Social & Support Report

by 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.)

Grace and I are having a busy start to the year gearing up for the coming exciting events. The self-defence workshop held earlier in January this year was a well attended, fun and informative day for all who came along. I'd like to thank everybody who made the day possible especially those who organised things at ACON.

Our first meeting of Parents, Partners and Friends of transgender people was held in February. The afternoon is intended to provide a space for family and partners to meet together and share experiences and support each other. If anyone significant in your life needs support and understanding in dealing with your gender issues than this group may be appropriate for them. The next group meets on Sunday 16 May, if you or someone you know would like more information please phone Grace or me at 9569 2366 or email us.

The next big event is the Harbour Cruise on Wednesday 24 March. At the time of this report going to print there are still some places left aboard.

Those who have put their name on the list will be contacted in the weeks beforehand with specific details.

April will see the first Gender Centre barbecue of the year with the Easter barbecue taking place on Saturday 17 April. It should be noted that the barbecue will be on Saturday as it will follow on from the Youth Gender Fair which is taking place the day before on Friday 16 April.

The Youth Gender Fair will be run by the Gender Network, a working group of community members from the Gender Centre, ACON, Cellblock Youth Health Services, and facilitated by Twenty10 Youth Support. The fair day is aimed at addressing issues of wellbeing, for young people who identify as gender variant, transgender and/or gender questioning, aged twenty-five and under. The aim of the fair is to provide a safe non-confronting space for young people to explore gender issues such as identity, coming out, relationships, mental health, sex/sexual health and community. Youth Gender Fair 2004 is a full day of activities from 10 am to 5pm. For all inquires please contact Jackie Ruddock, the Twenty10 project officer on 02 85856302.

Expressions of interest for people wanting to get involved with the Art Project have been great. I will be getting in touch with people in the near future with more details. If you are interested and have not already sent me your details please do so apologies for the incorrect phone contact printed in the last Polare edition.

TAFE will be holding an information session in May 21 this year at the Gender Centre. Information will be available on the different courses running, how to access them and the procedure to be followed when applying. The information day is an excellent chance for people looking at updating their skills or moving into a new career.

In June this year we will be running a packer and packer harness workshop with F.T.M. guys. The workshop will demonstrate how to make them and give guys a chance to make their own harness. More details and a confirmed date will be printed in the next edition of Polare and available on the web closer to June.

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.