoza (Mexico)
Aidé Sánchez
Alejandra Iglesias. “Gayol” (Mexico)
Alejandra Sardá (Argentina)
Alibel Pizarro (Panama)
Alicia Moscarbi (Argentina)
Alicia Stumpfs (Paraguay)
Alondra Sevilla Jiménez (Mexico)
Amalia Alarcón (Honduras)
Amalia Cuelvo Tafur (Colombia)
Amy Fleig
Ana Cristina González (Colombia)
Ana Francis Mor (Mexico)
Ana Lilia Marisol Martunec B (Mexico)
Ana Lucía Ramirez (Colombia)
Ana Luisa Pacheco (Mexico)
Analía Cuervo T.
Angélica Roa (Paraguay)
Bárbara Graner (Brazil)
Beatriz Elena Rodriguez (Colombia)
Bethsabé Huamán (Peru)
Bettina Valdez Carrasco (Peru)
Bisharú Bernal
Camila Zabala (Paraguay)
Carla Machado (Brazil)
Carolina Robledo (Paraguay)
Catalina García Gutiérrez (Mexico)
Cecilia Cárdenas (Bolivia)
Clara Inés Mazo López
Clara Loera Luna, México D.F.
Claudia Rodríguez Muñoz (Mexico)
Elena Rojo Almaraz (Mexico)
Elsa Maria Ramos T. (Mexico)
Elvira Villarreal (Mexico)
Emily Barcklow,
Eugenia Galicia González (Mexico)
Evellyn Flores Mayorga, (Nicaragua)
Fernanda Briones Medina
Fernanda Guerrero (Mexico)
Fioricely Cahay
Francisca Olmedo (El Salvador)
Gabriela Pineda Hernández (Mexico)
Gabriela Ruiz Guillen
Gilda Gallegos Mendoza (Mexico)
Gilda Rivera (Honduras)
Gina Vargas (Peru)
Gladys Galarreta (Peru)
Gloria Careaga, ILGA General Secretary, (Mexico)
Gloria Maira (Colombia)
Graciela Collantes (Argentina)
Grilda Salazar
Indira Garmendia
Ines Ponzo (Uruguay)
Irina Bacci (Brazil)
Judith Grenno (Paraguay)
Julia Pérez Cervera (Mexico)
Karina Oaiz
Lilia Isabel González (Mexico)
Lilia Julieyta López (Mexico)
Lilian Celiberti (Uruguay)
Line Bareiro (Paraguay)
Lol Kin Castañeda Badillo (Mexico)
Lucy Garrido (Uruguay)
Margarita Castro.
María Antonieta Martínez (Mexico)
María Consuelo Mejía (Mexico)
Maria Teresa Blandón (Nicaragua)
Marilyn Daza Quintanilla (Peru)
Marusia López Cruz (Mexico)
Melissa Claros, (Honduras)
Mónica Araceli Herrerías Domínguez (Mexico)
Mónica Corona (Bolivia)
Nahomi Galindo (Puerto Rico)
Nahomi Galindo Malaver (Puerto Rico)
Nancy Lysvet Flores Castillo (Mexico)
Natali Hernández Arias
Nayte Hernández Díaz (Mexico)
Nidia Moreno (Nicaragua)
Nora Carolina Rodriguez Sánchez (Mexico)
Norma Vázquez
Olga Roelia Ulloa (Nicaragua)
Olivia Raya Rodriguez. (Nicaragua)
Pamela Chávez Juárez (Mexico)
Paola Rosales (El Salvador)
Patria Jimenez Flores (Mexico)
Paula Vázquez
Regina Fonseca, (Honduras)
Rocío Rosero Garces
Rosa Possa (Paraguay)
Sandra Alexanderson M (Mexico)
Silvia Borsellino (Argentina)
Silvia Marta Meraz (Mexico)
Sonia González Ruiz (Mexico)
Soyna Daniels (Mexico)
Sunny Jesia Maldonado Ramirez (Mexico)
Tania Hernández Chetrirquin
Tatiana Cordero (Ecuador)
Trini Gutiérrez (Mexico)
Vanesa Zepeda Ortega (Mexico)
Violeta Ricci Guevara (Nicaragua)
Violeta Ricci Guevara (Nicaragua)
Xenia Nayolo
Alejandra Sardá-Chandiramani
Mulabi- Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Derechos
García Lorca 55 - Buenos Aires - Argentina
(54 11) 49 88 15 31
alejandra@mulabi.org / alejandrasarda2803@yahoo.com.ar
*****************************************************************
For she would willingly have slept, but since night is free pasturage, a limitless field, since night is unmoulded richness, one must tunnel into its
darkness. One must hang it with jewels.
Virginia Woolf, A Woman’s College from Outside
*****************************************************************
>>> "Maria de Bruyn"
It is my pleasure to share with you the English version of the statement read by Lohana Berkins on behalf of Trans Feminists and their allies during the
11th Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Encuentro (Gathering) that took place in Mexico City, March 16-20, 2009. It has been translated by myself on behalf of Translingua and kindly edited by Radhika Chandiramani. Please distribute it widely (French and Portuguese versions forthcoming; for the Spanish version, please contact Lohana at the address below)
======================================================
Dear colleagues,
Travestis, transgenders, transsexuals and women who have the pleasure of sharing this space with you all celebrate this event and above all we
celebrate the presence of all Feminisms and all feminists.
We are not, nor do we consider ourselves to be, new subjects for Feminism. We are a diverse group: travestis, transsexuals, transgenders, muxes, women, vestidas, parecidas, colitas and the thousand different names that our identities take. We are here because, like all present, we are feminists,
each one in her own way and after her own fashion.
We are also struggle, resistance, names of our own. We are feminist bodies and passions confronting the patriarchal system that oppresses us sometimes exactly in the same way and other times in a different way in which it oppresses every single person, female subject or male subject, who does not fit into its normative parameters of privilege.
We raise the flags of all our struggles: for decriminalization of abortion; for the right to decide over our bodies, our pleasures, our sexualities, our
histories, our identities.
We condemn trafficking and exploitation of children. We are people who have been placed by patriarchy in situations of prostitution but we do not accept prostitution as our fate. We demand to be recognized as producers of labour.
We are Feminists of difference and also of equality, autonomous feminists. Autonomous, with the powers to decide over our own bodies, to transform, to transvestite them.
We are lesbians, straight, travestis, transsexuals, bisexuals, transgender, intersex. We are the ones confronting patriarchy every day, in our acts.
We are Black, Indigenous, Jewish and Palestinian women. We are tarts, we are poor, peasants, young, old - we are Feminists of all the colours in
existence.
We reject the criminalization of our identities through repressive laws, contraventional codes, misdemeanor codes or any other law based on the
so-called moral and good customs.
We reject all fundamentalisms, including our own, those invoking biology as destiny and we invite you all to allow the margins of bodies, subjectivities
and desires to fade away.
We demand that our history and our activism against all oppressions be recognized, not only by those who are oppressing us but also by our comrades
in the struggle. We also demand secular states because we understand that without religion many oppressions will cease to exist.
We demand our right to education, health, and housing, as inallienable human rights, because to defend the human rights of travestis, transsexuals,
lesbians, vestidas, colitas and other women is to defend human rights.
We celebrate the presence of the artists, and in particular of the cabaret performers in this Gathering, because we believe that humour and irreverence
are deeply feminist features.
We thank the more than 300 hundred endorsements to this declaration, of which we mention the following below.
And, if you want to endorse our declaration, please send your name and country to lohanaberkins@yahoo.com.ar
Trans Feminists attending the Gathering:
Belissa Andia Pérez, ILGA, World Trans Secretariat; Instituto Runa (Peru)
Lohana Berkins, Asociación de Lucha por la Liberación Travesti (Argentina)
Hazel Gloria Davenport. Humana Nación Trans (Mexico)
Amaranta Gómez. Organización Binni Laanu (Mexico)
Sharloth Pérez. Asociación Nicaraguense Trans (Nicaragua)
Vicki Yáñez, Organización por la dignidad trans (Chile)
Thalia Almenares. Transaa (Dominican Republic)
Dorian Edith Hérnandez, Comisión Nacional del PRD (Mexico)
Angie Rueda Castillo (Mexico)
Glenda Prado. Colectivo La Libélula A.C. (Monterrey, México)
Nathalia Marquez (Colombia)
Endorsements
Groups:
Airea na - Grupo por los Derechos de las Lesbianas (Paraguay)
AMMAR Capital (Argentina)
ASOMUPAR (Colombia)
Claustro Sor Juana (Mexico)
Colectivo Cabildeo (Bolivia)
Colectivo Feminista VESPRICAS
Coordinación de Mujeres del Paraguay
Elige Red de Jóvenes por DD, SS, y RR
Fondo de Mujeres del Sur (Argentina)
Glonatobon CL
Grupo Feminista 8 de Marzo (Mexico)
Grupo Género Parral (Mexico)
Grupo Promotor de los Derechos Políticos de las Ciudadanas (Mexico)
IGLHRC- Latin America and Caribbean Program (Argentina)
Kuña Roga (Paraguay)
Las Reinas Chulas (Mexico)
LIFS (Peru)
Movimiento Feminista de Nicaragua
Mulabi- Latin American Space for Sexualities and Rights
Organización Puerto Rico para Todos.
Programa Democracia y Transformación Global (Perú)
Radio Feminista Internacional (Costa Rica)
Red Mal de Mujeres (Colombia)
RedLAC, de Jóvenes por DD, SS, y RR
Taller Comunicación Mujer (Ecuador)
Individuals
Adriana Gallegos Mendoza (Mexico)
Aidé Sánchez
Alejandra Iglesias. “Gayol” (Mexico)
Alejandra Sardá (Argentina)
Alibel Pizarro (Panama)
Alicia Moscarbi (Argentina)
Alicia Stumpfs (Paraguay)
Alondra Sevilla Jiménez (Mexico)
Amalia Alarcón (Honduras)
Amalia Cuelvo Tafur (Colombia)
Amy Fleig
Ana Cristina González (Colombia)
Ana Francis Mor (Mexico)
Ana Lilia Marisol Martunec B (Mexico)
Ana Lucía Ramirez (Colombia)
Ana Luisa Pacheco (Mexico)
Analía Cuervo T.
Angélica Roa (Paraguay)
Bárbara Graner (Brazil)
Beatriz Elena Rodriguez (Colombia)
Bethsabé Huamán (Peru)
Bettina Valdez Carrasco (Peru)
Bisharú Bernal
Camila Zabala (Paraguay)
Carla Machado (Brazil)
Carolina Robledo (Paraguay)
Catalina García Gutiérrez (Mexico)
Cecilia Cárdenas (Bolivia)
Clara Inés Mazo López
Clara Loera Luna, México D.F.
Claudia Rodríguez Muñoz (Mexico)
Elena Rojo Almaraz (Mexico)
Elsa Maria Ramos T. (Mexico)
Elvira Villarreal (Mexico)
Emily Barcklow,
Eugenia Galicia González (Mexico)
Evellyn Flores Mayorga, (Nicaragua)
Fernanda Briones Medina
Fernanda Guerrero (Mexico)
Fioricely Cahay
Francisca Olmedo (El Salvador)
Gabriela Pineda Hernández (Mexico)
Gabriela Ruiz Guillen
Gilda Gallegos Mendoza (Mexico)
Gilda Rivera (Honduras)
Gina Vargas (Peru)
Gladys Galarreta (Peru)
Gloria Careaga, ILGA General Secretary, (Mexico)
Gloria Maira (Colombia)
Graciela Collantes (Argentina)
Grilda Salazar
Indira Garmendia
Ines Ponzo (Uruguay)
Irina Bacci (Brazil)
Judith Grenno (Paraguay)
Julia Pérez Cervera (Mexico)
Karina Oaiz
Lilia Isabel González (Mexico)
Lilia Julieyta López (Mexico)
Lilian Celiberti (Uruguay)
Line Bareiro (Paraguay)
Lol Kin Castañeda Badillo (Mexico)
Lucy Garrido (Uruguay)
Margarita Castro.
María Antonieta Martínez (Mexico)
María Consuelo Mejía (Mexico)
Maria Teresa Blandón (Nicaragua)
Marilyn Daza Quintanilla (Peru)
Marusia López Cruz (Mexico)
Melissa Claros, (Honduras)
Mónica Araceli Herrerías Domínguez (Mexico)
Mónica Corona (Bolivia)
Nahomi Galindo (Puerto Rico)
Nahomi Galindo Malaver (Puerto Rico)
Nancy Lysvet Flores Castillo (Mexico)
Natali Hernández Arias
Nayte Hernández Díaz (Mexico)
Nidia Moreno (Nicaragua)
Nora Carolina Rodriguez Sánchez (Mexico)
Norma Vázquez
Olga Roelia Ulloa (Nicaragua)
Olivia Raya Rodriguez. (Nicaragua)
Pamela Chávez Juárez (Mexico)
Paola Rosales (El Salvador)
Patria Jimenez Flores (Mexico)
Paula Vázquez
Regina Fonseca, (Honduras)
Rocío Rosero Garces
Rosa Possa (Paraguay)
Sandra Alexanderson M (Mexico)
Silvia Borsellino (Argentina)
Silvia Marta Meraz (Mexico)
Sonia González Ruiz (Mexico)
Soyna Daniels (Mexico)
Sunny Jesia Maldonado Ramirez (Mexico)
Tania Hernández Chetrirquin
Tatiana Cordero (Ecuador)
Trini Gutiérrez (Mexico)
Vanesa Zepeda Ortega (Mexico)
Violeta Ricci Guevara (Nicaragua)
Violeta Ricci Guevara (Nicaragua)
Xenia Nayolo
Alejandra Sardá-Chandiramani
Mulabi- Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Derechos
García Lorca 55 - Buenos Aires - Argentina
(54 11) 49 88 15 31
alejandra@mulabi.org / alejandrasarda2803@yahoo.com.ar
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For she would willingly have slept, but since night is free pasturage, a limitless field, since night is unmoulded richness, one must tunnel into its
darkness. One must hang it with jewels.
Virginia Woolf, A Woman’s College from Outside
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24/02: First film class assignment
or download the podcast here.
Discussion of Alice Dreger’s essay concerning JMB’s book “The Man Who Would Be Queen” recently published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior. She wrote this in order to outline the accusations made against Bailey and the events regarding the protests of that book.
http://bioethics.northwestern.edu/faculty/work/dreger/controversy_tmwwbq.pdf
Julia Serano and Talia Bettcher both wrote responses to Alice Dreger’s essay:
Julia Serano is a biologist. She has a Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from Columbia University and is currently a researcher at UC Berkeley in the field of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology. Julia is the author of Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, a collection of personal essays that examines the ways in which misogyny frames many popular stereotypes and assumptions about transsexual women. Her other writings have appeared in queer, feminist, and pop culture magazines such as Bitch, Clamor, Kitchen Sink, LiP, make/shift, and Transgender Tapestry, and excerpts of her work have appeared in The Believer, The San Francisco Chronicle, and on NPR. In recent years, Julia has gained noteriety in transgender, queer, and feminist circles for her unique insights into gender. She has been invited to speak about transgender and trans women’s issues at numerous univerisites, at queer, women's studies, psychology and philosophy-themed conferences, and her writings have been used as teaching materials in college-level gender studies courses across the United States.
http://www.juliaserano.com
http://www.juliaserano.com/av/Serano_DregerCommentary.pdf
http://www.juliaserano.com/TSetiology.html
Talia Mae Bettcher is an Assistant Professor of philosophy at California State University, Los Angeles. She received her PhD at UCLA and her BA at Glendon College, York University. Her research interests include early modern philosophy, philosophy of the self and philosophy of gender and sexuality. A Canadian who resides in the Unites States, Talia is currently active in the Los Angeles trans community and grassroots politics. She is also a community-based performance artist, using her art to explore intersections between narrative, performance, theory, and identity
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/tbettch/
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/tbettch/BettcherDreger.pdf
or download the podcast here.
Diego Sanchez
Diego is Director of Public Relations & External Affairs, AIDS Action Committee, New England’s first and largest AIDS organization. Hispanic Business magazine named him among the Top 100 Most Powerful Latino/as in Corporate America. He formerly led the nation’s first transgender healthcare access program supported by a department of public health. A leading trans health trainer, writer, speaker and presenter, Diego dedicates his community involvement to social justice. He was a founding Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, Board Secretary of Boston’s Public Relations Society of America chapter, Steering Committee member and Chair of the Diversity Committee of Boston’s Human Rights Campaign chapter, a founding Board member of Somos Latino/as LGBT Coalition and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Accredited by PRSA, Diego is a Rhodes Scholar candidate and a UMass/Boston Emerging Leaders Senior Fellow. Diego is also the first transgender person appointed by a DNC Chair to the DNC Platform Committee and was named a Party Leader and At-Large Delegate. A former LGBT National Advisory Committee member for Hillary Clinton, he serves on Sen. Obama's LGBT Advisory Team and on the Transgender Working Group.
Amanda Simpson
Amanda Simpson, is a senior employee of over twenty years at Raytheon Missile Systems. She remained in the same position since prior to her gender transition, working with management and human resources to smooth concerns. Since her successful workplace transition, Amanda has consulted and advised numerous employers and gender variant employees. Amanda became the first openly transgender candidate to win a primary election in the United States in her run for the Arizona State Legislature in 2004. 2004 Tucson YWCA Woman on the Move Award, 2005 Arizona Human Rights Fund Individual honoree.
Marisa Richmond, PhD
Marisa Richmond is President of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Equality Project & Board of Advisors of NCTE. she is a former Board Member of AEGIS, IFGE, NTAC, & Nashville's Rainbow Community Center. She served as Co-Chair of Southern Comfort in 2001, chaired the host committee of the 2002 IFGE Convention in Nashville, & served on the Planning Committee for Nashville Black Pride in 2004. She won the Trinity Award in 2002 & the HRC Equality Award in 2007.
Melissa Sklarz
Melissa Sklarz became the first transgender person elected to office in New York in 1999 when she was elected Judicial Delegate from the 66th Assembly District. In 2004, Melissa became the first transgender person from New York to be part of the state delegation at the Democratic National Convention, by being appointed to the Credentials Committee. She has also been appointed to the Rules Committee for the 2008 Convention. In 2003, Melissa was elected to the executive board of the National Stonewall Democrats and has served 6 years on the Executive Board of Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats (GLID) in Manhattan and served 5 years on Community Board #2 in Greenwich Village. She also serves as Director of the New York Trans Rights Organization (NYTRO). In 2005, Melissa appeared in a featured role in the film TRANSAMERICA
