The Third International Congress on Sex & Gender

by Elizabeth Riley

(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.)

The conference was held at Exeter College, Oxford University, September 18th to 20th 1998. 169 delegates representing transgender communities around the world attended. It was exciting to see that among the delegates were a large percentage of F.T.M.s and many people who chose to express their gender with wider diversity than the standard binary option of male and female. There was a clear sense of a worldwide transgender community coming of age and courageously prepared to self identify and self determine.

Several papers covering a wide range of topics were presented and a number of workshops were conducted. Topics included issues from medical techniques to lifestyle and family issues. Papers were presented on the basis of themes with generally three people presenting their papers in each session. Unfortunately, sessions were scheduled in timetabled blocks so it was not possible to attend every session. However, the sessions I did manage to attend were extremely informative and presented valuable perspectives on the issues facing transgenders in general, as well as specific issues relating to certain countries. It was interesting to note the different degree to which transgender rights were recognised in different countries.

One of the most interesting papers I was privileged to hear was delivered by Claire McNab, a member of Britain's "Press For Change:quot; transgender lobby group. Claire was speaking under the theme of "Critiques of Science and Medicine" Her paper, titled "Get Your Hands Out Of My Genes: Trans People and the Perils of Scientific Research" raised some major points for concern in the scientific and medical obsession with discovering the "cause" of transgenderism. Following is an abstract of that paper which clearly expresses those concerns:

"A polemical and political analysis of the risks posed to trans people by research into the origins and causes of transgenderism, examining in particular the discourses of researchers into brain structure and genetics, and the potential uses and abuses of research findings. Drawing on the experience of research into the body, with particular reference to 20th century experiences of Social Darwinism, eugenics, and the politics of fertility.

Research into the origins of transsexualism has provided an important counter to the prevailing psychological explanations of the basis of transgender expression, and may have been critical to some key legal cases. However, it does not liberate trans people from the presumption that as deviant people, their abnormality can be tolerated only if it's origins are proven and unavoidable. Research into causes of transgenderism is not merely an extension of colonial discourses which objectify and disempower trans people; it carries with it severe threats, including the screening of prospective parents and testing of foetuses to prevent the birth of trans children (already proposed by researchers in the field), and it threatens to create new hierarchies of "proven" and "unproven" trans people. Such research should be resisted, and transgender rights champi­oned as a fundamental freedom and a reflection of human diversity."

This places us in the interesting binary between: an assumption that if a cause can be established for transgenderism we will all become socially acceptable and overcome the common "eviant" perspective, contrasted by the very real danger that establishment of that same cause might lead to preventative processes aimed at eliminating the existence of transgender people. This provides very solid food for thought and I agree wholeheartedly with the closing sentence of Claire's abstract.

While this paper, and the other papers presented under this theme, struck a powerful chord for me, all the sessions I attended were highly valuable and were strongly reaffirming of transgender identity. It is the intention of the organisers to publish all the papers delivered at the conference and we look forward to receiving our copy and making it available as a resource to the transgender community in Australia.

In relation to the home front I was asked on a number of occasions to explain the role of The Gender Centre. I admit to being quite surprised at the amazement people expressed when they learned that our organisation was government funded. Most transgender organisations exist on scant funds provided through donation or membership, so they were quite in awe that in N.S.W. we could boast a supportive government. It gave me a new appreciation of the status we have managed to achieve in N.S.W. and of the invaluable resource we have in The Gender Centre. I would venture to say, in most areas surrounding transgender rights worldwide, we are leading the way in N.S.W..

Finally, I am pleased to be able to report that the Australian contingent has won the right to host the Fifth International Conference on Sex and Gender in Sydney in the year 2002. We are excited at the opportunity this will afford every member of our community to enjoy the benefits of interaction with the international community. Organisation of the event will be a big task and we will be calling for volunteers in the months preceding the conference. Since 2002 also sees the staging of the Gay Games in Sydney we are hoping to stage the conference on either side of this event to ensure maximum international attendance.

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.