tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18561884276162549002024-03-05T07:45:13.326-08:00Men's Australian NetworkMarcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-37027324973379277902016-09-23T02:44:00.001-07:002016-09-23T02:44:36.078-07:00Position Vacant<h2>
The Position of Convener of Mens Australian Network is now vacant.</h2>
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People seeking to fill the position should contact Marcus at patterson.marcus@gmail.com</div>
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If the position is not filled the group will dissolve.</div>
Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-33483462000858106342014-10-31T18:57:00.001-07:002014-10-31T19:05:55.161-07:00<div class="arial12pt">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Black', sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Men’s Australian Network<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;">"May all embrace their birthright<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"> to live their life with dignity”</span></i></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif"; font-size: 15pt;"> HEALTH AGENDA</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There is a need for access to <b>Health</b> Providers and Services which
are provided in a manner that treats us with respect for our innate identity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Research into the Health issues of men with ts is needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The need for greater community understanding and <b>education</b> to
redress discriminatory perceptions of men with ts by others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We seek full acceptance of our innate male identity within all areas of
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There is still much <b>systemic discrimination</b> within government
bureaucratic structures with regards to legal and administrative recognition of
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Men’s
Australian Network<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Website</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> http://mensaustraliannetwork.blogspot.com.au/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Email</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> <a href="mailto:mensaustnet@hotmail.com">mensaustnet@hotmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 6.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">© Guy Faulk publication by Marcus Patterson 2014</span></div>
Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-67644052953987611192014-10-31T17:30:00.002-07:002014-10-31T17:30:30.575-07:00ANZPATH Conference October 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to attend the ANZPATH Bienial Conference which was held in Adelaide at the beginning of October.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The conference lasted for 2 and a half days and included involvement from the sex and gender diverse communities.</span></div>
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Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-67683706768787053872009-05-16T21:35:00.000-07:002009-05-16T21:37:12.615-07:00France Declassifies TranssexualismTRANSSEXUALISM will no longer be classified as a mental illness in France <br /><br />published on Saturday 16 May 2009 at 20H07 <br /><br /><br />Translated by Curtis E. Hinkle, Founder of the Organisation Intersex <br />International <br /><br /><br />TRANSSEXUALISM will no longer be classified in France as a mental <br />illness, a government decision hailed Saturday as "historic" by the <br />associations concerned, on the eve of the International Day Against <br />Homophobia and transphobia. <br /><br /><br />The Minister of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, has appealed "in recent <br />days" to the High Authority of Health in order to make a decree that <br />transsexualism be removed from the category of psychiatric disorders, <br />a spokesman for the department stated. <br /><br /><br />Until now, transsexuals benefited from a fee waiver for their medical <br />care by being classified under ALD23 (affection de longue durée 23 – <br />long term condition 23) for “recurring or persistent disorders”. <br /><br /><br />For the Department of Health, it is a "strong signal sent to the whole <br />community", since transsexuals felt that being included under the <br />ALD23 was stigmatizing. <br /><br /><br />This classification, arising from that of the World Health <br />Organization (WHO), was also linked to the fact that transsexualism <br />appeared on the list of pathologies identified in the DSM (Diagnostic <br />and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to which the medical <br />profession refers, as was the case for homosexuality a few years ago. <br /><br /><br />In a forum published in Le Monde (newspaper) dated Sunday-Monday, <br />numerous personalities including first secretary of the Socialist <br />Party Martine Aubry, the communist Marie-George Buffet, Green (party <br />member) Daniel Cohn-Bendit and even Nobel Prize winners such as <br />Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (medicine) and Elfriede Jelinek (literature), <br />asked the WHO “to no longer consider transsexuals as being affected <br />by a mental disorder". <br /><br /><br />It is because the WHO decided on the 17th of May 1990 to remove <br />homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses, that this date has <br />been retained for the International Day Against Homophobia and <br />transphobia, celebrated Sunday, starting Saturday in many places. <br /><br /><br />It is therefore symbolic that France chose this time and date to be <br />"the first country in the world" to "remove transgender identity from <br />the list of mental diseases", commented the IDAHO Committee. <br /><br /><br />This "historic decision" is also "an explosion of hope for all trans <br />persons around the world", according to Joël Bedos, secretary-general <br />of the IDAHO Committee. <br /><br /><br />The HES (Association for Homosexuality and Socialism) also “hailed” <br />this announcement which is in response to “demands that the LGBT <br />community have been making for a long time in France. For HES, it is <br />time, at present, to go beyond the symbolic and take concrete actions <br />to fight against the violence and discrimination facing trans persons. <br /><br /><br />Because beyond "this measure for declassification, there is still much <br />to be done before transsexuals (...) are recognized as full-fledged <br />citizens", insisted the coordinator of the group Inter-LGBT. <br /><br /><br />Original French article: <br />http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2009/05/16/817434-France-La-transs...Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-83762980332540334772009-04-16T15:35:00.000-07:002009-04-16T15:37:57.466-07:00National Men's Health Policy SA Surveyextract from ACSA website<br /><br /> National Men's Health Policy Questionnaire <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /> …Federal Labor Government to develop a new National Men’s Health Policy: Bypasses the Health & Wellbeing Needs of Same-Sex Attracted Men:<br />As a Man – Exercise Your Right & Have Your Voice Heard…<br /><br />The Federal Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) is developing a National Men’s Health Policy. The policy will focus on addressing issues that men face in accessing health services, engaging men about their health and by raising awareness of preventable health problems that affect Australian men. (For further information, visit www.health.gov.au/menshealthpolicy) <br /><br />DoHA has put together an ‘Information Paper’ and seeks community consultation to better understand the health and wellbeing needs of Australian men in order to inform the development of the National Men’s Health Policy. DoHA assumes in their approach that Australian men are heterosexual. (Note: the closest that DoHA comes to identifying health and wellbeing issues that affect same-sex attracted men is by acknowledging that “Men are over-represented in deaths related to HIV/AIDS”.) Seemingly, they have forgotten to consider that gay/bisexual men, transgendered men and men that have sex with men have parallel but different psychosocial health and wellbeing needs to heterosexual men and that gay/bisexual men, transgendered men and men that have sex with men all rightfully have a place to be included in the construct of, and as part of, any National Australian Men’s Health Policy.<br /><br />To this extent, ACSA asks you to complete the following Survey. Your voice is important to us. Your voice will contribute to ACSA writing a Submission to DoHA so that the voices of South Australian gay/bisexual men, transgendered men and men that have sex with men are heard by those in Canberra who otherwise would prefer for us to remain silent with our shared health and wellbeing needs. Please click on the link below and have your voice heard by completing the online Survey.<br /><br />http://www.acsa.org.au/mens-health-quest.htmlMarcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-47973225601396042532009-03-16T23:38:00.000-07:002009-03-16T23:40:42.298-07:00Graham Innes Launches Sex Files Report17 March 2009<br /><br />Sex and gender: not always a simple key to identification<br />Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes, launched the Australian Human Rights Commission’s concluding paper for the sex and gender diversity project, Sex Files: The legal recognition of sex in documents and government records, containing 15 recommendations for improving the current system for legally recognising sex identity, at Parliament House in Canberra today.<br /><br />“It is difficult for most of us to understand being born into a body that is the wrong sex, or into a body that is not exclusively male or female,” said Commissioner Innes, “but for some people this is an extremely frustrating reality that they have had to deal with in their lives.”<br /><br />“While some people who are sex or gender diverse take steps to rectify or come to terms with this situation themselves, others have the decision made for them when they are young, but both potentially face the humiliation and added frustration of having to argue for their sex or gender at some stage in their lives when asked for identification by various official documents.”<br /><br />Mr Innes said that the issue of sex and/or gender identity arose when the Commission was undertaking consultations and research for the Same-sex: same entitlements inquiry into discrimination against same sex couples and families regarding financial and work-related entitlements.<br /><br />“The appalling thing about this situation over sex and gender identity in documentation and records is the disruption it causes in the life of the person concerned by putting a spotlight on what in many cases is a very private matter in an otherwise completely ordinary life and, in others, a life that is lived without usually having to make such frustrating and embarrassing justifications,” Commissioner Innes said.<br /><br />The Sex and gender diversity project’s focus on documentation arose after a majority of responses to the project’s initial issues paper revealed that the recording and proof of sex and/or gender in official documents and government records was a major human rights issue to sex and gender diverse people. Subsequent investigation found that it was fraught with inconsistencies that inadvertently caused additional frustration and distress.<br /><br />Part of the research and consultation process on the project was the use of a blog, where sex and gender diverse people could anonymously share their thoughts and experiences.<br /><br />“One of the most articulate summations of the reason for the entire project was a blog comment that said, ‘Having documents that reflect one’s sense of identity is important for employment, access to healthcare and medicines and also for self affirmation and acceptance by the government that – yes – this is who you really are’,” said Commissioner Innes.<br /><br />Commissioner Innes said that, after consulting with people in public meetings in Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and hearing stories of terrible discrimination and immense bravery, he hoped the 15 recommendations in the paper would lead the Australian Government to create a fairer and less complicated identification system that recognises sex and gender diversity.<br /><br />The paper and its 15 recommendations is available online at <br />www.humanrights.gov.au/genderdiversity/sex_files2009.html<br /><br />Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-24757546780911353802008-10-09T17:12:00.000-07:002009-03-18T22:54:47.641-07:00Transsexualism as a mental illness DSM 5 ReformThis is a general call out for community disucssion and comments by men with ts, their significant others and supporters in relation to the classification of Gender Identity Disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM 5.<br /><br /><br />the following website http://gidreform.org/ may provide some points for discussion.Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-79329127193517437802008-09-07T11:12:00.000-07:002008-09-07T11:17:55.030-07:00Western Australia a Lack of CommittmentThe Western Australian elections were held last saturday and the outcome for sex and gender diverse people was not promising for the future of law reforms in this area. None of the major parties had given pre-election commitments in the area of gender identity law. <br /><br />I call on interested Western Australian to become active and join Men's Australian Network in a campaign for improved application of the Gender REassignment Act WA and the introduction of a Gender Identity attribute to Equal Opportunity law protection.Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-48686861948729076842008-08-18T22:58:00.000-07:002008-08-19T01:07:23.789-07:00Privacy Awareness Week<a href="http://www.privacyawarenessweek.org/paw/images/banner3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.privacyawarenessweek.org/paw/images/banner3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />http://www.privacyawarenessweek.org/paw/<br /><br />> there is much need for privacy in the sex and gender diverse communities and this project week provides the opportunity to educate and develope awareness about why gender/sex markers are used in public life.<br /><br />Get involved visit your local politician, let them know that privacy mattersMarcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-67718019946684872082008-08-04T22:38:00.001-07:002008-08-04T22:40:19.487-07:00South AustraliaThe State Government of South Australia will debate a bill in parliament that sees the introduction of a "chosen gender attribute"Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-80149389004997794942008-08-04T22:28:00.001-07:002008-08-09T13:32:42.238-07:00Towards a National AgendaSex files: Looking at how records of sex and gender impact on human rights<br />Federal Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes has launched the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's (HREOC) Sex and Gender Diversity Blog, entitled Sex files: The legal recognition of sex in documents and government records.<br /><br />Not all people are happy with the decision that was made at birth as to whether they are a male or a female. Not everyone is born exclusively male or female. Lives are made unnecessarily difficult by official documents and government records on which sex or gender cannot be changed. Sex files is looking at these issues.<br /><br />Commissioner Innes said "The Sex files blog is looking at the difficulties people who are sex and gender diverse experience in being identified as their true sex or affirmed gender in official documents and government records."<br /><br />HREOC has conducted preliminary consultations with sex and gender diverse communities to determine the most pressing human rights issues for people who are sex and gender diverse.<br /><br />This consultation found that the four broad areas of concern are: the ability to change or correct official and identity documents; access to health services and policy; protection from discrimination, and; education and awareness.<br /><br />"The issue of legal recognition and the ability to amend documentation was most frequently raised in our consultations," said Commissioner Innes. "People asked the Commission to focus on legislative reform and ensure we consult widely with sex and gender diverse communities in the process.<br /><br />"The Sex files blog aims to reach as many people in the sex and gender diverse communities as possible."<br /><br />Comments on the blog are public, but participants can choose to post anonymously.<br /><br />The blog gives people the chance to tell their stories and provide their views on the impact on their daily lives of existing identification systems.<br /><br />Information about the consultation and the Sex files blog can be found at: www.humanrights.gov.au/genderdiversity/<br /><br />Media contact: Brinsley Marlay (02) 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1856188427616254900.post-71330206594212266622007-06-03T00:56:00.000-07:002007-06-03T01:08:24.546-07:00Western AustraliaNEWS<br />extract from an article by megan smith OutInPerth<br /><br />GENDER IDENTITY DISCRIMINATION<br /><br />The Report Says... `Western Australia is the only state and territory<br />in Australia that does not recognise gender identity or<br />transsexuality discrimination, and there is evidence of<br />discrimination against persons of indeterminate, or non-birth gender<br />identity, the Commission recommends that the Act be amended to<br />include this ground.'<br /><br />Commissioner Henderson explained that while WA was one of the more<br />progressive states when the laws were first enacted, in the passing<br />decades, other states have enacted more comprehensive legislation.<br />She believes that if the EOC's recommendations are followed, WA will<br />once again be at the forefront, especially with regards to gender<br />identity issues, particularly those of intersex individuals.<br /><br />`It is recommended for example that the protection of the Act be<br />extended to people who don't have a gender reassignment certificate,<br />but who have determined that they wish to be a sex different from<br />their birth sex. They are people who are particularly vulnerable and<br />we have found they are not protected. So, it is proposed that should<br />be a ground under the Act. There are also people who wish to be or<br />consider themselves to be intersex, rather than one sex or the<br />other, and we have made reference to this as well, that they should<br />be protected,' Commissioner Henderson said.<br /><br />These recommendations have been lauded by lobby groups. Men's<br />Australian Network (MAN), whose submission received specific mention<br />in the review, said `MAN is pleased that the gender identity<br />attribute has been recommended as an outcome of this review.<br />Accepting and affirming diversity will in our view strengthen the<br />Western Australian community. We look forward to the introduction<br />and enactment of legislation implementing the recommendation.'<br /><br />The WA Gender Project (WAGP) also made submissions and was Aram<br />Hosie of the WAGP was equally pleased with the review, `It is long<br />overdue for the Equal Opportunity Act to further recognise gender<br />identity. Currently, the Equal Opportunity Act only covers people<br />with a gender reassignment certificate [and] fails to cover people<br />while they are transitioning in the work place, which is a highly<br />vulnerable time for people. We are also concerned about exemptions<br />that may remain for competitive sport.' He continued to<br />express, `hope that the provisions regarding vilification will be<br />extended to cover gender identity grounds.'<br /><br />However, not all submissions supported extension of the act to cover<br />gender identity discrimination. When OUTinPerth asked Commissioner<br />Henderson about dissenting submissions, she explained, `Most of the<br />submissions that were detailed, thought out submissions, recognised<br />that people were often discriminated against on the basis of their<br />gender identity... There were, however, some submissions that were<br />almost like form petitions. They were almost identical and a lot of<br />those submissions opposed any extension of the act to include rights<br />for people in regards to their sexual identity.'<br /><br />She went on to defend the review, saying, `the review really speaks<br />for itself. We have obviously weighed up those submissions, and we<br />have acknowledged them in the body of the report, but our view is<br />that there is enough evidence that these sort of revisions are<br />necessary to provide protection to people and that people do suffer<br />discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation and that<br />people are particularly vulnerable when they are undergoing sex<br />change of one kind or another.'Marcushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18360760744601021757noreply@blogger.com3