Colombia, the Surprising Global Leader in Transgender Rights

[traci_k]

Colombia, the Surprising Global Leader in Transgender Rights

http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-surprising-global-leader-transgender-rights-101018987.html;_ylt=A0LEVvYRJnhVNSwAl5UnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--

Yahoo News
By Daniela Franco | Takepart.com
6/10/2015 1 hour ago


This week, Colombia moved to begin allowing its transgender citizens to legally change how their name and gender are registered on government identification cards—without having to endure intrusive physical and psychological examinations to prove their sex.

This puts Colombia at the forefront of an emerging global human rights issue: At least 19 European countries—including France, Belgium and Italy—require transgender people to undergo genital removal surgery and sterilization before they can legally change their gender. Already, Argentina, Spain, Uruguay and Denmark have passed measures to allow transgender people to legally adjust government identification cards to reflect their gender identity, without proof of surgery. In 2010, the U.S. State Department made it easier for transgender people to receive a passport reflecting their correct gender.

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The tides of the world are turning. When do you see something like this becoming the law of the land in the US or other countries in Europe?

[suzifrommd]

When do you see something like this becoming the law of the land in the US or other countries in Europe?

It's 100% up to us. It will happen when we speak with one voice and make ourselves heard. As long as many in our community who still think we should need a doctor's permission to change gender (I've seen many posts to that effect here on Susan's) it's optimistic to expect the cisgender people that run things to change anything.

[traci_k]

OK - Let me derail my own thread.

I agree with you Suzi, but what is it going to take to get more people involved? There is already a National Center for Transgender Equality. (I'm guilty. I haven't stopped by for a while)I wonder how many of us stop by their website to check out new happenings.There is also a hodge-podge of state and local organizations with opportunities for activism. How many of us know what really happening with state laws? For example, I stopped by the NCTE and found Connecticut was now the 8th state (I did not know that) to modernize birth certificate laws with just a doctors note that they are pursing transition via hormonal treatment, proof of SRS no longer required. How many states include the "T" in their ENDA protections? How many states have their own ENDA's period.(16PLUS dc) How do we get people here involved? We have 17,000+ members, albeit not all active, but that's a number if they would start flooding lawmakers with support for our positions that could move legislation, especially if the 700,000 transpeople nationally (estimated) started flooding Capitol Hill with letters. How do we awaken a sleeping giant?

Ok - getting off soapbox - getting close to having to move this thread to Activism

[suzifrommd]

I agree with you Suzi, but what is it going to take to get more people involved? There is already a National Center for Transgender Equality.

I will probably be skewered for saying this, but I don't think the NCTE does much. Every once in a while Mara Keisling surfaces to comment on something, but whenever I check out their website, there doesn't seem to be much agitation for change. I looked at their page on changing documentation and it seems like the idea of not requiring a doctor's permission isn't even on their radar.

In 2014, the gender rights folks in our state, aided by a handful of LGBT legislators, pushed a transgender rights through the state legislature. Then they basically hibernated. Seems like transfolks here are pretty happy with the way things are, and there is little appetite for further work. Instead, the leaders of the various groups are busy attacking one another about how much credit for the 2014 victory is deserved by whom and whether various contributions were helpful or harmful.

[traci_k]

Nope, won't get skewered by me. They could do more, as we all could and the other problem as you pointed out is how to unify the disparate voices and get people working together instead of trying to get their little piece of publicity and protecting their fiefdoms. But, if I had an answer to that,I'd be divorced and a national leader. (giggle)