Polare Edition 41

Published: August 2001 Last Update: June 2013 Last Reviewed: June 2013

Feature Articles

Colapinto's excellent book sorts out myth making from reality and the convergent histories of Money and the Reimer family are presented with clarity and in persuasive detail.

As Nature Made Him
In 1967 John Money was contacted by Ron and Janet Reimer, parents of identical twin boys one of whom had suffered a severely damaged penis in a botched circumcision. Money recommended that the damaged infant, Bruce, be reassigned as a girl.
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome
A.I.S. is an intersex condition caused by an interruption of foetal reproductive system development where embryonic testes develop and start to produce androgens which the body is unable to respond to in varying degrees.
Metoidioplasty (Clitoral Release)
Metoidioplasty is a procedure that enables the clitoris to be released from its hood and then appear as a small penis. A form of circumcision can be performed at this time to enable the tip of the clitoris to appear as the male glans.
Saturday June 9th 2001
Deanna's transition, to all intents and purposes, is over. Transition, and getting to the end of it, was her focus for so long. Transition required and drained so much of her energy and she looked for and celebrated changes and milestones brought on by her transition.
Reflections 2001: A Gender Odyssey
Deanna describes her relationship with her transition. Transition required and drained so much of our energy. We spent countless hours analysing the transition and our feelings around it.
The Life and Loves of an XY Woman
This essay was written in 1996 for a competition run by the Society of Women Writers, New South Wales. It was published in a collection of women's writings. It forms a sort of sequel to Katherine's autobiography and may tell you a little more about your Polare editor.
What are the Rights of the Individual?
People have rights, civil and human, inalienable and inferred. Given such assertions, the rights of the individual need considering and restating, so there can be no misinterpretation, confusion or excuse for personal, institutional, or societal ignorance of their existence.
Are You Getting Good Treatment?
Some medical practitioners who are not members of the H.B.I.G.D.A. don't know what the Standards of Care are or choose to ignore them or have never even bothered to read them, affording their clients deficient care.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is the name for several different illnesses which all cause the same problem: an inflamed (swollen or painful) liver. Some people who get infected with Hepatitis B do not get very ill. Some do not get sick at all.

Editorial

by Katherine Cummings, Polare Editor

First I would like to thank Craig for his generous help in showing me aspects of Polare's production where I needed assistance. It is never easy to walk into an established publication and pick up all the subleties of its construction and I might have taken much longer to produce my first issue without Craig's lucid advice.

The Polare I edit will be familiar to it's past readers in many aspects, and will include most of the regular features. It may look a little different in my choice of typefaces and the way I lay out pages. I learned layout and typography back in the "hot metal" era and have never become entirely comfortable with the freedom conferred by offset and photo-typesetting. You may, therefore, find my (or rather, your) Polare more conservative looking than it has been in the past. I hope, nevertheless, that Polare will continue to be informative and entertaining.

I will be changing some of the procedures as I think necessary and will welcome your suggestions for improvement, and your comments on the way I do things. For instance, I intend to leave items on the "Community Noticeboard" for two issues and then drop them unless you let me know that you want them to continue running. There is no point in keeping ads in print beyond their useful life.

Elsewhere in this issue you will find some of the results of the Polare Readers Survey which was sent out in issue No. 40. There were 59 responses which is only 3% of the number sent out but a few patterns emerged. I look forward to the work involved in producing Polare. As a long time writer, editor, printer and publisher I have always thought printed matter (informational and/or entertaining, preferably both) to be one of the most remarkable achievements of humanity.

Manager's Report

by Elizabeth Riley, Gender Centre Manager

Staff Changes

I would like to begin by acknowledging the excellent contribution Craig George Andrews has made to the Centre's publications and website over the last four years. Craig resigned from the centre on 21st May. His talents as our Resource Development Worker will be greatly missed and we wish him well in his future endeavours. His position has been advertised and we hope to fill the vacancy in the near future.

In the meantime I am delighted to welcome Katherine Cummings to the staff team. Katherine has joined the Centre as a relief worker to take over Craig's role. Many of you will be familiar with Katherine's endeavours as a representative of the transgender community, in particular as the author of Katherine's Diary and as a Democrats candidate in the last federal election. She has many years experience as a librarian of high status and we look forward to the contribution she will make to our service and to the transgender community.

I would also like to farewell Jack Powell, Social & Support Worker, who has tendered his resignation effective from 1st August. Jack has been with the Centre for almost a year and has initiated some positive programs for his role. Unfortunately for us he has received an offer of employment more suitable to his needs and has decided to move on. We thank him for his efforts and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.

N.S.W. Police Service

I reported in the last edition of Polare that the police policy was still in the pipeline. Since then a draft policy has been sent to the Anti-Discrimination Board for ratification. Providing the Board is satisfied with it's contents it should be only a short period of time before it is adopted by the N.S.W. Police Service.

As previously stated I believe this policy will go a long way towards ensuring that transgender people are treated fairly and appropriately in any dealings we may have with the police. This in turn will hopefully lead to confidence in reporting crimes, particularly those involving violence, that have previously gone unreported.

We will publish, in full, details of the policy when it is made available. We will also provide any other information that may assist transgenders in taking advantage of the benefits of the policy.

Gay Games

Unfortunately we have still not had final information on this policy in time to beat the deadline for this edition of Polare. We understand the policy is in the hands of solicitors, and is currently being drawn up and should be close to completion. We hope to provide full details in the next edition.

Stonewall 2001

A number of people met at the Pride Centre on 17th May to begin the process of establishing a national lobby group to work towards eliminating discrimination against people based on their gender expression. Participants came from as far a field as Melbourne and Newcastle to attend the meeting.

A range of issues were discussed with the group deciding that it would be inclusive of all those who were subject to gender-based discrimination. The outcome of the first meeting was to commence formulating a mission statement and a set of guidelines under which the group would operate. That process is underway and group members elected to meet again in August to formerly adopt those documents.

The air of the meeting was very positive and it is hoped that the group will become an effective lobbying force within the trans community. Anyone wishing information or wanting to participate in future meetings should contact norrie mAy-welby

Family Planning Health

The youth team at Family Planning Health recently arranged a meeting with key stakeholders to address the issues of homophobia in public education. Represented at the meeting were N.S.W. Police, D.E.T., ACON, P.F.L.A.G., the Gender Centre and other agency representatives. The initial meeting involved a sharing of information on the work conducted through individual agencies and a sharing of ideas. It is envisaged that the group will meet periodically to work towards a reduction in homophobic behaviours within the education system. We look forward to the contribution The Gender Centre will be able to make to this group and we will keep you informed of progress.

South Sydney Council

After a brief break South Sydney Council have reactivated the working party looking at the best ways the council can meet the needs of the Gay, Lesbian and Transgender communities within their boundaries. Bernice Carrington, Council's first Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer resigned in December of last year and the working party was temporarily shelved. Council has now, however, appointed a new person to the role, Suzie Matthews, and we are pleased to be able to continue the work previously commenced. The first meeting largely dealt with a discussion of who would be the appropriate community organisation/community representatives for the committee and the appropriate balance between organisations and individuals on board. The ultimate role of the committee will be to act as advisory body to council on issues concerning our communities.

The Gender Centre A.G.M.

Just a note to inform all members that the Annual General Meeting of the Gender Centre will be held on Thursday 27th September at Jarvie Park Youth Facility, Yabsley Avenue, Marrickville. Be there at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start.

The Gender Centre advise that this edition of Polare is not 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.

Polare Magazine is published quarterly in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Family & 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. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, 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., the Department of Family & Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.

The Gender Centre is committed to developing and providing services and activities, which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices. We offer a wide range of services to people with gender issues, their partners, family members and friends in New South Wales. We are an accommodation service and also act as an education, support, training and referral resource centre to other organisations and service providers. The Gender Centre is committed to educating the public and service providers about the needs of people with gender issues. We specifically aim to provide a high quality service, which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect and confidentiality.

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