transgender

The City of Seattle has kicked off its annual Open Enrollment period for City employees, with a key change to employees’ health plans. Starting on January 1, 2012, transgender health care procedures will be included in all plans.

The addition occurred thanks to the work of five of Seattle’s volunteer commissions: the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Commission, Commission for People with disAbilities, Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board, Human Rights Commission, and Women’s Commission. All five groups contacted City Council and the City’s Personnel Department on March 23 to point out extensive exclusion clauses for medical care for transgender people. The exclusions included treatments, medications and services for gender affirming surgeries and procedures.

"Transgender treatments are not cosmetic; they are medically necessary," said Tiffany Nelson and Eleazar Juárez-Díaz, Co-Chairs of the Seattle LGBT Commission. "We applaud the City of Seattle for helping to lead the way for the country on this important equity issue.” 

Broad transgender exclusions create a ripple effect for individuals’ health care. Once a person becomes identified as transgender, insurance companies often deny other basic medical and psychological care.

“We were excited and proud to work with the LGBT, Women’s, Human Rights and Immigrant and Refugee Commissions on this issue,” said Erica Sekins and Patt Copeland, Co-Chairs of the Commission for People with disAbilities.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (September 25, 2011)-The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) will release a newly-revised edition of the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People, on September 25, 2011 at the WPATH conference in Atlanta.

The revised Standards of Care can be found here

The SOC is considered the standard document of reference on caring for the transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming population. The newly-revised SOC will help health professionals better understand how they can offer the most effective care to these individuals. The SOC focuses on primary care, gynecologic and urologic care, reproductive options, voice and communication therapy, mental health services and hormonal and surgical treatment.

"The latest 2011 revisions to the SOC realize that transgender, transsexual, and gender nonconforming people have unique health care needs to promote their overall health and well-being, and that those needs extend beyond hormonal treatment and surgical intervention," said SOC Committee Chair, Eli Coleman, PhD, Professor and Director at Program in Human Sexuality, University of Minnesota.

This is the seventh version of the Standards of Care. The original SOC were published in 1979. Previous revisions occurred in 1980, 1981, 1990, 1998 and 2001.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema presents this groundbreaking film festival to provide the Pacific Northwest with a venue for films by, for, and about transgender people, encouraging visibility and positive representations of transgender issues. Launched in 2006, Translations is one of only a few transgender film festivals in the world.

Highlights from the 2011 Translations lineup include:

• BECOMING CHAZ - Opening Night Movie & Reception (Friday, May 17 7pm - AMC Pacific Place)


• SOLD: EXAMINING THE T IN TV ADVERTISING - Free program!


• THIS IS WHO I AM - Short Films


• GENDER BENDER SINGALONG - Mix with the music!


• HE IS MY GIRL - Closing Night Film

For a complete schedule with program descriptions, ticket prices and more information, visit http://threedollarbillcinema.org/calendar/2011-translations

Each fall, Seattle's Three Dollar Bill Cinema presents the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. This year, Ingersoll is proud to co-present two films for your your enjoyment. Please join us for a celebration of film on both days! Times and locations are listed below.

Film Title: Paulista

http://post.thestranger.com/seattle/paulista/Shop?film=4869744&section=4848783

1. Aspiring actress Marina is determined to make a life for herself in São Paulo. She meets Justine, a brazen bisexual rocker, and they begin a fiery, troublesome liaison. Marina’s roommate, the buttoned-up divorce lawyer Suzana (an award-winning performance by transgender actress Maria Clara Spinelli), tentatively opens her heart to her enamored co-worker, revealing that she was once a man. Their neighbor Jay is a writer looking for love with Michelle, a prostitute who won’t give him the time of day. Brazil’s vibrant cityscapes create a backdrop for these unconventional love stories with universal appeal. asl interpreting before subtitled film Copresented by Ingersoll Gender Center

Run time: 83 min. | Brazil | in Portugese with subtitles ASL Interpreting before subtitled film

2:30 pm 10/16 at Northwest Film Forum

Film Title: Open

http://post.thestranger.com/seattle/open/Shop?film=4869738&section=4848783

On Thursday, February 18, 2010, history was made when Dr. Oz covered the lives of transkids without resorting to the usual "fair and balanced" coverage of providing a NARTH expert to "balance" the show. This was 15 minutes of true delight as these families presented their stories. You can see the video here. Please join us in thanking Dr. Oz by signing the petition. The times, they are a'changin and this time, it is for the better.