The infographic from TotalJobs’ recent survey of trans employees shows that things are getting better in the workplace but there is still work to be done. Recent high profile positive media events, such as the success of TV shows like “Transparent” and “Boy Meets Girl”, seem to have had a knock-on effect in the workplace in terms of raising awareness about trans issues. You can read more about the survey results here.
Trans* Jersey has been contacted by the Social Security Department to let us know that Mx has now been included as a gender neutral title option in their computer systems. This is good news for all those who identify as in between the simple binary of man or woman.“We do not know yet whether any other States Departments intend to make a similar change.
“We have not changed the title options on any of our forms as this would require a much bigger piece of work, but it may happen in the future.”
What is Mx?
Mx is the most commonly used title that does not indicate gender (i.e. instead of Mr, Mrs, Miss etc) and it may be used by people who do not identify as either a man or woman. It may be pronounced as ‘mux’, ‘mix’ or ‘mixter’. Mx has been adopted by many major national institutions in the UK and is a permitted title option for the DWP, DVLA, HMRC, NHS, Identity and Passport Service, Post Office, some local city councils and banks, universities and utilities companies.
What this means for the customer
A customer may request that their title is recorded in our systems as Mx. If a customer requests this, you simply make the change. We do not need any details or explanation of why this is the customer’s preference. You should never make assumptions or offer this option to a customer if they have not requested it.
When a customer makes this request, it would be appropriate for you to explain the extent to which Mx will be used in our correspondence with them in the future, i.e. letters and cheques.
Trans* Jersey welcomes Jersey’s sex discrimination regulations that go further than the UK in their protections for people of non-binary genders.
The States of Jersey have passed regulations today that expand the island’s anti-discrimination legislation to encompass sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation and pregnancy and maternity. The new regulations, due to come into force on 1 September 2015, give protection to transgender islanders, but also protect all those who do not identify with the gender binary of man or woman.
Jersey has gone further than the UK’s Equality Act by recognising that there are more than two sexes. The island’s regulations explicitly protect intersex people as well as men and women from discrimination under the protected characteristic of sex.
“This is an important inclusion that recognises a small and often misunderstood section of society. It makes clear the distinction between intersex and transgender people – a common misconception – and it allows those who were born neither biologically male nor female and who identify as intersex to do so, knowing that they do not have to choose man or woman if they do not want to and they will still be protected from discrimination under the law,” said Vic Tanner Davy, Founder of Trans* Jersey.
For the 1-2% of the population that experience some degree of gender dysphoria (a feeling that your gender identity does not match the gender role assigned to you by society), they are also given protection under the new regulations. Jersey’s regulations state that a person is transgender whether or not they intend to have medical intervention to transition. This, again, goes further than the UK in its protection.
Trans* Jersey’s founder, Vic Tanner Davy, said: “Not everyone who experiences gender dysphoria will take steps to do anything about it. As well as those who decide to transition, the regulations protect those who identify as any one of a number of genders that can be termed genderqueer from discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
“The trans* community in its widest sense is at its most vulnerable from physical and verbal abuse when it does not fit society’s ideal of men or women. This means that those early in their transition or those who cannot, or do not want to, transition are the most likely to experience discrimination. Jersey has recognised this and put in place protections. We are pleased that Jersey is leading the UK in this and we congratulate the States members on their decision today.”
Trans* Jersey is offering training sessions for organisations on how to deal with trans* employees and service users ahead of the new legislation coming in on 1 September 2015. They can be contacted by email: admin@transjersey.org
Trans* Jersey is very proud to announce that it has become an associate member of the UK Intersex Association (UKIA). The United Kingdom Intersex Association (UKIA) is an education, advocacy, campaigning and support organisation which works on behalf of Intersex people.
UKIA has the following aims:
As the above list of aims suggests, there is a lot of work to be done around educating people about what Intersex means and the reality of the lives Intersex people live, not least with the medical profession.
Many of the UKIA aims could apply equally to the trans* community, which is why Trans* Jersey sees this association with the UKIA as a good fit for the work being done in Jersey to improve the lives of all those who, for whatever reason, fall outside of the gender binary.
There are other aims that the UKIA highlights that are unique to the Intersex community and Trans* Jersey hopes to work with the UKIA to educate and inform the general public, the medical profession in Jersey and the States of Jersey about these specific requirements.
To support this work, Trans* Jersey has signed up to the following UKIA principles:
It is hoped that together Trans* Jersey and the UKIA can make a difference to our island’s Intersex residents.
The infographic below takes some headline figures from well-respected sources and uses them to estimate the size of Jersey’s trans, trans* and intersex populations.
For the first part of the show, Dr Sharon Preves, sociologist and professor, discussed her research of intersex individuals. Sharon first defined terms, such as “intersex,” “hermaphrodite,” and “transgender,” then explained how and why she became involved in this research. Sharon next explained the cause for negative stigma against intersex individuals, including the religious views of people who do not fit easily into the male/female binary. Sharon noted the strong drive that society has to pigeonhole everyone – even fetuses – into one of two genders. She discussed the evolution of outlying conditions in Western civilization: from sin, to crime, to medicalisation. Sharon then explained the excessive intrusion of the medical world and its treatment of intersexuality as an emergency requiring “correction”.
During the second half of the show, Sharon Preves, professor at Hamline University, further detailed the medicalisation of conditions that do not, normally, require medical intervention, including intersex infants and childbirth itself. Sharon compared the unnecessary interventions into intersexed individuals bodies with circumcision, and she then discussed the emotional ramifications on the patients. Many felt guilt, shame, and even fear. Some grew up convinced they had been born with a disease so terrible that no one – not even their parents or doctors – would discuss it openly. Sharon next cited recent gains in the rights of those born intersexed, and listed off ways they have found healing, such as through support groups. Sharon also provided the example of an intersex teenager who was instructed to pray that she become fully female. Sharon concluded by offering several resources, including her own book, “Intersex and Identity”.
James Zimmerman hosted.Two part interview, recorded 5/2/2013.
Minnesota Atheists practices positive, inclusive, active, friendly neighborhood atheism in order to:
– Provide a community for atheists
– Educate the public about atheism
– Promote separation of state and church
Australian documentary from 2005 investigating intersex conditions, the SRY gene, gender identity development, and transgender legal identification.
20 minute full extended promotional film produced to raise funds for the feature length documentary production. ‘Intersex’ or ‘Variations of Sex Development’ is a topic few people have ever heard of. We reveal the natural factual science and the personal stories of being born between.
BBC World TV Impact presenter Rajesh Mirchandani speaks to Sarah Graham, a British intersex woman, and a counsellor about her experiences growing up.
The interview was part of coverage about how Germany has become the first country in Europe to allow babies with characteristics of both sexes to be registered as neither male nor female. From today, parents will be allowed to leave the gender blank on birth certificates. The move is aimed at removing pressure on parents to make quick decisions on the sex of their babies, including whether they might need surgery to determine their gender.
Jeff 4 Justice interviews Organization Intersex International chairperson Hida Viloria about being intersex. Relaxed interview with loads of information about intersex life. Contains some adult themes.
At http://www.intersexualite.org/ you can learn more about Organization Intersex International. At http://www.hidaviloria.com/ you can follow the work of Hida Viloria.
Note: intersex conditions are not the same as being transgender or transsexual.
Trans* Jersey 