22/5/07
A female-to-male transsexual and his wife have been sent to jail in Pakistan after a court ruled the husband is a woman.
It is believed that the case of first of its kind in the Islamic country, despite the fact that many male-to-female transsexuals live openly in Pakistan.
The judge ruled that the couple had broken the law by lying about the gender of the husband, Shumail Raj, 31.
The wife, Shahzina Tariq, 24, said that she married Raj to avoid being forced into an arranged marriage. At the time of the marriage, she said she was unaware that Raj was biologically female.
The bride’s father is responsible for the pair being arrested, as he made efforts to annul the marriage claiming that it is against two people of the same sex to marry.
The High Court of Lahore ruled that Shumail Raj, 31, lied to the court by saying he was a man.
"Neither Islam nor our law allows marriages of the same sex. This mistake cannot simply be overlooked," Lahore High Court judge Khawaja Sharif told the couple, according to the BBC. "Why should a case be not registered against you for committing an unnatural offence and telling a lie?" he asked.
Since the court ruling Shumail Raj has been sent to jail in Lahore while the wife Shahzina Tariq has been sent to jail in their hometown of Faisalabad. They will remain incarcerated until their trial begins. The date has yet to be announced.
"We're not homosexuals,” said Shahzina Tariq, wearing a niqab, a face covering scarf. “Ours was a love marriage.”
Monday, 30 April 2007
The Burqa Barrier
17/10/07
Are Jack Straw's comments about the Muslim burqa unfair? Strip the veil, says GAY.COM's Hassan Mirza.
Is it a surprise that any comment remotely criticising Muslim practices, no matter how tactful or politically correct, results in a ‘furor’?
Raised as a Muslim American, I can understand why women wear face-covering scarves in Muslim countries, yet I struggle to understand why it is necessary in the West. And being out, gay, and from a Muslim family, I'm constantly dealing with my own frustrating conflicts with Islam's take on gender and sexuality.
Cabinet Minister Jack Straw's suggestion to Muslim women to remove the face veil has sparked massive controversy, despite his effort to not be "prescriptive" when suggesting that covering peoples’ faces makes community relations difficult.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission called Straw’s article in the Lancashire Telegraph "astonishing" and accused Mr Straw of discrimination, according to the BBC.
The Protect-Hijab organisation said Straw showed “a deep lack of understanding".
What is more ‘appalling’ and ‘astonishing’ is the swift, angry response from Muslim organisations, despite Straw carefully questioning if covering one’s face is as an anti-social statement.
“Communities are bound together partly by informal chance relations between strangers - people being able to acknowledge each other in the street or being able pass the time of day," Straw explained.
“I have no problem with Muslim women wearing a scarf but to exclude the person you are talking to from your facial expressions is not reasonable.”
"I understand the concerns but I hope, however, there can be a mature debate about this.”
Sorry Jack, but unfortunately you’re dealing with people who consider debate blasphemy.
Before getting into Muslim ‘sensitivities’ about women being covered in face sheltering niqabs (only eyes exposed) or worse, the burqa, covering the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through – let me just say that if anyone, man or woman, Muslim or non-Muslim – covered his or her face, it would always result in a paranoia.
If I happen to decide to cover my entire face and body, I would expect people to be suspicious of me. I would be suspicious of me.
Covering your face – in this country - as a form of body language says things like ‘I’m ashamed’ , ‘I don’t want to be seen’ , ‘I am not one of you…’ and it can also say things like – ‘I don’t want to be identified by CCTV!’
Yet we make an exception for some women to cover up. And before the women who actually wear burqas or niqabs speak up (oh wait, they’re not allowed) – Muslim men and hijab (face exposed) - wearing women are the first ones to condemn the comments.
One Muslim woman on the BBC this morning insisted that wearing face-covering veils – is NOT forced upon women by men, but instead a choice of the women. And this, boys and girls, is what we called Disillusionment.
Dr Reefats Drauba, the chairman of the social and family affairs committee of the Muslim Council of great Britain said, “ If Mr Straw thinks this is going to break down barriers, it isn’t. If anything, it was going to alienate Muslim women and be a catalyst for more of them to wear the veil and prove a point.”
How insightful, ‘Doctor’! In response to a Straw’s tactful suggestion, you’ve just declared a burka jihad.
I’m sorry, Dr Drauba but no, actually Muslim people isolate themselves and insist that others are isolating them.
Or maybe that's too harsh a statement, maybe it’s the fault of organisations like the Muslim Council of Britain, who are suppose to bridge the gap between British Muslims and everyone else (including me, not just wealthy old white men), but they repeatedly fail to do so and drive a bigger wedge between the Muslims and the rest of the world.
Do we ever hear from these people unless they are condemning something?
They have no concept of integration and face-to-face communication, yet they ponder why Muslims feel alienated? A nasty foreign policy is not an excuse to withdraw from the rest of society, especially from people who are interested in initiating dialogue.
This organisation repeatedly disappoints in its ridiculous accusations, and I can only hope it is unrepresentative of the greater British Muslim population.
I’m not going to try to speak for all Muslims. I’m certainly not representative of one.
However, I will say that even my Pakistani Muslim mother shares my disdain for the oppressive burqa barrier - which does nothing but to foster more hostility and alienate women.
Poland to outlaw gay "promotion" in schools
16/3/07
Poland’s Education minister Roman Giertych proposed new legislation akin to Section 28
Poland’s deputy Prime Minister and Education minister Roman Giertych has proposed new legislation that would outlaw any discussion of homosexuality in schools.
At a Ministry of Education on Wednesday, he tried to introduce new laws - strikingly similar to the UK’s Section 28 - that would "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality and other deviance."
Educators that break the law could face imprisonment under the proposed law.
The laws would punish anyone who “promotes homosexuality or any other deviance of a sexual nature in educational establishments, "according to junior Education minister Miroslaw Orzechowski.
At a recent EU education ministers meeting, Roman Giertych criticised the "homosexual propaganda" in schools and suggested a EU-wide ban.
Robert Biedron, President of Polish LGBT organisation Campaign Against Homophobia, said he was “embarrassed” of the proposed legislation.
He called on the EU to take notice of the homophobic legislation "before things go to extremes".
"What happens when a Minister of a member state regularly practices hate-speech and encourages intolerance?" Biedron asked.
"What else are we waiting for before we finally take action? Are we waiting for increase of data on victims of homophobic violence? Are we waiting for camps for LGBT people?"
Roman Giertych also serves as chairman for the ultra conservative League of Polish Families.
In September, he released an official press statement saying he would no longer speak to BBC journalists after the BBC reported about pedophilia among Catholic priests.
Poland’s Education minister Roman Giertych proposed new legislation akin to Section 28
Poland’s deputy Prime Minister and Education minister Roman Giertych has proposed new legislation that would outlaw any discussion of homosexuality in schools.
At a Ministry of Education on Wednesday, he tried to introduce new laws - strikingly similar to the UK’s Section 28 - that would "prohibit the promotion of homosexuality and other deviance."
Educators that break the law could face imprisonment under the proposed law.
The laws would punish anyone who “promotes homosexuality or any other deviance of a sexual nature in educational establishments, "according to junior Education minister Miroslaw Orzechowski.
At a recent EU education ministers meeting, Roman Giertych criticised the "homosexual propaganda" in schools and suggested a EU-wide ban.
Robert Biedron, President of Polish LGBT organisation Campaign Against Homophobia, said he was “embarrassed” of the proposed legislation.
He called on the EU to take notice of the homophobic legislation "before things go to extremes".
"What happens when a Minister of a member state regularly practices hate-speech and encourages intolerance?" Biedron asked.
"What else are we waiting for before we finally take action? Are we waiting for increase of data on victims of homophobic violence? Are we waiting for camps for LGBT people?"
Roman Giertych also serves as chairman for the ultra conservative League of Polish Families.
In September, he released an official press statement saying he would no longer speak to BBC journalists after the BBC reported about pedophilia among Catholic priests.
87 gay men arrested in Iran
15/5/07
"All my friends were arrested while seven or eight policeman beat them with batons..."
Eighty seven gay men were arrested at a private house party in Iran on May 10th, according to the Toronto-based Iranian Queer Organisation, IRQO.
The group claims that police raided a birthday party for a man named Farhad. According to witnesses, the police brutally assaulted the host, his parents, and the guests. It remains unclear exactly how many people were arrested.
A man identified as Peyman spoke to IRQO and said that he arrived at the house late only to find the police had already arrived.
“As soon as I turned in to their street, I saw police cars parked everywhere," Peyman told IRQO.
"All my friends were arrested while seven or eight policeman beat them with batons. Fearing the usual punishments for attending a party, two had jumped from the second-floor window and were in a bad condition.”
He also said that all communication with the individuals has been cut off. “We have no information about the situation inside the jail,” Payman added.
Another IRQO contact, identified as Kia, reported: “Guests had come from Shiraz, Tehran, Shahin Shahr to Isfahan for Farhad’s birthday. When they were coming out of the house followed by the police, their clothes were ripped, their faces and bodies were covered in blood. They were beaten up badly.”
IRQO cites reports that detainees are being tortured in the jail in Isfahan, and that the courts are not allowing families to visit the arrested.
Some women who attended the party also were arrested, but were released the following day. It is believed that all men attending the party are in jail.
Arsham Parsi, the executive director of the Iranian Queer Organisation said: "Obviously this crackdown is yet another systematic violation of human rights, along with brutal suppression of womens' movements in Iran and must be strongly protested by all human rights organisations as yet another violation of people's private rights and liberties.
"This means that for now, what is urgently needed is to strongly object to this gross violation of human rights and the invasion of young people's lives and dignity."
This latest raid marks the largest single attack on Iran’s gay community, further confirming a disturbing trend of sexual cleansing in the Islamic Republic, made legal through Sharia law. Sodomy is a crime for which both partners can be punished by death, while all types of sexual activity outside a heterosexual marriage are also illegal.
African LGBT coalition slams Peter Tatchell
5/3/07
A coalition of African LGBT leaders hits out at Peter Tatchell and Outrage!
A coalition of twenty African LGBT and human rights leaders issued a public warning, slamming the credibility of Peter Tatchell and Outrage!.
The coalition, including leaders such as Juliet Victor Mukasa, Chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda, and Peter Njoroge of Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, accused the prominent gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of “causing damage” to their efforts, particularly in regards to Nigeria’s proposed anti-gay legislation.
In January Tatchell sent out a press release about the Nigerian bill, urging international pressure against what he described as the most “comprehensively homophobic legislation ever proposed in any country in the world.”
Tatchell vehement efforts are now being refuted and criticised by this coalition who claim that Outrage! acts “in contempt and disregard of the wishes and lives of African LGBT human rights defenders.”
“We have made every attempt to address this matter with Outrage!, personally, and they have refused to listen,” the statement read.
“We fear that Peter Tatchell's sudden call for a campaign to pressure the Nigerian government regarding the proposed same-sex marriage prohibition might backfire and cause the oppressive homophobic bill's passage.”
“Until Outrage!'s action was issued, the bill was dead.”
Leading activist Dorothy Aken'Ova of the Nigerian organisation, the International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, has also signed the coalition’s statement.
She had considered the bill dead and prior to Tatchell’s press release, urged reporters to stay silent on the issue in fear that international press would reignite legislators' interest in the measure.
"Press attention to the bill, even if it is as mild as reporting that it is presumed dead as a result of political tension will be dangerous. Right now, we want silence," Aken'Ova said in an interview with American journalist Rex Wockner.
However, other local activists disagreed with her sentiments.
"Silence does not equate the death of the bill," Alimi Adebisi Ademola, executive director of the gay youth group The Independent Project told Wockner. "We believe strongly that the bill is still alive only going through a process that no one knows."
Leo Igwe, executive secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, has encouraged international activism.
“Even though the 'general feeling' now is that any call for public action might be counterproductive unless there are indications that the legislation might be passed in weeks."
Kizza Musinguzi, African Affairs spokesperson for OutRage! and a Ugandan gay rights activist, slammed back at the coalitions’ allegations calling them “untrue and sectarian”.
Musinguzi denied that the groups contacted Outrage! or Peter Tatchell.
“[The statements] are made mostly by people who have never had any contact with Peter Tatchell or OutRage! Since we have not run any campaigns about their countries, how can they accuse us of treating them badly?” Musinguzi told Gay.com.
“They have been fed lies about us by people who are jealous of OutRage!'s effective campaigns.”
Peter Tatchell told Gay.com that in the twenty years he’s worked with African gay groups, he’s never encountered complaints.
“All have appreciated the support I have given their campaigns," said Mr Tatchell.
"Our news releases do not contain untrue information, we do not exaggerate homophobic repression, our campaigns have not caused damage and we have never put anyone's life in danger. These wicked smears are being made by political opponents who are trying to discredit me and OutRage!”
"A week before these activists denounced us, we halted our Nigerian campaign. We have not campaigned on Uganda for five months.”
"This vendetta has nothing to do with gay rights. Certain groups seem more interested in fighting other activists than in fighting homophobia. Their petty jealousies and political sectarianism is undermining the campaign for gay equality in Africa.”
The proposed Nigerian bill states: "Publicity, procession and public show of same-sex amorous relationship through the electronic or print media physically, directly, indirectly or otherwise are prohibited in Nigeria. Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment."
It remains unclear whether Nigeria’s National Assembly will pass the bill before April's general election.
.
A coalition of African LGBT leaders hits out at Peter Tatchell and Outrage!
A coalition of twenty African LGBT and human rights leaders issued a public warning, slamming the credibility of Peter Tatchell and Outrage!.
The coalition, including leaders such as Juliet Victor Mukasa, Chairperson of Sexual Minorities Uganda, and Peter Njoroge of Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, accused the prominent gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of “causing damage” to their efforts, particularly in regards to Nigeria’s proposed anti-gay legislation.
In January Tatchell sent out a press release about the Nigerian bill, urging international pressure against what he described as the most “comprehensively homophobic legislation ever proposed in any country in the world.”
Tatchell vehement efforts are now being refuted and criticised by this coalition who claim that Outrage! acts “in contempt and disregard of the wishes and lives of African LGBT human rights defenders.”
“We have made every attempt to address this matter with Outrage!, personally, and they have refused to listen,” the statement read.
“We fear that Peter Tatchell's sudden call for a campaign to pressure the Nigerian government regarding the proposed same-sex marriage prohibition might backfire and cause the oppressive homophobic bill's passage.”
“Until Outrage!'s action was issued, the bill was dead.”
Leading activist Dorothy Aken'Ova of the Nigerian organisation, the International Centre for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights, has also signed the coalition’s statement.
She had considered the bill dead and prior to Tatchell’s press release, urged reporters to stay silent on the issue in fear that international press would reignite legislators' interest in the measure.
"Press attention to the bill, even if it is as mild as reporting that it is presumed dead as a result of political tension will be dangerous. Right now, we want silence," Aken'Ova said in an interview with American journalist Rex Wockner.
However, other local activists disagreed with her sentiments.
"Silence does not equate the death of the bill," Alimi Adebisi Ademola, executive director of the gay youth group The Independent Project told Wockner. "We believe strongly that the bill is still alive only going through a process that no one knows."
Leo Igwe, executive secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement, has encouraged international activism.
“Even though the 'general feeling' now is that any call for public action might be counterproductive unless there are indications that the legislation might be passed in weeks."
Kizza Musinguzi, African Affairs spokesperson for OutRage! and a Ugandan gay rights activist, slammed back at the coalitions’ allegations calling them “untrue and sectarian”.
Musinguzi denied that the groups contacted Outrage! or Peter Tatchell.
“[The statements] are made mostly by people who have never had any contact with Peter Tatchell or OutRage! Since we have not run any campaigns about their countries, how can they accuse us of treating them badly?” Musinguzi told Gay.com.
“They have been fed lies about us by people who are jealous of OutRage!'s effective campaigns.”
Peter Tatchell told Gay.com that in the twenty years he’s worked with African gay groups, he’s never encountered complaints.
“All have appreciated the support I have given their campaigns," said Mr Tatchell.
"Our news releases do not contain untrue information, we do not exaggerate homophobic repression, our campaigns have not caused damage and we have never put anyone's life in danger. These wicked smears are being made by political opponents who are trying to discredit me and OutRage!”
"A week before these activists denounced us, we halted our Nigerian campaign. We have not campaigned on Uganda for five months.”
"This vendetta has nothing to do with gay rights. Certain groups seem more interested in fighting other activists than in fighting homophobia. Their petty jealousies and political sectarianism is undermining the campaign for gay equality in Africa.”
The proposed Nigerian bill states: "Publicity, procession and public show of same-sex amorous relationship through the electronic or print media physically, directly, indirectly or otherwise are prohibited in Nigeria. Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a term of 5 years imprisonment."
It remains unclear whether Nigeria’s National Assembly will pass the bill before April's general election.
.
Russian rent boy soldiers confess
16/2/07
A new report found that young recruits in the Russian army are being forced into prostitution.
Following recent news that Russia may reinvigorate Soviet law by jailing gays, a new report found that young recruits in the Russian army are being forced into prostitution.
The Gazeta newspaper discovered that soldiers from an army base in St Petersburg are routinely being ‘pimped’ by senior officials, who then force them to turn over the earnings.
Clients include a former general of FSB, Russia's intelligence agency.
Anonymous soldiers, told Gazeta that they were violently tortured and beaten by senior officers as a means to force them into prostitution. Last year a 19-year-old recruit was reportedly beaten so badly that his genitals and legs had to be amputated.
Human rights group Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia, speaking on behalf of soldiers, said that clients arrived at the base late at night to avoid recognition. Soldiers were forced into cars and often would be gone all night.
"The officers would beat us on the arms and legs. We were sent out to the park to earn money,” one solider told the newspaper. ”I was tortured with electric shocks.”
The officers allegedly pasted a client list to successors, suggesting that the practice was long-held tradition. Soldiers were paid about £25 on average for each client, most of which went back to the officers.
Defense Minister, Sergei Ivanov, rumoured to be potential successor to president Vladimir Putin, has pledged an investigation.
A new report found that young recruits in the Russian army are being forced into prostitution.
Following recent news that Russia may reinvigorate Soviet law by jailing gays, a new report found that young recruits in the Russian army are being forced into prostitution.
The Gazeta newspaper discovered that soldiers from an army base in St Petersburg are routinely being ‘pimped’ by senior officials, who then force them to turn over the earnings.
Clients include a former general of FSB, Russia's intelligence agency.
Anonymous soldiers, told Gazeta that they were violently tortured and beaten by senior officers as a means to force them into prostitution. Last year a 19-year-old recruit was reportedly beaten so badly that his genitals and legs had to be amputated.
Human rights group Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia, speaking on behalf of soldiers, said that clients arrived at the base late at night to avoid recognition. Soldiers were forced into cars and often would be gone all night.
"The officers would beat us on the arms and legs. We were sent out to the park to earn money,” one solider told the newspaper. ”I was tortured with electric shocks.”
The officers allegedly pasted a client list to successors, suggesting that the practice was long-held tradition. Soldiers were paid about £25 on average for each client, most of which went back to the officers.
Defense Minister, Sergei Ivanov, rumoured to be potential successor to president Vladimir Putin, has pledged an investigation.
Lesbian daughter of Israeli PM talks
14/11/06
Dana Olmert, lesbian daughter of Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, reflects on Jerusalem's Gay Pride rally
Dana Olmert, the lesbian daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, spoke to Israel’s Army Radio about Friday’s Gay Pride rally and hostility toward the Israeli gay community.
"There is a continuing history of violence and hatred, there is homophobia. Coming out of the closet is not a one-time struggle," Olmert said.
"I thought it is important to tell those who were not there what those who were there felt. I was happy to be there with the sweetest people there is."
"But on the other hand there is a sad feeling in that they took us into a closed area. It was a feeling of being in jail. At the entrance we were asked to put on a pink ribbon and the feeling was that the event is too sterile."
Last Friday’s planned parade was cancelled due to violent threats from the Ultra-orthodox Haredi sect. Leading up to the event, thousands of protesters took to the street, and even called upon Christian and Muslims to join in the anti-gay demonstration.
The event, which attracted 4,000 was held behind fences at a university sports stadium on the Holy City's outskirts after organisers bowed to police fears of violent protests the Haredi sect.
“After what happened I am sure the community's leader should not give up and therefore we have to march. The fear campaign is a problem. The fact that we were distanced from the public teaches us that something in the separation war succeeded, and that's what turned the event into a bitter victory,” she continued.
"I think that the community was offended in this struggle but there is another side to that. Now, homosexual and lesbian haredim, and there are haredi homosexuals and lesbian, know they are not alone in the world."
Olmert also slammed the media for not differentiating between violent vs non-violent anti-gay groups.
"There is on the one hand a group of people who want to march without violence, and their message is not one of hate. And on the other hand there is a group of people who express themselves violently – and the media presents both sides in a politically correct manner. I believe the media should take a stance."
When questioned about the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue she said, “I don't like to speak as the daughter of my father. I don't act in the public sphere as such, but I keep to myself the right to express myself when I think I am right and this is one such time."
Dana Olmert, lesbian daughter of Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, reflects on Jerusalem's Gay Pride rally
Dana Olmert, the lesbian daughter of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, spoke to Israel’s Army Radio about Friday’s Gay Pride rally and hostility toward the Israeli gay community.
"There is a continuing history of violence and hatred, there is homophobia. Coming out of the closet is not a one-time struggle," Olmert said.
"I thought it is important to tell those who were not there what those who were there felt. I was happy to be there with the sweetest people there is."
"But on the other hand there is a sad feeling in that they took us into a closed area. It was a feeling of being in jail. At the entrance we were asked to put on a pink ribbon and the feeling was that the event is too sterile."
Last Friday’s planned parade was cancelled due to violent threats from the Ultra-orthodox Haredi sect. Leading up to the event, thousands of protesters took to the street, and even called upon Christian and Muslims to join in the anti-gay demonstration.
The event, which attracted 4,000 was held behind fences at a university sports stadium on the Holy City's outskirts after organisers bowed to police fears of violent protests the Haredi sect.
“After what happened I am sure the community's leader should not give up and therefore we have to march. The fear campaign is a problem. The fact that we were distanced from the public teaches us that something in the separation war succeeded, and that's what turned the event into a bitter victory,” she continued.
"I think that the community was offended in this struggle but there is another side to that. Now, homosexual and lesbian haredim, and there are haredi homosexuals and lesbian, know they are not alone in the world."
Olmert also slammed the media for not differentiating between violent vs non-violent anti-gay groups.
"There is on the one hand a group of people who want to march without violence, and their message is not one of hate. And on the other hand there is a group of people who express themselves violently – and the media presents both sides in a politically correct manner. I believe the media should take a stance."
When questioned about the Prime Minister’s silence on the issue she said, “I don't like to speak as the daughter of my father. I don't act in the public sphere as such, but I keep to myself the right to express myself when I think I am right and this is one such time."
NY offers revolutionary gender option
9/11/06
Gender becomes personal choice as New York’s Board of Health will allow people to alter their documented sex, even with no sex-change
In a momentous move, New York City is about to revolutionise its approach to gender by “separating anatomy from what it means to be a man or a woman”, according to the New York Times.
Gender, essentially, will become personal choice as New York’s Board of Health will allow people to alter the sex on their birth certificate, even if they have not had a sex-change surgery.
Those born in the city will be able to change their documented sex by providing affirmation from doctors and mental health professionals explaining why their patients should be considered members of the opposite sex.
The documents from the doctors must also ensure that the change will be permanent.
Applicants would have to change their name and show that he or she had lived as the adoptive gender for a minimum of two years.
The process to change gender identification on a birth certificate varies from state to state, and almost all 50 states in the US make it a fairly easy process for people who've undergone a sex reassignment surgery to obtain a new birth certificate.
However, only a handful of states allow the change to take place without a physiological change.
Although the move has been hailed by transgender advocates, some health experts have criticised a move which they consider to be re-writing history.
Dr Arthur Zitrin, a Midtown psychiatrist who was on a panel of transgender experts at a hearing, criticised the move.
“They should not change the sex at birth, which is a factual record.”
“If they wanted to change the gender for all the compelling reasons that they’ve given, it should be done perhaps with an asterisk.”
Joann Prinzivalli, a lawyer for the New York Transgender Rights Organisation, made a counterargument to the doctor’s opinion and suggested that the Board of Health’s move marks progress.
“[The decision] is based on an arbitrary distinction that says there are two and only two sexes.”
“In reality the diversity of nature is such that there are more than just two, and people who seem to belong to one of the designated sexes may really belong to the other.”
Gender becomes personal choice as New York’s Board of Health will allow people to alter their documented sex, even with no sex-change
In a momentous move, New York City is about to revolutionise its approach to gender by “separating anatomy from what it means to be a man or a woman”, according to the New York Times.
Gender, essentially, will become personal choice as New York’s Board of Health will allow people to alter the sex on their birth certificate, even if they have not had a sex-change surgery.
Those born in the city will be able to change their documented sex by providing affirmation from doctors and mental health professionals explaining why their patients should be considered members of the opposite sex.
The documents from the doctors must also ensure that the change will be permanent.
Applicants would have to change their name and show that he or she had lived as the adoptive gender for a minimum of two years.
The process to change gender identification on a birth certificate varies from state to state, and almost all 50 states in the US make it a fairly easy process for people who've undergone a sex reassignment surgery to obtain a new birth certificate.
However, only a handful of states allow the change to take place without a physiological change.
Although the move has been hailed by transgender advocates, some health experts have criticised a move which they consider to be re-writing history.
Dr Arthur Zitrin, a Midtown psychiatrist who was on a panel of transgender experts at a hearing, criticised the move.
“They should not change the sex at birth, which is a factual record.”
“If they wanted to change the gender for all the compelling reasons that they’ve given, it should be done perhaps with an asterisk.”
Joann Prinzivalli, a lawyer for the New York Transgender Rights Organisation, made a counterargument to the doctor’s opinion and suggested that the Board of Health’s move marks progress.
“[The decision] is based on an arbitrary distinction that says there are two and only two sexes.”
“In reality the diversity of nature is such that there are more than just two, and people who seem to belong to one of the designated sexes may really belong to the other.”
Anti-gay riot sparks Israeli high alert
1/11/06
A riot erupted Tuesday night as hundreds of ultra Orthodox Jews marched to protest next months’ Jerusalem Pride.
Members of the Haredi sect created massive uproar: blocking roads, setting rubbish bins on fire, and throwing rocks at police officers. Protestors were led by leaders wearing sack cloths, a Biblical sign of bereavement, and carrying placards slamming homosexuality that said "Jerusalem will not be like Sodom and Gomorrah".
Police cited similar disturbances around Israel on Tuesday.
The riot followed the Jerusalem police chief’s significant decision to place the force on an “Emergency Alert”, raising the national alert to its highest level relative to current scenarios.
According to the Jerusalem Post the current police situation in response to the protests resembles that of the 2005 pullout from the Gaza Strip, with all police holidays suspended to ensure maximum manpower on the day of the parade, November 11.
The police have expressed concerns that the anti-gay activists may take refuse in houses along the parade route and throw objects at parade participants. They even fear that they may try to disable the city’s electricity.
Parade organisers, Jerusalem Open House, predict that the number of protesters will far exceed the number of parade participants.
There have also been calls by Muslim leaders for mass Muslim protests in Jerusalem.
A riot erupted Tuesday night as hundreds of ultra Orthodox Jews marched to protest next months’ Jerusalem Pride.
Members of the Haredi sect created massive uproar: blocking roads, setting rubbish bins on fire, and throwing rocks at police officers. Protestors were led by leaders wearing sack cloths, a Biblical sign of bereavement, and carrying placards slamming homosexuality that said "Jerusalem will not be like Sodom and Gomorrah".
Police cited similar disturbances around Israel on Tuesday.
The riot followed the Jerusalem police chief’s significant decision to place the force on an “Emergency Alert”, raising the national alert to its highest level relative to current scenarios.
According to the Jerusalem Post the current police situation in response to the protests resembles that of the 2005 pullout from the Gaza Strip, with all police holidays suspended to ensure maximum manpower on the day of the parade, November 11.
The police have expressed concerns that the anti-gay activists may take refuse in houses along the parade route and throw objects at parade participants. They even fear that they may try to disable the city’s electricity.
Parade organisers, Jerusalem Open House, predict that the number of protesters will far exceed the number of parade participants.
There have also been calls by Muslim leaders for mass Muslim protests in Jerusalem.
Political Porn?
Gay porn star and producer Michael Lucas heads to Israel to perform a live sex show to entertain Israeli soldiers.
In a deluded and politically insensitive move, Russian-born, American-based gay porn star and producer Michael Lucas is heading to Israel to perform a live sex show to entertain Israeli soldiers.
He is also plans to film the first Israeli gay adult film. He has not yet announced a plan to make Lebanese gay porn.
“I am very proud to be going to my home away from home and entertain gay Israelis in a time of war,” he says in his blog.
An outspoken and controversial gay celebrity, he has been avid advocate for safe-sex and anti-drug campaigns in the gay community.
He has recently joined the political arena slamming UN leader Kofi Annan calling him “the enemy of Israel and not a friend of the United States. He is a corrupt anti-Semite.”
Despite the implications of a self-serving publicity stunt, especially considering the politically delicate atmosphere in the region, some may wonder - from the perspectives of those gay Israeli youths obligated to enlist, regardless of sexual orientation - why shouldn’t the gay soldiers be allowed to watch live gay sex?
If their hetero counterparts can be entertained by busty babes, surely the gays should be allowed to be entertained by hung hunks.
The vocal porn star, who readily admits “I do not bottom either on camera or in my private life”, is allegedly loved by proud Republican country singer Lee Ann Womack and Jersey Republican Babe of the Week Angie Harmon.
In his insightful blog Lucas writes:
“I'm heading to Israel to do a show on Friday September 1, as I am invited to make an appearance in the most popular club there, Male Vox.”
“There will free admission for Israeli soldiers.”
“I haven't decided yet who will be my partner for the live sex show I'm doing there (Israel has no problem with that type of entertainment).”
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Image from Lucas Entertainment
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