The Position of Convener of Mens Australian Network is now vacant.
People seeking to fill the position should contact Marcus at patterson.marcus@gmail.com
If the position is not filled the group will dissolve.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Friday, October 31, 2014
_________________________
Men’s Australian Network
"May all embrace their birthright
to live their life with dignity”
HEALTH AGENDA
There is a need for access to Health Providers and Services which
are provided in a manner that treats us with respect for our innate identity.
Research into the Health issues of men with ts is needed.
EDUCATION AGENDA
The need for greater community understanding and education to
redress discriminatory perceptions of men with ts by others.
LAW REFORM
We seek full acceptance of our innate male identity within all areas of
the law.
There is still much systemic discrimination within government
bureaucratic structures with regards to legal and administrative recognition of
our innate male identity and the right to privacy regarding our personal
medical status.
Men’s
Australian Network
Website http://mensaustraliannetwork.blogspot.com.au/
Email mensaustnet@hotmail.com
 |
© Guy Faulk publication by Marcus Patterson 2014
ANZPATH Conference October 2014
I recently had the opportunity to attend the ANZPATH Bienial Conference which was held in Adelaide at the beginning of October.
The conference lasted for 2 and a half days and included involvement from the sex and gender diverse communities.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
France Declassifies Transsexualism
TRANSSEXUALISM will no longer be classified as a mental illness in France
published on Saturday 16 May 2009 at 20H07
Translated by Curtis E. Hinkle, Founder of the Organisation Intersex
International
TRANSSEXUALISM will no longer be classified in France as a mental
illness, a government decision hailed Saturday as "historic" by the
associations concerned, on the eve of the International Day Against
Homophobia and transphobia.
The Minister of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, has appealed "in recent
days" to the High Authority of Health in order to make a decree that
transsexualism be removed from the category of psychiatric disorders,
a spokesman for the department stated.
Until now, transsexuals benefited from a fee waiver for their medical
care by being classified under ALD23 (affection de longue durée 23 –
long term condition 23) for “recurring or persistent disorders”.
For the Department of Health, it is a "strong signal sent to the whole
community", since transsexuals felt that being included under the
ALD23 was stigmatizing.
This classification, arising from that of the World Health
Organization (WHO), was also linked to the fact that transsexualism
appeared on the list of pathologies identified in the DSM (Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to which the medical
profession refers, as was the case for homosexuality a few years ago.
In a forum published in Le Monde (newspaper) dated Sunday-Monday,
numerous personalities including first secretary of the Socialist
Party Martine Aubry, the communist Marie-George Buffet, Green (party
member) Daniel Cohn-Bendit and even Nobel Prize winners such as
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (medicine) and Elfriede Jelinek (literature),
asked the WHO “to no longer consider transsexuals as being affected
by a mental disorder".
It is because the WHO decided on the 17th of May 1990 to remove
homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses, that this date has
been retained for the International Day Against Homophobia and
transphobia, celebrated Sunday, starting Saturday in many places.
It is therefore symbolic that France chose this time and date to be
"the first country in the world" to "remove transgender identity from
the list of mental diseases", commented the IDAHO Committee.
This "historic decision" is also "an explosion of hope for all trans
persons around the world", according to Joël Bedos, secretary-general
of the IDAHO Committee.
The HES (Association for Homosexuality and Socialism) also “hailed”
this announcement which is in response to “demands that the LGBT
community have been making for a long time in France. For HES, it is
time, at present, to go beyond the symbolic and take concrete actions
to fight against the violence and discrimination facing trans persons.
Because beyond "this measure for declassification, there is still much
to be done before transsexuals (...) are recognized as full-fledged
citizens", insisted the coordinator of the group Inter-LGBT.
Original French article:
http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2009/05/16/817434-France-La-transs...
published on Saturday 16 May 2009 at 20H07
Translated by Curtis E. Hinkle, Founder of the Organisation Intersex
International
TRANSSEXUALISM will no longer be classified in France as a mental
illness, a government decision hailed Saturday as "historic" by the
associations concerned, on the eve of the International Day Against
Homophobia and transphobia.
The Minister of Health, Roselyne Bachelot, has appealed "in recent
days" to the High Authority of Health in order to make a decree that
transsexualism be removed from the category of psychiatric disorders,
a spokesman for the department stated.
Until now, transsexuals benefited from a fee waiver for their medical
care by being classified under ALD23 (affection de longue durée 23 –
long term condition 23) for “recurring or persistent disorders”.
For the Department of Health, it is a "strong signal sent to the whole
community", since transsexuals felt that being included under the
ALD23 was stigmatizing.
This classification, arising from that of the World Health
Organization (WHO), was also linked to the fact that transsexualism
appeared on the list of pathologies identified in the DSM (Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to which the medical
profession refers, as was the case for homosexuality a few years ago.
In a forum published in Le Monde (newspaper) dated Sunday-Monday,
numerous personalities including first secretary of the Socialist
Party Martine Aubry, the communist Marie-George Buffet, Green (party
member) Daniel Cohn-Bendit and even Nobel Prize winners such as
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (medicine) and Elfriede Jelinek (literature),
asked the WHO “to no longer consider transsexuals as being affected
by a mental disorder".
It is because the WHO decided on the 17th of May 1990 to remove
homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses, that this date has
been retained for the International Day Against Homophobia and
transphobia, celebrated Sunday, starting Saturday in many places.
It is therefore symbolic that France chose this time and date to be
"the first country in the world" to "remove transgender identity from
the list of mental diseases", commented the IDAHO Committee.
This "historic decision" is also "an explosion of hope for all trans
persons around the world", according to Joël Bedos, secretary-general
of the IDAHO Committee.
The HES (Association for Homosexuality and Socialism) also “hailed”
this announcement which is in response to “demands that the LGBT
community have been making for a long time in France. For HES, it is
time, at present, to go beyond the symbolic and take concrete actions
to fight against the violence and discrimination facing trans persons.
Because beyond "this measure for declassification, there is still much
to be done before transsexuals (...) are recognized as full-fledged
citizens", insisted the coordinator of the group Inter-LGBT.
Original French article:
http://www.laprovence.com/articles/2009/05/16/817434-France-La-transs...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
National Men's Health Policy SA Survey
extract from ACSA website
National Men's Health Policy Questionnaire
…Federal Labor Government to develop a new National Men’s Health Policy: Bypasses the Health & Wellbeing Needs of Same-Sex Attracted Men:
As a Man – Exercise Your Right & Have Your Voice Heard…
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)
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.
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.
http://www.acsa.org.au/mens-health-quest.html
National Men's Health Policy Questionnaire
…Federal Labor Government to develop a new National Men’s Health Policy: Bypasses the Health & Wellbeing Needs of Same-Sex Attracted Men:
As a Man – Exercise Your Right & Have Your Voice Heard…
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)
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.
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.
http://www.acsa.org.au/mens-health-quest.html
Monday, March 16, 2009
Graham Innes Launches Sex Files Report
17 March 2009
Sex and gender: not always a simple key to identification
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.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
The paper and its 15 recommendations is available online at
www.humanrights.gov.au/genderdiversity/sex_files2009.html
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
Sex and gender: not always a simple key to identification
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.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
The paper and its 15 recommendations is available online at
www.humanrights.gov.au/genderdiversity/sex_files2009.html
Media contact: Brinsley Marlay 02 9284 9656 or 0430 366 529
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Transsexualism as a mental illness DSM 5 Reform
This 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.
the following website http://gidreform.org/ may provide some points for discussion.
the following website http://gidreform.org/ may provide some points for discussion.
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