As the editor of Gender News, I am sorry for the lateness of this issue. As we all know life gets crazy and overwhelming at times. Sometimes, things cannot be avoided. I will work to keep things on a timelier schedule in the future. Please enjoy the following issue. A lot of work goes into each and every one. This month we are starting a Trans in the Work Place theme; there have been a lot of submissions. Thank you to all that have contributed! To keep people from being bombarded with page after page, it will be separated into multiple inserts. Anyone wishing to add to ideas or comments, can email directly at gendernews@transsask.org . Of course, be sure to subscribe to Gender News... http://goo.gl/W6ebAw
“Love yourself whole heartedly, there are enough people out there that don’t. Each and every one of us is a special beautiful individual! Believe in your inner strengths and you will fly” Autumn Faith (Editor and Creative Director) 1|
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TRANS IN THE WORK PLACE
James Gardner
Photo: thetransgenderproject.com
GN- What is your occupation? Radio Broadcaster GN- How long have you been in this field? 34 years GN- Did you transition at your place of work? Yes 2|
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GN- How long have you been out? 4 years. GN- Was there a person who was overly supportive and was your rock? My human resource manager at work. GN- What did they do for you? She insured that we went at the speed I was most comfortable and she was open to receiving information on transitioning at work. She was always there when I needed to talk, or had concerns about the process. My boss and HR left it entirely to me as to how I wanted to transition at work. For example when and how I would like other employees to be told. GN- How did co-workers respond? I was not there when they were told, but the feedback I got was everyone was onboard. They had very few questions and some thought it was a brave move. A few of them approached me later to congratulate me and expressed their happiness that I could do this for myself. GN- Was management helpful or did they have issues? One issue my general manager had was the fear that some of the listeners of our radio station (CFAX-Victoria) would have opinions about my transition and he was worried they might have harsh words. We discussed the possibility that some of our local advertisers might pull their revenue, but that never happened. GN- Does your company support you? Yes, locally they do, but our parent company (Bell Media) does not currently offer its trans employees health benefits that would help us pay for medical services not yet covered. For example hair removal services for trans men and women (electrolysis/laser), after care costs following gender reassignment surgery, and, travel costs to and from the gender surgical centre in Montreal. 3|
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GN-How do customers/public work related people respond to you? Very good, and some have even come to me and congratulated me on my transition. GN- What do you enjoy about your job? I am able to use my work in radio as a platform to raise awareness about trans issues. I've completed and we have broadcast a five-part radio documentary on being transgender and trans issues, which included my own personal stories and interviews with provincial health care authorities, Dr. Brassard in Montreal speaking about trans surgeries, and information on the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria. GN- If you were asked what advice would you give to someone thinking of doing the same? Do it, it will save your life. I was depressed and miserable, and it wasn't until I realized I could transition that I realized I have a right to be happy. GN- Do you have regrets for any choices that you have made? No, none. GN- Do you plan on staying at the current job? Yes. GN- Your: - Proudest moments. My Mother telling me that I was one of the bravest people she knows. - Funny A neighbour of mine invited me to his home after I explained to him I was transitioning to offer me some clothing he and his wife had been clearing out of their house. He thought I might be interested in some of the items. They turned out to be women's shoes, scarves and handbags. He didn't understand that I was transitioning from female to male. 4|
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- Scariest. I fell into a depression because of my dysphoria and I had thought of suicide. - Worst moments. Waiting for appointments to be assessed for surgery, waiting for surgery and having medical claims turned down. Having to constantly push the system to include trans rights for medical care most Canadians take for granted. GN- Are you currently happy with your life at work? Yes, extremely happy. GN- Is there any personal thoughts that you have that may not have been asked that you would like to offer? I would like to see medical care for trans people in Canada more accessible and more doctors and health professional become more Knowledgeable about trans health issues.
https://www.tumblr.com/genderfluid-comic
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TRANS IN THE WORK PLACE
Answers by Ann Thomas 12/21/2015
GN- What is your occupation? A. Day Job: Waterjet Machinist – I cut things using water and abrasive. My grandfather was a key inventor of this technology in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. It is my second career. My first career was, as a software designer and programmer for over 20 years, in the food distribution industry, primarily. B. Night and weekend job – Founder, Transgender Talent, LLC. This is a company dedicated to finding trans people jobs. We help the 6|
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entertainment industry find actors and stand-up comedians who are transgender. We also provide public speakers to anyone looking. GN- How long have you been in this field? A. Day job: since 2009. B. Night job: since about May of 2015 GN- Did you transition at your place of work? I’ve transitioned multiple times, due to having to un-transition for family reasons. My first career was partially lost due to transitioning partially. I fully transitioned during my second career (waterjet machinist), with the full support of my union. GN- How long have you been out? I was out the first time at work and in public in the 2000’s for several years. This time around, I began transitioning just as I started this job, so about 3 ½ years. GN- Was there a person who was overly supportive and was your rock? No, there was not one person I can say that about. However, I was inspired to live a genuine life by my father, who I discovered was trans just months before he passed away in 2001. He was never able to come out but had to live his entire life closeted. Others have inspired me as well. GN- How have co-workers respond? Some have been fine. Others have not been, or have rejected of the whole idea. GN- Was management helpful or did they have issues? Management was very uninformed and remains a problem when they do not respond appropriately to challenges. The union, however, is highly supportive and intervenes successfully when necessary. 7|
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GN- Does your company support you? Overall, yes. GN- How do customers/public work related people respond to you? It varies. Many are not even appearing to notice. Some are warmly supportive. GN- What do you enjoy about your job? A. Mindless creativity! I can veg at times, or do other things at the same time while my machine is running a long, boring job. B. Finding jobs and networking is a great pleasure and gives me incredible satisfaction! GN- If you could do anything else different, what would it be? I would quit my day job in a heartbeat and go 100% into being a talent agent if I could raise the funding. GN- If you were asked what advice would you give to someone thinking of doing the same? It can be easier to switch jobs at the right moment during the transition, with ID change at the same time. But it depends on the job. GN- Do you have regrets for any choices that you have made? I regret I didn’t do it sooner. GN- Do you plan on staying at the current job? A. No – I am getting to weak to handle the blue collar work. B. Yes – I will stick with this until I can retire and be sure that others can handle it well. I don’t want this to get gobbled up by a big agency like what happened to Dragon Talent in the 90’s or thereabouts, causing us to lose our representation and protection in Hollywood.
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GN- Your: - Proudest moments. A. When I was able to visit the Alice In Wonderland ride and stand in the middle of all I made. Later, to know that my statues are now down the middle of the East 103rd Street, by Ted Watkins Memorial Park in Watts, Los Angeles. B. So many! To complete shooting the two Transgender In America shows on Dr Drew. To having my first actor cast in a starring role in an upcoming feature film. To shooting a scene with Jeffrey Tambour, Alexandra Billings and Trace Lysette, and being directed by Jill Solloway. To doing the interview yesterday with Dr. Drew for his podcast. To finish presenting the first Transgender Patient Care Module for the UCLA School of Medicine doctoring program. It’s like living a dream after lots of hard work. - Funny A. Watching a guy here at the shop turn beat red! Well into transition, he said, “Grow a pair!” to me, and I didn’t know if he was serious. So, I puffed out my chest and said, “I DID!” B. I was getting together for lunch with a couple that are both comedians (one trans, one cis). We came across another one of the comedians for the show on the sidewalk just as we were going into the restaurant. We all sat together, and over the next 10 or so minutes, the entire rest of the performers (including the headliner) trickled in and joined us. By the end we had a large table full of comedians. I could hardly eat, it was so funny, challenging and delightful.
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- Biggest challenges. A. Lifting heavy objects as my strength wanes due to the hormones. B. Establishing credibility in Hollywood. Raising funds to get my new company off the ground. - Scariest. Having to call in the union and their lawyers, when I was suddenly banned from the ladies restroom by the overzealous religious sister-inlaw of the owner. I had already fully transitioned, including name and gender marker change on all my ID by this point. - Worst moments. Being ordered to move my makeup by the owner of the company I was working for the first time I came out, back in the 2000’s GN- Self-employed persons, what gave you the drive to start your own business? No one! I saw a huge opportunity and jumped in with both feet as fast as I could, knowing fully I would get appreciated by many and hated by others. It’s all come true. GN- Has transition affected: - Business- Sales- Transactions- Loans and banking- Government agencies Not really. Just constantly having to make situations a learning experience. GN- Are you currently happy with your life at work? A. Pleased but wish I didn’t have to be here anymore. B. Elated!
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GN- Is there any personal thoughts that you have that may not have been asked that you would like to offer? You may not be able accurately predict the outcome of transitioning. The important thing is to be genuine! Click in browser ‌.. For Podcast. http://drdrew.com/2015/ddp206/
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TRANS IN THE WORK PLACE Questions answered by A. S. GN- What is your occupation? I am a Power Generation Engineer GN-How long have you been in this field? 41 years, with a back to school break in between. GN- Did you transition at your place of work? Yes I did. GN- How long have you been out? 5or 6 years publicly GN- Was there a person who was overly supportive and was your rock? Yes, My legal wife GN- What did they do for you? She had my back in public. helped me find my way in the early stages of transition. She also researched Any time someone looked at me in a bad way she would defend me. She trans help for me. GN- How did co-workers respond? Co-worker’s for the most part were good. I would not say supportive, because they are all men and are class1 personality types. Also my managers are aware of the law and as such have told everyone that I am not to be bothered
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GN- Was management helpful or did they have issues? Management was helpful to the point of following the law. They did not go beyond that. GN- How do customers/public work related people respond to you? Good for the most part. The odd person says "whatever" when I point out any Gender mistakes. GN- What do you enjoy about your job? My job allows me some freedoms others don't have. I choose my break times, and am free to use my help the way I choose to. GN- If you could do anything else different, what would it be? Easy‌ Transition sooner, and work in a health care field. GN- If you were asked what advice would you give to someone thinking of doing the same? Find as many supporters as you can. Family will abandon you, friends will go. You will want to die. You must be stronger than you think you can be, or you won't make it GN- Do you have regrets for any choices that you have made? None. GN- Do you plan on staying at the current job? Yes because retirement is not so far away. GN- Your: - Proudest moments. Proud when people start to say sir then look at me and say sorry Ma’am. It was hard for my children to understand, but we worked through it all. They realized that I am still me - Saddest moments, when my Brother disowned me. One fellow at work said I would not survive a vote.
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GN- Are you currently happy with your life at work? Where I work is a very male dominated place. My opinions no longer matters. I am constantly told how women are inferior. I am always told how ugly I am, that no man would ever want me etc. GN- Is there any personal thoughts that you have that may not have been asked that you would like to offer? Life as a transwoman is brutally hard. The only thing I can say is its better than taking your own life which we all think about. As friendly as Vancouver is, our world is NOT really ready for gender freedom yet. I dream of the day when we truly are free to be who we are, when people really understand, and society puts people before money. Not in my life time though.
http://www.fluidsurveys.usask.ca/s/Tbarriers2PA/
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TERF‌
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call myself a feminist and years ago I was buying and reading what I assumed were feminist books. Wickeder and Beyond God the Father, both by Mary Daly, come to mind, books I found in feminist sections of the store. They were empowering things to read and what they had to say became part of me. I've since learned that Mary Daly served as thesis adviser for Janice Raymond's dissertation, a paper that was eventually published as The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male. It was also becoming apparent to me around this time that I wasn't female. I grew up thinking I was female and part of me still thinks that to this day. I still need feminism, but when I try to connect with it now, there's this uneasy relationship. It hurts to tap into. I feel disempowered and reach out to it for help, but it ends up hurting me, even excluding me. TERF is an acronym and it stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist. TERFs commonly advocate for the exclusion of trans women from so-called women-only spaces like shelters or bathrooms. Their reasoning is that trans women are predisposed to act controlling or violent because they’re biologically male and/or socialized as men. TERFs reduce trans people to their birth-assigned sex, claiming that trans women always possess some quality that makes them men by virtue of their chromosomes or the male socialization they receive as they grow up. There are several TERF sites on the web, the comments on which are frequently what any reasonable person would describe as hateful. I've read their commentary on various sites at length and it has
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left me fearful and depressed. I've walked around scared and laid in bed at home despondent as a result of their comments. ’ve argued with TERFs. I've told them I'm not violent, I've spent years helping females, I know trans people and trans organizations that help females, I've spent a lifetime feeling like I have / should have a woman's body, when I use a women's washroom I'm there to pee, I'm often harassed and threatened by both males and females. I've debated their statements, trans women are like all other males, violent, controlling, they bring with them male energy, they shouldn't be allowed in spaces like women's washrooms and shelters. They say my arguments are subjective, theirs are objective. I argue that I feel like a woman, they make reference to research that is supposed to prove that I'm not a woman. Subjective / objective. It's an easy trap to fall into, as a trans woman I often feel like I need to prove that I'm a woman.
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try to argue on their terms by introducing brain studies suggesting that trans people have some brain structures and processing in common with their identified gender. They respond that this is junk science; there are no male and female brains. In doing so, they reject biological essentialist arguments opportunistically, ignoring any evidence that might restrict the abilities of females, all the while employing other essentialist arguments against trans people. I don't have a uterus, so I'm not a woman. I have big hands and smell like a man, so I'm not a woman. I act like a man, so I'm not a woman. I've been socialized as a man, I'm patriarchal, and so I'm not a woman, sociological essentialism. Never mind that some females lack a uterus. Some have big hands, some smell like men and some are quite patriarchal. The list goes on, individual differences. Not all males are raised the same, ditto females, everyone's different. I've met males and females all over the gender spectrum. TERFs characterize the mind and 17 |
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brain as passive recipients of social messages and biological influences. How we're raised and the nature of our sex chromosomes combine to determine who we are while the mind and brain laze around on a couch watching TV and drinking beers. If the mind and brain are just passive players, how do feminists themselves resist sociological and chromosomal determinants to become empowered as feminists in the first place?
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nline can be a strange environment. You type something and you see something in response. I feel like a woman, research shows you're a violent male. Things are reduced to words, to these small, simple shapes on a screen in front of you. You're violent, X study proves that. I throw out something into the screen, into the world, and I get back the words 'You're a male'. It's like shaking a Magic 8Ball. Things get reduced to this ultra-simple way of communicating. I type some things into a keyboard and see responses on the screen. I don't even know if I would call it meaningful communication. Talking to people on the web in these short, clipped ways of speaking is intimidating and it almost induces a trance. I'm talking to words on a screen. The screen glows white, the black words stark and powerful against a sea of white.
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hen I get up, walk around and look at the world. I step away from the computer and say "Wait a second, I'm talking to a computer". I look around and see colors, objects, books, movies. I go outside and walk around. My body is moving, feeling. I'm thinking, interacting, talking with people, looking at people. I'm absorbing things in the environment, my senses are alive. I'm talking about things with friends, about things that interest me, things I care about. I'm caring, wanting to connect with things, wanting to feel the cool breeze on my face. I'm listening to music I like, fantasizing about 18 |
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things. I'm feeling happy, sad, tired, angry, excited, bored. And I think about those statements, you're violent, you're a man, you’re a danger to females, and they seem so far away, so small, so distant, and so unreal. I'm a word? I'm a sentence? I'm a collection of words? A couple of shapes on a screen? I look around and think, how on earth could I be those things? TERFs are the same. They're people, they aren't these simple shapes you see on the screen. All these scary things I've heard from TERFs, they're coming from actual people out there in the world. On the other end of that conversation is a living, breathing person. Her hand movements were managed by a brain. She just sat down after going to the washroom and feeding her cat. She has favorite TV shows and watches baseball. She isn't some omnipresent, omnipotent deity sending you commands through the computer screen. She lives in Hoboken, wears a Peabody’s perfect ball cap and thinks Barq's Root Beer is the best pop drink on the planet. People aren't perfect, they're physical things, their brains are a collection of nerve cells, and they make mistakes. You can't take the things they say at face value. Likewise, studies are things constructed by people and there's a long history of poorly constructed studies. Ultimately, I think what's needed is pretty simple. I think we need to get to know each other. I mean we need to really get to know each other, hang out with each other, cross the divide that exists. Maybe then we'll move past those silly representations of trans people I've seen frequenting TERF websites or the scary images of TERFs I have in my head and move toward a more realistic, and less frightening, understanding of each other. Stephanie Cox
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Trans Guys and Ovarian Cancer Confronting a “Silent Killer” January 17 is the anniversary of the passing of Robert Eads, a trans guy who died of ovarian cancer.
SOUTHERN COMFORT is a 90minute feature-length documentary about the life of Robert Eads, a 52year-old female to male transsexual who lives in the back hills of Georgia. Having been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Robert was turned away by more than two dozen doctors who feared that taking on a transgender patient might harm their practice. Southern Comfort follows the final year of Robert's life as he confronts a hostile world of gender bias.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it estimated that in In 2015, an estimated 2,400 people will die of cancer in Saskatchewan, and 5,500 new cases will be diagnosed. Trans-masculine folk (afab, or trans men) are at risk for gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine/endometrial, cervical, fallopian, vulva, vagina, and peritoneal. Compared to some cancers, ovarian cancer is relatively rare, but it accounts for a disproportionate number of cancer deaths because it is too often diagnosed at an advanced stage. If it is found early, it can be a highly treatable disease. For trans-masculine folk, ovarian cancer poses an extra challenge due to not only increased risk factors and decreased access to health care but also to the increased levels of discrimination faced by the trans community.
According to the National LGBT Cancer Network in New York, approximately 1 in 72 people born with ovaries will be diagnosed with cancer of the ovary during their lifetime. Although it accounts for only about 4% of all diagnosed cancers in people born female, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer death for people with ovaries. Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Treatment in Saskatchewan (OCATS) states that although ovarian cancer patients who have been diagnosed early at stage 1 have excellent survival rates, as high as approximately 80 percent, the majority are not diagnosed until stages 3 or 4 when survival rates are low, and many of these advanced stage ovarian cancer patients die within 5 years. Those at risk of ovarian cancer are frequently over 50, have never had children, have a family history of ovarian, breast, prostate or colon cancers, or are of Jewish descent. However, not all cases of ovarian cancer fall into these categories. Hudson's FTM Resource Guide states, “female to male transsexuals, as a population, have not been studied in a large enough sample size and over enough time to determine the long-term risks of cancer associated with testosterone use for transition and lifetime maintenance of male secondary sex characteristics.” A small study by the American Cancer Society has discovered that, “[people born female] who took androgens [testosterone] were found to have a higher risk of ovarian 20 |
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cancer.” According to the Transgender Health Program of Vancouver Coastal Health, “excess testosterone is converted via aromatase to estrogen[, and trans men] taking testosterone over a long period of time may be at increased risk for estrogen dependent cancers such as ovarian cancer.” Due to many barriers to accessing appropriate health care, including discomfort over revealing gender or sexual identity, not every trans-masculine person who is on testosterone is under a doctor’s care and receiving a consistent dosage, risking testosterone overdose resulting in this excess of converted estrogen. One of the greatest barriers for trans-masculine folk to overcome is the disparities in quality health care for transgender and transsexual individuals in Saskatchewan. Individuals may receive a lower quality of care because of a lack of necessary knowledge by health professionals, stigma from gay/lesbian and heterosexual communities, social and economic marginalization, discrimination about perceived sexual orientation, gender prejudices, and the notion that transgenderism is pathological. Additionally, some trans-masculine folk, because of their gender identity, might fail to see themselves as being at risk of ovarian cancer because they may not associate with body parts that are physically present at birth.
The National LGBT Cancer Network offers the following suggestions for transmasculine folk: BEFORE beginning hormone (“T”) therapy: 1. Assess your personal risk factors. Get evaluated for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), find out if you have a family history of ovarian cancer, and learn the risk factors for ovarian cancer. 2. Familiarize yourself with the early symptoms of ovarian 21 |
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) PCOS is a hormonal condition believed to be caused by an overproduction of insulin, which in turn stimulates the ovaries to produce testosterone. PCOS is associated with increased risk for a number of health problems, including glucose intolerance and diabetes, heart disease, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. The main symptoms of PCOS are similar to the changes that happen when FTMs start taking testosterone: • acne • obesity • growth of facial and body hair • no menstrual period or infrequent period; infertility or reduced fertility For reasons that are not understood, several studies of FTMs that had not taken testosterone found increased incidence of PCOS among FTMs (compared to the usual rate among people born female). For this reason, it is recommended that all FTMs not taking testosterone be evaluated for PCOS, and that FTMs taking testosterone be asked questions about any signs and symptoms of PCOS that existed before starting hormones. This can be useful in evaluating and trying to reduce risks for the health problems associated with PCOS, including endometrial and ovarian cancer. --Transgender Health Program, Vancouver Coastal Health
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cancer. Even within the general population, a diagnosis of ovarian cancer is often delayed. In hormonally and surgically treated trans-masculine folk, diagnostic delay may be further enhanced by inattention. Self awareness and arming yourself with as much information as possible about symptoms and prevention has to be a priority! 3. Get evaluated for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) before going on testosterone. Since several studies of FtMs that had not taken testosterone found increased incidence of PCOS among FtMs (compared to the usual rate among people assigned female at birth), we recommend that all FtMs not taking testosterone be evaluated for PCOS, if possible. This can be useful in evaluating and trying to reduce risks for the health problems associated with PCOS, including endometrial and, possibly, ovarian cancer.
AFTER Initiating Hormone Therapy: 1. Monitor your hormone levels closely. Medical monitoring of hormone therapy could prevent an excess of testosterone and estrogen and help detect any health problems. While, ideally, everyone would have access to affirming and consistent treatment, we understand that, in reality, many trans-masculine folk are put in the position of having to acquire hormones through means other than licensed physicians. 2. Be your own advocate. Unfortunately, the health and wellness of many trans-masculine folk depend largely on how well we can speak up for ourselves and voice our concerns. We are the experts on our lives and how we feel about our bodies. 3. Be Aware of any signs and symptoms of PCOS that existed before starting hormones. This may be difficult, as the main symptoms of PCOS are similar to the changes that happen when trans-masculine folk start taking testosterone, including: acne; obesity; new growth of body hair and facial hair; no menstrual period or infrequent periods; infertility or reduced fertility. 4. Continue to undergo regular health screenings. Trans-masculine folk who have not undergone hysterectomy and genital reconstruction should continue to receive regular Pap tests and pelvic 22 |
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examinations. Taking testosterone may increase the risk of ovarian cancer if the level exceeds the person’s receptor capacity and is converted into estrogen. (This is especially significant for people obtaining hormones from unlicensed sources, not from a medical provider.) 5. Consider surgery. In the absence of definitive information about trans men’s risks for ovarian cancer and the difficulties many trans-masculine folk experience in accessing gynecologic health care services, some experts advocate for the surgical removal of the ovaries (and uterus and cervix) as part of gender-confirming therapy. Of course, we understand that this is a very personal decision and all the risks and benefits must be considered when making a decision. For more information on Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, Screening and Treatment visit www.ovariancanada.org
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In Transit, by Miki Mappin
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eaving the shore, the bus soars over a causeway. Frozen spray is drifting off the Saint Laurence River. I shift in my narrow seat and my skirt makes a rustling sound. I bought it in a vintage boutique in Kensington Market. It was one of the last afternoons of the visit with my son, an acting student in Toronto. I look past my reflection, trying to see the approaching island in the darkening afternoon, white snow against white sky. A sign for Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue reminds me of a summer at the beginning of the seventies. We were slouched on canvas sling chairs in the basement of my friend’s girlfriend’s parents. Me, skinny, a girl’s face and hair, patched bellbottoms slung low on my androgynous adolescent hips, pupils wide, caught in the space
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between child and man. I had left my mother to hitchhike west across the continent from the prairies to the Strait of Georgia, then back and east to the mouth of the Saint Laurence. Now my mother is dead, and I’m returning, looking ahead through the tinted windows of the bus. The city is grey and cold. Having lived here before I know Montreal well, unlike Toronto, though I can see it’s changed. I’m happily settled in the little house of a friend I know only through Facebook, who is in New Orleans celebrating Mardi Gras. It’s a ground floor flat with a shambolic porch, tacked on to the side of a two storey apartment building. The personality of my absent host remains in the idiosyncratic decorations, cast off objects creatively transformed. I dance in his sunny studio, looking out on a sidewalk in the neighbourhood known as Little Italy. In just over a week I hope to be recovering from surgery.
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friend from home takes me for exquisite, artisanal hot chocolate on Rue Sainte Catherine. A hair and makeup artist for the film industry, she asks if I’m afraid. No, I’m excited! The decision is made, the money is paid. It’s like the feeling of peace and anticipation when, all through the nineties, I used to fly regularly between Barcelona and Saskatoon. Once I had passed through airport security and no longer had to make decisions. That contemplative, creative, no man’s land of “In Transit”. At the Jean Talon Market I try out my limited French, delighted by the abundance of produce. Too much! How do you say half? The word comes to me in Catalan; la meitat. From my anthropology class so many decades ago, I remember, and ask, “moitié?” I make hand gestures. Puzzled, the farmer wrinkles his face. He tries, “demi?” I smile, and nod, and he grins and divides a basket of carrots. A young woman agrees to sell me one of each of the varieties of Quebec apples. She has a good price on maple syrup, so I also buy some rolled oats and walnuts. When I get home I make granola. While it’s baking I chop vegetables for kimchi, more than I need. It will be fermented a few days before I go to the clinic. I explore. I visit dance studios and try to follow the instructions which are mostly in French. 25 |
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The women, younger, are welcoming. Some of the older men are flatteringly attentive. I love the walk back through the dark streets, often snowing this week, and the ride on the metro. I have a card which I touch to the turnstile, and it lets me pass. I like to watch the people on the platform and on the train. Many look like they might be transgender. It’s a short walk from the metro to my street. The porch light, with its little bird ornament, welcomes me home. So quickly the days are passing. Sunday after dance class I descend through Old Montreal. The cracks between the cobblestones are white with dried salt. At the old port there is a concert. A small band is playing and a conductor with a radio gives instructions to sound the whistles and fog horns of ships in the harbour and the bells and horn of a locomotive on a nearby rail siding. I am moved, suddenly transported from the clapping crowd in the thin March sunshine.
I
n 1959 I disembarked here from a steamship with my mother and baby brother, to board the train which would carry us into the heart of the continent. My mother used to tell me the story of the wait in the immigration hall, the chaos and lineups, and how my brother had a new white coat, which by the end of the day was black from crawling among the legs of the new arrivals. I wonder if I can find the spot where I arrived in Canada. The wind is cold by the water. Rusting ships are frozen in the ice. Searching, gazing at eroded concrete rising out of the water, recognition eludes me. Finally, a tourist signboard identifies Alexandra Pier as having been the dock for transatlantic liners, originally called Russel Quay. I cry, looking at the water, at the Montreal skyline. Monday morning I pack my bag and clean the apartment. I water the plants and leave jars of homemade granola and kimchi with a note for my absent host. My neighbour, a performance artist, comes over to keep me company. She doesn’t think she will ever want the surgery, but her girlfriend does. They want to come and visit me while I am recovering. My ride is late. She lets me use her cellphone, and there is some confusion on the part of the staff at the clinic. 26 |
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The driver has gone to the wrong address. My friend stays until the car arrives. In a rush, I say goodbye to my eccentric home, hide the key in a flowerpot on the front stoop, share a quick hug, and scramble into the back seat. Phone in ear, wearing a black turtleneck under a black suit jacket, the driver looks like a Mafia underling. I ask about his day, but he ignores me. We head north, accelerating and swerving through the traffic. I shrink into the black leather upholstery, alone and vaguely alarmed as though I were a kidnap victim. I’m transported across a bridge, we turn past a dépanneur covered in beer ads into a prosperous suburb beside the river, and arrive at the bed and breakfast where I am to spend the night before my surgery. My room is the third floor attic suite. It is accessed by an ornate steel spiral staircase from an atrium on the second floor at the back of the house. I am uncomfortable with the faux luxury, but the bed, despite its ranks of ruffled pillows, is comfortable. At lunch I meet the other women, or “girls” as we call ourselves. Renée from Wisconsin used to be a singer in a rock band. Donna, in her early 50s, lives in Ontario, but works in the tar sands of Alberta. Before, she served in the army, and tells us stories of Kosovo. Kayley is 22, blond and beautiful like Renée but not as tall. She’s here with her mother, Nancy. They drove from Ontario. Despite having voluptuous breasts, she’s planning, after this, to have another surgery to make them even bigger. Nancy is afraid that her daughter might suffer abuse and discrimination if she doesn’t measure up to society’s 27 |
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expectations of femininity. Donna also plans a breast augmentation as soon as she can save enough money. I don’t like the idea of implants. I was thrilled when, released from testosterone and stimulated by estrogen, mine began to grow. It was magical. I don’t mind that they are small. Feeling a need to escape, I go for a walk. The neighbourhood is suburban and pretentious, close to the river. I head into the park opposite looking for a walking trail. I find a poorly travelled path through the snow, across a little bridge, and through the woods along a creek behind some large buildings. The air is fresh. Realizing I am on a small island, I cross a parking lot and come to a road by the main channel of the north branch of the Saint Laurence River. The stone buildings, owned by the Catholic Church, are overseas missionary headquarters and seniors’ residences. Five floors of steel balconies climb the end of one of the buildings, connected by stairs and caged with steel mesh. On the second and the fourth floor balconies an old man and an old woman shuffle back and forth, oblivious to each other. I walk along the river as far as a lookout near the bridge I had crossed earlier in the limousine. The water swirls in the open channel between the ice, dark under the thinly overcast sky, on its way to the ocean. Later, in my opulent bed, I think about tomorrow, another day in my journey.
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TRANSSASK PRESENTS “ALLY OF THE MONTH”
Moose Jaw Pride Inc. is a registered non-profit corporation composed of a volunteer Board of Directors from Moose Jaw and across Saskatchewan. Our mission is to celebrate and support gender and sexually diverse people through the provision of fabulously inclusive community services and educational opportunities. Our vision is a thriving community for all gender and sexually diverse people. The Moose Jaw Pride “Better Together” Project, funded by the Community Initiatives Fund, will allow Moose Jaw Pride to hire a staff person and open a drop-in centre to support individuals and families, expand our diversity training program as well as to begin outreach in smaller centres around Saskatchewan.
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Joe Wickenhauser
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TransSask Word Find I P J T I R N D T M A S C U L I N E S T M I C
E X T S N E F O Z R R E D N E G N V R J D C W
L E K J T E L S I J A S I M Y D E A F E V I E
D I G O E U A N B T F N T H O T N L N J M J Z
Y Q Z O R Q U Z M F A Z S C J S U T A B H T A
M O S X S R X R W X H T R I P L I C V M W B I
ANDROGYNOUS BINARY BISEXUAL CIS DETRANSITION ESTROGEN FEMININE FTM GENDER GID IDENTITY LESBIAN MASCULINE ORIENTATION SEX TESTOSTERONE TRANSITION TRANSSEXUAL
A I O D E E E P J D S I N H T T D V K L E B F
K C O H X D S P U M N E O E Y I S M D L I F O
X N T Y N N I C R O U B Z M I F O Q L Z D U H
O H T E A E B O L L I U G T A R S N U T D C R
G K G G R G F O T A O D L F Y P O F E W C R W
T I L G S T G R E D N E G S N A R T I B T Q T
B E B W S I L H P K V T D M T E C C P Q A Z I
M J S A S Y R P Q D T R W A R R G O J R L V C
T O E T R T L E S B I A N L A E S O R P N S O
F R A A O C I S T P K N B E N D L H R S P U G
B Z N Z U S B K A M F S F V S N E L N T E T P
T I B V W N T C A O Q I R W S I K F I P S T G
B K L P T H K E T D D T V M E B U X U K A E S
S R S Z I E M I R E W I N E X F S X M S X D F
E S H K R Z R H S O Z O X S U F A E I X F B V
Z V E N I N I M E F N N S P A V H R X O T D I
A N D R O G Y N O U S E V D L K U L N B I Y Z
BIGENDER BINDER BREASTFORMS CORSETS ENDOCRINOLOGIST FEMALE FFS GAY GENDERQUEER HRT INTERSEX MALE MTF PACKER SRS TRANSGENDER TRANSPHOBIA TUCK
Just print and have fun!
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Trans Puzzle 1
2
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7
8 9
10
Across
Down
3. athlete and reality star who transitioned in 2015 7. umbrella term for transgender, gender fluid, gender queer, two spirit 9. the process of changing gender identity 10. hormone replacement therapy
1. male hormone 2. a person whose gender may not stay the same but changes over time 4. person whose birth gender does not match the gender they are 5. trans actress known for Orange is the New Black 6. female hormone 8. a person who identifies as the same gender they were born as
Just hit print and have some fun!! 31 |
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Sudoku 9
1 2 8 23 4 2 5 8 3 2 7 3
6
4 8
3 6 1
6 7
3 5 7 4 3 2
8 2 5 4 9 2 1
7
Just hit print and have some fun!! Answers on 2nd last page.
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TransSask's Gender News Advertising Information Description: e Magazine style newsletter distributed electronically to all members of TransSask Support Services, Inc. and subscribers to Gender News. Published on the 1st of every second month: Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov. Circulation: ~250 Readership: 500+ Mechanical Measurements: 2 column format. 8½ x 11 inches. Tabloid. Distributed PDF Advertisement Format: Please ensure all advertisements are 300dpi and in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format. Special Services / Production Charges: Minor design work, revision, and typesetting are provided at no extra charge. Custom design work can be provided at $30 per hour (1 hour minimum). Classified Advertising: Suggested donation of $10.00 per insertion of 100 words or fewer. Above 100 words, please consider a donation of $0.10 for each additional word. These donation suggestions cover one insertion. Please ensure all spelling is correct, as no proofs or tearsheets will be provided. No extra charge for boldface or ALL CAPITALIZED wording. Advertising Deadlines: Dec 15, Feb 15, Apr 15, June 15, Aug 15, Oct 15. Conditions: TransSask Support Services, Inc. reserves the right to reject any copy deemed unacceptable for publication. Advertising that resemble editorial material must be clearly labelled "Paid Advertisement." TransSask, at this time, cannot issue tax receipts for donations. To place an advertisement, or if you have any questions, please contact Gender News at GenderNews@TransSask.org 34 |
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TransSask's Quick Reference Calendar HOLIDAYS (Religious & Secular) LGBTQ+ OBSERVANCES IMPORTANT DATES SPECIAL EVENTS
JANUARY 01: New Years Day 01: Gantan Sai (Shinto) 01: Gender News (New Year Issue) 02: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 05: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 07: Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian) 07: Parent and Spouse Support Group (Regina) 08: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 08: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 08: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 09: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 12: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 15: International Fetish Day 15: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 15: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 15: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 16: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 17: Robert Eads Day 18-22: No Name Calling Week 19: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 22: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 22: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 22: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 23: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 26: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day 29: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 29: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 29: Gender News (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 29: TransSask Support Group (Regina) 30: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina)
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FEBRUARY 02: Ground Hog's Day 02: Imbolc (Wicca/Pagan) 02: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 03: Setsebun sai (Shinto) 04: Parent and Spouse Support Group (Regina) 05: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 05: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 05: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 06: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 07: Black Canadian HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 08: Chinese New Year 09: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 12: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 12: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 12: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 13: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 14: Valentine's Day 15: Gender News Submission Deadline 16: Family Day 16: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 19: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 19: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 19: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 20: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 23: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 26: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 26: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 26: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 27: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina)
MARCH 01: Canadian Human Rights Act Anniversary (1977) 01: Gender News (Gender Diversity Awareness Week Issue) 01: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 03: Parent and Spouse Support Group (Regina) 04: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 04: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 04: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 05: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 08: International Women's Day 08: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 09: Commonwealth Day 36 |
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11: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 11: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 11: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 12: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 13-19: International Klinefelter Syndrome (XXY and Variants) Awareness Week 15: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 17: St. Patrick's Day 18: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 18: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 18: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 19: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 20: Equinox/Ostara (Wicca/Pagan) 21: Naw-RĂşz/New Year (Baha'i) 22: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 23: Magha Puja Day (Buddhist) 25: Good Friday (Christian) 25: A Latte Pride (Moose Jaw) 25: Queer Coffee (Prince Albert) 25: Gender Talk (CJTR 91.3FM, Regina) 26: TransSask Coffee Group (Regina) 27: Easter (Christian) Mar27-Apr02: Saskatchewan Gender Diversity Awareness Week 29: Gender Revolution (Saskatoon) 30: Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
For more information on an event, contact Events@TransSask.org. Note: Events are the responsibility of the hosting organization/individual. TransSask cannot guarantee against rescheduling or cancelled events. If you have a recurring event which is welcoming of trans folk, let us know at Events@TransSask.org. For Special events, consider advertising with Gender News. Check out the advertising rate card on page ...
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Answers for Sudoku
9
5
6
1
4
8
7
3
2
7
4
3
2
9
5
8
6
1
1
8
2
3
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7
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9
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1
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8
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7
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1
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9
5
3
1
5
9
8
2
6
7
4
6
9
1
7
5
4
3
2
8
2
7
4
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3
9
5
1
6
5
3
8
6
2
1
9
4
7
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Crisis Hotlines Trans/Queer Specific Trans Lifeline
1-877-330-6366
PFLAG
1-888-530-6777
LGBT Youth Line
1-800-268-9688
(USA) GLBT National Help Center
1-888-843-4564
or for youth
1-800-246-7743
Local Crisis Lines Saskatoon Crisis Intervention (Mobile Crisis)
306-933-6200
Prince Albert Mobile Crisis
306-764-1011
Regina Mobile Crisis
306-525-5333
North East Crisis Line (North Sask)
1-800-611-6349
South West Crisis Line (South Sask)
1-800-567-3334
Kids Help Line
1-800-668-6868
Sexual Assault Lines North Battleford
1-866-567-0055
Lloydminster
306-825-8255
North Saskatchewan
1-800-611-6349
Prince Albert
306-764-1039
Regina
306-352-0434
Saskatoon Interval House
1-888-338-0880
Saskatoon
306-244-2224
South East Saskatchewan
1-800-214-7083
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