Transgender Liberation & Care

Author Unknown

(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.)

Transgender Liberation Coalition (T.L.C.) is a group of trannies who are interested in promoting the human rights of all trannies. We are sick of the abuse, the hatred and discrimination that we all have suffered. We are trying to change the way society treats us and to improve things for all trannies. We would like to congratulate the Gender Centre on the publication of Polare.

We believe that trannies have the power to change things for the better and that the best way to do this is for all of us to unite and fight for our right to be treated in the same way as any other group in New South Wales

We try to negotiate changes with government departments, with government policy, in law and in social attitudes. We are going to talk loud and long about the abuse we incur, and we are not going to shut up until the abuse ceases. We are proud of being trannies.

We demand:

• Anti-discrimination laws for trannies;
• Legal recognition of, and action of trannies issues;
• Recognition of trannies needs in relation to H.I.V. / AIDS, especially tranny specific education services, awareness programs and treatment services;
• Improvements in the supply of health services to trannies;
• Improvements in the supply of services to trannies, particularly in the C.E.S. and Department of Social Security;
• Access to job skills, adult literacy and higher education services for trannies;
• Access to public housing for trannies;
• Resources for us to help ourselves; and
• An end to tranny-phobia and the organised hatred of trannies.

We hope to encourage:

• A sense of pride and self-esteem among trannies;
• A sense of community among trannies;
• A focus on tranny achievements and objectives; and
• Continuing improvements in the quality of life and lifestyles of trannies.

T.L.C. intends to achieve these goals by:

• Forming alliances with other groups of people who are marginalised because of their gender issues (e.g. women) or their sexual issues (e.g. gays, lesbians and bisexuals). Trannies do not have the numbers to achieve our goals on our own; and by
• Changing the whole way in which tranny issues are seen and spoken about - by changing the language away from explanations based on "incurable psychiatric disorders" to a more rational socially based explanation of our issues.

Currently we are actively involved in pushing for anti-discrimination legislation for trannies, in improving the supply of H.I.V. / AIDS services for trannies, in political action to raise our profile in the queer community and in putting our issues forward in a public and very loud fashion.

We are starting an anti-violence project which will try to collect all incidents of violence, harassment, abuse and discrimination against trannies. We would like all members of our community to report any case of violence, harassment, abuse or discrimination to us so that we can compile them and eventually publish them. It does not matter if it is a trivial piece of harassment (such as being gigged in a shop) or a major piece of discrimination (such as being sacked for being a tranny) or violent assault. We'd like to hear about every single case. If we can document the abuse against trannies, then the argument to provide proper resources and legal protection for trannies becomes overwhelming. You can report cases to any of the following people.

• Nina: (S.W.O.P.) 212 2600
• Camille: (Gender Centre) 569 2366
• Ben: (in person)
• Shan: 357 1738
• Aidy: 358 5664

T.L.C. needs your support and help. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month and can be contacted by phoning Aidy on 358 5664 or writing to P.O. Box 208 Kings Cross N.S.W. 2011.

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.