T or No T, That Was The Question

by Liz Ciessman

(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.)

As part of the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival 2009, the Gender Centre hosted a debate called "Where do we fit?", the focus of the question being the issue of whether the transgender community belong as part of the wider Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual community. The event was promoted by the Mardi Gras organisers and was listed on page 40 of the 2009 official season guide to the Mardi Gras Calendar.

The debate was conducted with three guest speakers on either side. For the Yea side we heard Mark Orr (ACON), Katrina Fox (editor and journalist) and Katelund Povey. They were ranged against Tracie O'Keefe (psychotherapist, counsellor and editor), Roberta Perkins (author and sociologist) and Rachael Walibank (lawyer and advocate).

Everyone spoke well and the debate proved to be lively and engaging. The Yea side encompassed the value of solidarity and the need to stand up for common rights and to defeat shared wrongs. The Nay side pointed out the differences between sexuality and gender, the different obstacles presented in areas such as documentation and medical intervention and the interposition of gatekeepers who can approve or disapprove a person's self-definition.

While some of the audience felt there was a clear winning side, that side tended to change depending on whom you spoke to. By general agreement it was the audience who were the clear winners.

Special mention whould be made of Julie McCrossin who hosted the event. Her engaging and dynamic presence as the M.C. added much to the night. She was able with humour not only to keep time for the debaters but maintained control over the audience participation when the debate was opened up to the audience. The discussion was often as lively and engaging as the main speakers had been. My personal favourite comment came from Tracie O'Keefe who said that she could not live in a world without lipstick.

I was excited by the number of people who attended the event. When I arrived at the venue (Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts), I was excited to see over a hundred people in the audience. Representatives from a cross-section of the community were present, ranging from Police Superintendent Donna Adney to Penny Sharpe, M.L.C.

The event was videoed and it is hoped that we can upload it to the You Tube website. Links from the Gender Centre website will be established so it will be easy to locate. This will mean that those who were there can revisit the event and those who were not can enjoy it after the event. If you look closely you may even see me doing my happy dance on seeing so many people in the audience.

The issue of whether transgender people belong with the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual community is a contentious one with passionate supporters on both sides. The aim of the Gender Centre in presenting the debate was to bring to light both sides (all sides) of the argument and open up the topic to further discussion. To facilitate this discussion the Gender Centre has developed a questionnaire which should be included as a loose attachment in this issue of Polare. If you did not get one and want to contribute to the discussion, please contact the Gender Centre (9569 2366) and ask to have one sent to you.

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.