Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Stephen Whittle



A transman talks about his transition from female to male and his experiences.

Thai surgeons reject cosmetic castration ban

By Marianne Kearney in Jakarta

4/9/2008

Thailand's plastic surgery clinics have vowed to defy a recent government ban on performing castrations, saying they will continue to offer sex change operations in the country famous for its "ladyboys".

Plastic surgeons at work; Photo by Bloomberg News
Thousands of people visit overseas clinics every year for plastic surgery

Earlier this month, the Thai health minister, Chaiya Sasomsab, issued a directive banning the operation after rights groups complained about the botched castration of an under-age boy in the northern city of Chiang-Mai.

But in direct defiance of the ban, the chief surgeon at the Pratunum Clinic - one of Thailand's top transgender clinics in Bangkok - has called on anyone wanting a castration to come to his clinic.

"I want them to be happy with what they want to be, and will remove their unwanted organs," Dr Thep Wetwisit said.

He also criticised the ban as ridiculous and dangerous. . . .Read More

Transgender poll causes stir

By NATHAN CRABBE

April 2008


A majority of Alachua County voters appear to oppose an ordinance protecting trangender rights and believe the county is headed in the wrong direction, according to a poll conducted by a firm co-owned by the county Republican Party chairman.
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The April 1 poll of 516 voters found 56 percent of respondents either strongly or somewhat opposed the ordinance. A nearly identical number agreed with the statement that things in the county "have gotten off on the wrong track."

Stafford Jones, the local GOP chairman who is co-owner of the recently formed polling firm War Room Logistics, said he believed the results showed a good environment for local Republicans to run for office.

"I think both of these questions kind of represent that people don't like regulatory burden," he said.

Democrats raised questions about the poll. City Commissioner Craig Lowe, who helped draft the gender identity ordinance, equated the poll's question on the ordinance to sentiments being fanned against minority groups in Nazi Germany and the U.S. South before civil rights reforms.

"It has often led to the worst human rights abuses in history," he said. . . .Read More

Plaintiff wins round in transgender case

By MARY FLOOD

April 8, 2008

She says she didn't get the job because she was born male.

The company says it wasn't that, claiming she misrepresented herself.

In a letter rescinding the job, the employer complained she presented herself as a woman at her interview, but the background check revealed she was a man.

And the judge said that despite requests to end the case now, this closely watched lawsuit will go forward to mediation and, if necessary, to a jury.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas, in a 31-page opinion, refused to dismiss the case of 27-year-old Izza Lopez. Born Raul Jr., Lopez claims the Houston radiology chain River Oaks Imaging and Diagnostic wrongfully pulled its 2005 offer to employ her as an appointment scheduler.

River Oaks Imaging said in legal papers that it is just following its policy of refusing to hire people whose background checks reveal they misrepresented themselves to get hired. . . .Read More

Vietnam: Transsexual’s marriage opens societal discussion

4/9/2008

VNS


HCM CITY — Singer Cat Tuyen, who had a sex change, created a huge media buzz by marrying another artist on Monday at the Quoc Thanh Restaurant in HCM City.

The wedding was significant for the entertainment, gay and transsexual and law communities.

Originally a man, Cat Tuyen had dreams of being a bride, and went to Thailand to have a sex change operation.

Tuyen met her boyfriend Chinh Nhan, a cai luong (reformed drama) artist, two years ago and they decided to tie the knot soon after that. However, the extreme social prejudice against transsexuals and their families’ objections dissuaded them from legalising their relationship. . . .Read More