GENDER BASICS (cont'd):

*content are from Lynn Conway's website*

The practice of "surgically correcting" the genitals of intersex infants to make them "normal":

 

By the 1960's, advances in plastic surgery combined with the "Genitals + Upbringing" theory of gender identity led physicians to recommend "corrective" surgeries on many types of intersexed infants. The idea was to make the genitals look cosmetically correct for a boy or girl, and then raise the child in the corresponding gender, believing that the child would grow up to have a correspondingly normal gender identity.

 

John Money of Johns Hopkins University, who gradually became the medical community's dominant authority-figure in "gender-identity studies", was the leading advocate of such treatments. A believer in behaviorist psychology, in which the mind of the infant is thought to be a blank slate having no inherent personality characteristics, John Money theorized that gender identity was solely the product of upbringing and socialization.

 

The motive for doing "corrective" surgeries on infants was to solve the "social emergency" caused by an intersex birth. The very existence in nature of many intersex babies, with their many variations of genitalia, breaks down the strict male-female gender dichotomy of our culture. Thus the existence of intersex babies brings into question many deep religious and legal strictures. Parents and doctors are under incredible social pressure to eliminate these variations. John Money provided a theoretical rationale which validated intersex infant "corrective" surgeries, and made them appear to be "scientifically sound".

 

Since it was easier to surgically "make a girl" than to "make a boy", it frequently happened that XY intersex boys having small or missing penises were turned into girls. The fact that sensitive genital tissue was lost in the process didn't deter the surgeons, because for many years our society did not openly recognize that most women have strong sexual feelings and a capacity for orgasm. If the infant was turned into a girl, doctors didn't worry about whether she would later have strong erotic genital sexual feelings and enjoy lovemaking; they only worried about whether she would function sexually for her male partner's pleasure.

 

Surgeries on intersex infants have been done for many years now, with a frequency of about 1 in every 2000 births. In most cases the surgeries create girls. Amazingly, there was never any organized scientific follow-up to see how these cases turned out!

 

Even in the early years of these surgeries, there were people urging caution, most notably a young researcher named Milton Diamond, now a Professor at the University of Hawaii. While still a graduate student, Diamond made an audacious challenge to Money's theories in a 1959 paper entitled "A Critical Evaluation of the Ontogeny of Human Sexual Behavior". Diamond's insights were based on his own observations in animal experimentation. He further marshaled "evidence from biology, psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, and endocrinology to argue that gender identity is hardwired into the brain virtually from conception" (see As Nature Made Him, p.44).

 

However, the notions that human beings had "advanced beyond the influences of biological evolution in matters of sexuality", and that one's sexuality and gender were socially constructed, had already been deeply imprinted in the medical community. Under the influence of the "gender prophet" John Money, this view dominated medical and psychological thinking for the remaining decades of the 20th century. Infant intersex surgeries were performed by the thousands during those decades, and again without any follow-ups. Only as the century was closing did awful questions begin to arise, as occasional rare follow-ups revealed things hadn't turned out as Money predicted.

 

How these attempted "corrections" reveal that old theories of gender identify formation were wrong:

 

In recent years, many intersex people have "found each other" via the internet and begun to compare notes about their situations. As a result, it's become clear to intersex people themselves that many of the "corrective" surgeries didn't work out according to their doctors' theories. Instead, many intersex people were left genitally maimed by those infant genital surgeries. Many were also suffering from gender identity crises, because of having undergone arbitrary gender reassignments based on what it was "easiest for the surgeons to do".

 

Under pressure from intersex activists, especially the newly formed ISNA, follow-up studies have finally begun on infants who were "surgically corrected" over the years. The first such study, of 25 genetically XY boys who had missing penises as infants (cloacal exstrophy syndrome) and who had been surgically turned into girls and raised as girls, revealed that all 25 developed MALE gender identities.

 

Those kids, although raised as girls, had all exhibited the rough and tumble play of boys when young. By their teens, each of these kids insisted against all evidence of their female genitalia and upbringing that they were boys, and wanted to be changed into boys. Many of them desperately sought girlfriends, just as might any other teenage boys.

 

Instead of reversing their innate gender identities and turning these intersex boys into girls, the infant surgeries effectively turned them into the equivalent of female to male transsexuals! Many of these boys have since undertaken hormonal and social gender reassignment from female to male. Tragically, the effects of their infant genital surgeries preclude the surgical reconstruction of male genitalia and in many cases even preclude them from experiencing sexual pleasure and orgasm.

 

More lessons from intersex people about gender identity:

 

These recent studies call into question the entire existing practice of genital surgery on intersex infants.

 

The studies then do something even more awesome: They turn on its head the theory that genitals and upbringing determine gender identity, triggering a paradigm shift in the medical community's overall thinking about the underlying nature of gender identity. The personal experiences of intersex people who have traveled different gender trajectories (some "corrected" as infants, and some not) are now becoming more widely known about, and are helping build a deeper understanding of the many variations in gender identity that are independent of one's physicality.

 

For example, in intersex conditions such as XY-Turner mosaic (mixed gonadal dysgenesis) a child may appear to have normal male genitalia at birth and be raised as a boy, but then not masculinize at puberty and instead remain slight and feminine appearing. These teens can face great difficulties if their condition goes undiagnosed and/or if they do not become aware of good options for treatment. If they do not have a well-established male gender identity, they may face a difficult choice of whether to undertake testosterone treatments to masculinize and become men, or undertake estrogen treatments and genital surgeries to become women. In some cases, XY-Turner teens have female gender identities and if given a choice in the matter will chose reassignment as females.

 

The article "What do children know?", by Jane Spalding tells the compelling story of such a child who was raised as a boy, but who had a female gender identity and who sought hormonal and surgical reassignment as a female during her twenties. The existence of such cases further refutes John Money's proclamation that genitalia and upbringing establish gender identity:

 

Jane Spalding

 

Misguided by Money's theories for many decades, the medical profession has caused the irreversible physical maiming of thousands upon thousands of intersex babies. For compelling insights into the traumatic life experiences of an intersex person who was surgically "corrected" at birth, and who grew up without ever being told what had been done, see the recent interview of Cheryl Chase in Between the Lines: coming to terms with children born "intersexed", by Victoria Tilney McDonough.

 

Cheryl was the founding Director of the Intersex Society of North America (ISNA), and the early leader of the movement to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital surgeries for people born with atypical reproductive anatomies. ISNA is working to end the idea that intersexuality is shameful or freakish. In the U.S. alone, five children are subjected to harmful, medically unnecessary sexual surgeries every day. ISNA urges physicians to use a model of care that is patient-centered, rather than concealment-centered. For more insight into these issues, see the Discovery Channel documentary "Is it a Boy or a Girl?", which was produced with ISNA participation.

 

Cheryl Chase, Founding Director of ISNA

"When an intersex baby is born, the default is usually to

perform surgery," says Cheryl Chase, who was surgically

"reassigned" female when she was 18 months old.

"Doctors want to 'fix' what is not right, then slap a diaper

on the baby, close the file, and send it off into it's life."

 

Being a transfemale at work

It's not easy to be a trans-girl working in a mainstream career line. Most of the companies will give excuses that they had difficulties managing employees who has or is going through a transition. Some asked for a compromise; we give you a position in our company, you dress and act as per your identification card.

First day coming to work as a girl.

In my case, things are somewhat easy. July 2009 marks the first time I come to work wearing girls clothings. My colleagues were supportive, and they give further suggestions on would look good on me. The only person who seems to be against it is the Project Manager by the name E.T. Then again, he's not that popular among the agents anyway.

In my current workplace, gone is my male persona, as the client side, the management side, the customer side, as well as my colleagues and engineers accepted me as a girl. They focused on how i can contribute, and never made a single personal attack towards me. And as if He is trying to show that He has given me His blessing, I began to experience acceptance from many people. Not to say that EVERYBODY is OK with it; Dad is still kinda shocked. But those that matters accepted me fine.

Maybe someday, all of my trans-sisters and brothers out there will experience what I experience. Amin~

very interesting article about the topic of islam and transsexualism:

Many Imams (Arabic: إمام plural ائمة A'immah, Persian: امام), Islamic scholars, and clerics have heeded the advice and opinions of medical professionals in their countries, and have come to a consensus that transsexuality is a medical and treatable condition.

They have come to understand the effectiveness and medical necessity of mental health care, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery in the treatment of patients diagnosed with GID, indeed Iran, shares the title with Thailand as the "sex change capitals" of the world.

They have also looked to the Qur`an which mentions the "mukhannath", (Arabicمخنثون "] the Arabic word for transsexual on numerous occasions:

The mukhannath is the one who looks so much like a woman physically that he resembles women in his softness, speech, appearance, accent and thinking. If he is like this, he would have no desire for women and he would not notice anything about them. This is one of those who have no interest in women who were permitted to enter upon women." (Al-Mughni, 7/463; al Sharh al Kabeer `ala Matan al Muqni ´, 7/347 - 348)

And Ibn Qudaamah mentioned : " or a mukhannath who feels no desire (towards women) , the ruling that applies to such a "man" is the same as the ruling that applies to close relatives (mahram) regarding looking at women, because Allah says (the scholar cites Surah 24:31)."

And also Ibn `Abbaas said, regarding the phrase from Surah 24:31,: "This is the one of whom women do not feel shy. This is the mukhannath who is without male potence."

Sometimes there was a case of a "fake mukhannath" or a "mukhannath" who could still have a "drive for women", as it is mentioned by Ibn `Abd al-Barr (refering to a well known report by A`isha, the Prophet`s wife): "Do you not see that the Prophet (s.a.s.) did not prevent that mukhannath from entering upon his wives [whose realm was even more sacred than that of ordinary women:75be9bacc3] at first, but when he heard him describing the daughter of Ghaylaan and realized that he knew about women, he commanded that he should be kept away."

However, in the regular case of a male to female transgender not openly declaring any leanings towards women, the mukhannathun were allowed by Allah and his noble Prophet to enter freely the "harem".

That way they fulfilled an important social function; they served as servants or employees in the houses of noble Muslims and were an important link between the sacred realm of women and the profane realm of men. Indeed, they were the guardians of the "harem". The reports from earlier times show us that they were the only ones who could move freely in every area. They could enter the "harem" as well as the "men only" parts of the mosque. Muhammad (s.a.s.) had given them a very special position in society, elevating them to a special freedom.

Unfortunately, male mistrust arose after the death of noble Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.). The fear from "fake mukhannathun" who could "hurt the virtue of women" was so strong that a mukhannath had to be castrated to be a loyal household servant.

In the 8th century A.C. the Khalifah Sulayman ordered the castration of all the mukhannathun of Makkah (Mecca), although Muhammad (s.a.s.) did severely speak against "creating eunuchs".

However, some of the mukhannathun obviously accepted castration as some kind of a "sex change operation", taking from them the male parts that they never wanted (that is how today`s Indian and Pakistani hijras understand "becoming an eunuch", too)

In summation as we are aware there are number of different sects or denominations in Islam (Sunni, Shiite,Sufi, Wahhabi and others), much as there is in Christianity or Judaism. And much as there are differing degreess of understanding and tolerance amongst Chistians and Jews, the same is true in Islam. And though homosexuality is universally condemned within Islam, there is more and more, an understanding that transsexuality is a medical and treatable condition, thus the fatwas

Transsexualism and Sex Change in Islam

Translation and transcription of the video:

DR TARIQ AL HABEEB

Do we judge on a person that he is a male or female from his external physical appearance ? Or from the internal feeling inside himself ? Most of those who i've conversed with said : HIS EXTERNAL PHYSICAL APPEARANCE.

But in... my view ,and maybe a lot will disagree with me,we judge the person if he is male or female from his internal feeling inside himself.What does he feel in himself ? What does he feel in his identity ?

If we ask anyone for example. why do you wear arabic scarf or dress ? is it because your physical appearance is a man so you did wear that ? Or is it because you felt inside you that you are a man so you did wear that ? the basic gauge is his feeling that he is a man made him follow that habit.We ask the women why do your wear such ? is it because of your physical appearance is feminine so u wear such ?Or is it because you felt inside you that you female so you do wear that clothes? The standard perspective ,if we observed and focused in ourselves , is because we feel inside ourselves that we are men so we wear that clothes,or because they feel they are women so they wear those clothes.Even in the national and the patriotic structure of the person,why he is following a specific attitude ? It is because he, inside himself, assume that assumption.

But i focus on the self structure , the identification , the personal , Am i male or female inside my self ?

Lets take for example the man who came to my clinic for example,he feels that he is a female.What should we do?We evaluate his body: we found that he is a man.Then we evaluate his hormones, to see what the structure of the hormones say about him ? in most cases ,from what i've seen in these condition , is that the hormones structure is for men but has been disturbed.If there was defect , we go for curing the hormone defect that causes that condition.If there no any defects,we look to the psychological side ,So we do the physical check up first ,external and internal ,We see if there is a uterus or not ,ovaries etc.Then we check his hormones if he is a man and has female hormone, we modify these hormones and then we see what happen next.The third condition , we found that his body is a man, and his hormones are male hormones,But inside himself he feels that he is a female.."I'm a female,not only i like to be with females,I'm a female inside my self,not only inside my self,i'm all a female.But why should i act like a man,and wear mens clothe...etc? it is because society imposed on me...i feel that i'm a female..

we ask now,should that person live as a female or male? what is the right that we should give to this person ? Should he live as a male or female ? in my personal evaluation this person must be a female...because the gauge is not the body,and its not the hormone,because the actual gauge is his internal feeling, his composition , if it was since he was raise while he was a child,and he feels that feeling,so he is a female with a male body and male hormones..but if it was something casual,so no,we don't accept that..!!!Maybe some while growing more with girl ,started from females behavior.That is behavioral conditioning ,but his self identity is a man.Feels like a man,but like some of females behavior THAT IS NOT THE ONE WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT..! Please don't get mixed up with what i'm saying,But a person since he came into life and he feels that he is a female so it is very limited percentage ,not every man who effeminate in his clothes or a woman who dressed like a man .No,not those whom we are talking about.WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE INSIDE FEELINGS THAT MAYBE LEAD HIM/HER TO DRESS IN A CERTAIN WAY OR ANY OTHER BEHAVIOR.That person according to my view should live as a female..And the woman that has a feeling of a man since she was born and came to the universe and that feeling strong inside NOT A PASSING OR TEMPORARY FEELING ,NO,Not that what we mean,but the complete feeling that she is male ,she deserve to live as a male ,and those whom i'm talking about those have the right to live ,the woman as a man,and the man as a woman .

And to pursue the appropriate medical decision,From THE ISLAMIC View some maybe against and say "HOW COULD THIS BE'? I Say:I HAVE EVIDENCE IN THIS MATTER,The intersex,whose body completely is mixed with female and male..What do the scholars say about this ? They said : To which ever he is close to, he or she should change...That person in front of me ,is two pieces ,one is physical and the other is the psychological i fix them together.What does that person feel ? what does he want ? what is attracted to ? we are talking about intersex..!! this is how we evaluate that person who is called in fiqih a intersex or hermaphrodite who is not matching one's assigned sex,but mixed sex in his/her reproductive organs ..what should we do to that person? we ask him/her where do you find yourself closer to? and see what is his/her body structure closer to..so we mix this with that ,and continue the treatment of making this person a male or female..i apply my idea that i'm saying ,and base it on that EVEN IF THE PERSON WE ARE TREATING ,FROM OUTSIDE HE IS A MAN ,AND HIS HORMONES ARE MALE,BUT INSIDE HIM IS A FEMALE,YES,HE HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE AS FEMALE,AND I'M SAYING IT WITH ALL BRAVERY..He should live as a female,the society,the culture,and so and so don't judge on me as on that's how we found our fathers doing,don't judge on me based on theories,judge on me with science,converse with me.My parents have taught me to debate the idea by another idea,and argument by another argument,..But if i started saying..this and that and what should i do with the people ? That is not the language of science ,nor the language of religion..Never at all..But we evaluate that matter,and make the ideal psychological and surgical treatment for that person to live tranquilly..LET'S THINK ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND SOCIETIES...

Many parents come to me saying:HE EMBARRASES US INFRONT OF THE PEOPLE....! How we could changed him ? COME ON GUYS,SHOULD HE SUFFER FROM WEARING MEN'S CLOTHES? OR SHOULD SHE FOR EXAMPLE SUFFER FROM THOSE WOMEN'S CLOTHES? YOU FIND A WOMAN LIVING AS A MAN,WALKING LIKE A MAN..She has the right to live as a man..We think about our interest and benefits..BUT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THEIR RIGHT..It is his right to live as a woman,IF HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY SINCE ALLAH CREATE HIM AND HE FEELS INSIDE HIM THAT HE IS A FEMALE,IM REPEATING AGAIN...,Not a temporary feeling,so none misunderstand me,But A VERY STRONG & ROOTED FEELING INSIDE HIM,THAT MAKES HIM WORRIED AND ANNOYED FROM WHAT ? From his outer physical appearance and his clothes,that he wears male's clothes and HE FEELS INSIDE HIM THAT HE IS FEMALE..! OR SHE DID WEAR FEMALE'S CLOTHE ,AND SHE FEELS INSIDE HER THAT SHE IS A MALE.So after that evaluation,the physical and hormones,we move to the psychological side..If it was a strong and rooted feeling for that person,in my scientific opinion,It is favourable for that person to live as female ,that man and that woman,it is favourable to live as male.

There is different composition in some people,even in their internal psychology,those no ,we see to which he/she closer and we confirm on it,not impose the opposite.there is also the person who has sexual orientation , a man who is attracted to both women and men (Bisexual),That is not whom we are talking about..That is call sexual disturbance...and actually i don't call it a 'disturbance' with all the meaning of that word,A person who attracted to the same sex, a man to man,a woman to woman,maybe it is disturbance..but both sex at the same time ,that is maybe because of some social habits make the person attracted to both sexes,A Man who is attracted to both sexes sexually,and feels inside him that he is a man,That is not the one whom we are talking about..or A woman who is attracted to both sexes sexually,or even is attracted to women only,and she practice lesbianism a lot in her life ,She is not the one whom we are talking about...unless she feels inside that she is a man..Even she practiced lesbianism,and she feels that is the dominant (top), and not the receiver (bottom),in this relationship,still,we ask does she feel she is a man ? or a woman and she want to practice that?If she felt that she is a woman,and continuously during that sexual act and after it and since very early time in her life,and with a strong feeling in my thought that lady is a man,she should live as a man...it is her right to live as a man,and our duty to support that orientation but by using the medical standard to control that issue..The time of the program is over..Assalamualaikum warrah matullah hiwabarukatoh...

Dr. Tariq Al-Habeeb is an Islamic psychologist.

 

GENDER BASICS:

*Content are from Lynn Conway's page*

Gender is the most fundamental part of one's identity as a human being. The very first question everyone asks about us is "Is it a boy or a girl?"

 

Important though it is, most people never think much about gender. They have no idea what causes their sense of being a boy or a girl, a man or a woman. Having never suffered mis-gendering, they take their gender for granted like the air that they breathe, never giving it a second thought. It is an unquestioned birth privilege to have a gender.

 

Conventional wisdom says that people are either boys who grow up to become men, or they are girls who grow up to become women. There are only two possibilities, and you are either one or the other. It's obvious at birth from your "genital sex", and that's all there is to it! However, as we will see, reality is not that simple.

 

 

What makes us a boy or a girl? What determines our gender identity?

 

During early pregnancy, a fetus that has male genes (XY chromosomes) usually develops into a boy with male genitals. It develops into a girl with female genitals if it has female genes (XX chromosomes). This happens well over 99% of the time. Doctors and parents look at an infant's genitals at birth, and simply declare it to be a boy or a girl.

 

Those declared to be boys usually grow up into men having a male gender identity, and those declared to be girls usually grow up into women having a female gender identity. Again, it all seems pretty straightforward.

 

Although more than 5% of all men and women will grow up to be gay, and will seek love partners of the same sex and/or gender as themselves, they too usually have normal male and female gender identities as men and women, respectively.

 

Intersex conditions - including intersex babies whose gender is ambiguous at birth:

 

Although most infants appear to be either normal boys or normal girls, various genetic and developmental effects can lead in some cases to infants having ambiguous genitalia, so that even the doctors can't be sure whether it's a boy or a girl. In other cases, the genitals look correct for one gender, but aren't consistent with the infant's genes. In yet other cases the child's genes are something more complex than just XX or XY, and the child's gender identity and physical gender trajectory as they mature may be difficult to predict in advance. Children having these genital and/or genetic variations are called "intersex". Intersex babies are produced in about one in every 1000 births.

 

For example, in about one in 13,000 births an XY (genetic male) fetus is unresponsive to fetal male hormones, and develops genitals that look like a girl's, except for a lack of internal reproductive organs. These XY "complete androgen insensitivity syndrome" (cAIS) infants are simply declared to be girls and are raised as girls. Although they cannot bear children, they often develop into slender, attractive women who have a female gender identity. It's rumored that a number of beautiful models have been cAIS girls.

 

In other births, a "partial androgen insensitivity syndrome" (pAIS) results in the external genital appearance may lie anywhere along the spectrum from male to female. (See the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group (AISSG) website for more information about AIS conditions). Incredibly, many of these girls are never told about the true nature of their conditions, because their doctors and families feel such shame and embarrassment about thes "terrible secret" that these girls have male genes. Instead they are usually told things like "you didn't develop any female internal organs, and thus can't have babies", and often discover the truth about themselves by accident later in life (for example, read Sherri's Story on the AISSG website).

 

Our society is almost completely unaware of the existence of cAIS girls, and this had led to many problems for them. For example, for more than thirty years the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has conducted genetic "gender-testing" on all women athletes to make sure that they were "really female" (this was done to prevent "sex changes" from competing). In quite a number of cases these tests turned up cAIS girls, identified them as "males", and disqualified them from competition. These were truly tragic mis-identifications, since the presence of the Y chromosome in AIS girls does not make them males either genitally or in gender identity, nor does it confer any strength advantage to them. These mis-genderings were often made public, resulting in total humiliation for the women involved.

In a significant recent reversal of this dreadful policy, the IOC dropped all such gender-testing, starting with the summer games in 2000.  Then on May 17, 2004, the IOC announced that postoperative transsexual women and men will be allowed to compete, after meeting certain conditions, starting with the summer games in 2004.  Therefore, discrimination against participation by IS and TS people in the Olympics is finally over.

For an overview of the many categories and prevalence of intersex conditions, see the Intersex Society of North America's page entitled "How Common Are Intersex Conditions?". For more information, seeWikipedia's excellent page on intersexuality, which includes links to many websites about specific conditions.

 

The existence of XY (genetic male) intersex infants who have female genitals and who grow up to have female gender identity (the cAIS girls), was one of many early-known facts of intersexuality that led scientists years ago to recognize that gender identity IS NOT determined directly by having XY vs XX genes. Instead, they theorized that gender identity must be neutral at birth, and is determined later in early childhood by one's genitalia and upbringing. The leading proponent of this theory was John Money of Johns Hopkins University.

 

According to this theory, a child having a vagina and raised as a girl will grow up to have a female gender identity, independent of her genes. Similarly, it predicted that a child having a penis and raised as a boy would grow up to have a normal male gender identity, independent of his genes. If the child's gender identity didn't turn out according to this scheme, psychologists and psychiatrists assumed that something "went wrong" in the child's upbringing, or that the child was mentally disturbed or delusional in some way (i.e., "mentally ill"). Corrections to any gender identity problems were sought through psychiatry, on the assumption that this "mental disturbance" could be reversed.

Discrimination towards trans-men and women

As mentioned in an earlier post, life a transgender is not walk in the park. Discrimination and mistreatment lurks in every corner, and not knowing your rights will turn you into a helpless victim. Live in Uganda, being a transgender might cause you to end up in the land of the dead. In Melaka, depending on the religious authority's mood, you might get a good beating a few night stay in jail for waiting for a bus at the bus stop.

Cases of discrimination and mistreatment of transgender people is not much publicized here in Malaysia due to several factors:

1. Media don't find it interesting, and some journalist find it more fun to mock the case.
2. The victims find it taxing, time consuming, and dignity eroding to report such cases. Then again, we're talking about Malaysia, where dealing with the authority is at least taxing and time consuming.
3. The victimizers would always get to runaway scott-free. While there are anti-discrimination law in effect, they does not cover gender variants (confirming with my HR personnel at the moment), thus providing a loophole on this issue.

There are other factors, of course. But the ones stated above are the most prevalent in my observation. Feel free to share your observation on this.

Overseas, however, there are quite a few documented cases on discrimination and mistreatment against gender variants. Take this letter, shared by International Foundation for Gender Education: 

So. Though the origin of this is not necessarily homosexuality, this seems like the place to post this.

Someone I know (through another forum, a trans woman) went to the DMV to get her name changed on her license. A not really fun procedure made worse by employees fucking it up every step of the way.

Several days later, she got this in the mail.

For those of you who don't want to read, it's a poorly thought out attempt to dissuade her from surgery. I figured I would post it here though it's really a trans issue as transphobia and homophobia intersect in the worst of ways. And homophobia is the source of the transphobia, in this case.

Essentially the point I want to put out there (though I'm sure most of us know this is the case) is this: The dominant culture of homosexual (and transsexual) disapproval is so overwhelming that an employee of the government felt it was his business to use the address obtained in a government transaction to send a trans woman a homophobic letter telling her that she is making an evil decision by attempting to live out her life as she feels necessary.

I don't really know what to say. It's a pretty disgusting letter, and I guess just one more person who thinks other people's private lives is his business."

On Thursday, October 21, 2010, I helped you get a driver's license or ID card at the San Francisco DMV. I noticed that you were changing your name and had supporting documents for the change. As I recall one of these documents outlined something to do with a gender change.

I have learned that the reason for the vast majority of gender change operations is the client's homosexual orientation. The homosexual act is an abomination that leads to hell. "If anyone lie with a man as with a woman, both have committed an abomination; let them be put to death." (Leviticus 20:13) "Do not err; neither ... the effeminate nor liers with mankind ... shall possess the Kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) The homosexual act is one of the sins that "cries to heaven for vengeance." Supporting those who commit this act and encouraging and justifying those who have the orientation also lead one to hell.

Romans 1:21-32 explains how the homosexual orientation is connected with worshiping visible things in the world rather than the One Who created them. If this orientation is the reason for an operation that has yet to occur (or is in the process), I beg you -- DO NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT!

You can see that I do not support gender change operations. Consider Genesis 1:27: "Male and female he [God] created them"; and then Leviticus 19:28: "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh..." Jesus clearly prohibits gender change operations. If an operation like this is the reason for changing one's name, then one has made a very evil decision.

Although I helped you with the name change, I have to say I do not support the reason for it if it relates to the above. If it does I must say I do not approve of this name change, and I also do not believe the state's recognition of it -- through official documents -- makes it legitimate or any less evil.

Please take a look at www.vaticancatholic.com. This website has critical information for your salvation and much more on many other topics. 

In Charity,

Thomas

I would say that this is a breach of privacy, and that the DMV staff had overstepped his authority by accessing the recipient's contact information and sending such letter. Having studied in a few religious institution, I believe his intention is good (for Muslim this might be seen as nahi mungkar, discouraging immoral actions), but I also believe that he is misinformed and ignorant of issues on gender identities.

Now, take a look at this case, also shared by International Foundation for Gender Education: 

Costello & Mains, P.C. Files Transgender Employment and Housing Discrimination Lawsuit

Mount Laurel 10/27/2010 02:27 PM GMT (WooEB)

New Jersey employment law firm Costello & Mains, P.C. has filed a lawsuit on behalf of April Murdoch, a male to female transsexual who was viciously tormented by her employer when her landlord, who entered her apartment without her permission and discovered paperwork pertaining to her transition, informed her employer of his find. 

“This is one of the more egregious and profound examples of hostility to transgendered persons," says partner Kevin Costello. “Her landlord invaded her privacy, called her homophobic names, and then kicked her out of her apartment. Then he told April's employer, who proceeded to torment her on the job with homophobic hate speech. He also forced her to work overtime without pay, under threat that he would ruin her life if she didn't comply." Finally, the suit claims, she was discharged. 

"We hope not only that justice will be done," Kevin says, "but also that by continuing to expose the sort of hate transgendered people endure for having the courage to be who they are, we can start to reverse the societal bias and ignorance that so often infects the lives of transgendered people. They already have enough challenges without such outright and hateful discrimination." 

The employment law attorneys at Costello & Mains, P.C. are dedicated to protecting the rights of New Jersey workers. If you suspect your employee or civil rights have been violated, visit http://www.costellomains.com/ today for a free legal evaluation of your claim. 

About the Law Offices of Costello & Mains, P.C. 

Kevin Costello and Deborah Mains have been fighting for the workers of New Jersey for nearly 30 years between them, having counseled and represented unions and workers for their entire careers. They can fight your employment rights, harassment, retaliation, discrimination or wrongful discharge claim in Court. If you have questions about employment rights in New Jersey, visit http://www.costellomains.com/.

pressrelease@lawyercentral.com

www.costellomains.com/ 

Again, breach of privacy, and on top of that breach of employee's rights as well as breach of employment contract. It's a good thing that the law firm decided to take on the case. All the best to April. May justice prevail. 

We have seen examples of discrimination by government staff and employer, and a busy body 3rd person. How about in schools? Check this out (thanks to International Foundation for Gender Education for sharing):

US school official tells gay teens to kill themselves

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • October 28, 2010 - 15:55

Gay rights groups are calling for a US school board official to resign after he posted an anti-gay rant on his Facebook page.

Clint McCance, who is the vice-president of the Arkansas school district, wrote on his page that “queers” and “fags” should kill themselves.

He made the remarks after Spirit Day last Wednesday, which encouraged people to wear purple to mark a spate of suicides among gay teenagers.

According to The Advocate, which got a screengrab of his page, Mr McCance wrote that the teenagers had “sinned”, that he would disown his children if they were gay and that he was pleased that AIDS kills gay men.

He wrote: “Seriously they want me to wear purple because five queers killed themselves.

“The only way im wearin it for them is if they all commit suicide. I cant believe the people of this world have gotten this stupid. We are honoring the fact that they sinned and killed thereselves because of their sin. REALLY PEOPLE.”

In response to a commenter who criticised his remarks, he added: “No because being a fag doesn’t give you the right to ruin the rest of our lives. If you get easily offended by being called a fag then dont tell anyone you are a fag. Keep that shit to yourself. I dont care how people decide to live their lives. They dont bother me if they keep it to thereselves.

“It pisses me off though that we make a special purple fag day for them. I like that fags cant procreate. I also enjoy the fact that they often give each other aids and die. If you arent against it, you might as well be for it.”

In later comments, he wrote: “I would disown my kids they were gay. They will not be welcome at my home or in my vicinity. I will absolutely run them off. Of course my kids will know better. My kids will have solid christian beliefs. See it infects everyone.”

Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education, said in a statement Wednesday that he had “grave concerns” about the situation.

He said: “I strongly condemn the statements that appeared on Mr Clint McCance’s Facebook page … The statements attributed to Mr McCance constitute a significant departure from statements we expect from our school leaders.

“The divisiveness and disruption of these comments cause me to seriously question the ability of Mr McCance to remain as an effective member of the Midland School Board.”

Mr McCance is an elected official, the statement said, and the local education department cannot deal with him directly. But the department promised to deal quickly with any instances of homophobic bullying.

Facebook groups and gay rights campaigners are calling for Mr McCance’s resignation.

Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese said: “McCance shouldn’t be allowed near children, let alone managing their education. We call for his immediate resignation from the school board.” 

Any of you readers have similar experiences to share? Feel free to email them to radicalscope@gmail.com :)

Michelle, signing off :)

Fact and fiction about transgenders

Today I got a message over Facebook from a Kogulan Tanabalz with the following content:

October 23 at 10:50am Report

hey ur a tranny rite?...wanna suck my cock?..i mean it should be u guys hobby isnt?

Oh please... What age do you think this is? The Stone Age (if such age ever existed)?

People, time have changed, and what may be true 10, 20, 30, 9000 years back, may not be true anymore.

Let me share with you some facts and fictions about people like us:

Fiction: All trans-female dabble in sex work.
Fact: Majority of us have legit jobs, for your information. We work in boutiques, as performers, some even become managers. We can do what other men and women can do (not sure about something that is physically taxing, though). We do admit some of us are still working in the sex industry, but they have their circumstances. Then again, even cisgenders work in sex industry. Why don't you go after them?

Fiction: All trans-female are good with fashion and grooming.
Fact: This is at least true about me. I'm useless when it comes to grooming and fashion. If I go out shopping for clothes on my own, I'd be buying nonsense. Give me computer parts, I'll assemble them in no time. Give me a make-up box, I'd be staring at it for a good 5 minutes and still have no idea what to do with it!

Fiction: If you're a trans-female, you like men.
Fact: I know at least 1 lesbian trans-female, 2 bisexual trans-female, and 1 pansexual trans-female. See, sexual orientation and gender identity. Read here and here about for more details.

I'll be adding more in the future :)

Michelle, signing off~

My transition is a life journey

My transition started not only as a gender identity journey, but also in terms of personality and attitude. During my childhood, I am known as a hot-headed, stubborn, and brash boy who gets into fights a lot. When I was 13, my short-temperness (is there any such word?) resulted in me being exiled by the rest of my batchmates. Then I started thinking, "something is not right here. I have to change!".

At the age 14, I changed from a hot-headed, stubborn, and brash boy to a mild-mannered, soft-spoken boy. And boy, am I happy being like that. Less stress, less issues. I started avoiding activities that is too physical as well, except for martial arts :p. And I started to get very uncomfortable being in a man's body.

When I was 16, I stopped using "aku" and "kau" (a more rougher version of "I" and "you"), and started to use "saya" and "awak" (softer version of "I" and "you"). By now being called a tranny is almost like my daily bread :|.

Fast-forward to my varsity years, I was still as I was before, but instead of indulging in make-ups and fashion, I focused on my studies and gaming. This is when my geeky side started its debut. During this time I also affirmed my sexual preferences towards feminine people. That would include girls as well. (That explains my profile, no? Hehehe)

Fast-forward again to when I was working, every now and then, I started to take hormones, inconsistently. This is due to several factors; 1) lack of confident to purchase it myself, 2) lack of money. September 2009, Both issues eliminated, and I started taking hormones consistently. Actually, there is another reason why I'm taking hormones. It is because of my high sexual drive. Taking hormones reduced it to a more tolerable rate :). Mei-June 2010, mom noticed my breast, stating that it's already 32A size (yikes!), and she started probing whether I'm taking pills. And of course, I'd either deny or change the topic.

Around June and July is also when I started wearing skirts to work, and felt more comfortable in one rather than a pair of jeans. Next in the checklist:
- heels
- evening gown
- handbags
- hair rebonding
Noticed that make-up is not on the list? that's because i'm lousy at it :)

That all for this post. I'll be sharing with you more on the next one :).

Michelle, signing off~

Sleepless in Sri Putramas...

Woke up at 1.30am, and not willing to go back to sleep for a simple reason: I might overslept. My companion of 9 months had died on me. Well, not died, more like comatose, as I can't switch it on. The button got jammed, and I have no spare phones lying around. Coincidentally, neither do other people.

My companion is a mobile phone, which I bought after the lost of Chibi-Setsuna, a K810i Sony-Ericsson camera phone which I love to bits. How did I lost my beloved Chibi-Setsuna? Again, I'll reserve that for another time :D. This phone, which has accompanied me for the without fail since January 2010, is a Nokia 6070. An outdated model in the era of Blackberries, Iphones, and what-not. In more than one occasion, I do look at her and think, "I'm too sexy for this mobile phone". Despite that, I am grateful for the fact that she served me well. It would be nice if I could take tonnes of pictures with her, just as I did with Chibi-Setsuna, but hey, beggars can't be choosers :|.

Now I just need to bear for another 10 days, and get a replacement phone. In the mean time, I may have to call dearly beloved father (I sincerely do, though my love for him pale in comparison to how much I love my mother :p), and ask if he could get me a spare phone. Something cheap, just as an emergency phone.

Right, while we are at this, I might as well talk about something related to the reason this blog was started for. Being a transgender in Malaysia (especially a trans-female) is by no means a walk in the park. It's challenging, heartbreaking, nerve-wrecking, scary, and to some, downright disastrous. So those who thought that we chose this "lifestyle" is downright retarded; try living as one for a day, Einstein. To some, it's liberating, fun, exciting (some sexually as well. Can't comment much on those), exhilarating, plus what i said earlier. In Malaysia, for being a trans-female, you may get kicked and slapped with a hefty fine just for standing at bus stop, waiting for the bus. This had happened in Melaka. You could also get some nice favors by Abang Pulis, in exchange for a phone number. This happened just a couple of days ago to one of my trans-female friends. She's lucky. Some others had to obtain the same favor in return to their body. Abang Pulis is not that dependable when it comes to security, mind you :) ).

While many believed that transgenders are highly intelligent, talented and dependable, you'll be surprised at the fact that it's pretty hard for us to get decent jobs. Most people thinks that we are only good at performance art, make-ups, modelling, wedding planning, and prostituting. I'm better at setting up PC and troubleshooting them, though. Heck, I don't even wear make-up (and still pass as a girl~ whee~!!), and my sense of fashion clearly does not reflect my age. Coming to an interview wearing what you think would reflect your professional personality may also be your career suicide, Since they will look at your MyKad, you and back, and wonder if they had actually contacted the right person. This is especially true for those who didn't make it a point to update their identification card photo. Which reminds me, I have to make a trip to the registration department for the exact same reason... And check with them about name change procedures...

Dealing with the bank can be a bitch, twice as much if the Customer Service agent on the phone is a bitch him/her/itself. This happened to me when I was trying to buy a pair of tickets to Rainbow Massacre, a fabulous show hosted by Shelah. Have to make sure that I don't miss that during the next Seksualiti Merdeka. I'll talk about Shelah, Seksualiti Merdeka, and Rainbow Massacre next time. Taking a cab can be an interesting  experience, being a trans-female. In more than one occasion, the taxi driver actually asked me for a date. And they thought that I'm working as; a) a waitress, b) at a club, c) a promoter. Sigh...

I think I'll wrap up for now. And wait for a suitable time to take my shower and give the taxi driver a call, and go to work. I still have another 2 hours before that happens :).

Michelle, signing off :)

New pages of my life

Hi there :)

Here you have it, a new blog by yours truly :). And as the title suggests, it'll be a space for me to share my musings. Mainly about being a trans-female in Malaysia (and a Muslim on top of that. Rais Yatim will have one heck of a time reading my posts here :p).

16 Nov 2009 marks a new leaf of my life. New job, new friends, and finally, I decided to stay true to myself and start living as a girl. Especially when you have bosses and colleagues you don't really mind about your gender identity :D.

I've been taking hormone pills seriously and consistently since September 2009, and my voice had always been on the feminine side since I was fourteen (14). How did I get that kind of voice? I'll leave that for later :). Looks... some people said that I have and androgynous look, which I would reply "no way!", but hey, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, right? Perhaps it's the lighting. I also have the tendency of walking with a sway (not that it ever capture anyone's attention. Else I'd be happily dating someone by now :| ), and I like clothings that accentuates my breast (A-cup :p).

Since then, I started to get more friends who are alike. Starting with Amy, a trans-girl from Subang. Jellene, a talented trans-girl drummer and bassist from Penang, and many others. Through Jellene, I got introduced to Seksualiti Merdeka, PT Foundation, and TransMalaysia. Next in my IN tray is Transgender Day of Remembrance, scheduled to happen on the last week of November (and we haven't prepare much! Yikes!).

This blog will be a channel for me to share about info on trans-female (note: for those who are already a trans-female. Am not interested on recruiting males into the trans-army~), issues on LGBT,a nd whatever related. Look forward for the next post, feel free to comment :)

Michelle, signing off for now~