Trans* Jersey

States release consultation results

The States of Jersey have released the results of their consultation paper on the next phase of the island’s anti-discrimination law due to come into effect in September 2015. The section on Gender Reassignment demonstrates that trans* realities are poorly understood by some people and that the old myths surrounding toilet usage and gender specific job roles still persist. There is, therefore, work to be done to educate employers about trans* issues and how they cope with trans* employees.

You can read the results here (link at bottom of the page):

Video Trans* Jersey

Unconditional love – a journey with a transgender child

Through her own parenting experience, Christy Hegarty has become an advocate for families with transgender children. During her talk at TEDxBloomington, Hegarty shares what she has learned as the mother of a transgender child. She explores the concept that we should be able to accept that our children may be different than we expect them to be and that we should not be afraid to allow them to express themselves. She challenges us to consider the idea that human evolution is more about being human than it is about being a gender and the important role acceptance plays in our evolving world.

Video Trans* Jersey

What if gender was not divided in two?

When we’re born, a doctor instantly deems us to be one of two things: male or female. But gender isn’t just between our legs. It’s also between our ears. So, what happens when how we look on the outside clashes with how we feel on the inside? Do we settle? Do we change? And at the end of the day should gender really be as big a deal as society wants us think it is? In this talk Decker Moss explores these issues and more, as he struggled through not only one but two major gender-related transitions in his life.

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Trans* Jersey welcomes equal marriage consultation

Pink News: Friday 29 August 2014

BBC Radio Jersey: Sunday 31 August 2014 (timecode: 02.09)

Channel Island equality charity Liberate and affiliate group Trans*Jersey welcome the States of Jersey’s consultation on equal marriage and partnership.

Jersey’s Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, launched a public consultation on equal marriage and partnership on 20 August 2014 that will run until 22 October 2014.

Following their meeting on 29 July 2014 with Senator Gorst, Liberate and Trans* Jersey are pleased with the results of the first stakeholder meetings and the options for equal marriage in Jersey arising from those initial discussions being put forward by the Chief Minister.

Jersey Co-ordinator for Liberate Vic Tanner Davy said:

“The options being offered to the public are ones that Liberate and Trans* Jersey supports and we have already responded positively to the suggestion that Jersey introduce same-sex civil marriage and same-sex religious marriage. Although truly equal marriage would be represented by the Union Civile, we have moved away from that position because of the disturbance that its introduction would cause to the long-standing relationship of the Church of England to the Crown and the State, something that would necessitate a much bigger and longer constitutional debate.

“We are also supportive of the proposal to open up civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. In the interests of equality, this is the only fair thing to do. It is something that the UK has not done and for Jersey to be considering this option shows how committed the Chief Minister and his department are to ensuring we get this right as an island.”

The consultation document also addresses the question of whether adultery as grounds for divorce in a marriage should be removed or redefined to ensure that same-sex couples are treated equally. The current legal position is that an opposite-sex marriage can be ended by adultery but a same-sex civil partnership cannot.

“On the question of adultery, we would like to see adultery as grounds for divorce in a marriage removed because that would equalise the grounds on which a marriage or civil partnership can be dissolved. In so doing, it would no longer relegate the sexual congress of same-sex couples to something less than that of opposite-sex couples.

“Adultery is just as emotionally damaging to same-sex relationships as it is to opposite-sex relationships but it can be covered in law by citing the grounds for divorce/dissolution as “unreasonable behaviour”. We feel that all marriages and civil partnerships would be protected from sexual infidelity via this route and, therefore, removing adultery is appropriate in the interests of equality.”

Liberate congratulates the Chief Minister and his department on the sensitivity with which they have worded the consultation and the research they have undertaken, in a very short period of time, in order to produce a comprehensive document that covers all the main permutations for equal marriage and partnerships. The consultation paper is balanced and, as far as possible, gives equal weight to the considerations of both the LGBTQ community and those religious groups who feel they cannot solemnise same-sex marriages in their place of worship.

Martin Gavet, Chairman of Liberate, said:

“Liberate is an inclusive group and we welcome members regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, gender identity or sexual orientation. It is, therefore, very important to us that religious groups have a means to opt-out of performing same-sex marriages and their freedom of religious belief is maintained. The options put forward by the consultation paper make it clear that places of worship will be able to opt-out in line with the position of their organisation. Having said that, we also hope that in time religious organisations, which currently oppose same-sex unions, will grow in their understanding of LGBTQ issues and the spiritual needs of some of the LGBTQ community.”

Video Trans* Jersey

Make-up application tips

This is the first in a series of seven YouTube videos made by Jennifer Cohen-Taylor about how to apply make-up for a natural everyday look. As an older transwoman herself, Jenny’s advice is great for those of you learning this skill later in life. There is nothing hopelessly ambitious in these videos. They’re not trying to give you a look that’s too young or too glamorous.

This is the first in a ten part series of YouTube videos made by Life Image Style Consulting LLC that teaches basic make-up application techniques to achieve an appropriate look for daytime. Gwen uses Sabrina, a young transwoman, as her model.

Trans* Jersey

Media links: Liberate Jersey group formed

Jersey Evening Post: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel Television: Friday 22 August 2014

BBC Radio Jersey: Friday 22 August 2014

Channel 103fm: Friday 22 Augusts 2014

Channel Island equality charity Liberate is pleased to announce that its Jersey branch is now up and running.

The Jersey branch of Liberate held its first meeting on 19 August 2014. Amongst other issues, the meeting discussed the forthcoming draft of the sex discrimination law, the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched on 20 August 2014 and the need for a social focus for LGBTQ people in Jersey since the closure of the island’s last gay nightspot a number of years ago.

Liberate was formed in February 2014 in Guernsey and it was always the intention that there should also be a Jersey branch of the charity. Liberate Chairman, Martin Gavet, is thrilled that the charity is now truly pan-island.

“We are delighted at the news that a Jersey branch of Liberate has been established. In the short time since Liberate was founded in February 2014, we have achieved a lot for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) communities within the Channel Islands.

“We have already met with both Chief Ministers in Guernsey and Jersey about reform of laws and policies to ensure that our islands treat everyone fairly and equally under the law in dignity and rights. We are committed to uniting communities across the islands, and are an inclusive and apolitical charity.

“We do not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, disability or belief. It is great that Jersey now has formed a branch of Liberate to help to support the LGBTQ community in our sister-isle. This is a shining example of how the islands can work together on important issues affecting Channel Islanders’ daily lives”.

Co-ordinator for Liberate’s Jersey group, Vic Tanner Davy, said:

“We are looking forward to working with the committee in Guernsey on issues that affect both islands, such as the provision of LGBTQ care in old age, and educational programmes that can be delivered in schools in Jersey and Guernsey. LGBTQ rights have come a long way but there is still work to do as demonstrated by the two big political consultations that are happening currently that directly affect our community.

“We also want to provide support to those who may be questioning their sexuality and one of the ways to do that is to create a safe social space. To start to grow that initiative, we are planning a social event on 20 September 2014 at Ce Soir to try to bring back some of the community spirit that used to exist when Cosmopolitan was a social hub where people who were just coming out could go and feel safe.

“There are a lot of positive things happening for LGBTQ people in the islands at the moment from Jersey Pride to the equal marriage and partnership consultation that was launched today. It feels like the right moment for Jersey and Guernsey’s LGBTQ communities to work together to support these initiatives and to make the change happen that we want to see.”

Details of the Ce Soir event can be found on Facebook.

Liberate Jersey can be contacted at hello@liberate.gg

Video Trans* Jersey

Tips to help you find your voice

Introduction to transgender voices and an interesting app for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy 3 that can be downloaded here.

http://youtu.be/qor7RxFQY1Y?list=UUvSW1ZQHvHHARzfqDR3T17A

What does your voice sound like to other people? Vocal coach Chris Beatty explains how you can hear what others hear.

For the guys, how to develop a deep voice:

http://youtu.be/tMto1NWszZs

For the girls, this is the first in a series of nine videos by DeepStealth:

Trans* Jersey

States of Jersey consultation on equal marriage

The States of Jersey are currently asking for comments from the public on proposals for an equal marriage and partnership law. They have published a consultation paper, which can be downloaded here.

The consultation process closes on 22 October 2014 and the Chief Minister will report to the States in November 2014.

What the consultation does not do is ask whether a respondent is in favour of same-sex marriage. As far as the consultation is concerned that argument has been had and the island has to move on. Same-sex marriage is going to happen. It is now a question of how. The consultation paper offers a number of options for equal marriage and tackles a couple of other inequalities in current marriage law at the same time.

The consultation document is quite weighty but it is well-written and researched. It is also progressive in its thinking and doesn’t just copy what other jurisdictions have done. It offers three options for same-sex marriage:

  • Same-sex civil marriage only
  • Same-sex civil marriage and same-sex religious marriage
  • Same-sex and opposite-sex civil marriage only (also known as civil union)

All three options provide a means for someone to transition within a marriage without having to dissolve an existing union. Trans* Jersey is most keen to ensure that any legislation brought in does not contain the so-called Spousal Veto that is enshrined within the England and Wales Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 and that, should option 1 or 2 be adopted, any law is modeled on the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014.

The other section of specific interest to trans* islanders is part D that deals with adultery as grounds for divorce. As people who may or may not have the genitals that are expected of a man or woman, the legal definition of adultery doesn’t always make sense within a marriage in which one or both partners are trans*. In a farsighted move, the States are proposing either doing away with adultery as grounds for divorce or redefining adultery to include same-sex acts. Clearly, removing adultery altogether is the simpler option here.

We have requested involvement in any forum convened by the States to discuss the proposed legislation and were involved in the first round of meetings on 29 July 2014.

statesGet involved

Whilst Trans* Jersey encourages you to complete the online survey, we would also like to receive your comments about the States’ proposal regarding equal marriage and partnerships.

We believe that by speaking together as a group of trans* islanders our comments on the consultation will carry more weight.

Our partner organisation Liberate’s Jersey group has already responded and you can read their response here.

We therefore invite you to email us with your comments, suggestions, thoughts or concerns at admin@transjersey.org