There are two clauses of concern in Canada’s “Identity Screening Regulations”:

 5.2 (1) An air carrier shall not transport a passenger if …

(c) the passenger does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents; or

(d) the passenger presents more than one form of identification and there is a major discrepancy between those forms of identification.

You can read more about Ms Christin Milloy, a Canadian Libertarian and Trans-rights activist and blogger, who resides in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, blog about the above mentioned << HERE >>.

Jen Janice, Programme Manager Supporting WFP Operations, Moving the World, TNT Express, was headhunted by AidEx to make a presentation on TNT’s support for Moving the World and WFP some time ago.

However, much as it would have been nice to sing the praises of just one company, Jen felt that it would be more appropriate to promote knowledge and expertise with other WFP supporters, namely UPS, WFP, Agility and Maersk. As she explained during the panel discussion, all of those who work for a Logistics Emergency Teams (LET), train and work together. As a result, a speech that would have been made by one professional became a high profile discussion involving four experienced LET specialists, providing a perfect panel of experience.

The panel discussion focused on ‘Humanitarian / Commercial Partnerships in Action’. The panel looked at understanding and matching capabilities, objectives and language, clarifying what commercial partners can and cannot deliver, best practices, specialisation and coordination and how LET initiatives interface within their companies’ CSR functions.

Jen may not have been speaking directly about women’s career progression. But, with so much knowledge of her topic firmly in her head, she did as any career woman would do: she spoke like a pro. So, how did she feel? Jen says: “Talking to so many people was daunting at first. But we were discussing topics that I already know extremely well. When it came to explaining the work of our individual companies, I could easily present the case for TNT and answer spontaneous questions from the floor.

‘The conference organisers originally approached me about speaking at their event last year. They had seen my profile on LinkedIn and were aware of who I am and what I do. Even though they wanted one speaker at first, the panel discussion was a great opportunity for me to stand out and speak of something that I am really passionate about. When you speak of something that you know really well, you can be both professional and confident and this really boosted my confidence.

‘It was also a great opportunity for me to raise my profile. I was able to meet other speakers and get to know them well. It was also a good feeling to be among top professionals and to be given a chance to speak about the work that TNT does. I could make myself known to both the business and humanitarian community. It was an unforgettable experience.

‘Speaking at an event, no matter how big or small, regardless of whether it is internal or external, is a great way to raise your profile. There are other ways as well, such as registering with business networking sites like LinkedIn and getting involved in different work-related activities. They all enable you to get yourself exposed to people working in the industry.

‘I do feel it is important for women who want to progress their careers to really make themselves known. Be bold, be daring, be direct! If there is something they want to do but are afraid of being turned down, they should go ahead and ask anyway. If you don’t ask, you don’t get and the possibility of a positive answer which can result in a multitude of benefits to both an organisation and an individual career. Asking at all odds is so much better than not perusing and not ever knowing.”

The lawyer of the 36-year-old, who was born a man, said the case would go to the Court of Final Appeal after a lower court on Friday refused her the right to legally marry a man.

The plaintiff, identified only as W, had a male-to-female sex change operation in 2008 and has successfully applied to change her name and gender on her identity card and school records.

But city marriage registration officials have since 2008 denied her the right to marry, a stance backed first by the High Court in 2010 and on Friday by the Appeal Court.

Lawyer Michael Vidler told the South China Morning Post that Hong Kong ‘stands as an island’ among places such as mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore where transsexuals can legally marry. ‘W looks like a woman and acts like a woman,’ he said. ‘In all respects, other than the right to marry, she is treated as a woman.’

She was terrified the bombshell she was about to unleash would shatter the close bond they shared.

But Jessica, now 21, simply couldn’t keep quiet any more. The secret she’d kept almost all her life was eating away at her.

“Mum,” she said. “I’m sorry. I want to be a boy.”

The shocking admission in ­January this year was the start of a ­nine-month transformation that has seen Jessica transform beyond all recognition into Oliver.

HR ­manager Victoria, 39, even paid £4,000 for her daughter to have her 40F breasts removed so she could become her son.

“I feel the happiest I have ever been,” smiles Oliver, who changed his name by deed poll in March.

“It took me a while to accept what I had always known. I was a man trapped in a woman’s body.

“Now I’m happy the world finally knows I’m Oliver. I’m in the right skin. I thought it would be difficult to make the change but it hasn’t been. What’s made it so easy is my mum’s support.

Now Lucinda Ferguson, of Langlee, Galashiels, is awaiting a sex change operation on the National Health Service.

Despite being an open cross-dresser throughout her first marriage, the 45-year-old former industrial roofer, originally from Fort William, revealed she only began living as a woman when she moved to the Borders to start a new life around a decade ago.

However, Lucinda, who is now divorced from her second wife and studying graphic art at Borders College, claimed she has been shocked by the level of abuse she has received from both men and women of all ages since setting up home in the region.

She has accused them of discrimination tantamount to racism and has called for greater respect and understanding of transgender and gender non conforming people amid fears that the bigots could force them out.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph in an effort to raise awareness of transgender identity this week, Lucinda, previously known as Fergus, said: “I get so much hassle I sometimes have to think twice about going out because I don’t feel safe.

“I think most people accept the fact that it’s not right to discriminate against coloured people or people with a disability but the same can’t be said of transgender people. It is actually very shocking to see the way people behave – shouting and being abusive. It happened in college and happens when I walk around the town but it only ever happened when I’m on my own. It can be very annoying.

“I would say generally I get a lot of abuse from young people who don’t know any better but there have been occasions when I have been abused by people my own age. They try to humiliate me, and it seems to come naturally to them. Quite a common reaction is hysterical laughter. I also get people who say: ‘That’s a man’. And ‘that’ means I’m a thing.”

Read the rest of the story…

The new version of the Standards of Care is being released at the Symposium in Atlanta.

TIH has consistently been employing leading edge tools and offering proven materials that enabled providers to stay abreast of the changes in the science and understanding of trans people.

From informed Consent to cultural competency to the declaring reparative therapy on trans children and adults as unethical, the advocated much of what is now included in these new standards, and will continue to remain ahead of the curve.

CLICK HERE to view the 120 pages SOC 7!

If you’ve been afraid to show your feminine side for fear of “not passing,” it might be time to rethink your priorities.

I believe everybody has the potential to pass, but let’s face it … it’s not always easy! It can take years to master all the subtleties of walking, talking, and acting like a woman. And depending on your physical makeup, you might even require surgery to be truly passable in all situations.

These are necessary investments for transsexual females on their way to becoming full time. But if you’re a crossdresser with a full time job and a family, then trying to become 100% passable is probably not practical.

Rather than getting hung up on “passing” vs. “not passing” (didn’t we get enough of that in grade school?), wouldn’t it be better to make it your goal to “blend in” instead. Blending in means that you look girly enough not to stand out in a negative way, even if you aren’t 100% passable.

The key to blending in is to create a harmonious female image. Dress appropriately and act natural. Most people don’t scrutinize everybody around them, so unless there is something glaringly off about you, you are unlikely to attract a second glance.

Does this mean 100% of the population will think you are a genetic woman? Probably not. But it doesn’t matter.

Many happy transgender women don’t care whether they pass or not. They care about being themselves.

Passing is great when it happens, but there’s nothing wrong with being seen as the transgendered woman that you are! As long as you choose the right environment and present yourself well, you are likely to be met with acceptance.

Do you try to pass when you are out en femme? Or are you proud to be seen as a transgender woman? How important is “passing?” Please leave your comments!

Christina Karountzos, who has been in business at her Lakeview location for 23 years, signed the “T-Friendly Bathroom Initiative” in May, displaying a decal on her front door that shows transgender and gender-variant people that they are welcome to use whichever bathroom they choose.

“There hasn’t been any problems so far,” Karountzos said. “She came in because she saw the sticker. She appreciated it.”

Several grassroots organizations led by Genderqueer Chicago started the initiative in February. The pledge gives more visibility to the issue and seeks to improve the quality of life for transgender people.

“They look at you like you’re a disease,” said Keke Trinadad, a 24-year-old who identifies as a transgender woman. “But I have the right to use the women’s bathroom.”

Illinois law prohibits discrimination against transgender individuals in employment, real estate transactions, access to financial credit, and the availability of public accommodations, although it does not specifically address bathroom access.

“Transgender” is a general term that includes but is not limited to transsexuals, cross-dressers and other gender-variant people. These individuals express themselves or self-identify their gender in non-traditional ways. Transgender women are “male to female,” and transgender men are “female to male.”

“I didn’t know that this is an issue,” said Craig Leonard, 63, a straight retired South Side native. “This is new to me.”

According to Malic White, a member of Genderqueer Chicago, most people don’t think twice about which bathroom to use or fear for their safety. But these are issues that transgender people deal with.

“We face violence and harassment when people are convinced that we are in the wrong place,” he said.

White, a 21-year-old University of Chicago student, said that there have been no complaints and that things have been going well so far, but the growth needs to continue.

“It’s been an urgent need in every part of the city,” he said. “Transgender people are everywhere and it [harassment] happens all the time.”

Five businesses pledged the initiative in the first month. Now, the list has grown to about 30 and more inquiries have been coming in. But, more than half of the businesses that have pledged their support are in Boystown, Chicago’s gay neighborhood. The rest are in other LGBT-friendly neighborhoods like Edgewater, Andersonville and Wicker Park.

“We wanted to get the low-hanging fruit first,” White said. “Once we get a bigger list going on, we can show that this is a legitimate and worthy cause.”

For White and other organizers, the next step is to approach national chains – fewer mom-and-pop shops – and to reach out to city officials. The only funding for the stickers and outreach efforts comes from donations and fundraisers.

Most businesses that have signed the pledge have single-stall facilities. According to the initiative’s website, “That just makes it easier for everyone!” Karountzos, the New Modern Grill’s owner, isn’t sure what she would do if she had multi-user restrooms.

“[If we didn’t have single-stall facilities,] that would be an issue, and I would have to think about it. I’ve never thought of that before,. she said. “When someone comes in dressed as a female and acts like a female, but is really a male, I can see some women that would be uncomfortable with that. But some females feel uncomfortable with other females, too.”

Bill Himel, a straight 64-year-old, thinks there’s a difference in how men and women would react.

“It’s like directions,” he said. “Men just think they can take care of themselves. Security would be a big issue for women.”

Charisma Watkin, a 35-year-old mother, said she would be uncomfortable having a transgender woman in the same bathroom as her.

“I want a woman in there with me, not a man — period.”

But Leonard said, “I think when it’s time to piss, whatever door is open, you go in and piss.”

Lawyers for the woman, who was born a man but underwent a sex-change operation, are appealing against a court ruling last October that upheld a law barring her from marrying her boyfriend.

They claim the original decision by the court, which ruled gender was determined by the sex at birth, was based on a precedent set 40 years ago and that a modern interpretation should be made which took into account changes in society.

Barrister Philip Dykes, representing the woman, said the court should interpret the law to meet the present situation and pointed out that transsexuals in mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia were allowed to marry in their new gender.

The transsexual, who is in her 20s, has been identified only as W throughout the court proceedings.

She brought the case, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, after being refused permission to marry her boyfriend in 2009.

She changed her gender between 2005 and 2008 in a process that involved psychiatric assessment, hormonal treatment, and gender reassignment surgery funded by the government.

She also changed her name and was allowed to change the gender on her identity card. However, her sex remains male on her birth certificate and Hong Kong law prohibits same-sex marriage.

Her case was seen as a test of permissiveness in Hong Kong, which despite its cosmopolitan image is largely conservative and traditional in attitudes towards sex and marriage.

Lawyers for the government are to argue the law was interpreted correctly in the lower court. The case continues.