Stanford, Penn, Harvard and Brown University all offer student sex reassignment surgery coverage — who will be next?

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT – Also offering SRS coverage for students: Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, and Emory. While I don’t have a comprehensive list of all colleges that offer students SRS coverage in their health insurance plans, I am curious about the exact number of colleges that currently offer this coverage — and ones that are considering it. My research on this resulted in inconclusive numbers.

According to a Yale student publication, they may be next — maybe. The staff at Yale already have this coverage and trans advocates on campus are pushing to get students included. The cost, some argue, is relatively inexpensive because very few students actually take advantage of the benefit. Even if the college had to pay out a number of surgeries, the benefit to the college for providing a trans-friendly campus extends beyond just attracting transgender students.

While the jury is out on Yale, just the fact that student SRS coverage is being considered on campuses today shows how far trans people have come. Remember, what happens on campus today eventually makes its way to the rest of society later on.

I’ve a hunch there may be other colleges flying under the radar with student SRS benefits. If anyone knows of others, feel free to make note of it in the comments section.

More on the Yale student health plan: Yale Health considers sex change surgery | Yale Daily News.

More on colleges offering SRS: http://en-maktoob.news.yahoo.com/sex-change-surgery-available-many-us-colleges-110121367.html

——–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, college, Cornell, Emory, Harvard, insurance, Penn, sex reassignment surgery, srs, Stanford, yale

Trans woman gets honorable discharge after 31 year AWOL; trans man wants to stay at all women’s college

Elizabeth Tremblay (Photo: Lewiston Sun-Journal)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Trans woman Elizabeth Tremblay, who was arrested last September for deserting the Marines 31 years ago, was given an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps. Tremblay was stationed at Twentynine Palms at the time she left, and following her arrest, she was awaiting for news if she was going to face a prison term. It was reported that she changed her gender about 15 years ago.

A few more details and a video from KPBS: Transgender Woman Who Deserted Marines 31 Years Ago Gets Honorable Discharge (Video) | KPBS.org.

——–

An unnamed undergrad student at Salem College in North Carolina plans to have sex reassignment surgery in February and wants the all women’s college to allow her to remain a student afterwards. Although there are a few male students, only women are allowed to live on campus.

The college is considering adopting a trans policy to allow transgender students, however some alumni are afraid this will eventually lead to a co-ed college. The college say that won’t happen, but others don’t trust the college administrators.

The college isn’t naming the student for privacy reasons.

More: http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=847696#.UPTqV1I_eJ8

———-

These are two potentially very controversial issues that may draw polarizing viewpoints.

Elizabeth Tremblay (Photo: Lewiston Sun-Journal)

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Policy, Administrative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, all women's college, Elizabeth Tremblay, honorable discharge, marines, Salem College, sex reassignment surgery, twentynine palms

Forced sterilization of trans patients following sex reassignment surgery ends in Sweden

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — It’s hard to imagine this kind of law was still on the books in such an educated European country, but nonetheless, the practice of sterilization ended this week after a Swedish court of appeal ruled the 1972 law was unconstitutional in December. They also said the forced sterilization violated the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Swedish parliament recently passed legislation to ban the practice, but it wasn’t scheduled to begin until later this year.

LGBT advocates in Sweden are hoping that parliament will compensate those who were sterilized. They are threatening a lawsuit if this doesn’t happen. There is a precedent for this – sterilized patients of Swedish a eugenics program were compensated when the practice ended in the  late 1990s.

A bit more on the compensation hopes here:  Sweden ends forced sterilisation of sex change patients.

——–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Policy, Administrative, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, court of appeal, European Convention on Human Rights, sex reassignment surgery, sterilization, sweden, Swedish parliament

Transgender inmate’s lawyers to get $700K in ‘denying SRS is cruel and unusual punishment’ case

Michelle Kosilek

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — No doubt mainstream media is going to exploit this decision by the federal judge who earlier ruled favorably on transgender inmate Michelle Kosilek’s request for SRS, into a barrage of attacks against trans people, so I might as well get ahead of this and state the facts.

If you recall, Federal Judge Mark Wolf, in a landmark decision last September, ordered the state of Massachusetts to provide SRS for Kosilek because the judge decided that withholding the surgery in Kosilek’s case amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. What the judge did not say was that all trans inmates can get SRS at the state’s expense on demand. He based his decision on the fact Kosilek endured 9 years of medical treatment before reaching the point that SRS was “only adequate treatment” left. Other prisoners would likely need to follow the same course of treatment before SRS is considered.

Being awarded legal fees is only the natural course of action here. Any prisoner found suffering from cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of the state is entitled for legal fees reimbursement. Such large payments have been awarded before. This should be no surprise to anyone.

The state of Massachusetts is trying to appeal Wolf’s decision, however, the judge said Kosilek’s team would forgo the fees if the state drops their appeal. The state had no comment.

More articles about the Kosilek case: http://lexiecannes.wordpress.com/?s=kosilek

Compiled from reports from The Associated Press and The Boston Globe.

Michelle Kosilek

Judge: Mass. sex change inmate’s lawyers get $700K.

———

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332
The Guerrilla Angel Report is associated with Wipe Out Transphobia: http://www.wipeouttransphobia.com/

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, cruel and unusual punishment, federal court, Judge Mark Wolf, legal fees, Massachusetts, Michelle Kosilek, sex reassignment surgery, srs

Courtney O’Donnell: In Transit — “Austin Unbound” documentary

Austin Richey, Eliza Greenwood

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The filmed-in-Portland transgender documentary Austin Unbound premiered last November at Portland’s Hollywood theater. the film documents trans man Austin Richey’s choice to undergo sex reassignment surgery (SRS) — in this case upper surgery. Austin now identifies as a straight male. he is also deaf, giving the film the status of encompassing two different cultures.

[I wrote this for "Just Out". The entire article can be read on their website: http://www.justout.com/columns/voices/in-transit/in-transit-austin-unbound ]

Since its premiere, Austin Unbound has been a hit on the film festival and college lecture circuit. Both Austin and the filmmaker, Eliza Greenwood, were able to attend a number of these showings. I recently caught up with Eliza and fired off these questions:

Courtney O’Donnell: In your role as a doc filmmaker, what things did you learn about trans people that you hadn’t known prior to starting the project?

Eliza Greenwood: Before I met Austin I came from a place of judgment, assuming that people should own and accept the bodies they were born with. You see, body image and ownership of my gender and sexuality had come so easily to me. Austin’s insistence that he is a straight male totally challenged my beliefs, but it resonated with me. I was inspired to ask if we could make this documentary because I wanted others to be able to meet him, too.

CO’D: Are there aspects of trans people (or being trans) that ought to be more widely known about in the LGBTQ community?

EG: The community should be aware that there is an inclination in the media to tell surgery stories about trans people, and that leads to harmful assumptions that, “all people who are trans want surgery.” I admit Austin Unbound is a “surgery” film.

CO’D: Did you face any resistance from the LGB or T communities in trying to get the film made?

EG: Our community really embraced this project as many people already knew and were inspired by Austin’s story. We were pleased to realize that the LGBT community had more sources for grants and private donors than our deaf community offered. We were awarded grants from the Pride Foundation, the Equity Foundation, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to help get the film made, for example.

CO’D: Did the filmmaking-friendly, LGBT-friendly town of Portland work to your advantage?

EG: Portland not only has a strong LGBTQ culture, but also a thriving film community. I’ve found both to be helpful and engaging.

Eliza tells me that on October 18 there will be another screening of Austin Unbound at Portland’s Clinton Street Theatre (2522 SE Clinton). It will be a fundraiser to help provide SRS for a community member.

It has been a long journey for Austin Unbound. The years spent in post-production are now paying off handsomely for the filmmakers. My congrats to them. As for Austin, he continues to live in Portland, still the quite cool guy we met in the film.

austinunbound.org

via In Transit: Austin Unbound.

Austin Richey, Eliza Greenwood

———–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html

Filed under: Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Deaf, ASL, American Sign Language, Deaf Education, Lexie Cannes (the movie), Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, austin richey, austin unbound, documentary, eliza greenwood, sex reassignment surgery

Oklahoma judge cites DNA as reason to deny trans people legal gender ID change

Judge Bill Graves — plays “doctor” on the bench (Photo: boxturtlebulletin.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — If Oklahoma District Judge Bill Graves is also a scientist specializing in the study of DNA, he should submit his research to a peer-reviewed medical journal for scrutiny utilizing the scientific method first. Practicing this sort of medicine on the bench amounts to quackery, not to mention, judicial malpractice.

So far, Judge Graves has denied name changes to two trans persons, arguing that DNA does not change with HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or SRS (sex reassignment surgery) therefore a person’s sex cannot change. Although other Oklahoma County judges routinely grant trans people name changes, Graves insists trans people who request name changes are doing it for fraudulent purposes.

Graves, a former legislator, partly based his decision on comments by a Republican state legislator, also a physician, who has a “scientific opinion” on DNA — no research was reportedly cited. [I fixed the sentence so it is more clear -- Graves is not a doctor, but his legislator friend is.]

Graves: “A so-called sex-change surgery can make one appear to be the opposite sex, but in fact they are nothing more than an imitation of the opposite sex . . . To grant a name change in this case would be to assist that which is fraudulent. “It is notable that Genesis 1:27-28 states: ‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth …’ The DNA code shows God meant for them to stay male and female.”

From The Oklahoman:

“The judge in his 2011 order gave three specific reasons against allowing name changes in transgender cases.

He wrote it could result in someone unwittingly marrying a person “who appeared to be of the opposite sex but was actually of the same sex.”

He wrote it also could hinder crime investigations — causing police officers searching for a male based on DNA evidence to ignore a potential suspect the officers believed was female.

He wrote it also could let someone circumvent the state’s prohibitions against same-sex marriage.”

I believe the judge has pretty much made it clear in his own words that he isn’t much of a judge. Or a doctor.

At least one trans person has appealed the decision. My hunch is that the appeals court will grant her name change request.

Other dubious achievements by Judge Graves: http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2008/06/05/2164

[Trigger warning:]  http://newsok.com/oklahoma-judge-refuses-to-let-men-planning-sex-change-operations-have-feminine-names/article/3710063#ixzz26hdMFiHZ

Judge Bill Graves says to trans people: DNA doesn’t change so neither can you! (Photo: boxturtlebulletin.com)

——–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Other Health, Stupidity and Dubious Achievements, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, dna, gender identity, HRT, judge bill graves, name change, oklahoma, oklahoma county, sex reassignment surgery, srs

Taiwan considering following European and U.S. definition of transgender

Popular transgender Taiwanese TV personality Liching

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Specifically, the SRS (sex reassignment surgery) surgery requirement to be legally defined as the gender they identify as will be deleted. While this is some ways from becoming law, it does show that the Taiwanese government is trying to stay current with all things transgender.

Regulations in 2008 were changed in Taiwan making it easier to legally change gender ID, however, SRS was still required.

The Taiwanese Presidential Office’s Human Rights Consultation Committee says a panel of experts will convene to discuss the possibility. However, there are some doctors who perform SRS surgeries who have reservations about rolling back regulations.

There really isn’t that much other information at this point. Stay tuned.

Department considers allowing ‘sex changes’ without requiring surgery – Taipei Times.

Popular transgender Taiwanese TV personality Liching

———-

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, Other Health, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, gender identity, Human Rights Consultation, sex reassignment surgery, srs, Taiwan

German court rules health insurance providers must pay for trans women’s breast implants if needed

(Photo: Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Center)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — New precedents are being set in favor of transgender people around the world seemingly every day, the latest: Germany’s Federal Social Court ordered a health insurer to pay for a trans woman’s breast implants after her hormone therapy treatment (HRT) failed to give her breast a ‘feminine shape’. The court said transsexuals have a legal right to the implants should HRT fail in that regard.

Federal Social Court: “Transsexual insurance policy-holders can make a claim to treatment measures to allow them to adapt their gender, including surgical procedures on healthy organs to minimise their psychological suffering, so as to approach the appearance of the other sex that is desired.” 

What’s particularly interesting is that the court ruled insurers must cover the cost even if SRS (sex reassignment surgery) has yet to be performed. This is due to a recent top court’s decision which ruled SRS was not required for legal name change in Germany.

Transsexual wins right to breast implants.

(Photo: Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Center)

———–

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html

Filed under: Judicial, Courts, SRS, Sex Reassignment Surgery, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, breast implants, court, Federal Social Court, germany, health insurance, health insurer, hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery, srs

Transgender inmate SRS saga — don’t second guess judge unless prepared to deal with onslaught of marbles

Trans inmate Michelle Kosilek is serving life for a murder conviction

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — By now, everybody and their neighbor have called for the Massachusetts judge’s head on a pike for ordering that a trans inmate get SRS (sex reassignment surgery) while in prison.

I’d like to remind everyone of this very simple fact: A doctor made a medical decision in the best interest of patient and a judge ordered that it be carried out. Do we really want open the door to second guessing the needs of patients receiving medical care at taxpayer expense? Mental patients at state hospitals? Veterans? People on Medicare? It’s a slippery slope, my friends. Open that door, marbles come pouring out.

Besides, health care costs at prisons are included in their budgets — it’s not like it is an unexpected surprise to them. Every day prison administrators face seemingly expensive health care-related decisions  — ‘well, the death row inmate is in a lot of pain and needs a new hip, but he IS on death row, decisions, decisions . . .’ (this actually happened: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/17/ky-officials-torn-over-expensive-surgery-for-death/?page=all) the bottom line, withholding health care amounts to cruel and unusual punishment — cut corners here, we’ll pay more at the end of a lawsuit.

Now, I’m not advocate for letting inmates out of prison before they’ve paid their debt to society, but many an inmate have been released to contain costs. This is pretty much the choice here: pay for SRS or free a convicted murderer.

Thinking that the decision can be overturned is likely to backfire. Remember, Michelle Kosilek already has a conservative U.S. District judge on her side — I’m quite sure was an agonizing decision for the judge, Mark Wolf, to rule on the side of law here which leads me to believe there is no room for a different interpretation, because if there was, Wolf would have used it instead of having to see his face plastered on FOX-News affiliates.

Information on benefits gained by the transgender community from the court ruling: Transgender inmate’s court win is movement’s latest victory | OregonLive.com.

Trans inmate Michelle Kosilek is serving life for a murder conviction

————-

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ DVD here: http://www.lexiecannes.com/id13.html 

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Law Enforcement, Police, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, health care, inmate, Michelle Kosilek, prison, sex reassignment surgery, srs, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf

Illinois trans individuals can change birth certificate without full SRS; Trans Alaskans can change DMV gender marker without SRS

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — A court-supervised agreement allows transgender people in Illinois to change birth certificates gender marker without full sex reassignment surgeries provided their physician signs off the vital records affidavit.

John Knight of the ACLU: “This agreement reflects a basic understanding that the government should not be in the business of telling transgender Illinoisans what kind of surgery they need to undergo . . .”

Some type of SRS surgery is still needed, but the exact type is left up to the individual’s physician. The agreement is also retroactive — trans individuals denied record change in the past can retry for the change.

Illinois to allow transgender individuals to update birth certificate gender marker – LGBTQ Nation.

————

Alaskan trans people can now change DMV gender marker without SRS provided the person’s physician will certify that they are undergoing treatment and the change will be permanant (Certification from other medical professionals may be required as well). The policy that trans people provide proof of surgery has been dropped by the Alaskan DMV.

This is a bit of surprising news from Alaska, considering they’re having a heck of a time getting basic trans equality legislations on the books. But this is an administrative ruling rather than newly enacted law. The new rule  was likely prompted by a lawsuit against the DMV that didn’t go the state’s way last March. In that case, an unidentified trans woman won a Supreme court ruling allowing her to change the gender marker on her driver’s license.

Alaska ACLU’s Jeffery Mittman: “We think this gets the balance right. Transgender individuals need something that respects their privacy and safety. . .”

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/transgender-alaskans-can-change-sex-licenses-easier-under-new-dmv-rule

———

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here: http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Judicial, Courts, Media, Positive PR, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, aclu, alaska, birth certificate, dmv, drivers license, gender marker, illinois, Jeffery Mittman, John Knight, sex reassignment surgery, srs

Sex reassignment surgery to be covered in ‘Healthy San Francisco’ plan; Federal judge refuses to dismiss Philly trans discrimination case

SF city health plan for uninsured residents to include SRS

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — While San Fransisco’s health insurance plan for uninsured residents does cover many of the health needs of transgender residents including hormone treatment and mental health services, but the big one, sex reassignment surgery, was not covered when the program, Healthy San Francisco, was launched in 2007.

It took a complaint against the program to get the ball rolling to remove the remaining exclusions. As it turns out, the program was covering procedures similar to SRS to non-trans people in the program. This practice was deemed discriminatory for trans people.

Now, nearly all parties involved agree that the trans exclusions need to be removed. City officials expected to sign off on the plan soon however, it may take a year or a bit longer for the removal of all the trans exclusions to become administratively official.

The Bay Area Reporter Online | Healthy SF to remove trans exclusions.

———–

Trans woman Bobbie Burnett’s  case against her employer, the city of Philadelphia, is moving forward after U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones refused to dismiss her case against the city and 4 coworkers.

Burnett, a library assistant for the Free Library of Philadelphia claims she was harassed and discriminated against after she transitioned. Slurs from supervisors and co-workers, bathroom usage issues and denied pay increase opportunities were among the many allegations in the lawsuit. She also states her coworkers intentionally caused emotional distress — something quite common in other trans hostile workplace cases.

John W. Beavers Jr., Burnett’s attorney: “The jury would have to be asleep to think there was no wrongdoing here.”

City officials had no comments.

IMO, It is insulting that the city attorneys thought they had a shot at dismissal.

Every time a trans person wins a legal battle, a precedent is set and it is a legal step forward that is difficult for detractors to undo.

PGN-The Philadelphia Gay News. Phila gay news. philly news – News Briefing

SF city health plan for uninsured residents to include SRS (Photo: NY Times)

————-

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Bobbie Burnett, Free Library of Philadelphia, Healthy San Francisco, John W. Beavers Jr, Judge C. Darnell Jones, sex reassignment surgery, srs

SRS requirement for Australia (ACT) ID change may be deleted; it’s official: Episcopal Church allows trans priests

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — The deletion of the requirement of SRS (sex reassignment surgery) for legal ID change for transgender people — is part of new measures recommended by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Law Reform Advisory Council to bring ACT in line with the rest of Australia. It appears that these changes are likely to occur.

This is the kind of legislation that should be adopted everywhere, and I’m glad to see movement away from archaic laws starting to happen more and more, even though we’re not going to see anything like this occur in the United States anytime soon.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bid-to-remove-transgender-sex-change-law-20120708-21ps9.html

——————

The Episcopal Church voted overwhelmingly to allow transgender priests. Previously, some dioceses permitted trans priests, while others discouraged it. It’s now illegal to disallow any trans person from joining the priesthood.

Another positive gain for trans people. Even if you’re not Episcopal, or even religious, just the fact that trans priests are becoming commonplace will help eat away at the negative stigma many have for trans people.

More here:  Episcopal Church Approves Transgender People Ordination.

————

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here: http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, ACT australia capital territory, Episcopal, legal id, priest, sex reassignment surgery, srs

84-year-old Chinese trans woman comes out, first Briton to have SRS awarded MBE

84-year-old trans woman Qian Jinfan

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Although Qian Jinfan didn’t start living as a woman until she was 80-years-old, she knew at age 3 she wasn’t meant to be a male. Sex reassignment surgery came at age 82 and now, at age 84, Jinfan outs herself in an interview for Southern Metropolitan Daily advocating for trans people.

Jinfan, who is now China’s oldest trans person, is a former government official, a calligrapher, and an art critic. She recalls always thinking it would be great to be a girl when she was younger, but kept these things inside until her marriage to a woman ended at age 80.

Jinfan: “I don’t think I’m inferior to anyone. I will not give up so easily. I have done nothing wrong.”

Qian Jinfan, China’s Oldest Transgender Woman, ‘Outs’ Herself In Advocacy Bid.

———-

British trans woman April Ashley, the first Briton to have SRS, was awarded Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) during the Queens Birthday Honors. Ashley, now 77, is a well-known and somewhat flamboyant trans woman who made a name for herself through close association with many artists and entertainers, but it was her efforts to get the British law changed in 2005 bringing equality to trans people as the primary reason this honor was bestowed on her.

Congrats to both of these trans role models!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/april-mbe-transsexual-crusader-is-honoured-7856581.html

Qian Jinfan, April Ashley

———

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here:
http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, April Ashley, british, chinese, MBE, order of the british empire, Qian Jinfan, Queens Birthday Honors, sex reassignment surgery, Southern Metropolitan Daily, srs

Transgender soccer player scores big against prejudice

Miranda Salman (Photo – Facebook)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Miranda Salman, knocked out of a sport known for “masculine ethos,” returns again, this time as a woman, and ends up as one of the top players on an all-women soccer team in Mexico.

Salman previously played soccer professionally as a man, but a broken ankle and harassment over her feminine mannerism put an end to her first go at the game. Marriage, a kid, and sex reassignment surgery followed. Eight years later she’s back on the field, and according to a teammate, she’s the best player on the team.

Salman told her story in an International Day Against Homophobia PR video. Further research into Salman’s background returned a lot of interesting hits, but my Spanish, by a long shot, isn’t good enough for use in the media. If anyone can provide further information about her, post it in this blog’s comment section! I can tell you she has 75,000 subscribers to her personal Facebook page – that’s a heck of a lot of people following a transgender soccer player!

Miranda Salman: Transgender Soccer Player Defies Prejudice Against LGBT Community (VIDEO).

Soccer player Miranda Salman

Miranda Salman (Photo – Facebook)

———-

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Support this site, get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here:
http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, all female, international day against homophobia, Mexico, Miranda Salman, sex reassignment surgery, soccer

Prison guard transits to female, keeps job at tough male-only prison

Andrea Roussel (Photo – thestar.com)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — Nearly twenty years on the job and Andrea Roussel decided it was time. It’s difficult to think of another more dangerous workplace to be at while transiting, but Roussel, a former football player and wrestler, was ready.

Prison administrators worked with Roussel as she presented as a woman prior to sex reassignment surgery. This was a difficult time for Roussel as her fear of being ridiculed by the prisoners became a reality. Rumors about a “tranny” spread through the prison and she worried about physical attacks. But she was determined not to quit.

Her path to transition is familiar to many trans people — parental pressure, suicide attempts, loneliness, and therapy.

Roussel on her youth: “I used to practise [sports] every day. I didn’t want to go home . . . I tried not to go home. If I went home and wasn’t busy, the urge of being Andrea would be too strong.”

It’s now been over 2 years since SRS and she is still a guard at Toronto’s the Don jail, handling Canada’s most troublesome male prisoners.

Toronto News: Andre to Andrea: Don Jail guard thrives on job after sex change – thestar.com.

Andrea Roussel outside her workplace (Photo – thestar.com)

———-

You’re welcome to share this entire article!
Follow this topic and others on Lexie Cannes’ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lexiecannes
Get the transgender-themed feature film “Lexie Cannes“ here:
http://www.LexieCannes.com

Filed under: Transgender, Transsexual, Trans, Andrea Roussel, guard, jail, montreal, prison, sex reassignment surgery, the don