Editorial

by Katherine Cummings

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Half the year gone and what have we to show for it? Four issues of Polare (counting this one), most of an anti-violence report which has disappeared into committee, a wrecked leg for Phinn, an invitation to speak in Belgium for Elizabeth Anne and an updated and much improved web page thanks to the Social & Support Worker, who took the flickering torch from my faltering hand just in time... Of course Paula and David and David and the other Elizabeth went on quietly performing miracles of housing, accounting, case management and administration respectively. Why am I writing as if the world is about to end? I don't know, frankly. I'm off to New Zealand at the end of next week but New Zealand is hardly Ultima Thule. No, I think it must be an after-effect of the rain, which caused my planned sailing weekend to be cancelled and my dogs to smell like wet dogs.

We have another talking point this issue. A contributor who wishes to remain anonymous gives us her views on the difficulty of obtaining work post-transition, and the attitude of the general public towards us when they discover that we were not always as we are. She also provides her advice on dealing with these matters. I hope you will write in with your opinions. By all means add your two cents worth (I'll send you a 2c. piece as contributor's fee if I can find any). I think Polare talking points are a good way for people to discuss common problems without actually having to go to the lengths of getting together.

There is also to be a piece later in this issue on the lovely Julia Doulman, she of the Jack Russell named Muttley. Julia is the star of a film entitled "Becoming Julia", which will have its world premiere at the Sydney International Film Festival at 4.45pm on Thursday, June 19.

The film has been made by documentary film-maker Ruth Cullen who advertised for a subject in Polare. "Becoming Julia" will also screen on SBS later in the year. Our congratulations to both Ruth and Julia.

On a more controversial note, a book has recently appeared in the United States which is creating fury and schisms in the T* community. The Man Who Would Be Queen by Michael Bailey has been published by Joseph Henry Press, publisher for "National Academies, advisers to the nation on science, engineering and medicine".

So far I have only read second-hand opinions of the book, pro and con and would prefer not to come down too vehemently on either side until I have a chance to make my own judgement.

Both sides agree, however, that Bailey follows the Blanchard line pushing the view that transgendered people fall into two classes and two classes only, homosexual transgenders and autogynephiliacs, men who are erotically stimulated by thinking of themselves as women Both sides also agree that one of Bailey's set beliefs is that transgenders falsify their own memories to justify their belief in the virtually lifelong nature of their transgendered status.

To me it is sheer nonsense to maintain that there are only two kinds of transgenders. This denies the complexity of human differences in a foolishly simplistic manner. If the second is true I find it sheer impertinence for anyone to assert that I don't recognise the truth of my own memories.

Beyond these two comments I will wait until I have read the book before I feature it (and comments pro and con) in Polare.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.