Changeling Aspects


Home

About Us

Contact Us

KATHY'S KOMMENTS

Kathys Writings

 


Best Info-WebSites

Notices

Articles

Technical

For Parents of Gender-Variant Young

Life Stories

FtM

Sports

Support Groups

Practitioners

Advocacy

Brochures and PDFs

What's New - This Month

World Environment Sites

Books and Movies

On-Line TS Forums

General Services

Additional Links

 


Main Links Pages

For Questioning Young

For Parents of Gender-Variant Young

Support Groups

Women's Issues

Brochures and PDFs

On-Line Forums

Additional Links of Interest

General Service Links

Links from Synopsis of Transsexualism

Links from TranssexualRoadMap

International Links from TranssexualRoadMap

GenderBridge -NZ    A Great Site with a Vast Amount of Info.. See their "Resource" section.


Practitioners

Doctors

Endocrinologists

Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counsellors

Surgeons in Australia

Surgeons in Thailand

Other Medical Stuff

Hair Removal & Facial Rejuvenation Etc


 



 


 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Queensland Police Service LGBTI Liaison

 

Australia's Internet Safety Advisory Body

 



Notices

 

"IF I AM TO WORK WITH A PERSON, I DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE THEM, BUT I DO NEED TO RESPECT THEM. I BELIEVE THAT NO LESS SHOULD BE OFFERED IN RETURN"

Kathy Anne Noble, 19 August 2014

"Fear not the path of truth for the lack of people walking on it."

 Robert F. Kennedy - 1968-06-06

"He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help."

 Abraham Lincoln

"No task, rightly done, is truly private. It is part of the world's work."

 Woodrow Wilson

 

Being a Sagittarian what follows covers my feelings exactly. The problem lies in the facts that very few do offer any form of support. I am finding more support from abroad and professionals, than in the Trans* community.
"Everyone wants a piece of you. Everyone expects you to be there for them when they need you. Everyone sees you as a resource to be taken for granted. You don't mind. It pleases you and, to some extent, fulfils you to work minor miracles on behalf of others. You like this, though, to be appreciated. You also like to feel that if you ever happen to need help, you will be able to get it. This week's full moon invites you to consider what you are now doing out of obligation, and what are you doing in a spirit of true inspiration?"

 Kathy Anne Noble

Transforming History


Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Trans-gender Rights


Problems with the SOGII Report - Part 1

Read as a PDF PDF - (715KB) 26-06-2015

Problems with the SOGII Report - Part 2

Read as a PDF PDF - (354KB) 26-06-2015

Complaints under the Sex Discrimination Act: Gender Identity

Read as a PDF PDF - (115KB) 18-06-2015

Equality in Health

KATHY'S MEETING WITH SENATOR BRANDIS COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (112KB) 15-04-2015

KATHY'S LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL: HAS THERE EVER BEEN LEGISLATION ENACTED SPECIFIC FOR TRANS* PEOPLE?

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (157KB)

KATHY'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OFFICE REGARDING THE JOINT NGO SUBMISSION

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (170KB) 30-03-2015

KATHY'S LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL: HAS THERE EVER BEEN LEGISLATION ENACTED SPECIFIC FOR TRANS* PEOPLE?

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (157KB)

SECOND PART OF KATHY'S LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (256KB)

THIRD PART OF KATHY'S LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (327KB)

BIRTH CERTIFICATE V PASSPORTS 2012-2014

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (438KB)

Ireland backs same-sex marriage in referendum

Read more about this on the BBC News Website


AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT'S REPLY REGARDING DIFFICULTIES TRANS* HAVE WHEN CHANGING GENDER ON OFFICIAL RECORDS

Read this letter as a PDF PDF - (348KB)


QUEENSLAND CONSOLIDATED ACTS RE CHANGE OF SEX AND NAME [PREVIOUSLY TITLED, 'RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES']

To achieve our Rights as Trans* people, and to be recognised in our preferred sex/gender---these are the Responsibilities at law that we are obliged to suffer.

Click here to continue reading...


Family Court Chief Justice calls for rethink on how High Court handles cases involving transgender children

Family Court Chief Justice Diana Bryant says she would like to see the court's jurisdiction tested in cases involving medical treatment for transgender children.

"I'd like to see the High Court have the opportunity to examine these kinds of cases, these gender identity cases and to decide whether or not the court has to be involved at all..."

Read more about this on the ABC Website     - or view as a PDF PDF - (212KB )

related articles

- Being Me: 'I want to be a girl, I'm sick of this body'
- 'She would come home and say she didn't want to live'
- Isabelle is 11. She is an Australian schoolgirl who was born a boy


TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBERANCE 2014

From a friend in UK. Just thought I'd signpost the TGDOR 2014 (20th November).

Main website at:
UK events list at:
Main Facebook Page:

Download this as a PDF which includes photos of those who were unjustly murdered this past year PDF - (236KB)


DEDICATION: DAY OF REMEMBERANCE

As a Trans* woman, I dedicate this to all Trans* people as they strive to reach their known gender/sex. I also dedicate it to those who are repeatedly abused physically, sexually and mentally. To those who, are denied their rights to amend their documentation, or are incarcerated in prison and faced with the problems that will present. I dedicate this to those who suffer from all forms of frustration, depression and legal abuse. Most of all, I dedicate this to those who are murdered, raped, brutalised, bullied and pressured into suicide, because they are Trans* people.

We need compassion and empathy in order to understand our many problems. We are not complex, it is the system that has created these complexities.

Kathy Anne Noble, Trans* and Proud.


LEGISLATION AND HEALTH IN REGARD TO TRANS* PEOPLE

This is the full paper, that I had hoped to give at the conference. I had to scale down 10 papers of about 60,000 words to fit into 10 minutes, and that did not happen.

Read more about this PDF - (205KB )


ONGOING OUTCOME OF THE PASSPORT 2011 LEGISLATION & THE 2013 GUIDLINES

This is the ongoing outcome of the Passport 2011 legislation and the 2013 Guidelines. Please read carefully.

Read more about this PDF - (288KB )


FROM THE REPORT ON THE 2013 GUIDELINES AND A CHANGE OF NAME AND SEX

We need to establish certain criteria when considering the above. The guidelines are only directed at the Commonwealth Departments, so I have to make that perfectly clear at the outset. States and Territories are not involved, as they have their own sets of legislation. This leads in many instances to the Commonwealth being reliant on the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriage (RBDM) in these jurisdictions for certain qualifying criteria, much of which is diametrically opposed to the Commonwealth legislation, included in the 2013 Guidelines...

Click here to continue reading Kathy's comments about the report as a PDF PDF - (256KB )


LEGISLATION HIDDEN IN CLEAR SIGHT       14-07-2014

When revising the data I have, concerning Trans* legislation, I quickly came to realise that most legislation has been there for many years, but unknown to the Trans* community. Legislation has been there, if you know where to look.

Most of which have been out of date, until recently updated. These laws are from the Commonwealth Government in the main, but the same situation applies to the States and Territories. The big difference being, that only the ACT has updated it’s legislation to come into accord with the Commonwealth.

Click here to continue reading...


A GUIDE FOR TRANS PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA RESIDENCY, STATUS AND PASSPORT

This is the resource I put together with the assistance of both DIAC and DFAT. The final production was authorised by these departments in 2008/9. I have since up dated the Passport section and am waiting to see if there is to be an update from DIAC, in the areas of Immigration FOI and Citizenship.

Click here to continue reading Kathy's comments about this resource document...

Click here to view the resource documents as a PDF PDF - (300KB )


ANZPATH CONFERENCE REPORTED ON 7.30 REPORT

This is the piece that was on South Australian ABC 7.30 Report concerning the upcoming ANZPATH Conference in Adelaide in October 2014.

- (Offsite link)

Conference Information at ANZPATH website - (Offsite link)

View the conference information PDFPDF - (Offsite link)


EPATH Student Initiative!

EPATH is happy to announce the launch of the EPATH Student Initiative! This initiative allows both graduate and undergraduate students interested and active in the wide field of transgender health to get connected.

Read more at http://epath.eu/student-initiative/ - (offsite link)  
May we kindly request you to direct young researchers to Silvano and Jonas at

Download the announcement flyer here


GAPS ON LGBTI HEALTH IN MEDICAL DEGREES LEAVE STUDENTS FENDING FOR THEMSELVES

WORRYING curriculum holes on LGBTI health for medical students have left it up to students to fill the gaps themselves with supplementary courses.

In response to concerns from students and advocacy groups about a lack of content relating to sex, sexuality, and gender identity in university medicine degrees, the Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) has launched a series of online modules called "AMSA Academy".

One of the most recent modules, called Let's Talk About Sex, has a significant LGBTI component — the online courses offer students presentations, forums and even assessment.

Dr Ruth McNair from the University of Melbourne and the Australian Lesbian Medical Association provided significant input into the modules. While she hoped the modules would increase pressure on universities to change content in the curriculum, she told the Star Observer it was becoming harder to include information on any subject in increasingly-crowded medical courses...

Read more of this article at the Star Observer - (offsite link)


UK - Faqs on the Implementation of the Gender Recognition Provisions of the Marriage Same Sex Couples Act 2013

Click here to view the Document as a PDF PDF - (22KB )


AMA: Transgender Individuals not Required to Undergo Genital Surgery or Forced Sterilization in Order to Change Legal Identification

We are delighted to inform the WPATH membership that on Monday, June 9th, 2014 the American Medical Association joined the World Health Organization in adopting a policy declaring that transgender individuals should not be required to undergo genital surgery or forced sterilization in order to change legal identification documents, including birth certificates. The WHO's interagency statement, released in late May, focuses on the elimination of forced sterilization while ensuring sterilization is available for those who desire it. The AMA's statement addresses the problems of linking preventive treatment to a sex designation, and urges access to healthcare for a trans person's body regardless of paper records. AMA President, Ardis Dee Hoven, M.D. said, "The AMA seeks to ensure that transgender patients always receive appropriate preventive care regardless of whether or not it matches with the gender on the birth certificate."

Read more of this article at WPATH - (offsite link)


Laverne Cox for TIME Magazine

The people out there in America who have no idea what being transgender means, what do they need to understand?

“There’s not just one trans story. There’s not just one trans experience. And I think what they need to understand is that not everybody who is born feels that their gender identity is in alignment with what they’re assigned at birth, based on their genitalia. If someone needs to express their gender in a way that is different, that is okay, and they should not be denied healthcare. They should not be bullied. They don’t deserve to be victims of violence. … That’s what people need to understand, that it’s okay and that if you are uncomfortable with it, then you need to look at yourself.”

Click here to read more of this article at Tom & Lorenzo - (offsite link)


Interesting Facts in License to be Yourself

Full report can be found here

License to Be Yourself: Laws and advocacy for legal gender recognition of trans people

Not require divorce or dissolution a civil partnership

Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, New Zealand and 15 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) do not require a trans person to end their marriage as a pre-condition to legal gender recognition.  In January 2014, the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee voted unanimously to remove the spousal veto from the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill. Under this proposal, married trans people in Scotland will no longer be forced to obtain written consent from their spouse in order to gain legal gender recognition.41

Click here to continue reading...


Jessica joyful about getting her new birth certificate

Canberran Jessica Walsh has reached a milestone day - the day when she can hand back a birth certificate that for her tells a lie.

"That little "M" is a bit annoying," Ms Walsh said with some understatement, referring to the section on her birth certificate that records her as a male. "I'm female and having my birth certificate saying I'm male is basically just false information."

Monday, April 28: new ACT laws take effect to allow people to change the sex on their birth certificate without the need for sexual reassignment surgery...

Click here to read more of this article at The Canberra Times - (offsite link)


Meeting with James Lambie, Director of Policy for the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Office

Dear James,                                      25 April 2014

This is my take on our meeting of the 24 April 2014. If there are any discrepancies, would you please correct, as I wish to place note of this meeting on my web site, as above.

Today a meeting between James Lambie, Director of Policy for the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Office and I took place in Brisbane.

The meeting was concerning Trans* issues that I had raised with the Attorney-General’s Office over time. I found the meeting to be cordial and sincere from both sides, and I was pleasantly surprised at what was discussed.

It was mentioned by James that there is increasing support for the Trans* community and our perceived problems within the Parliament at large. One item that was discussed, was the urgent need for a National Trans* group to be formed. This was also discussed at my meeting with Tim Wilson from Human Rights on the 3 April 2014.

Click here to continue reading...


Invitation to meeting at the Commonwealth Attorney General's Office

This is the letter that preceded the invitation to meet the Director of Policy in Brisbane. Click here to view the letter as a PDF PDF - (2.8MB )


Malta & India Trans* recognised in law

Click here to view the articles as a PDF

Email to the Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson about making things happen

From: Kathy Knoble []
Sent: Wednesday, 16 April 2014 3:10 PM
To: Tim Wilson; Siri May
Subject: FW: Voice

Good Afternoon

We in the Trans* community have no voice nationally. I personally feel that it is time to shut up and let the Gays and Lesbians run the Trans* world, surely can’t make a bigger hash of it than an unresponsive Trans* community..

We are told how to act and amend documentation by Gays and Lesbians, so let them now completely run our lives.

It makes no sense to go on hitting your head against a brick wall, as I have done since 2004. I will have my meeting with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Director of Policy next week here in Brisbane.

After that, I will seriously consider what comes next.

Kathy

Click here to continue reading...



Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender - Requirements: Correspondence from Government

Read the Australian Government's correspondance with Kathy Noble. Click here to view the PDF (825KB)


Gender ruling: High Court recognises third category of sex

A Sydney resident who fought to be legally recognised as being of non-specific sex has hailed a High Court ruling that New South Wales laws do permit the registration of a category of sex other than male or female.

Norrie was born male but had a sex change and now does not identify as specifically male or female. After a four-year legal battle, Norrie has won the right to be legally recognised as being of non-specific sex.

Read more on ABC website


Australian Medical Students' Association officially adopts the LGBTIQ health policy

Good evening,

This is just a short email to announce that the Australian Medical Students’ Association officially adopted the LGBTIQ health policy, including the creation of an LGBTIQ Health Officer. Overall, the policy gained overwhelming support, which I believe reflects the willingness of medical students to learn about LGBTIQ health. I would like to kindly thank everyone who contributed and lent their support.

The policy is available here: http://media.amsa.org.au/policy/2014/201403_LGBTIQ_Health_Policy.pdf

And also available on changeling aspects: AMSA LGBTIQ Health Policy

Please feel free to distribute these great news across your networks.

Kind Regards,
Asiel Adan


COMPLAINT—DISCUSSION—RESOLUTION: CENTRELINK

I was contacted by a friend concerning a perceived problem in regard to Centrelink, as follows

Dear Kathy,                              19-03-2014

As per our conversation today, Re Centerlink. I went into my Centerlink account and tried to update my profile and found that I was still called by my previous name, my name should be( Carla Ronnie Bay), Not (Ronald Bay) and it said I was still Male when my passport and drivers licences clearly states I am female.

I was told by the staff at the Cleveland office that if I present my passport it can all be corrected but when I took the passport into the Capalaba office I was told it could not be done without documents stating that I had had all the medical procedure of gender reassignment surgery completed.     

Kind  Regards
Carla  Bay

This was a Commonwealth Government department and therefore more likely to be subject to the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act (SDA) and therefore not subject to the Queensland Anti-Discrimination legislation.

Following are the pages from the “Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender/SDA and Human Services (Medicare/Centrelink)

Click here to continue reading...


Interview with Clifton Cortez, UNDP. Transgender Community Participation at WPATH Symposium.


Births, Deaths and Marriages Legislative Review

This is the latest from the Queensland BDM Review Board.

I think it shows promise and have said so.

I hope that I am not treading on any toes

---------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kathy Knoble []
Sent: Tuesday, 4 March 2014 5:09 PM
To: 'bdmlegislativereview'
Subject: RE: Births, Deaths and Marriages Legislative Review

Dear Legislative review board,

Thank you for this information. I look forward to being able to take part in any discussions concerning the situation for Trans* people.

I am pleased that you are aware of the “Regulation 5 of the Sex Discrimination Regulations 1984 which prescribe all State and Territory laws in force on 1 August 2013 for a stated period of one year”

There is immense hope that the current review will help alleviate many of the problems faced by Trans* people residing in Queensland.

I don’t wish to be presumptuous, but I really hope that after asking for amendments since 2004, that at last the Trans* community will be consulted on these matters.

Sincerely
Kathy Anne Noble

Click here to continue reading...


The Commission’s work on promoting and protecting the rights of Trans* women

Dear Kathy,                            07-02-2014
I apologise for not being able to respond to your email earlier, but thank you for raising your concerns about the Commission’s work on promoting and protecting the rights of Trans* women. 

The Commission’s statement for International Day to eliminate violence against women and the 16 days campaign (https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/leadership-critical-eliminating-violence-against-women), covers all forms of violence against all women, including Trans* women. But as the focus of the statement was on the need for strong leadership in the community to ending violence against women, it did not speak explicitly on the specific groups of women who are at risk of experiencing such violence.

Click here to continue reading...


A Plea for Understanding

Dear Jamison,

When reading the acronyms WPATH and ANZPATH they lend no meaning to the TH in each and what it supposedly infers. It is only when reading the full titles, World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and  Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health, that you realise TH refers to Transgender Health.

This appears to be the sole purpose for their existence. I and many others in the Trans* community thought this would lead to fostering higher education and understanding of all things Trans*. This to be achieved by pursuing that core curriculum are included in University on Transsexualism for the entire Medical Fraternity. There appears to have been very little in regard to this approach pursued by WPATH over the years.

It would appear that I am naïve in this respect, as it appears to Trans* people that there has been very little movement in this direction. Many feel they are being used and in many cases abused by the “Professionals” who are supposedly there to help us understand the journey we are about to undertake. This is akin, to the blind leading the blind. This is of course the real reason behind why many Trans* people are moving away from the ‘recognised’ path of using “gatekeepers” to largely doing self analysis and their own informed consent.

Click here to continue reading...


SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT. Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 - [Provisions] issued March 2011

I thought that after my email yesterday that I should follow up with more concerning this problem. I don't know if you are aware of the EM in Government parlance. This is the ubiquitous "Explanatory Memorandum", which covers everything from Gobbledy Gook to Cock Ups. The Gobbledy Gook was covered as below.

Click here to continue reading...

Or download the PDF version


Updating your personal details on a Medicare Card for Trans* people

From: Bandte, Angela
Sent: Monday, 4 November 2013 10:43 AM
To: 'Kathy Knoble'
Subject: RE: Medicare [SEC=UNOFFICIAL]

Good Morning Kathy

Our policies are applied Australia wide and all Branches should be following the same policy.  The Branch offices were all sent an email when our policy was updated to align with to the Australian Government Guidelines on Recognition of Sex and Gender.  Anyone encountering problems or receiving contradictory information, should request to speak to the Branch Manager who, if required, can contact us at National Office.

Our website was updated to specifically include how to change sex or gender on Medicare records.  http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/enablers/medicare/medicare-card/updating-your-personal-details-on-a-medicare-card.  There isn’t a plan to construct a separate dedicated page for Trans* people.

Kind regards
Angela Bandte
Senior Policy Officer
Public Eligibility & Dental Benefits Section

Updating your personal details on a Medicare Card

Changes to your Medicare card details must be done in person at your local service centre. 
Supporting documentation is needed to change details, such as your name or date of birth.
Appropriate supporting documents are:

  • current driver's licence
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate issued by Births, Death & Marriages (non-commemorative)
  • legal document
  • bills such as telephone or electricity accounts

Appropriate supporting documents to change your sex or gender are:

  • a statement from a registered medical practitioner or psychologist
  • a valid Australian Government travel document, such as a passport that specifies your sex or preferred gender
  • an amended state or territory birth certificate that specifies your sex or preferred gender
  • a state or territory Gender Recognition Certificate or Recognised Details Certificate showing a state or territory Registrar of Birth Deaths and Marriages has accepted a change in sex 

These documents are all in line with the guidelines.

This information has been sent to all service officers and is current policy. If a Trans-gender person encounters difficulty in change their sex or gender they should ask to speak to the manager of the office, the manager can ring National Office if they are unsure of requirements

Our Customer Service Officers will treat sensitive issues in confidence. You can discuss changes to your enrolment by calling 132 011.
Once your details have been changed, we will cancel your old card and keep it. You will be given a temporary card to use until you receive your new card in the mail.
In extreme cases, if you live in a remote area or cannot visit a Medicare Service Centre, you can send a signed request with certified copies of the above documents and your current Medicare card to:
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 9822
in your capital city.

Until your new card arrives in the mail, it is important you record your old card number for Medicare claiming purposes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you Angela,

That is most welcome news. I will pass it on via my web site.

In regard to the Updating Details, I understand about the designated web page. What you have done is excellent, as it is a vast improvement on what was previous, as it gave no directions really to Trans* people.

I note that you are using the “Guidelines” which is great. However, as I have pointed out to the department concerned with the “Guidelines” it does not have anything to do with those born abroad and recognising their documentation, such as birth certificate, passport or recognition certificate from their country of birth. I hope that this will be amended to come into line with both DIAC and DFAT (Passport Office)

Sincerely
Kathy Anne Noble   TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
Changeling Aspects
changelingaspects.com


Claiming Rebates from Medicare

Below are the numbers that we can claim rebates from Medicare. If you have Private health insurance, then you can claim the gap against these numbers as well. Also be aware that if in Private health, they may cover the cost of bed and theatre.

There is only one number available for the Anaesthetist, as the second one is dependent on the length of time anaesthetised. I have not quoted any numbers. This only applies to sex affirmation surgery carried out in Australia. If working, then you could claim a rebate from the ATO. Please discuss this with an accpuntant.

Numbers for claiming, click on the link for more information and costs:


First Same Sex Weddings (England & Wales)

This from the UK could be the precursor of what will happen here in Australia if and when we get same sex marriage. It will mean that those born in the UK who have remained married after surgery, will be able to amend their birth certificate towards the end of 2014 from what is stated below. Add to this the fact that the UK law is predicated on "Non Surgery" and it will give us the lot. Wonderful.

Today we announced the implementation timetable for the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 – see below.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch (Telephone - or e-mail - ).

SAVE THE DATE! FIRST SAME SEX WEDDINGS – SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2014

The first same sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from Saturday 29 March 2014, Women and Equalities Minister Maria Miller announced today. Following the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 successfully completing its journey through Parliament in July 2013, the Government has been working to ensure that all the arrangements are in place to enable same sex couples to marry as soon as possible. As a result of this work, the first weddings will now be able to happen several months earlier than anticipated.

Maria Miller said: "Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from 29 March 2014 it will be open to everyone, irrespective of whether they fall in love with someone of the same sex or opposite sex. "This is just another step in the evolution of marriage and I know that many couples up and down the country will be hugely excited that they can now plan for their big day and demonstrate their love and commitment to each other by getting married."

Those couples wishing to be among the first to marry will need formally to give notice of their intention to marry on 13 March 2014.

Notes to editors

  1. The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 24 January 2013 and gained Royal Assent on 17 July 2013: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/30/contents/enacted.
  2. Marriages of same sex couples will be able to take place from 29 March 2014 subject to Parliament's approval of various statutory instruments, to be laid in the New Year.
  3. For more information on giving notice of marriage, see: https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships.
  4. Same sex couples who married abroad under foreign law and are currently treated as civil partners will instead be recognised as being married in England and Wales in March 2014.
  5. Same sex weddings in some British consulates and armed forces bases overseas will be possible, and arrangements for same sex weddings in military chapels will be in place, from June 2014.
  6. The Government is working hard to ensure that couples wishing to convert their civil partnerships into marriages, and married people wanting to change their legal gender while remaining married, will be able to do so as soon as possible. We aim to do this before the end of 2014.
  7. We are using #equalmarriage to talk about this announcement on twitter.

Press Enquiries: OR 6051
Public Enquiries: OR Out of hours telephone pager no:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/same-sex-marriage-becomes-law


World Map of Trans Murders in 2012

Click here to see a larger view as a PDF.

Transgender day of Rememberance

Kathy Anne Noble
PO BOX 897
Cleveland
Qld, 4163, Australia
Phone:
Email:
  Website: changelingaspects.com

TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBERANCE.      18 11 2013.

THERE IS MUCH DOCUMENTED ON TRANS* MURDERS, AS DOCUMENTED IN THE TDOR 2013 LIST OF 238 CASES BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2012 AND OCTOBER 2013.

THERE ARE HUGE GAPS IN THIS, AS THERE ARE NO STATISTICS FOR AFRICA, CHINA, RUSSIA, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY, AS SOUTH AFRICA HAS GOOD SUPPORTING LEGISLATION FOR TRANS* PEOPLE.

THESE FIGURES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I LOOK FOR THOSE CONCERNING SUICIDE, AS THAT IS VERY PREVELANT IN THE TRANS* COMMUNITY. THERE IS VERY LITTLE REPORTING CONCERNING THIS AREA, AND THE CAUSES THAT LEAD TO SUICIDE.
 
WE GO THROUGH OUR JOURNEY OF CHANGE WITH FEAR AS OUR COMPANION. THERE ARE THE MANY FEARS THAT WE KNOW OF, BUT THERE ARE MANY THAT WE ENCOUNTER THAT ONLY COME TO LIGHT WHEN FACED WITH THEM.

THE CONSTANT FEAR OF BEING PICKED/OUTED AND THEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. MANY SUFFER PHYSICAL HARM, WHICH CAN AND DOES LEAD TO MENTAL HARM. IT IS BAD ENOUGH LOSING ONES FAMILY, HOME, WORK AND FRIENDS, ONLY TO HAVE TO ENDURE THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING IN SOCIETY AT LARGE.

I AM FINDING THAT PEOPLE WORLD WIDE ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE INORDINATE AMOUNT OF LEGISLATION IMPOSED ON US. THIS OF ITSELF IS ENOUGH TO PUT SO MUCH PRESSURE ON PEOPLE THAT THEY CONSIDER SUICIDE, AND SOME DO SUCCUMB.

THERE ARE MANY WHO ALTHOUGH ABLE TO AMEND DOCUMENTATION DO NOT DO SO, BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURES IMPOSED ON THEM. I KNOW OF MANY WHO CAN LEGALLY AMEND DOCUMENTATION, BUT EVEN AFTER 10 OR MORE YEARS HAVE NOT DONE SO.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT TRANS* PEOPLE ARE OBLIGED TO BE MINDFUL OF NORMAL EVERY DAY LEGISLATION CONCERNING SOCIETY, THEN HAVE LEGISLATION IMPOSED BY 9 GOVERNMENTS CONCERNING THOSE BORN AND DOMICILED IN AUSTRALIA. ADD TO THIS, MORE LEGISLATION IF BORN ABROAD. THIS OF COURSE IS ALWAYS PROVIDING THAT YOUR COUNTRY OF BIRTH WILL ALLOW YOUR DOCUMENTATION TO BE AMENDED. THIS NOW MAKES THREE SETS OF LEGISLATION THAT SOME TRANS* PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND LIVE BY. DOES ANY OTHER GROUP HAVE TO SUFFER THIS SITUATION?

I REALISE THAT THIS DOES NOT LEAD TO MURDER, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IT IS FAR MORE INSIDIOUS IN MANY RESPECTS. YES, I KNOW, THAT MURDER IS FINAL. AND THAT SOMEONES LIFE HAS ENDED. THE POINT I AM TRYING TO ESTABLISH IS THAT MENTAL HARM CAN BE AS BAD FOR SOME AS THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT ON A DAILY BASIS, THERE IS NO ESCAPE. DON’T THINK FOR ONE MINUTE THAT I ESPOUSE MURDER AS A SOLUTION. I DO ESPOUSE EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING AND HELP BY THOSE WHO ARE SUPPOSEDLY THERE TO CARE FOR US, AND THE POLITICIANS WHO IMPOSE THESE HORRENDOUS LAWS ON US WITHOUT CONSULTING US ON MOST OCCASIONS.

Kathy Anne Noble     TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
© Changeling Aspects
changelingaspects.com


Correspondence with the Attorney General's Office October 2013

From: O'Connor, Nicholas (Sen G. Brandis) [mailto:Nicholas.O']
Sent: Tuesday, 1 October 2013 2:53 PM
To: ''
Subject: Freedom of Expression

Dear Kathy,

Thank you for your recent email requesting a meeting with the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts. 

The Attorney-General appreciates the opportunity to meet with yourself and discuss issues of mutual concern. 

Unfortunately, the Attorney-General is currently unavailable to meet you.  As Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts, Senator Brandis attempts to facilitate as many meetings with stakeholders and constituent as possible.  On many occasions, he is also required to represent the Prime Minister and the Government in his capacity as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Vice-President of the Executive Council.

I apologise that the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts is unable to meet with you at this stage, however our office will keep your request on file and will be in contact should a suitable time present itself.

If you have any pressing concerns, Senator Brandis would be happy to respond to you in writing and our office can be reached via email at or at the mailing address below:

Office of the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts
Ministerial Wing
Parliament House
CANBERRA  ACT  2600

Thank you again for taking the time to contact the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts.

Yours faithfully,

 

Nicholas O’Connor | Electorate Officer
Office of the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
T: (BNE) | (CBR) | M:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

From: Kathy Knoble []
Sent: Tuesday, 1 October 2013 3:19 PM
To: 'O'Connor, Nicholas (Sen G. Brandis)'
Subject: RE: Freedom of Expression

Dear Nicholas,

Thank you for your response. I do appreciate that the Senator is extremely busy. By the same token, so am I.

I and others like me in the Trans* community are working to help Trans* people who are in a very invidious position in regards to many aspect of Government legislation. At present I am trying to determine if what we have achieved from the Labor Government will be lost? There are many areas of concern that we need to talk with the Attorney-General’s Office about. They are

  • Numbers of Trans* people in Australia
  • Physical and Mental Health of Trans* people and how this will impinge on all government health departments
  • Has the “sex and gender” area in your department been discontinued?
  • Can you please answer as to how this works under the Constitution?

            Now we come to the real problems, as the states and territories do not recognise what the Commonwealth government and departments do. This has been exacerbated by the “Australian
Government Guidelines on the Recognition of sex and gender” However these are only ‘Whole of government policy’ so that means they can be tossed out at any time by any government.

Has any government really considered the pressures they impose on us, with very little help or understanding of what this means and will lead to? The sheer weight of legislation does not seem to come into consideration. All too often, new legislation is made, without the Trans* community being involved or consulted. It is way past the time that we were involved in the making of legislation that concerns us. Consider the fact that Trans* people are governed by two sets of legislation. One is for the general population at large and the other is the inordinate amount thrust on Trans* people only. No other section of the Australian community is imposed on in this way. Two sets of laws to understand and live by.

This to us is of paramount importance, as it is part of the huge cause of physical and mental health problems. These problems will not go away, they need to be addressed as they can and do lead to suicidality.

These are but a few of the problems that we face, and would like some form of assurance that they will be attended to.

Sincerely
Kathy Anne Noble     TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
Changeling Aspects
changelingaspects.com


Officer Lt Col Cate McGregor newspaper article


Click here to view the PDF


Suicide in WA                                     27-08-2013

We in the Trans* community are saddled with many huge issues, none of which are of our making.

These issues are directed at us by all levels of Government, Education, Medicine (all levels), Law Enforcement, Religion and Society at large.

In order to alleviate the extreme pressures placed on Trans* people by having to live within two sets of laws in Australia. One for Trans* people, the other for the general population. Most are not aware of this situation. Because of this situation, it is time for summits to be held across Australia involving all stake holders.

Until these issues are resolved, we continue to drift from one crisis to another. We are offered “Gestures” as a way of placating us, when we really need solid legislation. This to consider Trans* people as “Just People” once and for all time, not as second class citizens.

Our young, families and supporters also need better that what is currently offered. Our suicide rate is astronomic, largely because of lack of understanding by the people who are supposed to help us. Over the weekend, a Trans* person committed suicide in Western Australia. The reason for this was that she was told she was not Transsexual on top of being homeless. Where is the empathy and duty of care in this case?

  • The Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender July 2013 cite under 
  • Proof of Sex and Gender/Amending Sex and Gender in Government Records at
  • section 22 “ Sex reassignment surgery and/or hormone therapy are not pre-requisites for the recognition of a change of gender in Australian Government records”

 

This does not appear to have permeated into the realms of the “Gatekeepers”. As these guidelines are just that, a whole of government policy, this means that it is not law and therefore not applicable outside of Commonwealth Government departments and agencies. Is this correct?

If this is so, then it has proven to be of little use in averting Trans* suicide.

Sincerely
Kathy Anne Noble   TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
Changeling Aspects

PO BOX 897
Cleveland
Qld, 4163, Australia
Phone:
Email:
Website: changelingaspects.com

 

From: Belinda Chaplin
Sent: Tuesday, 27 August 2013 4:11 PM
To: ''
Subject: WA Suicide

Dear colleagues,

I am hearing much about the recent suicide of a young trans* woman in Perth recently through sections of the Perth trans* community which quite frankly disturbs me.  It is going around the community that this young lady committed suicide because a member of the medical profession (I am unable to determine if medical/psychiatric or whatever) told her that she was not trans*.  If this is true, it is indeed a sad indictment on the care of trans* people in this country.  What constitutes “not trans*” anyway, when we all know gender diversity is not a static concept?  The feeling amongst the community that I am hearing is one of anger that this exists and frustration that it still continues especially when it comes down to people who are supposed to guide us through our transition.

As a health professional and a trans* woman, I’m hoping that this does not have a long term effect on the relationships between the medicos and trans* people, as there could be an issue of trust here.  Whatever the real reason for her death, it was just another suicide statistic to add to the deplorable rate of trans* suicide we already have.

You all need to be aware of this.

Belinda

Belinda Chaplin RN, BN(Hons1 QUT), ADA(Comm.Serv) | PhD Candidate: n6324312 | Sessional Academic: Research Assistant: Post Graduate Student Representative: School of Nursing (SON) | Member: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) | Member: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society (STTI) | Member: World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) | Member: Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (ANZPATH) | Member: National LGBTI Health Alliance | Ph: | N412a Kelvin Grove Campus | PO Box 2092 Kelvin Grove Qld 4059 | |CRICOS No. 00213J


New federal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status

Good morning

The Attorney-General announced today that the new federal protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in the Sex Discrimination Act will commence today, 1 August 2013. The Commission has issued a media release.

The Commission has prepared information on the changes to the Sex Discrimination Act. This information was circulated a few weeks ago. It has now been updated to include the commencement date.

The website also includes complaint information sheets on each of the new grounds.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Investigation and Conciliation Service at or .

Kind regards
Nick

Nicholas Burrage
Senior Policy Officer
Australian Human Rights Commission
Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001
T + or ?F +
E | W humanrights.gov.au
Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday


Difference between government and Trans* people's reaction to my work

I am being asked by people in government departments to push for more details after this review of the sex discrimination.

I have also been contacted by people in BDMs who wish to have copies of the paper I am putting together in regard to anomalies at BDM levels. One has also stated that he considers the Passport Office legislation concerning non surgery is placing people in harms way.

I have penned this as a follow up to ask what will happen after the review and Senate Committee. Will there be any direct benefits for Trans* people, or a continuation of the sameness that currently exists.

"I am 78 and for the last 10 years I have been hitting my head against the proverbial, in the vain hope of educating the un-educated, where Trans* people are concerned. In the past I have been decried for talking about the need for serious changes to our legislation. This is not by Government, but by my peers.

I find this submission to be a sad indictment in regard to that lack of education when Trans* people are not just concerned as to its outcome, but are hurting, mentally and physically.

To be told that submissions are not to be published appears as a "Fait acompli" as our fates have already been determined.

Please tell me, so that I can tell my fellow Trans* friends that this is not so, and that finally our voices will be heard and the appropriate legislation made at Commonwealth and State levels.

The guidelines for a submission to the Senate Committee are extremely tight and therefore do not allow us to raise the very serious problems that face the Trans* community.

What are to be the next steps after these suggested amendments are in place? Are we ever to be consulted on these many problems that only too often cause us more harm than good?

I was asked before Christmas 2012, if I was available for talks with the Attorney-General's Office concerning our problems in light of the forth coming amendments. Does that still apply?

Lastly, we are listed as a "Priority Group" by the Health Department. Soon to be a "Protected Attribute" under the Sex Discrimination Draft, so when are we to be "Heritage Listed" as we have been around since time began?"

Kathy Anne Noble TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
Changeling Aspects


Individual Responsibility: Know What Your Drugs Do & Their Side Affects!

You know what pisses me off? The fact that these trans* women do no research into what they stick in their gob. To make it even worse is the fact that each renewal has the full written account of what the drug/hormone does. This is good bad and indifferent. But they don’t read the bloody thing, then expect someone else to help save them from some bad, or lethal side affect.

I am getting this all the time and it pisses me off, as I am being used by other groups who do not explain these situations to their “CLIENTS”. Sorry, but this has got to stop, as I am not prepared to sort out someone else’s mistakes, and they are all too often.

It is time that Trans* people took responsibility for their actions, not rely on others to come to their rescue/help when things go wrong, because they are too bloody idle to read what is written in the printouts from the pharmaceutical companies. They can also ask the pharmacist for a print out on these medications. It would be of immeasurable help if governments did make this clear, as well as the medical fraternity.

THERE ARE NO FRIENDLY DRUGS AND HORMONES FOR TRANS* PEOPLE, THEY ARE FOR GENETIC PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kathy Anne Noble   TRANS* & Author
WPATH Member
Changeling Aspects


New LGBTI phone counseling service

People of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status are set to benefit from the establishment of a new national mental health telephone counselling service.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Senator Jacinta Collins said the Australian Government would provide $3.3 million over two years to the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Health Alliance to provide the QLife support service.
Senator Collins said a major part of QLife was its 1800 telephone peer support counselling service which was now available across Australia seven days a week between 5:30pm and 10:30pm on .
She said QLife would also provide Self Help and a Web-based Support Program (Teleweb) via its website, and the service was being jointly delivered by the Alliance and five existing gay and lesbian counselling services in WA, Queensland, SA, Victoria and NSW.
"These services can go a long way to helping people overcome the negative mental health impacts of discrimination, stigma and social isolation because of their sexual orientation, sex or gender," Senator Collins said.
"They will be followed later this year by other QLife services such as online real-time chat support, online forums and an email response service as well as online multi-media mental health information and resources, which will include video and audio formats."
Executive Director of the National LGBTI Health Alliance, Warren Talbot welcomed the support, saying it would enable training and development at the national level.
"This is a positive initiative which will support good mental health for LGBTI communities," Mr Talbot said.
Chair of Gay and Lesbian Community Services of WA, Davina Morley said GLCS was thrilled to be part of the national project.
"This will build on the excellent work of the GLCS phone line over the last 40 years, as well as embracing new technology," Ms Morley said.


 

 


Living Library

Also see Living Library in Brocures & PDFs


   

Changeling Aspects In affiliation with -(Aust) & -(Townsville)

We are based in South East Qld, in Australia About Us  ... Contact Us    ( Most Art above are extracts from the Art of Maxfield Parrish© )

  ALL "WebSites &/or Links" contain additional Links to further "WebSites".   It is important to learn everything you can! But, Not all information is useful or validated, so use your own judgement.

Websites around the world are changing every day, so please let us know if there are any broken 'links' on our site. 

This Website Created ...... Saturday, 20. May 2006

This page last updated:

Visitors since... Saturday, 20. May 2006 

Hit Counter

What a Wonderful World