5/15/13

South Carolina Sued over failed sex assignment surgery on 16 Month old Intersex Infant

A South Carolina Couple who's adopted intersex infant was operated on without their knowledge just three months before they took custody to 'correct' ambiguous genital are suing saying the gender that was assigned was wrong.

Pam and Mark Crawford's first of a kind lawsuit alleges the doctors couldn't have known which gender the 16 month old known only as "M.C.", would identify as later in life when they modified his genitalia to appear female. Now that M.C. is 8 years old and identifies as male his female genitalia is causing him great distress.

South Carolina does not change gender on Birth Certificates but it is not clear if that will be affected by this lawsuit.

The Crawford began raising M.C. as a female after adoption but as time went on they begun to notice he gravitated towards typically male toys and behaved as boy would be expected to. After consulting with a pediatrician and discovering M.C. had been operated on the couple facilitated their child's transition to male. The couple is pursing legal action in hopes of preventing this happening in the future.

"We feel very strongly that these decisions to permanently alter somebody's genitalia and their reproductive ability for no medical reason whatsoever is an abhorrent practice and can't be continued," Pam Crawford told Reuters in a phone interview.

"It is too late for our son," she added. "The damage has been done to him." “This case is about ensuring the safety of all children who do not have a voice,” said Alesdair H. Ittelson, SPLC staff attorney. “No one advocated for M.C.’s right to be free from unnecessary medical intervention at a time when the state was entrusted with his safety and well-being. It is high time all involved answer for the needless injury they inflicted on M.C.”

“By performing this needless surgery, the state and the doctors told M.C. that he was not acceptable or loveable the way he was born,” said Pam Crawford, M.C.’s adoptive mother. “They disfigured him because they could not accept him for who he was – not because he needed any surgery. M.C. is a charming, enchanting and resilient kid. We will not stop until we get justice for our son.”



Advocates for Informed Choice has partnered with the SPLC in this case and has initiated Project Integrity and invites you to add your name in support of M.C..

The lawsuit, M.C. v. Medical University of South Carolina, was filed in County of Richland Court of Common Pleas. M.C. v. Aaronson was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Defendants include the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Greenville Hospital System, Medical University of South Carolina and individual employees.

SPLC co-counsel include Advocates for Informed Choice and pro bono counsel for the private law firms of Janet, Jenner & Suggs and Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

5/14/13

Nevada Legislature Passes Bill Adding Gender Identity To Hate Crime Laws


SB 139 was approved March 21st 2013 by the Senate with 20 ea, 1 nay and one abstaining.

The Nevada State Legislature approved the bill today 5/14/2013 with 30 yeas, 11 nay and one excused.

The bill authorizing additional sentences of up to 20 years for hate crimes motivated by the victim's gender identity or expression now goes to Governor Brian Sandoval who is expected to sign it into law.


5/13/13

Queensland Doctor Calls For A Gender Clinic: She's My Girl

THE leading Queensland psychiatric expert on children with gender identity disorder says the number of transgender children is increasing.
Dr Stephen Stathis said he expected parents of two children would apply to the Family Court for permission for them to be given feminine hormones within the next year and more would follow as others reached puberty.

But he said some desperate parents who were unaware of the professional help available for their anxious transgender children were getting unregulated, unregistered hormones from overseas via the internet.

Dr Stathis, Director of Child and Youth Mental Health Services at Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital, has seen more than 20 children with GID in the last four years, including some as young as four.

"The numbers are rising and now we're looking at developing a gender clinic," Dr Stathis said. Half his gender identity patients are boys who identify as girls - the other half are girls who identify as boys.

More at couriermail.com.au

Hong Kong Court Rules Post-Op Transgender Woman May Marry Boyfriend: Video

The decision gives hope that other transgender people, both male-to-female and female-to-male, will be able to marry people of the opposite gender. Although it is only likely to affect post-operative transsexuals.

It is likely that, following the judges' recommendations, the government will amend the marriage law to clarify the position for transsexuals.

The team's argument, presented by Lord Pannick QC in the court of appeal last month, was that as the Hong Kong government recognizes W as a woman on her ID card they should accept she is a woman for marriage law as well. ~ Gay Star News



However same-sex marriage or civil unions are still not recognised in Hong Kong.

Read more at the Raw Story.



5/12/13

Study Finds Transmen Aspergers Syndrome Traits Second only to Those Diagnosed with AS

Disclaimer: I am a not endorsing or discrediting this study, only reporting on it hoping to enable a discussion.

The recent Time article titled "Study: Why Some Transgendered People Have Higher Levels of Autistic Traits" incorrectly frames this study as conclusive. It is not, nor is its methodology empirically sound. All of the subjects responded online to a questionnaire that is based on the "extreme male brain" theory. But the conclussions bear examination. Co-author, Emma Martin, herself a transwoman, said in a statement “This new research reminds us that gender incongruence is incredibly complex. Every possibility should be discussed with new clients, but should not delay what can be a painfully slow process for those affected.”

It's in that vein I will continue.

Abstract:

"The ‘extreme male brain’ theory suggests females with Autism Spectrum Conditions are hyper-masculinized in certain aspects of behavior. We predicted that females with Gender Identity Disorder (who are masculinized) would have elevated Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores. AQ scores from five groups were compared: (1) n = 61 transmen (female-to-male transsexual people); (2) n = 198 transwomen (male-to-female transsexual people); (3) n = 76 typical males; (4) n = 98 typical females; and (5) n = 125 individuals with Asperger Syndrome (AS). Transmen had a higher mean AQ than typical females, typical males and transwomen, but lower than individuals with AS. Transmen have more autistic traits and may have had difficulty socializing with female peers and thus found it easier to identify with male peer groups."

"Baron-Cohen has long theorized that people with autism may have what he calls an “extreme male” brain — dominated by a style of thinking called “systemizing,” which focuses on predictable patterns like those found in mathematics or mechanical devices. He contrasts this with a cognitive style called “empathizing,” which allows for better understanding of the minds and emotions of others."

"Typically, women do better at empathizing and men at systemizing, but there is, of course, wide variability: some women outperform men at systemizing, and some men are better empathizers than women."

"Why the difference? Baron-Cohen and his colleagues recently found that giving testosterone to women decreases their ability to empathize, particularly among women whose bodies show evidence that they were exposed to higher levels of testosterone in utero. And previous research has linked high levels of testosterone in the womb to autistic traits. (Interestingly, in-utero exposure to testosterone can be estimated by looking at the ratio between the length of the ring finger and index finger.)"


It may seem that it's a no brainer stereotypically trans men trade a sense of heightened empathic sensitivity for masculinity while transitioning with testosterone. At first glance it would make sense to me because the opposite is true for me as I have realized increased empathic and cognitive skills since transitioning with estrogen.

But I have lived with a trans man who would contradict that theory. Quite the opposite, he delighted in the enlightenment his natal birth gave him and was empowered by his masculinity to merge the two traits together to become the highly successful therapist I knew him as.

Aspergers. It's a discussion trans people must not to be afraid to have.



Ontario Transman Sexually Assaulted. Police Seek Help.

ST. CATHARINES, ON (WKBW) - The Niagara Regional Police Service is investigating a sexual assault that occurred along the Twelve Mile Creek at Glendale Avenue, in the city of St. Catharines early Monday morning.

Police say around 2 a.m. a transgender male was walking along the east side of the creek when he was grabbed from behind by an unknown male.

According to police, the suspect put a knife to the victim’s neck and threatened to kill him if he did not comply. The suspect sexually assaulted the victim and left the scene on foot.

The suspect is described as male, white, 5’8” tall, thin build with short dark hair.

Anyone with any information is requested to contact the Sexual Assault Unit at 905-688-4111 ext 5131.