PFC News Feed

UK: Transgender Remembrance

Tracy Dean — Wed, 19 Nov 2008, 20:12 GMT


Transgender Remembrance
Date: Sunday 23rd November 2008 at 7.15pm for 7.30pm
@: St Columba's United Reformed Church, Oxford (off Alfred St, near All 
Bar One)
 
An opportunity for the transgender community to remember our dead.
 
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UK: NHS medical research plan threatens patient privacy [Guardian]

Tracy Dean — Mon, 17 Nov 2008, 07:45 GMT


http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/17/nhs-patient-privacy-medical-research
 
NHS medical research plan threatens patient privacy
Chair of data watchdog warns new proposal is 'ethically unacceptable'
 
John Carvel, social affairs editor
guardian.co.uk, Monday November 17 2008 00.01 GMT
The Guardian,  Monday November 17 2008
 
The privacy of millions of NHS patients will be critically undermined by
a government plan to let medical researchers have access to personal
files, the health information watchdog told the Guardian last night.
 
The prime minister and Department of Health want to give Britain's
research institutes an advantage against overseas competitors by opening
up more than 50m records, to identify patients who might be willing to
take part in trials of new drugs and treatments.
 
They are consulting on a proposal that is buried in the small print of
the NHS constitution that would permit researchers for the first time to
write to patients who share a particular set of medical conditions to
seek their participation in trials.
 
It would result in patients receiving a letter from a stranger who knew
their most intimate medical secrets, which would be regarded by many as
a breach of trust by doctors who are supposed to keep information
confidential. It raises the prospect of a letter being opened by a
relative, which could cause embarrassment.
 
Harry Cayton, who is about to take over as chairman of the National
Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care, the new
watchdog on use of NHS data, said the proposal is "ethically unacceptable".
 
He said: "There is pressure from researchers and from the prime minister
to beef up UK research. They think of it as boosting UK Research plc.
They want a mechanism by which people's clinical records could be
accessed for the purposes of inviting them to take part in research,
which at the moment is not allowed. I think that would be a backward step.
 
"It would be saying there is a public interest in research that is so
great that it overrides consent and confidentiality. That is not a
proposition that holds up."
 
Cayton said the government issued a handbook alongside the draft NHS
constitution saying that researchers should be allowed to use care
records, without the informed consent of the patient, to identify people
suitable to participate in approved clinical trials.
 
He said: "We believe this is a breach of good practice in
confidentiality and consent, and have questioned if there is a sound
legal basis for it."
 
His board has written to Alan Johnson, the health secretary, asking for
the proposal to be quashed. A health department spokeswoman said last
night: "We are consulting on the NHS constitution to ensure that the
final version is fit for purpose. We welcome the board's valuable
comments and will consider them alongside other responses. We expect to
publish our response shortly."
 
Medical researchers currently have to ask GPs to identify patients who
might be suitable for a research trial. It is the GP who sends any
letter to the patient suggesting that participation might bring medical
benefit.
 
Cayton said: "This is legitimate and it works. But, for the researchers,
it is laborious. Not all GPs are helpful and the researchers say this
may cause a sample bias."
 
Last year the prime minister asked Richard Thomas, the information
commissioner, and Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, to
review all aspects of data sharing.
 
They reported in July: "One area of research raises a Catch 22 dilemma.
Researchers may wish to approach individuals in order to gain their
consent to participating in a particular piece of research, for example
the trial of a new treatment for a particular disease. The issue is how
to identify these people in the first place. The requirement for
'consent to gain consent', which is largely limited to medical research,
is a problem that requires a solution."
 
They said the NHS should allow approved researchers to work with
healthcare providers to identify potential patients. "These approved
researchers would be bound by the same duty of confidentiality as the
clinical team providing care, and face similar penalties in the case of
any breach of confidentiality. If legislation is necessary to implement
such a scheme, then we would urge government to bring that legislation
forward as quickly as possible."
 
Cayton said: "There is pressure [for this legislation] from the R&D
people at the Department of Health and I understand this is an
enthusiasm of the prime minister ... I am not saying there is no
solution to the problem, but trying to bulldoze this proposal through is
wrong."
 
He favoured alternative solutions that might allow researchers to trawl
electronic files without gaining access to individuals' names and
addresses. The system might be able to generate letters to a target
group, informing people about a range of trials going on in their area.
It would be left to individuals to notice whether they might benefit
from a particular trial.
 
Cayton, the government's former patient tsar, brokered a compromise in
2006 after the Guardian criticised plans to place the medical records of
every patient in England on a national electronic database, known as the
Spine.
 
Ministers conceded that patients should have the right to opt out if
they were concerned that their personal data might fall into the wrong
hands.
 
He said: "The manner in which the Guardian raised the issue was
frustrating at the time, but you can look back and see that it was in
the public interest in the broadest sense. It caused people to have a
discussion and there are benefits in having informed public debate."
 
Cayton's board was set up by legislation this year. It will take over
from the Patient Information Advisory Group, established after a scandal
at Alder Hey children's hospital involving illegal storage of children's
tissue samples.
 
It will advise on issues involving consent, confidentiality, security
and data sharing in social care as well as health.
 
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UK: Calderdale PCT

Tracy Dean — Fri, 14 Nov 2008, 15:12 GMT


Calderdale PCT have asked that individual enquires about accessing GID
services in Calderdale in the first instance be directed not to the PCT
but to Jonny Glenn who is a mental health worker and liaison between the
PCT and the local trans community.
 
The designation of a full time liaison worker is just one on the reforms
of GID care in Calderdale and it is a measure that I support. For the
past four years Jonny as been closely involved in the campaign to reform
the local GID service. His remit is to advise on access to local
services and referrals to consultants also to report to the PCT problems
relating to the quality and access to care both pre and post op.
 
He his available from 9 to 5 five days a week. On 01422 281325 or
jonny.glenn@swyt.nhs.uk
 
Claire Eastwood
 
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UK: Public Debate: A Feminist Perspective on the Transsexual Debate, Friday Dec 5th Manchester

Tracy Dean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008, 16:34 GMT

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Public Debate: A Feminist Perspective on the Transsexual
Debate, Friday Dec 5th Manchester
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:58:04 +0000
From: Stephen Whittle <S.T.Whittle@mmu.ac.uk>

PLEASE FORWARD as appropriate:

The Manchester Metropolitan University School of law
The Manchester Institute for Social and Spatial Transformations

A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE ON THE TRANSSEXUAL DEBATE
Friday 5th December 2pm-5pm, The School of Law, Manchester Metropolitan
University M16 6HB * just off Oxford Rd.

Julie Bindel, Guardian Journalist, nominee for the Stonewall Journalist
of the Year 2008, Feminist activist, author of *Women Overcoming
Violence and Abuse*, and *The Map of My Life: The Story of Emma Humphreys*

Dr. Susan Stryker, Women*s Studies, the University of Illinois, Visiting
Professor,  Harvard University, Trans Activist, author of *The Trans
Studies Reader*, and *Transgender History*

Chair: Prof. Stephen Whittle, MMU School of Law, author of *Respect and
Equality: Transsexual and Transgender Rights* and *The Transgender Debate*.

Public Attendance Cost: £12 or £5 on benefits (evidence of benefits must
be produce at door).

Free for MMU Staff and Students, ticketless entrance: your staff or
student card must be shown at the door.

People who are not MMU staff or students must apply for tickets. Without
a ticket you will be refused entrance to this event.

To apply for tickets:

Email: send Full details , indicating the number of tickets, to David
Hulme, d.hulme@mmu.ac.uk. Please send a separate cheque for the correct
amount by postal mail to Dave at the address below. Admittance will not
be allowed without payment.

Postal Mail:  send Full details , indicating the number & type of
tickets, with a cheque for payment to:
David Hulme,  The School of Law Office, Sandra Burslem Building,
Manchester Metropolitan University, Lower Ormond St, Manchester M15 6HB.

For details of the venue look for Building no.19 on the map at:
http://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/maps/mmu_maps_allsaints_aytoun.pdf

Professor Stephen Whittle, OBE, PhD, MA, LLB, BA
Professor of Equalities Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints West
Lower Ormond Street
Manchester, M15 6HB
-------------------------

Vice President , Press for Change, http://www.pfc.org/uk

President, World Professional Association for Transgender Health,
http://www.wpath.org ( http://www.wpath.org/ )

Exec. Chair, Transgender Europe
http://www.tgeu.org ( http://www.tgeu.org/ )

-------------------------------------

tel office: +44 (0)161 247 6444; home (9am - 6pm only) +44 (0)161 432 1915;
e: s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk ; stwhittle@btinternet.com

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UK: Transgender day of remembrance in London

Tracy Dean — Wed, 12 Nov 2008, 22:48 GMT


TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
London Service
Sunday, 23rd November 2008
Dragon Hall, Stukeley Street, Covent Garden
 
An opportunity to remember, mourn and celebrate trans lives lost to
violence or suicide.
 
The Transgender day of Remembrance is an opportunity for trans people,
their friends, families and allies to come together in a safe space to
reflect on those trans people who have lost their lives through violence
or suicide because they are trans. It is a time to remember, mourn and
celebrate them and to tell their stories so they are not forgotten.
 
You don't have to bring or do anything, but as in previous years, we
would very much like people to contribute and participate if they wish.
Please bring short stories, readings or poetry - if you prefer not to
read yourself, we can find someone else to read your text for you.
 
2:00pm for a 2:15pm start
 
Readings, poetry and music, followed by tea and cake
Ends at 4:00pm
 
For trans people, their friends, families and allies
 
Can You Help?
 
We are looking for:
A person/group to provide a short musical section Volunteers to help on
the day. Anyone who would like to help Joe, Erasmo and Simon in
organising the event. Names of trans people who have died since August
2007. If you can help with any of these, please contact us
 
Access
 
The venue is first floor, fully accessible and has a disabled toilet. If
you have any other access requirements, please let us know.
 
Contact Us
 
Please mail us at: tgremembrance@googlemail.com with any queries,
suggestions or offers of help
 
This event is supported by Camden LGBT Forum
 
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UK: Volunteers wanted to take part in training at Manchester Met University, May 2009

Tracy Dean — Wed, 12 Nov 2008, 18:24 GMT


If willing to help, please contact s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk
 
Manchester Metropolitan University runs a series of events during what
is called 'Mind & Body' week. The events include better health events,
yoga, gym sessions, cycling outings, sport, nutrition training, child
care skills etc. Anything in fact to do with maintaining the health of
the mind and the body.
 
Next years Mind & Body week is from the 11th -15th May 2009 and they try
to put on as wide and diverse a range of sessions as possible to get
staff to engage in learning something new during that week.
 
They have asked PFC to arrange a series of events at the various sites
of the University. One site is in Alsager nr Crewe, the rest include
Didsbury in Manchester, and the city centre sites They can be anything
from a lecture, to a simple question and answer event. Normally events
are from 1 to 2 hours long.
 
I am seeking local volunteers with skills in either public speaking,
making presentations or just doing comedy. They must know quite a lot
about trans issues and trans lives, and be willing to put on an event of
at least 1 hour which staff from the university are invited to attend.
You can work in teams if you prefer. Or you can be simply an individual
presenter.
 
The events are to be about Real trans lives, from cross dressers through
to transsexual people. You can include all of the trans community, or
just one of the various trans identities. For example, I am proposing to
do an event about how to form your own pressure group using the PFC
campaign as an example.
 
PFC will meet travelling costs, within reason as this is a public
engagement event.
 
IF you feel you might be able to help during this week, please send me a
short (1 page max) statement about yourself, and please send it to me at
s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk
 
Many thanks for your consideration
 
Stephen
 
Professor Stephen Whittle, OBE, PhD, MA, LLB, BA
Professor of Equalities Law, Manchester Metropolitan University
All Saints West
Lower Ormond Street
Manchester, M15 6HB
-------------------------
 
Vice President , Press for Change, http://www.pfc.org/uk
 
President, World Professional Association for Transgender Health,
http://www.wpath.org
 
Exec. Chair, Transgender Europe http://www.tgeu.org
 
-------------------------------------
 
tel office: +44 (0)161 247 6444; home (9am - 6pm only) +44 (0)161 432 1915;
e: s.t.whittle@mmu.ac.uk ; stwhittle@btinternet.com
 
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UK: Transgender day of remembrance service in Torquay

Tracy Dean — Wed, 12 Nov 2008, 18:22 GMT


Metropolitan Community Church Torbay, is holding a special service on
Sunday 16th November.  This is taking the form of a remembrance service
to mark "Transgender Remember Our Dead" day.  There will also be a
"World Aids Day" service on the 30th November.  Both these services will
be held at 7.00 pm in the Unitarian Church, Montpelier Rd. Torquay.
 
Further details and a map may be found on our website http://www.mcctorbay.org.uk
 
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UK: A guide to trans service users' rights [GIRES]

Tracy Dean — Sun, 9 Nov 2008, 18:26 GMT


Dear Colleagues,
 
The Department of Health has authorised the publication of "A guide to
trans  service users' rights", the sixth in the series of booklets that
it has  commissioned the Gender Identity Research and Education (GIRES)
to develop.  The new booklet is available online at:
 
http://www.gires.org.uk/dohpublications.php
 
GIRES is currently working on the next two booklets, which provide
guidance on surgery for trans men and for trans women.
 
Kind regards, Bernard Reed
Trustee, GIRES
 
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Re: Speaker for St. Andrews Student Union

Tracy Dean — Sat, 8 Nov 2008, 22:33 GMT


Thank you all who said they might be able to help with this - we now
have two local volunteers and activists who are going to be the speaker
at this event.
 
All the best
Stephen
 
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UK: Editorial, news & feature articles on council discrimination case [GScene]

Tracy Dean — Sat, 8 Nov 2008, 17:05 GMT


http://www.gscene.com/blog/2008/11/natasha-thoday-claims-tribunal-victory.html
 
Friday, November 07, 2008
 
Natasha Thoday claims tribunal victory
 
After careful consideration and with the agreement of the ‘victim’ we
have decided to break the restrictive reporting order and identify the
teacher in the case 'Brighton Council discriminates against transgender
teacher' (see this blog post). Natasha Thoday (left) has been treated
disgracefully by Brighton & Hove City Council, bullied and threatened
with further legal action.
 
Despite asking councillors for help, none was forthcoming because our
elected officials were not prepared to fall out of favour with senior
Council officers.
 
Despite repeated requests, the Council has failed to satisfy Miss Thoday
as to why they chose to appeal the original tribunal decision and
justify the financial costs of doing so. Leader of the Council Mary
Mears has admitted that this was done to ‘protect the Council’s
position.’ The Council’s legal team in effect directed a Council
employee to break the law and not provide Miss Thoday with a reference
for three years.
 
This is not the first case involving trans employees to hit the
headlines. Andy Baldwin, who co-wrote Miss Thoday’s recent tribunal
case, is a former Brighton Council employee. He was the Co-ordinator of
the LGBT Community Safety Forum. Andy Baldwin took the Council to
tribunal in 2005. I was a witness myself in the case, having been on the
interview panel that had appointed Mr Baldwin to his post in the
Council. The Council’s defence to the claim of transphobia at the time
was that they did not know Mr. Baldwin was in transition so in effect
there was no case to answer.
 
I have no doubt that while the reporting restrictions on this case
helped Miss Thoday get a positive result, had the reporting restriction
been imposed on Mr. Baldwin’s tribunal, I have no doubt there would have
been a different outcome.
 
For a variety of reasons at the time of Mr. Baldwin’s case, it went
unreported that the then gay Chief Executive’s partner, a police
officer, intended to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Within a month
the gay Chief Executive David Panter (left) had given his notice and
taken an appointment in the health service in Australia. I think it is
reasonable to ask the question, did he go or was he pushed?
Institutional transphobia is particularly difficult to challenge.
 
Everyone involved with trying to cover up Miss Thoday’s plight within
Brighton Council should hang their heads in shame.
________________________________________________________________________
 
http://www.gscene.com/blog/2008/11/natasha-thoday-talks-to-richard-smith.html
 
Friday, November 07, 2008
 
Natasha Thoday talks to Richard Smith about her recent discrimination cases
 
The General Teaching Council ruled last month that a former education,
training and employment manager at Brighton & Hove City Council was
guilty of discriminating against and victimising a teacher who is
transgender. The manager, Philip Morgan, had secretly sent a fax to an
employment agency that revealed the teacher was transgender, which led
to her being blacklisted.
 
This was the latest event in a case that has dragged on for five years.
In 2006, an employment tribunal ruled in the teacher’s favour and later
ordered the council to pay her £35,000 for loss of earnings and injury
to feelings. The victim, Natasha Thoday, (left) feels it is still not
over. She wants to know why the council allowed an estimated £100,000 of
public money to be spent fighting the case.
 
In 2001, Natasha started a teaching placement at Telscombe Cliffs
Community Primary School in Brighton. She was asked to leave after just
two lessons. “When I phoned the head teacher and asked why, he said that
parents had complained – because they didn’t want a trans teacher,”
Natasha told Gscene. “He said professionally I was excellent, but could
not have me back as [there were] ‘problems with being transgender.’”
 
Natasha went to an employment tribunal, and the case was settled out of
court in her favour. But when she went to the press with the story, she
was attacked on the letters pages of both The Argus and the Times
Educational Supplement. According to Andy Baldwin, (above right) a
former co- ordinator of Brighton’s LGBT Community Safety Forum who
helped fight her case: “The school organised a witchhunt.”
 
Natasha decided to let the dust settle. “I was going to have a rest, not
try and get back to teaching. In 2002, I tried to go back with Teaching
Personnel – they’re a recruitment agency I’d signed up with who gave me
the Telscombe Cliffs job – but they basically wouldn’t give me any work.
After being phoned up and offered two or three jobs a day in 2001, the
phone wouldn’t ring. I tried to sign with four other agencies, but it
turned out they were all talking to each other.”
 
“It became fishy because there was no work,” Andy adds. “Previously
she’d been headhunted, because she has special skills with children with
emotional behavioural and learning difficulties.”
 
Natasha found out a year and a half later, when she asked for a copy of
her reference under the Data Protection Act, that Teaching Personnel had
blacklisted her. “We made a request to Hays Education Personnel [another
recruitment agency],” Andy says. “They had a certain amount of time in
which to respond and that expired, and it transpired that the reason
they were delaying was because they were having to ask Brighton & Hove
City Council for permission to disclose that information. The council
did not disclose the information that we eventually found out – this
secret reference.”
 
In order to be eligible to be offered work by employment agencies,
Natasha needed an official reference from the council, her previous
employer. Philip Morgan had sent two. “One was a pro-forma tick-box that
was sent to us and the agency, which was all about how great Natasha
was,” says Andy. “The second piece of paper, which was completely
separate on Brighton & Hove City Council headed notepaper, talked about
Natasha as ‘him’ and ‘her’. It used her old name, and talked about the
previous proceedings being a problem and this sort of thing.”
 
Their legal advisers called this second fax “the smoking gun”. “So this
was what led to the first tribunal application,” Andy explains. “And
some time later, once the council had decided to defend Morgan, we
approached him again for a reference – for a different position. It was
our right to be provided with a reference that didn’t disclose Natasha
being transgender.”
 
When Morgan refused they lodged a second employment tribunal
application. The two actions were heard together.
 
In a rare move, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission agreed to
take up both cases, believing they would set a legal precedent on
discrimination against trans people. “The QC, Stephanie Harrison, who
defended the two cases says this goes right to the heart of what it is
to be either male or female,” Natasha says. “There is no ‘third sex’, as
was found by the European Parliament in 1996. For a start it reveals my
old name, then it talks about problems with teaching when it should be
talking about skills and experience. Thirdly it talks about gender as
‘he’ or ‘she’.”
 
Morgan told the General Teaching Council [GTC] committee hearing that he
had been misadvised by both the council’s then head of personnel Mark
Lamb and its employment lawyer Ian Yonge. “It’s not just that it’s
discriminatory, but that the Brighton & Hove legal team and others in
the council advised Morgan this was OK. Now Morgan is saying things
like, ‘I apologise, I was wrong, I’ve learnt a lot from the tribunal.’
So effectively he was being led beyond a certain point by the council,
who wanted to promote a certain course of argument. It’s clear that the
impetus was coming from the council.”
 
“Natasha feels it is still not over. She wants to know why the council
spent an estimated £100,000 fighting the case”
 
The GTC found Morgan guilty of six separate counts of discrimination.
The disciplinary panel concluded he had “brought the reputation and
standing of the profession into serious disrepute.” He has been ordered
to undergo diversity training.
 
“One way of looking at it is that it’s taken well over £100,000 of
public cash to force one old man into three hours of diversity training
– that he will never pass on, as he’s retired,“ Natasha says. “He’s also
never apologised to me. Had we never taken him to the GTC he never would
have. He still gets a pension and uninterrupted access to employment –
unlike me. I think I’ve been shortchanged terribly. Everyone else is
still working and still has their reputation intact.”
 
Natasha and Andy are still trying to get the council to disclose why
they were so adamant they should fight the case – and how much it cost.
“You don’t think about that happening in Brighton, the LGBT capital of
the country,” Andy says. “My key motivation is about trying to send out
a message to people: you don’t need to tolerate discrimination or
bullying. However, with the warning that it is very stressful, it’s very
long-winded, and you can expect the other side to use whatever methods
they can to try to vindicate themselves – even if it involves lying or
deceiving. Nevertheless, with determination it’s possible to have
positive outcomes.”
________________________________________________________________________
 
http://www.gscene.com/blog/2008/11/guilty-on-6-counts.html
 
Friday, November 07, 2008
 
Guilty on 6 Counts!
 
The General Teaching Council for England has ruled that a former
Education, Training and Employment Manager at Brighton & Hove City
Council was guilty of discriminating against a teacher because she was
transgender.
 
In 2003, Philip Morgan had secretly sent a fax to an employment agency
that revealed the teacher was transgender, despite a request not to do
so. After this had been discovered, he refused to write a new reference.
The tribunal heard that the male-to-female teacher had lost the
opportunity to find work after Morgan revealed her change of gender.
Morgan claimed he was misadvised by the Council’s then head of personnel
and lawyer Ian Yonge. The GTC committee found Morgan guilty of six
separate counts of discrimination, and said that he had “brought the
reputation and standing of the profession into serious disrepute.” He
has been ordered to undergo formal equality and diversity-awareness
training – although he has now retired.
 
Nigel Tart, the Green Party spokesperson on lesbian, gay, bisexual and
trans issues, and a gay teacher, welcomed the latest ruling. “It’s
disgraceful that a council that prides itself on being a top
LGBT-friendly employer should practise such bigotry against a trans
worker.” Tart called on local authorities to provide training for all
head teachers, governors and education managers on how to support LGBT
workers.
 
In June 2007, Brighton & Hove City Council was ordered to pay the
teacher £35,000 after being found guilty of victimising and
discriminating against the teacher. The payment was awarded for loss of
earnings and injury to feelings. It has been estimated that the council
spent more than £100,000 fighting the employment tribunal. The Council
has not disclosed how much was spent, and has failed to respond to
questions as to why it decided to fight the case. The Sex Discrimination
(Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999 made it unlawful to discriminate
on the grounds of gender reassignment in employment or vocational
training. Only around six cases have been raised. The Equal
Opportunities Commission agreed to back the case against Brighton
Council, believing it would set a legal precedent on discrimination
against transgender people.
 
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