Social & Support Report

by Grace Abrams & Jai

(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.)

After coming on board in 2003, Grace and I are happy to say it's been a great year for social and support activities for the Gender Centre. Throughout 2003 we have had many successes with workshops, outings and social and educational events. One of the most prominent highlights was "Frolic" the 2003 Gender Centre Ball. A lot of work was put into re-inventing the ball and this was greatly assisted by the many people who volunteered their time and the hugely generous prizes donated by agencies and businesses. The ball was an excellent example of what can happen when the community pulls together to produce a spectacular event.

Other well-attended events were the make-up workshops held in December. These workshops were very popular and allowed the girls to explore the basics, application techniques and colour selection. A huge thank-you goes out to both Letitia and Karen who generously volunteered their time for the workshops. Follow-up workshops and opportunities for those who missed out will be held in 2004.

November 20 marked the International Day of Remembrance for transgender people who were the murder victims of hate crimes. Photos and stories of hundreds of these unfortunates covered the walls of the Gender Centre on the day and people were invited to attend a ceremony to raise awareness and acknowledge those that had been lost. The Gender Centre's recognition of the day was noted in the queer media with Sydney Star Observer printing a front-page story.

Unfortunately, not long after the Day of Remembrance, violence directed against transgender persons was again brought to the media's attention with the murder of Lee Zainal who was also known as "China". We hope that the media space given to this person's death can be used to raise awareness of the vilification and prejudice faced by many transgender people.

The Gender Centre and ACON will be running a free full-day self-defence workshop to help people avoid dangerous situations and learn increased self-confidence. This is a great opportunity for people to learn self-defence tailored to their specific needs, in a safe environment.

The 2004 Mardi Gras season is almost upon us and this year the Gender Centre will be holding an information stall at Fair day on 22 February. We will be having an outing to see a film during the Mardi Gras Film Festival. More inf­ormation on this can be obtained closer to the event, on the Gender Centre website.

Following the successful 2003 Harbour Cruise the Gender Centre will set sail again in March for a return voyage to Watson's Bay with a picnic lunch in the Royal Botanic Gardens. The all-day outing will take place on 24 March starting at 10:00am. Booking for this event is essential as we need to book in advance. You can do this by telephoning Grace or me at the Gender Centre on 9569 2366 or contact us by email on: socialsupport@bigpond.com.au

Ideas for other events in 2004 that are in the pipeline include an anger management workshop, Melbourne Cup Day, a Youth Gender Fair, sporting day and surgery information sessions. If there are other events you would like to see the Gender Centre organise, we welcome your suggestions.

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and a safe New Year.

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.