Hi all,

I'm working for an american company, based in Belgium (not sure I can give the name, my coming-out at work is only in progress). We are taking care of the european, middle-east and african market. I will be asked to move to Dubai and join the middle-east team, should be for January. I will begin my HRT at this time.

Does any one know if it is possible for a transgender to live in this city. It's known to be one of the less conservative islamic country in M-E. I'm talking about transgender, not cross-dressers.

Sophie.

i don't know much about this at all, but i know if there is a strong sufi community, they are accepting of transgendered people and crossdressing..
you said islamic so... but the guy in a cab was like well sufi's only focus on meditation, and theres other stuff to islam, but sufis dont only focus on meditation, theres a whole culture and stuff... otherwise, i don't know.. less conservative sounds good though

Quote from: aisha on August 31, 2009, 01:09:44 PM
there is a strong sufi community, they are accepting of transgendered people and crossdressing..

Hi Aisha, thanks for the info. I had no idea about sufi until now, I will investigate a bit.

Sophie.

"less conservative" in the Mideast is still far more conservative than anything you've ever seen.  It's kind of like saying "its a nice prison" perhaps, but its still jail.   Most of these countries have two sets (if not more) of laws, one for citizens, and one for Westerners.  And they will know who you are.

There was something in the papers a few months ago about police in Dubai cracking down on Westerners who were "inappropriately" dressed.  Specifically cross-dressed.  I wouldn't risk it if I were you.

Don't.
If your company has affiliates in other countries, try for another location, some countries in the East are far more accepting of third genders and transgender, especially Thailand. Europe is often transphobic but has decent limits and nobody will do you harm really.
I've lived in Latin America and it's already very transphobic, but Islamic countries...
I have a friend who went on holidays to Dubai a couple of months ago and told me most of them were quite rigid when it comes to Islamic tradition. My neighbor is a professor of physics from Egypt and put me the same notion in more working-class terms which I won't repeat here to avoid offending anybody, since it was a generalization, but the bottom line is that some of them are very passionate about their beliefs, which are often the opposite of tolerance.

This is the article about that crackdown on ->-bleeped-<-s:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/17/dubai-detains-foreigners_n_113443.html

As Tekla suggested, better stay clear of the Middle East

Quote from: Dominiq on September 02, 2009, 04:46:11 PM

This is the article about that crackdown on ->-bleeped-<-s:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/17/dubai-detains-foreigners_n_113443.html

It's quite explicit. I will think to another solution. I will try to ask to be based in South-Africa.

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Post Merge: September 03, 2009, 12:29:27 PM

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Another solution is not living full time. I will begin my HRT in January 2010. I think that I should be able to hide it for 2 years. We have 6 months of Androcur only before going with estrogens.

I didn't say 'avoid the Mideast' I was there back in the early 80s off and on and I liked a lot of it, but - like most of life, you better know what your getting into. I went through a pretty intensive three week course my company put on about the habits, customs, laws and all that before they sent me.  All places have good and bad aspects to them, in that the Mideast is no different than America and Mexico.  Just know what it is.  And remember its not a PC culture.  Your not a 'guest' in their nation, no matter how many times they tell you that - your a foreigner, and an infidel at that to a lot of people.  At times that gives you a bit of a cushion, but most of the time it means you stand out in a place where lots of people are not very fond of the West, and all the West represents.

It looks like you don't have a choice. You could hide it for just a little bit after the E comes in, so it might make more sense to just wait until you finish Dubai, because transition is quite important and the point is living it and enjoying it and not hiding it and living in fear. Also, you don't know what the employers might do once you tell them you're going to transition in Dubai.
If you don't trust them, find a new job, if you do, speak openly to them and discuss the options.
Stay in Europe

Quote from: Dominiq on September 03, 2009, 03:24:56 PM
Also, you don't know what the employers might do once you tell them you're going to transition in Dubai.
If you don't trust them, find a new job, if you do, speak openly to them and discuss the options.
Stay in Europe

I've spoken with my direct manager about it today. He felt on his ass when I've said that I want to have a sex reasigment. I will speak to my general manager too, before signing the contract.
My direct manager said that we should be able to find a solution and that I should not loose my job for this. That's a good point, even if he thinks that working in middle-east can be a problem.

I'm a contractor, though not in Dubai, since Jan '04.  There is little tolerance in this part of the world for GLBT.  Though I have begun HRT, my situation and work environment is different from what yours would be here, so I will be able to manage for awhile.  This isn't to say there are no transgendered there.  It's just that RLT isn't a good option and with HRT you could find yourself in a situation that could get ugly quickly.  As an aside, there is a transgendered "market" of sorts...

I don't know what to do. If I sign the contracts, I will be able to save enough money, during 3 years for the SRS and the FFS, but I don't think that I can wait 2 years for begining the HRT.

If I stay in Belgium, I will be able to afford the SRS, my health insurance will pay for it. I will just have to pay for the FFS.

I think that my 'passing' is not so bad, so I will just need a light FFS (perhaps just for the nose).

It's so hard to take a decision. But I've taken the most important one. I go for the transition

i visited Dubai a number of time, and it is less conservative than the less of the region. People will not attack you or hurt you if they see that you are feminine or act gay but on the other side there is no law protecting LGTB people rights, actually the law will not be on your side but against you i think. 

Not sure what will be the situation if you are dressed like a guy with a suite and a tie but just on HRT and look different, i guess if someone did not go through that no one will be able to tell.

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Post Merge: September 06, 2009, 08:44:18 AM

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Quote from: Sophied27 on September 05, 2009, 01:17:07 PM
If I stay in Belgium, I will be able to afford the SRS, my health insurance will pay for it. I will just have to pay for the FFS.

would it be your American (or private) insurance paying for the SRS or the rather the Belgian health care system? 

Quote from: yabby on September 06, 2009, 08:42:36 AM

would it be your American (or private) insurance paying for the SRS or the rather the Belgian health care system?

Belgian health care system pays for +- 75% of the SRS, my complementary insurance will pay for the rest. If I had no additional insurance, I should pay +- 2500 euro (3500 USD)

I'm going to be watching this thread, because I have always had an interest in visiting the Middle East.  I have friends in Egypt, Dubai, and Lebanon, and I am wondering how it would be for a transgendered person in those areas as well.  If anyone has any information please let me know!

So, I've seen some people in my company. I had to do a coming-out to the management and the union. They don't want to send me there. So I should have another position, staying in Belgium.
It seems that for my own security, Middle-east and Africa is not the best place.

I think that the management of my company is on my side. I really appreciate it.

Sophie.

congratulation on the management being on your side and things turning out well.  Just for my curiosity are you based in Brussels or in another city?

Quote from: yabby on October 04, 2009, 03:25:41 PM
congratulation on the management being on your side and things turning out well.  Just for my curiosity are you based in Brussels or in another city?

I'm working just near Brussels and living near Namur.

Quote from: Sophied27 on October 05, 2009, 12:04:26 AM
I'm working just near Brussels and living near Namur.

ok ok i see where it is ^_^

That's a tuff question but a relatively easy answer, when in Rome, on the rare occasions that I have traveled to a Muslim country (twice) I simply made sure I had my burqua and hijab at the ready, once in flight I stepped in the loo and returned properly dressed for the Muslim's, Both times were uneventful just remember there are certain things women do not do or say when in public, you sound informed and intelligent, read up like I did on the subject, you do not want to be labeled a hijra unless you wish to be enslaved as a sex slave for some sheik...