Summer Update - 2002
"May all embrace their birthright to live their
life with dignity"
Contents
Website
I have sent an invitation to undertake a virtual
"tour" of our group (Men's Australian Network) to a
number of prominent people from Victoria I have invited
them to provide feedback on the site and the group.
Online Meeting
Proposal for an online meeting to be held using
the yahoo messenger conference facility in mid February,
the meeting would last for no more than an hour and a
half with a pre-set agenda.
Suggestions for dates and a convenient time will be
accepted until December 20th at which point the date and
time will be determined.
I would like to use part of this time to establish
working parties on the various project files - and then
have those groups report back on a regular basis, with
draft documents for consultation.
Project groups could have virtual meetings using the
yahoo conference messenger system too - with meeting
dates added to the group calendar.
Birth Certificates
One such group will be the Birth Certificates.
There has been little progress on this issue in Victoria,
your patience while this bureaucratic process continues
would be appreciated. Some things take time - but it is
best to get them right.
We currently have a number of people present here who
could contribute a lot to this project area.
Terms of Reference
MAN has included a request that the terms of
reference for the upcoming law review in South Australia
include the issue of birth certificate correction and is
seeking the repeal of the offensive and outdated Sex
Reassignment Act.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/consol_act/sra1988229/
We have received and undertaking from WOMAN that they
also support the repeal of this piece of legislation. (A
copy of the legislation is in the Discrimination folder
under SA in the files section on the MAN Action Site)
Brochures
I am currently working on the development of a
Brochure for MAN - It's a starting point and while the
version to be used for this year's picnic in the park is
likely to be a draft - I hope that we will have a
standard document for use at the start of next year. I
would like the document to be suitable for inclusion in
the MAN ACTION PACK - Draft Brochure now located in the
files folder on the MAN
Action Site.
Health Brochure an educational brochure for Health
Professionals has been prepared and the current draft is
currently available for members feedback in the Health
Resources section of the files on the MAN'S ACTION
SITE
South Australia - Report
Lets Get Equal - SA - I have met with
members of the Let's Get Equal campaign they are
equivalent to GALE in WA and VGLRL in Vic. I will be
attending their next meeting on December 17th.
A forum on Domestic Partnerships was also held as part
of FEAST on Tuesday the 26th and mention was made of the
upcoming law review process.
The Labor Government has given a commitment to
introduce reform by the end of next year.
Picnic in the Park - SA - we have approval for
brochure distribution at FEAST.
Law Reform in South Australia. If you have a
look at the brochure you will see what has been placed on
the SA Reform agenda - please consider this issue. After
Consultation at True Colours I am keen to see men with
transsexualism clearly protected under the sex attribute
in SA - I would be interested in feedback on this
issue.
I still believe there is a need for a Gender Identity
Attribute to cover transgender people and others - I
sought details from the EOCV but have been unsuccessful
in determing whether any transgender people are accessing
the attribute. No Intersex (third gender) people are
recorded in the statistics.
Victoria Election Fever
Victorian AGMAC in recess during the election as
the government is in caretaker mode.
Letters Sent to Victorian Parties - Questions for
Candidates
- only the Greens have responded and this response was
forwarded to members. Remembrance Day letter with a Vic
Election theme - sent to various groups.
Gender Identity Reference Group
The annual Report for the EOCV has been published and
I note from the figures that last year not one Gender
Identity complaint was by a male. 32 female complaints
were lodged. This is a slight increase in complaint
numbers on the previous year, and in the previous year
there was only one male complainant.
Do guys know enough about their rights and obligations
under the EO law? Is it a case that the guys don't have
the same need for this law because of the physical
acceptance within society and that we are not forced to
be out about having ts except when dealing with systemic
structures
Thoughts on people's knowledge about their rights
under the laws?
HMAC submission
This was a very rushed and last minute job
unfortunately given the timing during exams - but a 50
page submission has been submitted. We have received
confirmation of its receipt.
Western Australia - Report
I am keen to develop Links with the WA
EO Commission.
There has been some discussion with regards the
introduction of a gender identity attribute in WA
We need to watch carefully the situation with the WA
birth Certificate access for guys with ts - to find out
how they approach the anatomical surgical status
issue.
MAN has written to the EO Commissioner and is
currently preparing a letter of concern to the
Reassignment Board.
New South Wales - Report
Would any of the New South Welsh like to
contribute here? We need to get involved in the
consultation on the law reform.
Tasmania - Report
A HMAC project has been formed - we need to
insure that we are informed of consultations etc. I have
asked one of the guys from Tassie to join the list and
help out on this project. Hopefully he will be joining us
in the next month or two.
Queensland - Report
MAN was not consulted during the recent passage
of the law reform which is a concern. It fails to
recognize the fact that there are currently problems with
lower surgical options for men with ts. The Hansard makes
for sad reading as it would appear that they intend to
place transgenders who affirm a masculine identity and
men with ts who are incarcerated in correctional services
with the broad male prison population.
This legislation is a clear example of why it is
important that MAN and men with ts are included in
consultation process.
The legislation is in my view flawed.
Marriage
Still no Family court decision!!!!!!!!!!! The
Federal AG has at least corrected his website. Would any
one else like to add to this topic?
Our Website Development
I've spoken with Craig Andrews and Kate about
MAN's main website - this needs to be updated on a more
regular basis. Kate has indicated that she is able to
convert the current Java Site to HTML which would make it
easier for me to work on too.
I haven't heard from Andrew for a few months now and
Craig has offered a space that we could move to as
http://man.ftmaustralia.org/ without charge.
There are a few things to consider as the current
address is now on nearly all the search engines and is
provided free by the VIC government to community
organisations.
Craig would like to know whether we wish to use the
domain space - so let me know what your thoughts are on
this.
ARCHS Research and Development
I have spoken with Anne Mitchell via email -
originally to try and establish if any research or
material was being produced about us, and our issues, and
to encourage consultation and research in this area.
Anne has provided me with a copy of the document now
located in the Education File - which is part of their
Training Material. Worksheet: Being
a Trans-man
Health Professionals
I intend inviting the Head of the Gender Clinic
in SA to visit our group and perhaps he will stay on.
I would like to see a core group established around
the Standards of Care project and work out how to address
the needs and issues for both Professionals and clients
through an effective SOC and Ethics Statement.
We need to make sure that men's health issues are
addressed - this would form a draft or platform either
for seeking reform of the HBIGDA or for the establishment
of a new model code.
AMA Letter
In response to Ms Phelps inaccurate statements
about men with ts during her Amnesty International Speech
- MAN and WOMAN are both writing to her.
Banksia/Carnation Day
After discussions with the Convenor of WOMAN it
was decided to delay this project until March, with
preparations to occur in February.
Liaison with other groups
FTM Australia www.ftmaustralia.org
I am currently preparing an article for the
next issue of TORQUE which has "Legal Issues" focus. I
understand that a number of other people including Dr
Stephen Whittle will also have contributions in this
edition.
The Editor - Craig Andrews, is keen to see an
article dealing with the difference between men with
ts and Transgender people. This issue of the update
will be distributed with the next issue of TORQUE
MAN's ACTION SITE http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/mensaustnet/
A yahoogroup site has been established as a
hub for action . Various Project groups have been
established Man's Action Site:
mensaustnet-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
True Colours www.w-o-m-a-n.net
This is a True Colour's space where we work
on issues of mutual concern with WOMAN.
The Australian WOMAN Network is MAN's recently
formed sister organization. They have formed an active
base in a short period of time and we wish them
well.
Convenor of Men's Australian Network,
Guy Faulk
Email: mensaustnet@hotmail.com
Internet: www.vicnet.net.au/~man
This update is prepared for men with TS, their
Significant Others and Supporters. Please note it should not
be treated as legal advice.
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