This document provides information from a transgender awareness workshop held in Bournemouth on January 23rd, 2013. It includes quotes from transgender individuals discussing their experiences with feeling trapped in the wrong body, lack of understanding from others, and hopes that future generations do not have to endure the same challenges. The workshop covered topics like gender dysphoria, the spectrum of transgender identities, legislation and statistics regarding transgender people in the UK, the experiences of transgender youth, the transition process, and health and social issues facing the transgender community. Information on groups and resources that can provide support to transgender individuals is also listed.

1. Transgender Awareness
workshop
Bournemouth
23rd January 2013

2. “… I h
av
trappe e felt like a
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g
was fi in a girl’s b ay boy
ve an
d don ody since I
why ..
't un
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't
or wh ody who un seem to
oI
d
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. It af
eryda
fects
y.”
t
ors s
w a
he ce h
T
“... judi from
pre ome ious d
c lig an
re ds s.”
n
e
frie lativ
re
“(follo
wing a
n assa
police
u
imagin ) just could lt the
e
n
how I or really de ot
al
co
they w uld be feel with
i
Trans ere uneduc ng as
is s
ate
pacifie ues. I felt u d in
nh
d and
patron eard,
ised.”

3. “there is hope on the horizon that
young transpeople will not have to
tolerate what we have gone through;
but other areas of concern have not
changed and it is the job of this report
to highlight those areas.”
Krys Vere-Bujnowski
Former Co-chair, SWTEN

4. ‘Gender dysphoria’
 Identification with or wish to be considered as
their true gender (not that assigned at birth)
 A spectrum of identities – gender variance
 Emerging evidence: brain anatomy and
physiology in transsexual people develops in
the womb. (Atypical Gender Development – A Review,
International Journal of Transgenderism)
 Not a mental illness, but is often treated as
one by medical profession

5. Trans-lation
 Transsexual - someone whose gender
dysphoria is such that they need to deal with it
through transitioning – usually with medical
assistance - to a gender role different from that
assigned to them at birth.
 Transgender - a broader term that includes all
those who experience some degree of gender
variance, in most cases requiring no medical
intervention (GIRES 2009)

6. Trans people ...

Are all over the world – not just a Western thing

Have existed always - through recorded history

Cross all economic and social boundaries

Are part of a natural variation

Want no more than to be themselves, in peace

Are entitled to dignity, respect and
confidentiality

7. Current legislation
 Human Rights Act 1998
 Article 8: right to respect for private & family life
 Article 12: right to marry and found a family
 Gender Recognition Act 2004
• GR Certificate: able to change birth certificate
 Equality Act 2010
• Protected characteristic ‘Gender reassignment’
• No need to be under medical supervision

8. UK Statistics
Are far from accurate - best estimate approx 21 in
every 100,000 people are transsexual (GIRES)

A school with 1,000 pupils will have 6 who experience
gender dysphoria during their lives.

Others likely to have transgender parent or relative

80% of trans people have encountered problems (The
Equalities Review 2007)

34.4% said they thought about or attempted suicide or
self harm (The Equalities Review 2007)

9. Early years
 Children usually know how they fit within the
gender spectrum by about age 4 or 5. (GIRES)
 When young the common experience (is) having
no-one to talk to, or no-one who could be trusted
to listen... (SWTEN report)
“I have felt like a gay boy trapped in a girl’s body
since I was five and don't understand why… My
head is messed up over this stuff and there doesn't
seem to be anybody who understands or who I can
talk to. It affects me everyday.” (young PP&T
contributor)

10. Early years
 80% of those who go on to transition knew by the time
they were 8 years old that their gender identity was at
odds with society’s perception (Gender Identity Research &
Education Society)
 “...the school environment and community (has a key
role) in securing or undermining the well-being of
Transgender children and young people”.
 “Problems during school years create barriers for
individuals in fulfilling their academic, creative,
professional and economic potential”. (SWTEN report)

11. Puberty and the ‘pause
button’

Changes at puberty “can be terrifying and repulsive to a
transgendered person”.

International Endocrine Society (IES) – recommends
‘puberty blocking’ for some young trans people
"People are always afraid that (puberty blocking) will be
harmful for the children. But what they never take into account
is that it is also harmful to not give them this treatment.”

Clinics in Australia, Canada, Germany, the U.S. and
the UK have started to offer treatment to young trans
people to prevent the onset of puberty.

12. Transition
 Process of moving towards living in true
identity
 A fundamental, extremely stressful, life change
 Typically  Loss of friends, jobs, family, home - often all in one go
 Male/female socialisation needs to be unlearned and new
behaviours acquired
 Required to live in identity for 2 yrs prior to
medical treatment
 Hormone therapy and surgery not widely
available in UK for under 18s

13. Vulnerability to
Social exclusion, bullying, abuse
Isolation
Loss of essential emotional support – family
Loss of security – home and employment
Loss of confidence and self-esteem
Risks to mental and physical health and wellbeing
 Self-harm and suicide: overall attempted
suicide rate 34%; 50% for teenagers (SWTEN
report).







14. Health and well-being:
Messages from PP&T
• Local support services/groups are important
• All service providers/all sectors - publicise and
practise trans inclusiveness
• All staff (and volunteers) need awareness
training, and to practice respect
• GPs: attitudes and clinical knowledge key surgery-based trans specialists
• Mental health services: more counselling, more
timely, more Trans aware

15. Health and well-being:
Messages from SWTEN
Early intervention in schools to create a specific,
proactive, committed response to the needs of
Transgender young people, including
• active anti-bullying policies
• police working with schools to address trans issues of
safety
• awareness training for staff and governors
• trans issues described and introduced into PHSE and
other (e.g. Science) parts of the curriculum

16. How you can help
 Visibly embrace diversity as an individual and/or
organisation (e.g. E&D posters)
 Have up to date anti-discriminatory and antibullying policies that are publicised and enforced
 Make it easy to report Transphobic incidents
 Spread awareness and understanding – training
for staff and service users
 Provide a mentor who can help trans people –
good pastoral care

17. “It takes so much
to
strength and courage
s
keep going as a Tran
tle
person that there’s lit
e.”
room for anything els
(SWTEN report)
judice
rst pre gious
wo
“...The e from reli
m
has co nd relatives.”
a
friends
PP&T
“... those closest to trans
people often have the most
difficulty accepting gender
transition...” PP&T
Support from
education bodies is
vital in meeting the
needs and
promoting the wellbeing of
Transgender
children and young
people. (SWTEN
report)
The exp
eri
years ha ences of early
ve
effect on a profound
individu
als’ self
develop
ment ...
(SWTEN
report)
“I c
h
gen ose to
d
shie er ide conce
a
n
from ld my tity co l my
fa
n
PP& abuse mily a flict to
T
or a nd m
ttac
y
k.” self

18. Ruth’s Story
Ruth was born in a male body but knew from
the age of 16 that she wanted to be a woman.
Learn about her hormone treatment and
surgery, and how she feels now:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Genderdysphoria/Pages/Introduction.aspx?r=1&rtitle=Gender+dysphoria++Introduction

19. My journey:
Trans people share their
experiences
-

20. Some useful links
 The Beaumont trust:
http://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/help_and_advice.html
 GIRES - Information for trans people, their families and the
professionals who care for them: http://www.gires.org.uk/
 Press for Change: http://www.pfc.org.uk/
 NHS website: An Introduction to working with Transgender people:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@d
h/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_074254.pdf
 SW Transgender Equality Network – to get involved and find out
more, including local groups, research and general information:
http://www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk/transgender

Transgender Information: transgender.information@yahoo.co.uk
Text: 0781 609 3291