|
|
Development of Transgender Community Model of Education and Support in Response to H.I.V. / AIDS(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.) Iwould like to briefly talk today about the development of the transgender community model of education and support in response to H.I.V. / AIDS. This model varies from traditional models because of the emphasis that is placed on social and support structures. We believe that the Gender Centre utilises an effective model of H.I.V. / AIDS prevention strategies. This has evolved over a period of time and will keep on evolving as a sense of cohesiveness establishes itself amongst the community and as individuals become more self empowered as their human rights issues are addressed. I'd like to talk broadly about the evolvement of the model and the ongoing challenge to the community and health providers especially in light of the recent likelihood of legislative changes:
The Ottawa Charter has provided a useful reference point to continue to challenge, broaden and tease out the relevant issues in the ongoing planning process under which The Gender Centre has created their community model. It is necessary to keep in mind that The Gender Centre is a community based organisation. The Gender Centre was originally set up as Tiresias House, a refuge for homeless, low income transsexuals by Roberta Perkins in 1983. It had a collective ideal. This was perhaps contemporary thought and direction for that time and it provided part of a legitimising process. Also at that time there was a public and community perception that steered people with gender questions toward a medicalised model of transition. The dysfunctional situation within Tiresias House reached a crisis point when funding bodies were considering to withdraw funding. It became evident that it was necessary to undergo a huge restructure and review process in the early nineties for the organisation to be able to survive and continue to have some forward growth. This was a difficult task from the outset due to the levels of distrust towards professionals. Some people in the community felt that it was necessary to manipulate, cajole and despise health and other professionals to get what they wanted. This was part of the ethos of the period. A vast majority of the community that were visible at that time had been abused, humiliated and degraded by everyone, including service providers - it was very difficult to get to the truth. Over time, with patience and persistence, influential leaders were targeted which in turn began to challenge old concepts, particularly in relation to trust and change. The community began to recognise that maybe here is a group that could be worked with. To get to this point probably took 18 months before the barriers began to come down, if only marginally. Historical perceptions were challenged and broadened. The introduction of inclusive language was adopted. An educative role was initially devised to skill up existing persons in management and those on the management committee to an acceptable level where a legal entity could be managed properly and responsibly. It is useful to remember that community organisations seem to develop through a variety of growth processes. Like minded people work toward a common goal. Sometimes along the way, roles and boundaries become blurred for a variety of reasons, often because of personalities, politics, differing agendas and unclear definitions of what community representation actually means. Consequently no one is on the same page, the vision differs. Also it is useful to remember that most of us do not like change especially if we have initially created something. The advent of H.I.V. provided the window of opportunity for community development under the N.S.W. model of H.I.V. prevention. Firstly, it provided a definite focus for one of the most deprived groups in the community. Service providers at this time were under the impression that due to the high risk behaviours of this group of people and their inherent self destructive patterns that the community would disappear due to the anticipated high infection rates. There was a stereotypical perception that all tranys worked William Street and shot up dope, due to their visibility and publicity. This of course is far from reality. With ongoing discussion it became evident that non-peer based education and prevention programmes would not be successful. The initial work that was done by the community and outreach workers, developed a framework and direction which paved the way for the development of the peer-based approach. With the employment of a social and support worker the number of actual social and support groups held moved from 5 per month to 20 per month in less than a year. These forums provide an avenue for discussion and dissemination of information throughout the community. The bi-monthly community newsletter invites debate around a variety of issues relevant to the community. The development of a range of baseline services, including education, counselling, outreach, community, resource development, legal and referral to "trany friendly" health care services, all add to the development of the model and the community as a whole. People begin to get a sense of self from depths of isolation, abuse and discrimination that most tranys have tolerated and accepted as the norm. The Ottawa Charter model provided a vehicle on which self-empowerment could be possible and it moved the priority of H.I.V. from way down the list of priorities, due to the necessities of day to day survival, to a place where it is becoming visible and risk behaviours surrounding safer sex practices are becoming possible. Self identification and self definition are becoming the norm. Moving away from the medicalised model creating a range of options of lifestyle choices. Challenging the dimorphic constructs of male and female and their traditional associated roles and embracing the concept of transgender in the broadest sense. This is empowerment! We are currently working toward the development of a team approach throughout N.S.W. where medical, community representatives and other professionals are working together. All groups recognising the role and value of each group within the team. In conclusion, Australia needs to acknowledge the fact that H.I.V. prevention and education that is being provided in N.S.W. under the model that The Gender Centre utilises is unique throughout the world. Nowhere else offers the opportunity for persons exploring their gender issues to have a safe supportive residential and community environment where people can choose to live in alternate gender roles and fulfill the necessary requirement of the true life test as outlined in transgender standards of care. I would like to leave you today with a poignant question. How trany friendly are your policies and attitudes in your work place? Thank you for your attention, Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health. |
|
  |
||
