transjersey

Trans* Jersey

Help in Jersey

The first place any trans* person should go for support is their doctor or GP. If you do not think your GP is comfortable handling your case, do not be afraid to change to another GP in the practice or move practices. Your GP is the gatekeeper to many of the trans* services and medical procedures you will need to access so their support is crucial.

For those trans individuals who are going the public healthcare route into the UK system, the Community Mental Health Service (Adult Mental Health or Child and Adolescent Mental Health) at La Chasse is where their GP should refer them and where their psychiatrist will be based. For those wishing to see a psychiatrist privately, there are several practitioners in Jersey who have clinics at The Little Grove, St Lawrence. However, patients will still need to be referred there by their GP.

For those trans individuals who elect to undergo hormone therapy, the Department of Metabolic Medicine at Overdale is where their GP should refer them and where their consultant will be based. For those wishing to see an endocrinologist privately, there is a clinic at The Little Grove, St Lawrence. However, patients will still need to be referred there by their GP.

If you are unsure what you should do and just want to talk to someone in confidence, the Jersey branch of the Samaritans can be telephoned on 725555 or 08457 909090 or contacted by email at jo@samaritans.org

Trans* islanders seeking legal advice regarding their rights in Jersey can get free, confidential and impartial advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Trans* islanders who wish to change their name by deed poll will need the services of a legal practice. Again, as with your GP, ensure that your advocate is sympathetic to your needs and do not be afraid to change if he or she does not seem comfortable handling your case.

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As a trans* person you may be subject to discrimination or harassment as an employee or as a customer of a business. If you find yourself in this position, Jersey Advisory and Conciliation Service (JACS) can provide you with free, confidential and impartial advice regarding your rights.

Transwomen as a demographic are particularly vulnerable to physical abuse and attacks. In the unlikely event that you have been the victim of an attack in Jersey, you should call the States of Jersey Police (emergency no. 999, telephone no. 612612) as soon as possible to report the crime. If you want to speak to the LGBT community liaison officer, you should ask for PC710 Emma Poulliquen or email the LGBT community liaison team.

If you are in the UK, the Metropolitan Police give this advice for reporting a crime online and, specifically, regarding hate crime. If you are not sure whether you have been the victim of a hate crime, read the City of London Police guidelines.

Finally, when dealing with all these agencies, remember Jersey is a small place and your case may be the first of its kind for the person you are dealing with. Be patient with them and explain clearly what  you need them to do for you. You will find that most islanders are not transphobic and will do their best to help you.

Young People

If you are under 16, there are some specialist agencies in Jersey that can help you. All the agencies listed above will also help you – they are not just for adults.

If you are the victim of harassment, bullying or abuse, at home or at school, because of your gender expression, you should contact The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) who work with lots of different childcare agencies to keep young people safe. They are based at the Bridge and can be contacted by telephone on 449213 or by email at enquiries-MASH@gov.je

If you just want to talk to someone in confidence about gender issues, you can contact YES by telephone on 08007 350121 (freephone) or 766628 or by email at yes@youthservice.yc.je All calls or emails to YES are treated in the strictest confidence.

Trans* Jersey

Jersey trans* law

Currently, there is only one piece of legislation in Jersey that is directly concerned with protecting transgender islanders: Gender Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010

This law deals with the process of issuing a gender recognition certificate (“GRC”), the legal effect of a GRC on existing marriages and civil partnerships, the general consequences of issuing a GRC, the prohibition on disclosure of information relating to a holder of a GRC, the requirement (or not) to alter public registers and clarification of those agencies exempt from the prohibition on the disclosure of information.

Jersey recognises that it does not have the required healthcare professionals who can make decisions based on appropriate evidence to grant an inidividual a GRC. The island, therefore, looks to bigger jurisdictions to undertake this process for its trans* citizens. Having obtained a GRC from a jurisdiction approved by Jersey, a GRC will then be granted by the Royal Court. Most islanders will, therefore, apply to the UK for a GRC, which can then be presented in Jersey’s Royal Court.

The UK’s Gender Recogntion Act 2004 covers the issuance of GRCs. The granting of a GRC is decided by The Gender Recognition Panel, a branch of HM Courts & Tribunal Service. It is formed from an administrative team and a judicial panel, made up of legal and medical members. The panel needs to be satisfied that the applicant has lived in their correct gender throughout the period of 2 years prior to the date of the application and intends to continue doing so until death. It is a matter for the panel to decide whether the medical evidence satisfies that test. The charity GIRES provides guidelines for applying for a GRC here.

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It is to be noted that the LGBT Consortium in the UK have recently published a consultation paper stating that the Gender Recognition Act is no longer fit for purpose and requires reviewing.

Advantages of obtaining a GRC:

  • All legal documents, including your birth certificate, can be changed to your correct gender. Note: the States of Jersey will issue driving licences and passports in your correct gender without the requirement of a GRC.
  • A GRC prohibits those privileged with the information that a person is trans* from disclosing it to others. There are, however, quite a number of exceptions to this prohibition.

Disadvantages of obtaining a GRC:

  • If you are married or in a civil partnership, you will need to dissolve or annul the union before a full GRC can be obtained from the Royal Court. Note: this is not a requirement for marriages in the UK since the passing of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.

New sex discrimination law

The States of Jersey launched a consultation on the next phase of discrimination legislation due to become law in September 2015. It includes gender reassignment discrimination.

This will be the second piece of legislation to directly concern trans* islanders. We therefore want hear your views in order to formulate a response to the consultation.

Please our consultation page to find out more about how you can get involved before 30 May 2014.

Trans* Jersey

States of Jersey consultation on sex discrimination

The States of Jersey are currently asking for comments from the public on the next phase of the island’s discrimination legislation, so called sex discrimination. They have published a consultation paper, which can be downloaded here.

The next phase of the legislation is due to be debated later this year with a view to it becoming law in September 2015. The consultation process closes on 30 May 2014 and responses will be published on 29 August 2014.

The consultation paper outlines the main areas for debate:

  • Sex
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership

Trans* Jersey is most interested in the States’ proposals for gender reassignment. We have therefore requested involvement in any forum convened by the States to discuss the proposed legislation.

We are concerned by a number of aspects of the States’ consultation document:

1. The adoption of the UK Equality Act as the model on which to base Jersey’s legislation. This Act has been in place for 4 years in the UK and campaign groups have highlighted a number of problems with it. The LGBT Consortium have called for a review of it and the Gender Recognition Act.

2. The language used in the document’s section on gender reassignment especially when talking about a person “completing” their transition.

3. The suggestion within the consultation that an exception should be made to permit discrimination against trans* people to occur in the case of “the provision of communal changing facilities or shared accommodation”.

4. The confusion of the term “sex” with “gender” throughout. Man/woman refers to a person’s gender. Male/female refers to person’s sex.

5. The assumption that there are only two sexes or genders.

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 gender reassignment discrimination.

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

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

Please let us know whether you would be interested in being involved in any face-to-face discussions with the States as part of a Trans* Jersey group.