July 8th 2024 – Update: Loosening of screening rules before surgery requiring hospitalization.

The Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montréal are pleased to announce that following some changes in guidelines from the Public Health Department, as of July 8, 2024, our patients undergoing surgery requiring hospitalization will no longer be required to take a PCR screening test.

This ends the necessity of PCR screening tests for patients, as those admitted for day surgery were no longer required to take these tests since April 3, 2023.

A PCR screening test may be required by our team in certain situations, particularly in cases of exposure to someone with COVID-19 or the presence of COVID-19 symptoms before the surgery date. Upon arrival at our facility, patients will need to complete a questionnaire about possible contacts with a person with COVID-19 in the 10 days preceding the surgery, and/or the presence of symptoms resembling COVID-19.

August 28, 2023 – Update: easing of preventive measures

The Complexe chirurgical CMC and its GrS Montréal division are pleased to announce that following certain changes in the instructions of the Public Health Department, wearing a mask is no longer mandatory since July 26 2023. You can still wear it if you want. Finally, remember that hand hygiene remains the best way to prevent infections and this measure is still in effect and strongly encouraged.

April 1, 2023 – Update: easing of screening rules before day surgery

The Complexe chirurgical CMC and its GrS Montréal division are pleased to announce that as of April 3, 2023, our patients undergoing day surgery will no longer be required to do a PCR screening test as a result of certain changes in the Public Health Department’s guidelines.

However, patients who must be hospitalized for more than one day in our facility will be required to take a PCR screening test 72 hours prior to their surgery.

Two visitors or companions per patient are allowed. However, only one may remain at the bedside, the other being in the waiting room. They may alternate their presence and must answer a short questionnaire related to COVID-19 upon their arrival. They are not allowed to circulate, drink or eat during the visit. Wearing a mask and hand hygiene are mandatory.

Archives

FEBRUARY 17, 2022 – UPDATE: RELAXATIONS TO VISIT RULES

The Complexe chirurgical CMC and its GrS Montreal division are pleased to announce that following certain adjustments in the Public Health Department directives, as of February 21, 2022, it will now be possible for our patients to receive visits or to be accompanied during their stay. To lower risks, we must limit access to one person at a time inside our facilities and they must provide proof of vaccination, as well as an ID upon arrival. No visitor or companion with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 within the last 14 days, under investigation or symptomatic will be admitted.
The visitor or accompanying person must not circulate within our facility except to get to the place visited. The visitor or accompanying person must stay in the room of the patient or at the place designated by the staff member.

JANUARY 10, 2022 – UPDATE: VISITORS RULES

First, the entire GRS Montreal team offers you its best wishes for 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike across the country. We try to adjust continuously to reality and to social and health guidelines to maintain our surgical activities.

In this vein, and with the main goal to continue offering safe services, as of now companions and visitors will not be allowed in our facilities. A security guard will be posted at the entrances and will ensure that those with access comply with the instructions and preventive measures.

Among the new public health instructions, the province of Quebec is now subject to a curfew between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. We therefore encourage you to keep a copy of your surgery confirmation to justify your travels to our facility.

We understand that the current context can be anxiety-provoking for our patients, but strict compliance with public health recommendations is essential for the continuity of our surgical activities.

If you are experiencing psychological or social difficulties, resources are available to support you:

ATQ (Quebec): 1 855 909-9038 # 1
Trans Lifeline (Canada – English only): 1 877 330-6366

Thank you for your usual cooperation.

The Management

December 13, 2021 – Preliminary version of the WPATH standards of care

A preliminary version of the WPATH standards of care has been distributed for revision. We are expecting the new official version within a few months.

Our team is aware that adjustments will be suggested and is already having discussions on this matter. Until the official version is published, GRS Montreal requirements remain the same. We recommend you sending the documents currently required. If you prefer to wait for possible changes to be in effect, please note that there could be variable delays inherent to those changes and possible adjustments from the Ministry of Health of your respective provinces.

The Management

September 17, 2021 – Vaccination proof for visitors and companions

During the press conference on September 7th, Quebec Prime Minister announced that as of October 15, 2021, all visitors to healthcare institutions will have to show their vaccination passport.

The Complexe chirurgical CMC will therefore be obligated to ask all visitors and companions who come to our facilities to show a proof that they are adequately vaccinated, meaning having received 2 doses of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca vaccine or one dose of Jansen vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, which are the authorized vaccines by Health Canada.

Visitors and accompanying persons who will not be able to show that they are adequately vaccinated will be denied access to our facilities to visit a patient.

We would like to remind you that although being fully vaccinated, the sanitary measures (wearing a mask, washing hands and social distancing) remain in effect.

We thank you for your cooperation.

The Management

July 14, 2021 – COVID-19 screening test

To follow up on the receipt of numerous questions regarding testing for the COVID-19 virus, we would like to clarify the following information:

The PCR/NAAT screening test is mandatory for all types of surgeries and all types of anesthesia. We do not accept Rapid Antigen tests.

Although the Rapid Antigen Test provides results within 15 minutes, the result is generally considered to be less accurate than for the PCR/NAAT test. It is common to get a false negative (a result that indicates the individual is not infected when they actually do) or a false positive (a result that indicates a person is infected when they actually are not).

PCR/NAAT tests are considered the gold standard when it comes to COVID-19 screening test. These tests provide more accurate results than rapid tests.

COVID-19 SCREENING TEST:

• You must have a screening test by PCR/NAAT done a maximum of 72 hours before your surgery.
• Please refer to the following table:

JULY 12, 2021 – NEW RULES FOR VISITS

Due to the current evolution of COVID-19 in Quebec and the most recent public health instructions, restrictions may be eased for visitors and companions at the Complexe chirurgical CMC.

• Only one person is allowed to visit or accompany a patient.
• No visitor who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days or who is under investigation or symptomatic is admitted.
• Wearing the procedure mask is always mandatory.
• Hand hygiene at the entrance and at the exit of CC-CMC and before and after putting the procedure mask is required.
• The inscription of the full name of the visitor, as well as of the visited patient in a registry at the entrance is mandatory.
• A sticker indicating the room number of the visited patient will be given to the visitor and must always be visible.
• The visitor should not circulate in the hospital except for visiting the patient.
• The visitor must stay in the room of the visited patient or in the place designated by a staff member.

If any of these instructions are not met, visiting the patient will not be permitted anymore and staff at the Complexe chirurgical CMC will ask the visitor to leave the hospital.

All instructions are subject to change depending on the situation in the region.

The management

JUNE 23, 2021 – Frequently asked questions related to COVID-19

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, our patients, staff, and physicians have had to demonstrate a great deal of adaptability to keep up with the evolving situation and the epidemiological risks. The CC-CMC has made every effort to prevent an outbreak of the virus, with the objective of maintaining the offer of surgical services to trans and non-binary Canadians.

It has always been very important for us to keep our patients and partners informed of decisions made in connection with the pandemic. Several questions have been asked recently and we would like to answer them. Here are the most frequently asked questions:

Question A: Does a person who has received one or two doses of the vaccine for COVID-19 still must be tested before their surgery?

Answer A: Yes. Because the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against the risk of infection and spread of the virus, mandatory testing remains to protect themselves and other patients.

Question B: Considering that the number of infected people is decreasing in Quebec, can we have visitors during our stay?

Answer B: No. Since the situation is not the same across the country, GrS Montreal prefers to exercise caution to protect our patients and our staff. A single outbreak would jeopardize the surgical offer for trans and non-binary people. We will re-evaluate this restriction in the Fall depending on the situation at that time.

Question C: I am from outside of Canada and would like to have my gender affirmation surgery at GrS Montreal. Is this currently possible?

Answer C: No. Although the Canadian Government seems to be starting to relax the conditions of entry into the country and the rules concerning mandatory quarantine, there are still too many uncertainties on this subject and GrS Montreal prefers to wait a little longer before receiving patients from abroad. Again, we will re-evaluate this restriction in the Fall depending on the situation at that time.

To conclude, we would like to thank you for your confidence and your understanding in connection with the restrictions resulting from the pandemic that has affected us since 2020. Our priority is your safety, and we take very seriously our mission to offer trans and non-binary people surgical services that meet their expectations.

The management

JUNE 17, 2021 – Summer news from GrS Montreal

It has now been over a year since the Complexe chirurgical CMC resumed its surgical activities after a temporary closure in the spring of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many changes have taken place and we greatly appreciate the resilience of staff and patients facing the consequences of this pandemic. Summer 2021 will also bring its share of changes and today we want to share them with you.

First, we are very pleased to announce the return of Dr. Chen Lee to the GrS Montreal surgical team. As in his previous collaboration, he will mainly perform mastectomy surgeries for our trans and non-binary patients. He will also team up with Dr. Maud Bélanger and Dr. Alexis Laungani for the realization of phalloplasties.

Furthermore, we inform you of the departure of Dr. Éric Bensimon who will continue his surgical activities and the development of his independent practice including his specialty in facial feminization (FFS). The entire CC-CMC team warmly thanks him for his involvement over the years and wishes him success in his future endeavors!

Although she already performs ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeries at the CMC, we are very pleased to announce that Dr. Julie-Valérie Brousseau is joining the GrS Montreal team for the brand new “Voice Program” which will allow many trans and non-binary people to obtain a voice that more closely matches their identity.

In closing, we thank you for your trust and wish you a wonderful and healthy summer!

The Management of Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal

APRIL 17, 2021 – Closure of the border between Quebec and Ontario

Greetings to all Ontario patients of GRS Montreal,

We are taking a few moments today inform you that we have taken note of the context in which the borders between Ontario and Quebec will be closely monitored as of Monday, April 19, 2021.

The information that travels between these 2 provinces will be authorized, in particular for essential and medical reasons, allows us to believe that you will be able to get to Montreal without any problem to have your surgery. To this end, if you have a surgery planned soon, we will send you a confirmation letter to be printed. You can present the letter in the event of a check-up by authorities.

It would be important to make sure that the mode of transportation you have chosen to come to Montreal and return to Ontario is still available (train, plane, bus).

We would like to remind you of the importance of following the instructions issued by health authorities. In addition, do not forget that GRS Montreal requires proof of a negative result for COVID-19 before having your surgery. This screening test should not have been done more than 72 hours before the scheduled time of your surgery.

Always wearing a mask inside the Complexe chirurgical CMC remains mandatory. The presence of visitors during your stay is still prohibited.

People who have a surgical appointment scheduled for the week of April 19 have been or will be contacted promptly. We are not considering any surgical cancellations and will continue to make every effort to prevent the spread of the virus within our facility. We would like to thank you for your patience and your participation in making GRS Montreal’s activities safe.

For any question relating to this subject only, please contact us by email at soutiencovid19@cmcmontreal.com.

Take good care of your health.

We look forward to welcoming you to Montreal.

The management

JANUARY 11, 2021 – IMPORTANT INFORMATION

First, the entire GRS Montreal team offers you its best wishes for 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike across the country. We try to adjust continuously to reality and to social and health guidelines to maintain our surgical activities.

In this vein, and with the main goal to continue offering safe services, starting January 18, 2021, obtaining a negative COVID-19 screening result carried out within a maximum of 72 hours before surgery will be necessary for all our patients, regardless of their origin, the surgical intervention requested, or the type of anesthesia required. You will also have to comply with this new requirement even if you have already contracted COVID-19 in the past or have received a vaccine against this virus. All details will be emailed to you by our administrative staff.

Among the new public health instructions, the province of Quebec is now subject to a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. We therefore encourage you to keep a copy of your surgery confirmation to justify your travels to our facility.

For surgeries scheduled before January 18, please refer to the email sent by our administrative staff for the guidelines that apply to you.

We understand that the current context can be anxiety-provoking for our patients, but strict compliance with public health recommendations is essential for the continuity of our surgical activities.

If you are experiencing psychological or social difficulties, resources are available to support you:

ATQ (Quebec): 1 855 909-9038 # 1
Trans Lifeline (Canada – English only): 1 877 330-6366

Thank you for your usual cooperation.

The Management

DECEMBER 17, 2020 – END OF YEAR MEMO

Hello,
The year 2020 is ending soon and we wanted to thank the patients of GrS Montreal for their trust. Despite the temporary closure of the Complexe chirurgical CMC for nearly 3 months during the first wave of the spread of COVID-19, all our teams have made considerable efforts to return to work by following exceptional sanitary measures. In this context and, although 10% of patients who had their surgery cancelled during the temporary closure prefer to postpone their surgery after the pandemic, we are happy to have resumed 85% of all surgeries cancelled in the Spring.

We wish to reassure you that our socio-sanitary measures are continuously updated based on the most recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to guarantee the safety of our patients and staff.

The Complexe chirurgical CMC and its GrS Montreal division will be closed from December 19 to January 3 inclusively. We will be happy to see you again on January 4, 2021.

Until then, take care of your health and we wish you Happy Holidays.

If you are experiencing emotional difficulties or loneliness during this unusual time, know that there are resources you can call:

ATQ (Quebec): 1-855-909-9038 # 1
Trans Lifeline (Canada – English only): 1-877-330-6366
See you soon!

The management

October 1st, 2020.

Good day to all patients and partners of GrS Montreal,

Several major Canadian cities are currently facing a second wave of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Montreal is not spared and this situation worries many people for whom gender affirmation surgery is planned in the near future.

We know how important these surgeries are to you and we work very hard to continue to provide quality services in a safe environment. We are pleased to report that due to the sustained efforts of our medical and professional staff, we managed keeping our facilities COVID-free.

We have no plans to proceed to a second temporary closure of our hospital. Everything is being done to maintain our activities despite the pandemic. In addition, we continue to monitor the provincial and regional situation very closely in order to proactively adjust our safety measures.

Our discussions with government authorities have highlighted the uniqueness of gender affirmation surgeries for our Canadian patients. Rest reassured that unless there is an explicit directive from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, we will do everything in our power to keep GrS Montreal in operation.

We would like to remind you to continue to follow the socio-sanitary recommendations issued by the Department of Public Health in your region. In addition, it is essential for our patients to respect the rules that were sent to you before your surgery. A single case of contagion by negligence would jeopardize all the efforts made by our team and our clients, as well as the care we provide every day.

Thank you for helping us create a welcoming and safe place!

The entire GrS Montreal team.

July 15, 2020

To all clients of the Complexe chirurgical CMC and GRS Montreal,

For the sake of transparency and to answer several questions raised in recent weeks, we wish to present today an account of our activities since the reopening on June 1, 2020.

First, all Canadian provinces now allow their patients to receive the care they need at GRS Montreal.

In addition, the increase in our surgical activities to compensate for delays caused by the pandemic has paid off. All vaginoplasty surgeries have been or will be performed before the fall. To do this, we have increased the number of surgeries performed each week and the surgeons have also shortened their summer vacation. For the other gender affirmation surgeries, they will all be performed before the end of the year despite a closure of almost 3 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The medical and nursing staff will be on vacation from July 25 to August 16 inclusive. However, the GRS Montreal administrative office remains open to answer your questions, process new requests for surgical procedures and prepare for return.

We are very pleased to have successfully implemented sanitary measures quickly to allow all types of surgeries to be resumed.

We remain aware that new rules and procedures may have made their stay more difficult for some people. The ban on receiving visitors or companions is one of them. We thank you for your understanding on this subject.

These measures that we have taken to prevent the transmission of the virus will have enabled us to offer surgeries under general anesthesia as of June 22. In addition, there are no reports of COVID-19 infection in our facilities.

We are very empathetic that the delays caused by the temporary closure have caused great suffering for many people. We want to thank you for your patience and understanding in the face of such an exceptional and unexpected situation.

Thank you for your confidence,

The management.

June 4th, 2020.

To all clients of the Complexe chirurgical CMC,

You already know that we resumed part of our surgical activities on June 1st. At that time, we could not resume surgical procedures that needed general anesthesia since the risk of contamination to COVID-19 was higher and the necessary protective equipment was not available.

The situation has changed, and we are happy to announce the gradual resumption of surgeries under general anesthesia as of Monday, June 22, 2020. The quantity of surgeries performed will be less than usual at the beginning while ensuring that the supply of protection material is well established.

The main gender affirmation surgeries that are performed under general anesthesia are mastectomies (masculinization of the torso) and the different stages of phalloplasty.

Patients who have had their surgery cancelled during the temporary closure of the CMC will receive a call for a new appointment in the original order of cancellation. Please note that the surgeries initially scheduled from June 22 remain on schedule. Someone from the administrative services will contact you shortly.

We thank you for all the patience you have shown since the beginning of this pandemic.

The management.

Montreal, May 15, 2020.

Hello to all our patients.

We recently informed you of the discussions held between the management of GRS Montreal and health officials in each of the Canadian provinces. We were also discussing with the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) because we needed their approval to resume our surgical services.

Today, we are very happy to announce that GRS Montreal was authorized to partially resume its surgical activities for trans and not binary people, starting Monday, June 1, 2020.

We will try to explain in this press release, with the greatest possible transparency, under what conditions we will resume our activities.

First, it should be noted that the MSSS requests to use part of our facilities and our personnel to perform “semi-urgent” surgeries (mainly oncology). It is therefore to be expected that for a certain period, a portion of our facilities will be occupied by surgeons from the public health network. Since the CMC is offering its facilities in partnership with the healthcare network during this difficult period, the MSSS is permitting us at the same time to perform gender affirmation surgeries.

Regarding the types of surgeries that we will be allowed to perform upon reopening, only procedures that do not require general anesthesia can first take place. General anesthesia requires that the patient be completely asleep and sometimes intubated during the surgical procedure. This type of anesthesia carries more risks of spreading the coronavirus and requires the use of special equipment which the public health system badly needs (N95 masks for example). Vaginoplasty is one of the only surgeries that do not require general anesthesia, so this surgery will be given priority when reopening. We are closely monitoring the situation to allow the resumption of surgeries that require general anesthesia as soon as possible.

Most Canadian provinces have authorized the resumption of surgical activities in Montreal despite the state of the pandemic and the funding of surgeries has never been questioned. However, some provinces currently refuse to allow their patients to travel to Montreal to receive gender reassignment surgery. Before the publication of this press release, people from the provinces for which we still not have a plan will have been contacted to unfortunately postpone their surgeries. We are pursuing our supporting efforts to the provinces so that all Canadian patients may have access to the gender affirmation surgery as soon as possible.

When resuming the elective procedures, we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. According to the health and safety instructions, infection prevention measures will be deployed in each of our sectors. These measures include, among others:

1. the compliance with the physical distancing instructions – signs and markings on the ground will be installed both outside and inside for traffic and distance to be respected;
2. the installation of curtains, screens and plexiglass will be carried out;
3. the increased maintenance of our facilities;
4. the personnel will be subjected daily to a questionnaire on their state of health;
5. wearing personal protective equipment (N95 mask, gloves, eye protection, gown) for medical procedures generating aerosols;
6. the wearing of a mask or a face cover at all times for all personnel;
7. the wearing a mask or face cover at all times for all patients;
8. companions and visitors will not be allowed in our facilities;
9. security guards will be posted at the entrances and exits and will ensure that those with access comply with the instructions and preventive measures;
10. a telehealth program has been put in place to avoid displacement as much as possible – each case will be assessed individually;
11. an infection prevention program and a reference guide are being drafted and will be available soon;
12. the continuation of telework for staff, when possible.

The following preventive measures while travelling and the age of patients will be in effect:

1. online questionnaire for a COVID-19 preoperative triage;
2. compulsory confinement at home 14 days before surgery;
3. triage questionnaire upon admission to the Complexe chirurgical CMC;
4. obligation to wear a mask or face cover during the trip to our establishment;
5. surgeries for patients aged 70 and over will be postponed to a later date;
6. patients between the ages of 60 and 69 should be reassessed individually by the medical team;
7. Patients from outside Canada will not be able to resume surgery immediately due to the excessive risk of coronavirus contamination. As soon as the situation allows, we will contact you to welcome you to Montreal.

We are aware that some of the information in this press release might raise questions for some people. The general message to remember is that we are restarting our activities carefully and gradually for the well-being our patients and staff. We are aware that the situation is changing quickly and be assured that you will be notified of any changes or when the restrictions mentioned above will cease. Our teams will work very hard to increase the surgical capacity and at the same time, resume most of the postponed surgeries before the end of the year.

Thank you for the understanding you all showed during this temporary closure. The best is yet to come.

Take good care of yourself.

The management.

Montreal, May 14, 2020.

To all our patients.

This week we wanted to keep you informed of our ongoing efforts. Since discussions are still ongoing with the Ministries of Health of each province, we will delay to next week our decision on a possible postponement of surgeries for the week of June 1st, 2020.

The reopening of Complexe chirurgical CMC is our goal with our talks with the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) and with equivalents in each province. Several elements such as conditions related to travel between provinces and approval of funding for surgeries are under consideration. Your testimonies by email and via the Facebook platform allowed us to build a serious argument.

Unfortunately, we are unable to decide today on a likely reopening in June. We should be able to confirm a decision early next week because we need the permission of the MSSS to proceed. Psychosocial resources are available if you feel the need. For our English-speaking patients, peer support is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day at 1 877 330-6366 (Trans LifeLine). For people speaking French, the ATQ organization offers a help line dedicated to trans people: 1 855 909-9038 # 1.

We thank you for your patience.

The entire Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal team is looking forward to seeing you quickly and in good health!

The Executive Management

Montreal, May 5, 2020.

To all our patients.

Each week, we closely follow the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ministerial recommendations in order to make the best decisions regarding the safety of our patients.

This week, once again, we are forced to announce the postponement of our surgical activities for another week. Therefore, we have the painful obligation to inform you that no surgery will be possible until the end of May 2020.

We are sensitive to the anguish this situation may cause to many people. We also intend to have a plan in place that would make up for part of the backlog caused by the temporary closure linked to COVID-19.

Psychosocial resources are available if you feel the need. For our English-speaking patients, peer support is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day at 1 877 330-6366 (Trans LifeLine). For people speaking French, the ATQ organization offers a help line dedicated to trans people: 1 855 909-9038 # 1.

The entire Complexe chirurgical CMC and GRS Montreal team is looking forward to seeing you quickly and in good health!

The Executive Management

Montreal, April 29, 2020.

To all our patients.

As stated in our weekly update, we are assessing every week the possibility of reopening the Complexe chirurgical CMC.

Given the uncertainty that still hangs concerning the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must again take the unfortunate decision to postpone all surgeries and consultation appointments currently scheduled between May 18 and 22, 2020 inclusively. Although we have no control as to when we will be able to resume our activities, we are already working on a plan to be ready as soon as we receive the green light from the provincial health authorities.

We are sensitive to the anguish this situation may cause to many people. We also intend to have a plan in place that would make up for part of the backlog caused by the closure linked to COVID-19.

Psychosocial resources are available if you feel the need. For our English-speaking patients, peer support is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day at 1 877 330-6366 (Trans LifeLine). For people speaking French, the ATQ organization offers a help line dedicated to trans people: 1 855 909-9038 # 1.

The entire Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal team is looking forward to seeing you quickly and in good health!

The Executive Management

Montreal, April 21, 2020.

To all our patients.

As stated in our update last week, we are assessing every week the possibility of reopening the Complexe chirurgical CMC.

Given the uncertainty that still hangs concerning the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must again take the unfortunate decision to postpone all surgeries and consultation appointments currently scheduled between May 11 and 15, 2020 inclusively.

We are sensitive to the anguish this situation can cause to many people.

Psychosocial resources are available if you feel the need. For our English-speaking patients, peer support is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day at 1 877 330-6366 (Trans LifeLine). For people speaking French, the ATQ organization offers a help line dedicated to trans people: 1 855 909-9038 # 1.

The entire Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal team is looking forward to seeing you quickly and in good health!

The Executive Management

April 16, 2020.

Hello to all our patients.

Given the uncertainty that still hangs on the reopening of private clinics and hospitals, we must now take the unfortunate decision to postpone all surgeries and consultation appointments currently scheduled between May 4 and 8, 2020 inclusively.

We are aware that this decision will bring its share of disappointments and anxieties for many of our patients. All professionals and staff of the Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal are also affected by the temporary closure of the business.

However, as the Quebec situation of Covid-19 seems to be pointing in an encouraging direction, the reopening of the Complexe chirurgical CMC will be evaluated weekly rather than monthly. Following this logic, we will issue a statement next week to determine if the surgeries scheduled during the week of May 11th, 2020 are to be postponed or not.

Psychosocial resources are available if you feel the need. For our English-speaking patients, peer-support is available to answer your calls 24 hours a day at 1 877 330-6366 (Trans LifeLine). For people speaking French, the ATQ organization offers a help line dedicated to trans people: 1 855 909-9038 # 1.

The entire Complexe chirurgical CMC and GRS Montreal team is looking forward to seeing you quickly and in good health!

The management

Montreal, April 15, 2020.

Many people whose surgeries have been cancelled due to the pandemic have asked the following questions:

• When will I get my new surgery date?
• How are you going to proceed to reschedule the surgeries?
• Will I end up at the end of the list?

First, no new surgeries have been scheduled since the closure of the Complexe chirurgical CMC on March 18, 2020. Since we are uncertain when we will be able to resume our activities, and since it is out of our control, we do not know exactly when we will be able to give you a new surgery date.

However, rest assured that a team is already at work trying to find alternatives to minimize the waiting time. We are conscious of the insecurity that this may cause you, but the health and well-being of our patients remain at the core of our priorities.

Once we have the green light to reopen the Complexe chirurgical CMC, we will contact you as soon as possible to offer you a new date for your surgical procedure.

When the time comes, we will take into account the rank of your surgery on the cancellation list, the directives about travel restrictions in your own province, your personal availability for the date that will be offered to you, as well as the type of surgery and the availability of the surgeons.

We are monitoring the situation closely and further communications will follow as required.

Thank you for your support and valuable collaboration.

The Executive Management

Montreal, Tuesday, April 8, 2020.

The management of the Complexe chirurgical CMC and its subsidiary GrS Montreal follows the news concerning COVID-19 very closely. Currently, all surgeries and office consultations are cancelled until the end of April 2020.

Since we are still uncertain about the date of reopening of our establishment, we must make certain recommendations to patients having a surgery date planned in May 2020:

• Do not purchase non-refundable airline tickets before we contact you to confirm if your surgery will take place;
  • For people who have already purchased their tickets, do not cancel them at this time.

• If medication needs to be stopped before your surgery, follow the recommendations provided in the preoperative documents. If we must extend the closure of the establishment, you will be able to resume your usual medication until another date is confirmed.

We hope to be able to inform you sometime next week (April 13) whether the surgeries scheduled in May 2020 will take place.

We thank you for your usual understanding,

The management of the Complexe chirurgical CMC and GRS Montreal.

March 26, 2020.

The GrS Montreal management team wishes to keep you informed of the decisions made by its members. Considering the evolution of the situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus, GrS Montreal is forced to postpone all surgeries and consultations planned by the end of April 2020. The people concerned will receive a call from us shortly.

Your safety and well-being remain our priority in these difficult times. We are working very hard to prepare for the reopening of the hospital to minimize the impact on our patients.

We understand that this temporary closure will cause significant suffering for many people. If you need to talk, a peer-support hotline (Trans Lifeline) is available for English-speaking patients. You can contact the them by calling 1-877-330-6366.

In these uncertain times, the entire GrS Montreal team wants you to take care of yourself. We hope to see you again as soon as possible.

March 18, 2020.

The Quebec Government recommends the restriction of access to nonessential services in order to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 virus. Following the latest directives of the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services concerning the elective surgeries, we are saddened to inform you that the Complexe chirurgical CMC is required to cease carrying on its surgical activities until further notice. All surgical procedures must be postponed until the Quebec Government social-health directives allow us to resume our activities.

We know that this situation might be difficult for you, but your health and safety are important to us. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is an unusual event that may affect people physical and psychologically. In this respect, you may experience feelings such as stress, anxiety or depression. Should you find yourself in one of these situations, we are strongly recommending you seek help.

We are currently working on the development of a plan that will allow us to resume our activities as soon as these measures are lifted in order to minimize the waiting time when the situation is back to normal.

However, some services will remain active. It will be possible for people who underwent a surgical procedure to contact the postoperative clinic by leaving a message at 514 333-1572 or by email at asclepiade@cmcmontreal.com. Please note that the resources will be limited and that we will respond to emergencies only.

For any other question or information, we recommend that you:

• consult the postoperative information documents that you received during your convalescence;
• consult your treating physician if you note any changes in your health status. He may contact us at all times at 514 333-1572, ext. 200.

If your situation requires immediate attention, contact your local emergency services.

We are monitoring the situation closely and we will contact you as soon as the situation is back to normal.

March 16th 2020.

On March 13, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Quebec government ordered a ban on non-essential visits to hospitals, residential and long-term care centres, intermediate resources, family-type resources for the elderly and vulnerable adults and private seniors’ homes throughout Québec’s territory.

From today until further notice, patient visits are suspended at the Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie and the Asclépiade convalescence home. This exceptional measure will ensure the protection of our patients and prevent the spread of the virus. Only authorized staff will be admitted to the facility. Companions of a patient in day surgery will not be allowed to move around the facility. Until the patient’s medical discharge, they will be asked to wait in a reserved area of the waiting room at the reception located on Poincaré Street.

Since 6 a.m. this morning, measures for the rapid identification for people who may be infected by the coronavirus have been put in place. Everyone who access the facility is asked about their travels over the past 4 weeks and the presence of fever or respiratory symptoms.

Also, if you want more information about COVID-19, visit the Quebec government Website:

http://quebec.ca/coronavirus

If you have a cough or fever, call free of charge 1-877-644-4545.

Your actions, your behavior and compliance with these control measures have a major impact on our ability to limit the pandemic. We are monitoring the situation closely and further communications will follow as required.

Thank you for your valuable collaboration,

Complexe chirurgical CMC

March 13th 2020.

We would like to inform you that CMC Montreal is following the situation very closely regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. We want to highlight the strategies put in place to protect our patients, staff and partners.

Since March 10, 2020, all countries outside of Canada have now been on the list of countries under increased surveillance.

As a result, CMC Montreal will cancel and postpone all surgery of patients from outside Canada until further notice.

For Canadian patients, an evaluation questionnaire has been developed to identify patients who may be affected by the coronavirus. Fourteen (14) days before their surgery date, every patient who will be admitted to the Complexe chirurgical CMC will complete this questionnaire. A nurse will be responsible for assessing each case and providing appropriate recommendations. If there is potential or confirmed close contact with a case of COVID-19, the surgery will be cancelled and postponed to a further date. If the patient is not at risk, the surgery will take place as planned. The visitors will also be questioned. In case of serious doubt, access to the centre will be denied. Other preventive measures have been put in place:

• In order to prevent spreading of the virus, we are limiting the number of visitors per patient to ONE visitor until further notice.
• Surveillance personnel are installed at all the entrance doors of the building.
• We will keep a record of all people who enter to the Complexe chirurgical CMC. Everyone who comes to the centre will be questioned about their risk of exposure to the coronavirus. If there is a serious doubt, these people will be denied access to the centre.
• Sanitary practices for the prevention and control of infections (hand-washing, respiratory etiquette) are applied scrupulously.
• The maintenance of equipment, care equipment and the environment are enhanced.
• In the outpatient clinic, all people with flu-like symptoms are advised to cancel their appointment and reschedule at a later date.
• In order to avoid any potential contact with carriers of the virus all trips, conferences, training and other professional travels of employees have been cancelled.

Given the rapid development, we remain alert and further communications will follow as required.

Respectfully,

Complexe chirurgical CMC

L’article COVID-19 – Coronavirus est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

The Asclepiade convalescent home is 15 years old! The Asclepiade (french word for milkeweed) convalescent home, founded in 2007, offers care and accommodation to our trans clientele who have had genital gender affirmation surgery. Why did we choose this name? Because milkweed is the only plant that welcomes the monarch caterpillar to allow it to turn into a beautiful butterfly. It is an inspiring metaphor for what the convalescent home means to our patients. We have also set up a garden there that has obtained the certification Oasis for monarchs in order to offer butterflies, and the people who enjoy the garden, a rejuvenating and peaceful place.

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L’article The Asclepiade convalescent home celebrates its 15th anniversary! est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Often when we refer to the types of relationships that exist, we usually think of the sexual orientation of the people involved, such as heterosexual or LGBTQ+ people. On the other hand, there is also what is called “relational orientation“. This is the structure that a relationship can take, including the number of partners in a given relationship, the feelings one may have towards the partner(s), etc. This article will therefore approach some basic terms in the diverse world of polyamory.

Polyamory means maintaining multiple relationships at the same time. Unlike monogamous people who only have one person with whom they share a romantic and sexual relationship, polyamorous people have multiple relationships at the same time. These relationships can be romantic and/or sexual in nature. There are also those who consider themselves ambamorous, which means that they can be as comfortable in a monogamous relationship than in a polyamourous one.

The types of relationships involving more than two people, not having sexual exclusivity and/or love, is called ethical non-monogamy. This includes polyamory and swinging (discussed later). Everyone involved is fully aware of the terms of the relationships, having explicit agreement, honesty, and communication. It is thus not synonymous to infidelity because everyone is aware and consents to the activities. We can also find agreements established regarding the level of protection used during physical contact.

A big thank you to the Polyamour Montreal group for creating a glossary from which I drew inspiration to create this list.

General terms

Relationship escalator: In our society, a relationship typically has a normalized path. You can expect to meet a partner, date for a while, have sex or not, get married, have children, etc. This is called a relational staircase. Many decide to structure their relationships differently, such as not getting married, not having children, having only sex and not romantic relationships (and vice versa).

Compersion: Compersion is an emotion that can be said to be the opposite of jealousy. It is a feeling of joy that we get when our partner experiences happiness. This is especially the case with polyamorous people when a person is happy to see their partner experience happiness with one of their other partners. It is far from being an innate or easily understood emotion, but it is over time that we can learn to recognize and live it with our loved one(s).

Consent: Consent is expressing oneself in favor of an act. It can be withdrawn at any time, without justification, and even if you have already done such an act in the past (we can think of sexual relations in particular). Without consent, an act is abuse.

ORE/NRE: Old Relationship Energy and New Relationship Energy are emotions we feel about a relationship. In a long-standing relationship, this ORE may be distinguished by a sense of comfort, security, and stability. In a recent relationship, this NRE may be distinguished by a feeling of adrenaline and excitement.

Unicorn: A so-called unicorn is someone who joins an existing couple (polyamorous couple or not) to engage in a romantic and/or sexual relationship with both members of the couple. This term is sometimes used in a derogatory way, because it often refers to a monogamous heterosexual couple (called unicorn hunters) who seek a bisexual woman for sex in an objectifying way.

Metamour: A metamour means the relationship between two people who are dating the same individual. For example, if person B is dating person A and person C (imagine A-B-C), person A and C are metamours to each other.

One Penis Policy (OPP): A concept usually frowned upon in the polyamorous community, where one person (usually a cisgender, heterosexual man) demands that their partners not have sex with other people who have penises.

Polycule: Having the word molecule at its origins, it is about the group including oneself, our partners and our metamours.

Poly(in)saturated: When in a polyamorous dynamic, being polysaturated means that we have reached our maximum number of partners that we can manage simultaneously. On the contrary, being polyunsaturated means that you have not yet reached that limit.

Veto: A veto is an agreement that allows a person to be able to terminate an additional relationship of their partner or for certain activities to take place. It is more often used by those new to polyamory and is less well regarded by more experienced people.

Types of relationships

Relational Anarchy: This is a structure where principles related to anarchy are applied to relationships. Some values include autonomy, non-hierarchical practices (where there are no relationships that are more important than another) and anti-normativity.

DADT: An acronym for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, in the world of ethical non-monogamy it means an arrangement in which we choose not to disclose details of our other relationships to our partner. This is not a very common concept in the community, as it is often seen as unethical due to its contradiction to the principles of honesty and open communication.

Protection Contract/Fluid Bonding: This is an agreement to reduce the exchange of bodily fluids and unprotected sexual contact.

Friends With Benefits (FWB): This dynamic occurs when you establish a friendship that includes sexual activity without necessarily having romantic expectations.

Kitchen table: This is a form of polyamory where the partners and their respective metamours establish a network with the important value of meeting to talk about the challenges facing the polycule or to do activities together. This is the opposite of parallel polyamory.

Mixed poly relationship: When a polyamorous person has a relationship with a monogamous person.

Parallel Polyamory (Corridor Poly): A structure of polyamory where a person’s relationships are independent of each other, having little or no contact between metamours. It is the opposite of the kitchen table style.

Polyfidelity/closed relationship: A type of polyamory involving more than two people, but where each partner is not looking for other additional people outside of the relationship. If we decide to seek additional partners, we do so with the approval and consent of everyone involved.

Egalitarian relationship: Synonymous with non-hierarchical relationship, this is a relationship where no one in the polycule has priority over others. This is the opposite of a hierarchical structure.

Triad: Relationship made up of three people, all three of which are involved in sexual and emotional relationships with each other.

N relationship: Usually involving two couples, where one of the members of the first couple is seeing someone from the second couple.

V relationship: A relationship involving three people, where one person has romantic and/or sexual relations with the other two people, but the latter do not have a relationship between them.

Open relationship: Relationship that is exclusive at the romantic level but not at the sexual level. Some people use the term as a synonym for polyamory (it is often the case in swinger communities) but it is not always the case. For others, this term is only used to describe non-monogamous sex.

Solo poly: This is an approach to polyamory where a person emphasizes autonomy, not needing the permission of others to choose their own relationships and flexibility to form relationships how they so choose.

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L’article Polyamory lexicon est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

A project with humble beginnings started with a concept: what if trans artists, particularly those of color, were given a platform for their music and their art? What if trans lives were celebrated, individuals were empowered, narratives given a spark of positivity? Look no further than Trans Trenderz, a music label founded by Blxck Cxsper. The label first started as a mixtape curated and produced by Cxsper, bringing together over a dozen trans and non-binary artists of color.

Since then, the hard work of the founder and the artists signed on to Trans Trenderz catapulted the label into the spotlight, despite some setbacks due to the pandemic. Their work has been featured in numerous publications from the likes of Billboard to them magazine. Since the summer of 2020, multiple projects have been produced both by Cxsper and producers at Studio G Brooklyn (a recording studio of Grammy award-winning caliber): Splash, a compilation track with five of the label’s artists, five singles, a Christmas EP, tracks and video tutorials from Blxck Cxsper as well as numerous behind-the-scenes videos with footage highlighting each of the signees. Trans Trenderz also launched the Ghostly Beats project, aiming to provide beats, sponsorships and advice to trans artists of color who reached out and urging allies to help in any way possible. For Pride Month 2021, several of the artists appear in an ad for Pride on Instagram and Facebook.

Below you’ll find some information regarding each of the artists. The label is currently asking for donations in order to fund future projects and running the label as a whole. In contrast to most labels, they give all of the rights and royalties to the artists, only taking 10% of booking fees and any other profits going straight back to the label. If you would like to help by sharing or contributing, here’s their GoFundMe.

Current artists on the label

Blxck Cxsper
Black nonbinary migrant Blxck Cxsper is a hip-hop and RNB artist based in Montreal. They’ve written and produced multiple tracks, EP’s and albums, not only for other artists but in their own repertoire as well. Their bilingual verses are highlighted in the chorus of the collab track “Splash”. Their single Penthouse was released on their birthday in December and released their single Self-Medicating on February 26th. Their vocals appear alongside Lady Londyn’s in the Pride ad online. They also released an album with Lady Londyn called Pride.

Evolation
Evolation is a pop-folk artist based in New York City. They help manage the label alongside Cxsper, and they manage the logistics of artist management in the United States. They most recently provided vocals on the label’s holiday EP It’s a Very Trans Christmas. They are also a part of the music group Mo(u)rning People.

Lady Londyn
Los Angeles singer Lady Londyn’s music is a fusion of hip hop and trap, with her verses present in the “Splash” project as well as her single “All On Me” released December 4th, 2020. Her vocals and looks redefine beauty throughout the music video of her single, and features cameos by her fellow Trans Trenderz artists. Their vocals appear alongside Blxck Cxsper’s in the Pride ad online. She also released an album with Blxck Cxsper called Pride.

Maxi Glamour
Multidisciplinary artist and competitor on season three of the series Dragula, Glamour just signed with Trans Trenderz. They have launched their single “Don’t Worry” before launching their first album “Modernadada”.

Artists in the past roster

Apollo Flowerchild
Folk and soul musician Apollo Flowerchild is based in Brooklyn, New York. Their single “Bloody Hands” was the first single to be released by a newly signed artist. Launched on November 6th, 2020, the single is a passionate anthem written as an ode to hardship, with the song landing radio airplay across America. They appear in the Pride ad mentioned earlier alongside Blxck Cxsper, Lady Londyn, Heather Hills and Jae.

Heather Hills
Hip-hop and electro artist Heather Hills reigns from New Jersey. Her singing and rapping skills are displayed on her single “Get Dun” released November 20th, 2020 as well as the first verse of collaborative track “Splash”. The upbeat nature of her single accompanied by an 80’s vibe serves an instant confidence boost to anyone listening, with your walk turning into a strut. She appears in the Pride ad mentioned earlier alongside Blxck Cxsper, Lady Londyn, Apollo Flowerchild and Jae.

Jae
The self-proclaimed Puerto Rican princess Jae mixes pop and RNB in both her vocals on “Splash” and her single “Independent Femme” released January 15th, 2021. Based in New York City, Jae’s single aims to empower femmes to live authentically and unapologetically embrace their femininity. She also released the song “Don’t Hit My Line” this summer. They appear in the Pride ad mentioned earlier alongside Blxck Cxsper, Lady Londyn, Heather Hills and Apollo Flowerchild.

Jupiter Gray
Afro-trap and hip-hop artist Jupiter Gray hails from Columbus, Ohio. Her rap verses grace the collaboration track “Splash” and are front and center in her single “Godiva Diva”. Released on January 29th, 2021, her fast flows are dedicated to her fellow divas of color and the empowerment and triumphs as a Black trans woman.

Lazarus Letcher
One of the newer artists signed to Trans Trenderz will be bringing an undertone of country and folk to the label. They announced their signing to the label at the beginning of March and said they feel good to “deepen (their) connection to (their) art”.

L’article Trans Trenderz: The Rise of a New Musical Empire est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Franches

Franches is a former patient of GrS Montréal et of Dr. Pierre Brassard. She is a strong proponent of self empowerment through knowledge and experimentation. Franches is also the author and publisher of HolaSoyYo.com (‘Hello, it’s me’ in Spanish), a blog where she shares her experiences and thoughts on changing gender expression.

www.HolaSoyYo.com

Not long ago, a close friend of mine asked me how to have a natural relationship with a neo-vagina? She was considering genital reconstruction surgery, but she felt uncertain about it. Hence her question to me. She had heard from a few friends that it took them up to 2 years to be ok with their post-op anatomy. That lag from her friends in becoming comfortable with their results made her doubtful.

After thinking hard about her question, I had an answer. I am sure that I have a healthy – good relationship with my neo-vulva (I had a vaginoplasty without cavity) because of my preparation for surgery.

When I say “preparation for surgery” I don’t mean packing my suitcase with everything I needed for the trip. I mean everything that lead me to consider the surgery and live with myself afterwards. Looking back, I can break up this preparation into 3 major phases. They are mostly sequential, but not necessarily. A consistent element through these major phases was making sure I’d answer each and every question I had about the process.

When I was offered to write this article, my first full draft was 7,000+ words long! As you can imagine, that would be too long for a single post. I decided to rewrite this more condensed version. Then I broke up my original long draft into 3 separate posts and linked to them from here. If you want to know more, at the end of each section in this article you’ll find a link to the longer, more detailed version on my blog.

First Phase: Unheeding From My Old Ways of Thinking

Where I Was Coming From

Let’s start from the beginning, a time before I even started considering surgery seriously. All my life I believed that changing my gender expression was not in the cards for me. Despite this I always wondered what it would be like to grow up and live in a girl’s body. Cut to 2015 when I started HRT along with changing my gender presentation. At that time, I simply wasn’t interested in genital surgery. I still kept that view after going full time, after having facial feminization surgery (FFS) and after my breast augmentation. It was sometime in 2017, while I was making arrangements for my mammaplasty, that I started thinking about a vulvoplasty or maybe a vaginoplasty. Yet every time I thought about surgery, there was something in my head stopping me from seriously considering it. It felt like I had a lot of questions but wasn’t even sure if I wanted to know what those questions were.

Wondering What Would Life be After Surgery

I could not clearly visualize how my life would change after surgery. This was one of the first mental blocks preventing me from considering surgery. Yeah, there were some changes that I was keen on, like not having to tuck anymore, but there were others I wasn’t sure.

An early question I had to answer was if I’d be able to pee sitting down for the rest of my life. Gee, even just writing this makes me see how basic the question was, but I didn’t see it like that then. Though I’d been peeing sitting for several years, I didn’t do it always. I’d pee standing if I felt a situation was too unsanitary.

To get the answer I was looking for I forced myself to pee sitting or squatting for about a year. I did it every time, no exception. Of course, it was possible, just the way 50% of the population has done it all their lives, but I had to experience it. I also wondered how my (scarce) sex life may change. For this one I was already satisfied without getting an accurate answer before surgery. Speaking with Dr. Brassard beforehand, he explained the procedure and how the glans would very likely still be erogenous. At the end I was happy with not knowing for sure but understanding my chances.

Rethinking my Relationship With my Genitalia

Here I get really personal, but I feel it’s important to open up. Though I don’t expect everyone to see my point of view, probably someone might relate a little. At the very least opening up helps explain a major hurtle I had before considering surgery. I clearly see now that this was my hardest mental block but then I wasn’t even aware of this. As mentioned above, most of my life I never thought I’d change my gender expression. Part of it was that I was happy with my body and the genitalia I was born with. It never caused me dysphoria or unease. If anything, I was ok with it and had lots of fun with it. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to start considering getting a vulvoplasty.

Digging Deep

Every time I thought about surgery, I felt there was something that wasn’t adding up. So I dug deep to find out what didn’t add up. After a lot of soul searching, I found I was allowing my penis to define me. This was a breakthrough because I could finally see what my main mental barrier was. If anything, this speaks a lot about how the patriarchal environment I grew up in affected me.

There was a tug of war in my mind. I wanted to consider surgery but how would I even think of getting rid of what defined me. Again, digging even deeper I questioned why I thought the genitalia I was borne with defined me. As soon as the question was asked the answer appeared: it clearly didn’t.

At that point my relationship with my penis switched from an element that defined me to something that didn’t add much value. I saw that after living full time it kind of got on the way more than anything. From that point on I could seriously consider having genital reconstruction surgery. If that mind shift hadn’t happened, most certainly I would have had a hard time developing a healthy relationship with my post-op physiognomy. You can read more details on some other mental barriers I had and how I dare to consider surgery on HolaSoyYo.com

Second Phase: Serenity Through Knowledge (Pre-op)

Once my primordial questions were answered it was time I’d get into the details. I wanted to get to know as much as I could about the surgical procedure. By doing so I could understand better what to expect aesthetically and during recovery. Then and only then I felt I’d be able to make a decision to either go ahead or not. At the end, all this knowledge helped me evolve a natural relationship with my results after surgery. Post-op it helped me get an intimate understanding what was done and how that influences my daily life.

Considering Surgeons

When it came to looking at surgeons and/or surgical centres, luck was on my side. My medical insurance covered surgery at GRS Montreal.

However, cost or insurance coverage was not the only or the main factor. The aesthetics of their results, my ability to have low friction communication, and their experience were the other important points I considered. The idea was to have all those elements ensured to feel at ease with the surgery, and more importantly with myself long term.

The patient coordinator at GRS Montreal helped me arrange a consultation with Dr. Brassard. A number of weeks prior to my surgery I spoke with him over the phone. At that time, he answered my long list of questions. This also gave me a small insight into the surgeon’s personality and philosophy. On top of this, knowing that they perform hundreds of genital surgeries a year, both male and female, added to my confidence in them.

Thoroughly Understanding the Procedure

As I’ve mentioned a few times, I did not decide on having surgery until I understood the procedure, risks, and recovery protocols. I spent countless hours reading and learning about the different feminizing genital surgery options. Personally, I rather get medical facts opposite to personal accounts from other patients. The main reason is that anecdotal information is always coloured by the speaker. On the other hand, medical documentation is often based on years of impartial clinical observations, for the most part.

I based my understanding of the procedure mostly from the package that GrS Montreal sends its patients. Also, by reading about the procedures on the websites of multiple surgeons/surgical centres helped me grasp the concepts. The information package from GRS Montréal contained invaluable details about pre-op preparations, the procedure itself, and aftercare protocols.

I strongly advise anyone considering genital surgery to read the official documentation. Parts A,B, and postoperative care (Part C) of GRS Montréal’s patient information package are linked off their website. Look for the links at the end of their respective webpages, which are also quite insightful:

• Vaginoplasty
• Vaginoplasty without vaginal cavity (vulvoplasty)

I too relied heavily on my discussions with the psychologists during each of my two surgical assessments. Before deciding on having surgery, I went through the assessment process to get medical information, not to get approved. I believe this gave me some clarity because during the assessments I was not rushing ‘to get accepted’. Rather my interest was to learn as much as I could and then make an informed decision.

Recognizing and Accepting the Risks

If understanding the procedure and recovery was important, recognizing the possible risks was paramount for my peace of mind. My first opportunity to ask someone qualified about the risks was during the surgical assessment process. The next big chance to enquire about risks and complications was during my phone consultation with Dr. Brassard.

Reading through the GrS Montreal information package and multiple surgeons’ websites I got a fairly clear perspective on the risks and aftercare. I also met with a registered nurse at my local gender clinic before surgery. Chatting with her, plus my conversations with the surgeon and psychologists, and the reading materials I studied, all helped me see and accept the risks.

As a PSA (Public Service Announcement) I want you to be aware of the most common risks and complications in vaginoplasties (with or without cavity). It’s a good idea to familiarize with some of these if you or someone you know is considering surgery:

• Infection/Abscesses.
• Hypergranulation
• UTIs (urinary track infections).
• Recto-vaginal Fistula (does not apply to vulvoplasties).
• Prolapse of the neovagina (does not apply to vulvoplasties).
• Hair growth inside the neovagina (or inside the dimple vestibule in a vulvoplasty).
• Loss of sensation and inability to orgasm.

Download the TRS Surgical summary sheets from Rainbow Health Ontario and look for the Vaginoplasty sheet for concise clinical information.

You can find more details of how I gathered knowledge and made the decision to have surgery on my blog. Many of those details relate to the pre and post-op planning documentation GrS Montréal provided as well as other sources of factual information.

Last Phase: Confidence in Recovery (Post-op)

In my opinion recovery is the Holy Grail. Surgery is just a point in time, a quick methodical controlled trauma. Then recovery starts. All my prior mind shifting regarding my genitals, the learning, questioning, and understanding was to prepare for recovery and life beyond. The first few weeks and months post-op are crucial. From past surgeries I learnt that the more support one can get during early recovery, the easier, or rather less complicated it would be.

By going through my mental shift that allowed me to consider surgery, and learning as much as I could, I was able to increase my confidence in my decision. Following a consistent theme, all these later contributed to my natural relationship with my neo-vulva. All even before I left home to Montréal. However, my recovery’s contribution to the satisfaction with my results built up as it happened. Meaning that for the most part my confidence grew during recovery, and not prior.

Not Bothering with Things Outside my Control

Are you happy with your results? How much it hurts? What is sex like? How does it look? How does it feel? These are examples of some of the questions people get post-op. At first, I had similar questions though I realized that the answers didn’t matter. They were really not important because there was no way to know. Someone may tell you their perspective, but creating a personal expectation based on someone else’s subjective narrative, in my opinion, is not a good idea. A very simple example: If you ask me if I’m happy with my results, the answer is yes. Though that answer should be meaningless to you unless you knew what my expectations were.

When it came to things outside of my control, I did not spend much time thinking about them before I had to face them. Another example: I knew I would be uncomfortable and most likely in pain the first few days. How much? The only way to know was to go through recovery and see how much it’d hurt at the time. The way I prepared was by expecting the most painful experience ever, though chances were that it wouldn’t reach that point. Instead of mulling over it before surgery, I’d deal with pain once I felt it.

My Past Surgical Experience as Reference

While I was preparing for this surgery I looked back at my past surgical experiences and noted the similarities. Though there are massive differences between the kinds of surgeries, there’s a lot that is shared. In all my surgeries I developed similar relationships with the surgeons and nursing staff. The way I healed was fairly similar between surgeries. How I dealt with pain and my reaction to anesthesia were comparable. Based on all these common elements I could picture in my mind how I’d do for my vulvoplasty.

Asclépiade

GrS Montreal includes a few nights at the recovery home, Asclépiade, before discharging their patients to return home. That stay at Asclépiade made the first few days after surgery much easier than all other options. To give you an idea of the impact that Asclépiade had imagine being in a home with other trans patients that went through genital reconstruction. Then add being under the care of nurses that specifically work with these patients, and all your basic necessities (boarding, medication management, wound and patient care) are overseen by the staff. And then compare that package to recovering at home, at a hospital, or a hotel room.

As I went through the experience at Asclépiade it was easy to predict that if I were to have any complication, that it would be minimal. And that peace of mind also boosted my confidence in my relationship with my surgical results.

Recovery at Home

I made every effort to make my flight home as comfortable as possible. In general flying after surgery can be tough, specially on long flights and furthermore when the surgical site could make sitting uncomfortable or painful. Also, I had made arrangements at my local gender clinic to see a nurse a few days after my return. The nurse would be monitoring my recovery and aftercare once I returned home. So, even before leaving for Montréal I already felt a certain sense of ease knowing someone could take care of me locally. BTW, this is the same nurse that gave me some insider pointers weeks before flying for surgery.

You can find more details on how I prepared for recovery on HolaSoyYo.com and even how I dealt with an issue I encountered after I got home.

Conclusion

As I said at the beginning of this article. I was able to develop a natural relationship with my neo-vulva by answering every single question, even if the answer was “I don’t have a definite answer yet”. This included changing my relationship and understanding of my original born organs before I could contemplate surgery. If I hadn’t done that most likely I would have left doubts in my head that would have undermined my appreciation of my new physiognomy.

Once I was able to seriously consider surgery, knowledge about the procedure, and specifically its risks, possible complications, and recovery were the most important aspects of being happy with my results. If you or someone you know is considering surgery, any surgery, but more importantly a vaginoplasty, please make sure you or they know the commitment it takes.

Once I was able to seriously consider surgery, knowledge about the procedure, and specifically its risks, possible complications, and recovery were the most important aspects of being happy with my results.

If you or someone you know is considering surgery, any surgery, but more importantly a vaginoplasty, please make sure you or they know the commitment it takes. The first few months of recovery from a vaginoplasty can be intense. Any and all support that one can get during that time, should help develop a natural relationship with the neo-vagina.

L’article My complex mental process to prepare for surgery est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

These myths can be a major source of anxiety for patients. However, the opposite is true: the longer the surgery time, the more the healing time and the risks associated with the intervention increase.

While it is true that operating time is an important indicator of risk factors and possible complications, the type of surgery and procedural complexity are also determining factors. Although often independent, these risk factors can sometimes be interrelated.

Infections and complications

The link between wound infection and operative time has been known for a long time. Every additional minute of surgery has a direct impact on the rate of wound infection.

As proof, a study on breast reconstruction with implants published in 2019 clearly demonstrated that the possibility of medical complications or wound infections increases when the surgery time goes beyond three hours. There would be a direct causal link between complications, preoperative health conditions, and longer operative time.

While the complication rates vary little for surgeries of less than 3 hours, the risks multiply by 1.6 times after 3 hours. Each successive operating time interval is accompanied by an associated growth in complications, with rates increasing 3-fold after 4.5 hours and almost 5-fold for a 6.8 hours procedure.

When surgery lasts longer than 6 hours, every additional hour increases the risk of cardiovascular, kidney and pulmonary complications. The same goes for the increased rate of infection. Surgeries lasting longer than 3 hours increase the risk of erythema and bruising, and often involve slower healing of the wounds.

Morbidity

The main issue regarding the risk of morbidity is the complexity of the procedure, not the duration of the operation. Indeed, according to a study published in 2014, complications can vary between two surgeries of more or less equal duration. For example, surgeries to the head or neck cause more complications than breast or limb surgeries, although the duration is similar, due to the complexity of these procedures. Delicate procedures on smaller surfaces requiring less manipulation cause less morbidity than reconstruction or dissections or excisions of body contouring procedures. On the other hand, studies indicate that operating times of more than three hours also increase the risk of morbidity. All these factors must be taken into account by the surgeon during the preoperative preparation.

The duration of the operation is therefore a key factor in the recovery of patients and in the severity of postoperative complications. It would be an indicator of complications, with a marked increase in risks if the surgery lasts more than three hours.

Surgeons are highly trained professionals. Although an experienced surgeon works quickly, other factors can contribute to the length of the operation, some of which may be beyond his control, such as excessive bleeding which can slow down the procedure. However, speed of execution does not necessarily guarantee better results, as operating time is not the only factor to consider in the event of complications.

So patients don’t have to worry if the surgery is shorter than expected. This does not indicate shoddy work. Longer surgery will not necessarily give better results. Surgery time is an important factor in recovery, but so too are the type of surgery and procedural complexity. Above all, be sure to ask questions before surgery so that you are fully aware of the risks.

L’article The duration of a surgical intervention est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Consent is an agreement to participate in sexual activities. You and your partner(s) must be comfortable, willing, enthusiastic and freely given to participate in any given activity. Freely communicated consent allows everyone’s boundaries to be respected. This notably means that consent can’t be given if the person is coerced or threatened. Planned Parenthood uses the acronym FRIES: Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific.

A person must be in a state where it is actually possible for them to consent, whether verbally or nonverbally. This means if you are underage, intoxicated, unconscious or otherwise incapable of giving your permission for an activity, there is no consent. Another context where consent can’t be freely given is where there is an unequal power dynamic, for example a boss with their employee, a teacher with a student, etc. Other examples of breach of consent include refusing to acknowledge a “no”, and assuming that the person is wearing certain clothes in an invitation for intimacy.

Consent can be withdrawn at any time, even if you said yes earlier. Withdrawing consent can be done with words (“no”, “stop”, etc.) or with actions (turning away from the person, shaking your head, not giving eye contact, etc.). Saying or having said yes in the past to a certain sexual activity doesn’t imply that you or your partner is always consenting to said activity. If you or your partner is hesitant or no longer comfortable continuing, the activity should cease immediately. The body reacting a certain way, such as having an erection, being lubricated, etc. do not consist of consent because these mechanisms are involuntary.

If any type of sexual activity, including kissing, oral sex or intercourse, is forced upon someone, it is sexual assault and is a crime. It’s important to remember if you’ve been assaulted, at any age and under any circumstance, it is not your fault. There are resources that exist to help you mentally and emotionally, as well as legal resources if you decide to press charges against the perpetrator(s).

Resources (for Quebec province)

CAVAC: Crime victim assistance centres, Check with your region (Montreal: 514-277-9860)
CALACS: Assistance centres for victims of sexual assault, Check with your region
CVASM: Provincial hotline for victims, 1 888 933-9007, Montréal: 514-933-9007
For immediate assistance call 911, or to file a claim go to your local police department.

L’article Consent 101 est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Special collaboration: Alex Simon is an American-born and Montreal-based student interested in LGBTQ+ and trans realities. They themselves being non-binary, they proposed the idea to GrS Montreal of writing articles on their blog TransAvenue.

Don Lemon is CNN News anchor and journalist. He came out as gay in his 2011 memoir Transparent, becoming a role model for gay black men getting into the journalism industry.

Raven-Symoné is an actress and singer known for her roles in the shows The Cosby Show and That’s So Raven as well as movies like The Cheetah Girls. She came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid 2010’s but states she does not subscribe to particular labels.

Frank Ocean is a singer, songwriter, and rapper known for an alternative R&B style. He published a letter on his Tumblr blog in 2012 expressing his feelings towards another man. He published an essay in 2016 following the Pulse Nightclub shooting, showing his frustration and explaining how in many cases hate perpetuated towards others is passed on from generation to generation.

Angel Haze is an agender and pansexual rapper. She uses he and she pronouns, and in a Buzzfeed interview in 2015, he stated “I don’t consider myself of any sex. I consider myself an experience.” He often writes and sings about diverse topics including homophobia, racism and mental health.

Audre Lorde was an author, feminist and civil rights activist. She is known for her writings with an intersectional lens. Her poetry often related to civil rights movements, disability, her lesbian identity and her identity as a Black woman. She also addressed topics like toxic black male masculinity and socio-economic status. Her writings contributed to what is known as the third-wave feminist discourse.

Tracy Chapman is an American singer known for hits like Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You. She has won four Grammy awards and her discography spans over two decades. She rarely speaks of her sexual orientation but was in a relationship with her former partner Alice Walker during the 1990’s. Active on the social and political stages, she often performs at charity events.

James Baldwin was an author, playwright, poet and civil rights activist. His literary career spanned from the 1950’s to the 1980’s. His social and political activism was omnipresent not only in his day to day life, but in the form of topics featured in his works and their respective protagonists. Two of his manuscripts, Remember This House and If Beale Street Could Talk were transformed into documentary I Am Not Your Negro (2016) and film If Beale Street Could Talk (2018).

Janet Mock is a writer, TV host and transgender rights activist. After obtaining her Masters degree in journalism, she worked several years at People magazine as staff editor. She came out as a trans woman in 2011 in Marie Claire magazine, then becoming a media advocate. She has written several memoirs, and has become the first trans woman of color to obtain a production deal with a major content company, in her case Netflix.

Laverne Cox is an actress and LGBTQ+ advocate. She rose to stardom in her role on Netflix series Orange is the New Black, subsequently becoming the first transgender woman to be nominated for an Emmy for her role. She also starred and was the executive producer of the documentary Disclosure, which addresses the representation and depiction of trans and nonbinary individuals in American culture and media.

Janelle Monáe is a singer-songwriter and actress. She released three studio albums in 2010, 2013 and 2018, and ventured into acting in 2016 in the hit movie Hidden Figures. She identifies simultaneously as bisexual and pansexual, and came out as nonbinary in 2020.

Amandla Stenberg is an actress and singer. Her breakout role in film was in the movie Hunger Games, and has had numerous appearances in cinema, TV and music videos. They use both she/her and they/them pronouns, and identifies as gay and nonbinary.

Lil Nas X is a rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was catapulted into the spotlight with his country rap hit Old Town Road. He came out as gay following the release of the song, and became the first Black LGBTQ+ artist to win a Country Music Association Award.

Angela Davis is a political activist and academic. She is a part of the grassroots movement against the “prison-industrial complex”, a prison abolition movement. For over five decades she has supported numerous social justice movements such as gay rights, Black liberation and Palestinian solidarity and against racism and sexism. Alongside activist Kimberlé Crenshaw, she founded the African American Alliance 2000, a group of Black feminists. She identifies as lesbian and lives with her life partner.

Marsha P. Johnson was a gay liberation activist and Stonewall Riot veteran. Alongside Sylvia Rivera, she founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) organization and was an AIDS activist. She was unfortunately found dead in 1992, her cause of death unofficially considered a homicide.

Backxwash is a Zambian-Canadian rapper based in Montreal. She came out as transgender in 2018 after the release of her debut EP F.R.E.A.K.S. Her 2020 album God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It won the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.

Munroe Bergdorf is a British model and activist. Coming out as transgender at the age of 24, she began her modelling career with the motivation of bringing diversity to the industry. She frequently makes guest appearances as commentator on British talk shows, and is vocal about numerous causes including racism, transphobia and misogyny.

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is an activist and community leader. She advocates notably for incarcerated trans women of color, serving as the original executive director of the Transgender Gender Variant Intersex Justice Project. Other community efforts she was and continues to be involved in include helping those suffering from addiction and homelessness, sex workers, those with HIV/AIDS, low-income individuals and victims of police brutality.

Elle Hearns is a transgender rights activist who co-founded the Black Lives Matter Global Network. Her interest in the civil rights movement and activists like Malcolm X led her to become a youth organizer. She helped organize the three-day conference The Movement for Black Lives in 2015, and founded the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.

Indya Moore is an actor and model known for their role in the series Pose. They started their modeling career at the age of 15 with gigs including Dior and Gucci. They are nonbinary, and are the first trans person to be featured on the cover of the US edition of Elle magazine.

Monica Roberts was a writer and trans rights advocate. She was the founder and main editor of blog TransGriot, which brought attention to issues pertaining to trans women. She also brought news coverage of transgender homicide victims in the US to a wider audience.

Angelica Ross is a businesswoman, actress, and transgender rights activist. She is the CEO and founder of tech company TransTech Social Enterprises, and stars in the shows Pose and American Horror Story.

Travis Alabanza is a British transfeminine performance artist. They have given lectures and presented at panels on topics from racism, sexual orientation and gender identity. They advocate for the inclusion of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals in mainstream feminism.

Willow Smith is a singer and actress with several albums under her belt. Her single Whip My Hair hit platinum in 2009 and has won several awards for her musical pursuits. She came out as bisexual and polyamorous in 2019.

Kehlani is a R&B and hip-hop singer. She supported Halsey and Demi Lovato on their tours, released two albums and was nominated for Grammy awards on several occasions. She came out as queer and pansexual on social media.

Billy Porter is a Broadway performer, actor and musician. He starred in the play Kinky Boots on Broadway both in 2013 and 2017, and plays a recurring role in the serie Pose. He also graces the cover of magazines and fashion articles with his colorful red carpet ensembles.

L’article Black and POC LGBT celebrities est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

It is easy to forget that what led to parties and parades were, in fact, acts of resistance from marginalized people, trans people, and people of color. So we may never take the rights of LGBTQI+ community members for granted, let us remember the history of Pride and the events that led to these celebrations.

Fifty years ago, in the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided a New York tavern called the Stonewall Inn. It was a time when gay people were widely perceived as criminals or delinquents. This tavern – which did not have even a liquor license or running water – was a safe space where members of the LGBTQI+ community could meet and express themselves without being harassed. Back then, the police had the right to arrest and detain anyone who appeared to be a man in drag as well as anyone they perceived as a woman if they were wearing less than three items of so-called “feminine” clothing.

During this particular police intervention, which empowered police to identify and physically verify the gender of the 200 patrons gathered inside the tavern, one particular trans women and drag queen has had enough! Marsha P. Johnson – an African American trans woman who is widely recognized as an LGBTQI+ rights icon today – decides to purposefully throw her drink at a mirror. This gesture of protest sparks a revolt that will last several days and lead to the birth of the modern LGBTQI+ rights movement and the first Gay Pride march in the United States in 1970, organized by Brenda Howard. It was Ms. Howard’s idea to spread the activities over a week, a format still in use today.

In Canada, during the same era, the LGBTQI+ community rights movement began. In 1969, homosexuality was decriminalized and two years later the first gay rights demonstration took place in Toronto. Despite decriminalization, during the 1970s and 1980s, police raids were proliferating and became catalyst events for the liberation of members of the LGBTQI+ community. These events marked a turning point and brought about important cultural changes.

The repeated raids on public bathhouses – often frequented by gay men – radicalized the movement. In 1974, four people were arrested in a public bathhouse in New Brunswick. This was one of the first times the Canadian press picked up on the gay and lesbian factor. In 1975 and 1976, raids were a common thing in Montreal, under Mayor Jean Drapeau, who wanted to “clean up” the city before the 1976 Olympics. A year later, 146 people were arrested by 50 police officers in a bar called the Truxx in Montreal during a military-style operation. These “offenders” were even kept from contacting their lawyers. Then, in 1981, one of the largest mass arrests in Canadian history took place when 300 people were arrested in four public bathhouses in Toronto during the now famous “Operation Soap”. This police action at Truxx marked a turning point in Quebec and “Operation Soap” is considered the equivalent of the Stonewall revolt in Canada.

Despite numerous police raids across the country, the first Gay Pride Week was held in 1973 in several major Canadian cities. The program included an arts festival, a dance, a picnic, the screening of several documentary films, and a gay rights rally. This movement marks the emergence of the concepts of gay liberation and gay pride, formerly known as “gay power”.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the LGBTQI+ community called for the recognition of their rights during pride marches. They demanded legal changes that would revolutionize public perception and bring wider support to the cause. The first Lesbian Pride March took place in 1981.

By 1973, homosexuality was no longer considered an illness according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In 1977, following the Truxx bar raid, Quebec became the first province to include sexual orientation in its Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Henceforth, it was illegal to discriminate against homosexuals in the workplace and in housing rights.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Canada accomplished a great deal in the application of gay rights. In 1992, the Federal Court allowed gay and lesbian people to join the military, and, the following year, the Supreme Court ruled that gays and lesbians could apply for refugee status if their home country persecuted them. Then, in 1995, same-sex couples could legally adopt children in Ontario, and sexual orientation was included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 2003, the Civil Marriage Act finally allowed same-sex couples to marry. In 2019, the World Health Organization removed transsexualism from the list of mental illnesses.  And, in 2020, the Liberals introduced Bill C-8, which aims to criminalize conversion therapy practices; Quebec also has tabled a similar bill with the same objective. Because of these changes and progress, Canada is now among the best countries in the world for gay rights although there is still a long way to go.

Gay Pride festivals around the world choose relevant themes and ambassadors that reflect their communities. Gay Pride is an annual reminder of the importance of continuing to defend the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ people. The groundwork was laid by exceptional individuals who fought against systemic discrimination, police brutality, physical violence, and public perceptions. It is in their honour that Gay Pride is celebrated each year.

L’article LGBTQ+ Pride est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Special collaboration: Alex Simon is an American-born and Montreal-based student interested in LGBTQ+ and trans realities. They themselves being non-binary, they proposed the idea to GrS Montreal of writing articles on their blog TransAvenue.

Once a form of survival for gender non-conforming individuals, it now also serves as a form of expression and entertainment. And while popular shows such as Rupaul’s Drag Race and its numerous spin-offs have encountered issues over the years due notably to lack of inclusivity and its sometimes questionable portrayal of gender nonconformity and femininity overall, numerous transgender and non-binary contestants have graced the stage and set a precedent for future representation. Not all of the contestants mentioned below were openly out at the time of the show’s filming, but all contestants who came out during or after recording have been included. Here is a look at the individuals having competed on RuPaul’s Drag Race USA, Drag Race Canada, Drag Race UK, Drag Race Thailand, Drag Race Holland and Boulet Brother’s Dragula.

*Warning: The following contains spoilers*

USA

Season 1 and 11 are the seasons with the fewest out contestants, with no trans or non-binary contestants that we know of.

Season two brought Sonique, who came out as trans during the season’s reunion episode. Pandora Boxx, who placed fifth on season 2 and was the first eliminated in All Stars 1, came out genderfluid in 2016.

Season three brought Carmen Carrera and Stacy Layne Matthews. Carrera is known for her “nude” style of drag and now works as a model and transgender rights activist. Matthews is known as a country queen who also made a cameo in season four of Drag Race All Stars.

Season four brought three trans contestants: Kenya Michaels, Lashauwn Beyond and Jiggly Caliente. Michaels, standing at only five feet tall, is a Puerto Rican queen who placed fifth during the season. She also survived the mass shooting at the Pulse night club in Florida in 2016. Lashauwn Beyond, who coined the infamous line “This is not RuPaul’s Best Friend Race”, was the second queen to be eliminated during the season. Caliente came in eighth place during season four. She also came out as trans in 2016, and has both a career in music and acting, playing a recurring character on the popular show Pose.

Season five brought three trans and non-binary queens: Monica Beverly Hillz, Honey Mahogany and Jinx Monsoon. Hillz was the third queen to be eliminated during the season and came out as a trans woman shortly before being eliminated. Mahogany was eliminated in the following episode alongside Vivienne Pinay in the series’ first double elimination. She now works as an elected official in the state of California. Musically trained contestant Jinx Monsoon won season five and holds the record for the most consecutive weeks of being in the top (nine weeks).

Season six stands out with seven trans and non-binary contestants, the most in the series’ franchise. Kelly Mantle was amongst the first to be eliminated in the season’s unique two-part premiere (the group having been split in two, she was eliminated in her group’s premiere). April Carrion, who placed 11th during her season, came out as genderqueer in 2016 on National Coming Out Day. Gia Gunn, the fifth queen to have been eliminated during the season, also participated in Drag Race All Stars 4, where she placed eighth. She came out as transgender during the All Stars 4 premiere. Laganja Estranja placed eighth during the season, and now works both on musical endeavors and cannabis advocacy. BenDeLaCreme placed fifth during her season, and shockingly eliminated herself during her stint on All Stars 3. She has been working alongside fellow Seattle queen Jinx Monsoon on numerous musical productions. Adore Delano and Courtney Act both made it to the season six finale but came short of the crown.

Season seven showcased two genderfluid queens, Miss Fame and Violet Chachki. Both known as fashion queens, Fame came in seventh place, and Chachki took home the crown.

On season eight, New York queen Bob the Drag Queen took the stage and ultimately won the season.

Season nine also shined a spotlight on numerous trans and non-binary contestants. Aja, who no longer considers themselves a drag queen but rather an entertainer and rapper, came in ninth place during season nine and seventh place in All Stars 3. Valentina, a latinx queen who became infamous for attempting to lip-sync a song with a mask on, came in seventh place on both season nine and All Stars 4. Nina Bo’Nina Brown, known for her cosplay-inspired make-up, placed sixth during her season. Three trans and non-binary queens placed in the finals of season nine: Peppermint, Sasha Velour and Shea Coulée. Peppermint and Sasha Velour lip-synced in the finale, with Velour taking the crown. Coulée took home the win in All Stars 5.

Two queens from season 10 have come out as non-binary. New York queen Yuhua Hamasaki placed twelfth during the season. Eureka O’Hara, who initially took part in season nine but had to leave due to a knee injury, made her way to the finale but did not win the crown.

Five contestants from season twelve have come out as non-binary: Dahlia Sin, Nicky Doll, Rock M Sakura, Crystal Methyd and Gigi Goode. Sin, Sakura, and Doll were the first three queens to be eliminated, in that order. Crystal Methyd and Gigi Goode made their way to the finale, but both lost their chance at the crown in a three-way, virtual lip-sync (pandemic obliging).

Season thirteen, currently airing, features the franchise’s first transgender man Gottmik.

Canada

Although Canada’s Drag Race has only aired one season so far, two non-binary contestants have already graced the stage. British Columbia queen Ilona Verley came out as two-spirit and genderfluid towards the beginning of the season and is from the Nlaka’pamux First Nation. Scarlet bobo, who uses they/them pronouns, made it to the finale and was a runner-up for the crown.

UK

With season one airing in 2019 and season two premiering January 14th, numerous non-binary contestants have or will be competing. Season one brought us Gothy Kendoll, Crystal, Blu Hydrangea and Divina De Campo. Kendoll, with their lack of experience, was the first to be eliminated. Crystal was unafraid of showing off her chest hair and low-pitched voice throughout the season and placed sixth overall. Irish queen Blu Hydrangea unofficially won the title of Miss Congeniality during the season and placed fifth overall. She also has a growing following on TikTok showing diverse make-up looks. Divina De Campo, known for their whistle tone as seen during a group challenge alongside fellow non-binary queen Blu Hydrangea, made their way to the finale but lost their chance at the crown. They are one of few queens in the franchise to never have been up for elimination. With season two, two queens have come out as non-binary: Bimini Bon Boulash and Ginny Lemon.

Thailand

Season one, having aired in 2018, showcased Meannie Minaj who openly discussed her transition during filming. She however was the first queen to be eliminated. In 2019, Kandy Zyanide and Angele Anang took the stage. Zyanide was initially eliminated during the fourth episode but was brought back and eventually became fan-favorite and runner-up for the crown. Anang won the title of “Thailand’s Next Drag Superstar”.

Holland

Drag Race Holland is one of the newer spin-offs in the franchise, and currently has only one season. Ma’Ma Queen, the only openly non-binary queen of the season, was eliminated during the finale but won the title of Miss Congeniality.

Dragula

The Boulet Brother’s Dragula draws parallels to the main Drag Race franchise but leans into more alternative and horror-based styles. There is less information to be found in the media regarding the contestant’s gender identities, so I might be overlooking some competitors. My apologies in advance.

When season one premiered in 2017, only nine competitors graced the stage. Vander Van Odd, who came out as genderqueer, won the title of the World’s First Drag Supermonster.

Three non-binary queens made their way to the top in season 2: James Majesty and Victoria Elizabeth Black were runners-up for the crown, and Biqtch Puddin’ winning the title.

Three trans and non-binary contestants also graced the stage in season 3: Maxi Glamour (8th place), Hollow Eve (7th place) and Priscilla Chambers (runner-up).

Alex Simon

L’article Trans and non-binary representation in mainstream drag TV est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Special collaboration: Alex Simon is an American-born and Montreal-based student interested in LGBTQ+ and trans realities. They themselves being non-binary, they proposed the idea to GrS Montreal of writing articles on their blog TransAvenue.

Often when referring to orientations within and outside of the LGBTQ+ community, the suffix -sexual is used, for instance, homosexual, bisexual, and heterosexual. The prefix used before -sexual distinguishes towards whom you are attracted to. However, what if you do not feel sexual attraction towards others? Or romantic attraction, for that matter? You are not broken or abnormal, you simply may belong to the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum.

Asexuality, as an umbrella term, refers to the lack of sexual attraction felt towards others. This is different from the libido, which pertains to the drive one might feel to act upon said sexual desires. It also differs from celibacy, in which a person chooses not to engage in sexual activity. Asexuality is a spectrum, it is not black or white, hence the existence of sub-categories within asexuality, labels that you may or may not feel more aligned with. People who are on the asexuality spectrum might call themselves “ace”.

Demisexuality is an orientation within the asexuality spectrum. It relates to how someone does not feel sexual attraction towards another person unless a strong emotional bond has already been formed. Graysexuality, sometimes called gray-ace, refers to the gray zone existing within asexuality. Seeming how each individual experiences asexuality in their own way, this term can encompass the gray zones existing within such a wide spectrum. Reciprosexual refers to someone who does not feel sexual attraction towards someone until the said person is attracted to them. Akoisexual, or lithsexual, refers to someone whose attraction towards another fades over time if the said attraction is to be reciprocated. Aceflux refers to someone whose sexual orientation fluctuates. For some, it may stay within the asexual spectrum. For others, it might occasionally venture outside of it.

There is a plethora of identities that fall within the asexual spectrum. These identities can also fall within the aromantic spectrum, meaning those who do not feel romantic attraction towards others. These people may call themselves “aro” for short. The identities listed above can apply to the aromantic spectrum by changing the suffix -sexual by the suffix -romantic. For instance, grayromantic individuals feel that their romantic attraction lies within the gray zones of the aromantic spectrum.

For some, their romantic attraction and sexual attraction are the same. For instance, you might be homoromantic and homosexual, meaning you are both romantically and sexually attracted to the same gender. However, they might differentiate, leading to the importance of distinguishing these two axes of attraction. In my case, I consider myself panromantic and graysexual. I am romantically attracted to others regardless of their gender identity, and my sexual attraction to others is situated within the gray zones of asexuality. This is referred to as the Split Attraction Model (SAM).

Those who consider themselves to be on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum are a welcome part of the LGBTQ+ community because their sexual and/or romantic identities differ from that of a cisgender, heteroromantic and heterosexual individual.

Like other members of the LGBTQ+ community, asexual and aromantic people can face discrimination for their identities. Cultural and sexual norms might leave these communities out of the discussion, many people not even knowing what asexuality and aromanticism are. Some might see these identities as a consequence of sexual trauma, or the person having not yet “found the right person”. This contributes to gaslighting and invisibility of said individuals and their identities, which in turn can lead to feelings such as internalized shame.

In short, while they may be a lesser-known sub-community (at least for now) within the LGBTQ+ family, asexual and aromantic people are just as deserving of support from their social circles and medical practitioners. Both asexual and aromantic people within their respective continuums are capable of bonding with others, in their own unique way.

Alex Simon

L’article The asexual and aromantic spectrum est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Special collaboration: Alex Simon is an American-born and Montreal-based student interested in LGBTQ+ and trans realities. They themselves being non-binary, they proposed the idea to GrS Montreal of writing articles on their blog TransAvenue.

For those looking into possible steps for starting or continuing their transition, hormone replacement therapy (commonly known as HRT) might be a possible puzzle piece that will help alleviate your gender dysphoria. However, not everyone necessarily knows the effects that HRT might have on your body both temporarily and permanently.

Science-lover that I am, I would like to take the time to introduce the hormones typically involved in HRT (testosterone and estrogen) in two separate articles. And while I have a degree in biotechnology, I am in no way a medical specialist, so please contact your doctor or endocrinologist to validate any questions or concerns you may have.

Testosterone is a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol and is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. In the case of HRT, it is responsible for enabling certain secondary sexual characteristics in AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) and intersex individuals. It also increases blood cell production. It is given either as an injection or as a gel or patch applied to the skin. Testosterone (or T, for short) varies in dosage, so it’s best to talk with your doctor about the changes you wish to achieve, your current health status and certain risk factors like cardiovascular disease.

The changes that testosterone induces can be either temporary or permanent and the timeline in which these changes can occur vary from person to person. Some individuals might experience all of the changes typically associated with testosterone, while some might experience very few. Some people might notice these changes right away, while for others it may take longer.

The first changes to appear include an oiler complexion and acne, which typically appear within the first month to six months. Afterward, within two to six months your period will cease. These two changes are temporary, meaning they will revert to their initial state when treatment is stopped. Other changes that are considered temporary include facial and body hair growth (three to six months), body fat redistribution (three to six months; less fat will be distributed around your hips and will instead tend to accumulate around the waist), and increased muscle mass (six to twelve months).

Other changes induced by testosterone take much longer to reverse course, or are even irreversible. These include your voice deepening (three to twelve months), clitoral enlargement (three to six months), and possible scalp hair loss (within twelve months).

There are other risks and complications with regards to testosterone. These include weight gain, sleep apnea, cardiovascular problems (if the risk is already present within your family or personal health status), and possible increased risk of psychiatric effects if you already have an underlying condition that involves manic or psychotic symptoms.

In most cases, obtaining HRT requires an assessment from a qualified health professional. In alignment with WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care, the person must have well documented, persistent gender dysphoria, must be able to fully consent and make an informed decision regarding HRT, be the age of majority, and have any pre-existing health conditions under control. If the person is under the age of majority, WPATH also has a Standards of Care section for minors and must be followed by the health professional, given that at a younger age such hormones are considered “puberty suppressants”. Once the request for HRT is validated by the health professional in question, both adults and minors should regularly be followed by a medical practitioner or endocrinologist to ensure the health and well-being of the patient.

L’article What is testosterone? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

In addition to the standard codes of ethics enacted by the professional orders to which most GrS Montreal employees belong, a very personal way of doing things is added, aligned with the desire to provide superior service to respond in the best possible way to the specific needs of each patient, always with the utmost respect.

“Not all of our employees are members of a professional order, but essentially, our internal code of ethics stipulates that we must behave impartially towards everyone, have a non-discriminatory attitude, and not place ourselves in a conflict of interest,” explains Mélanie Dupuis, Executive Director of the Complexe chirurgical CMC, of which GrS Montréal is a subsidiary.

Of course, GrS Montreal’s official and legal code of ethics exists and is followed carefully. This is what is most basic in a hospital center.

However, the intrinsic values of GrS Montreal, which are those of all employees, are found in what could be called an “emotional code of ethics”.

‘’The most important qualification we look for when we hire our employees,” she says, “is the ability to make our patients feel at home, that they don’t feel judged or misunderstood. That’s really at the heart of how we see and do things.”

EXCELLENCE

Excellence, and its constant pursuit, is one of the variables conveyed in the manual given to new GrS Montréal employees. We encourage everyone who works in the center to strive for perfection and the highest possible level of quality.

In the employee manual, we can read that “excellence is an essential value that motivates the decisions and actions of all members of the organization.”

ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability also plays a key role. It implies that each employee must take responsibility for his or her actions and foster employee commitment to the organization’s goals.

HUMANISM

At GRS Montréal, care is provided in a real spirit of client support. Confidentiality, listening, respect, and the client’s satisfaction are constant concerns for the entire team.

QUALITY

First of all, the challenge for the entire team is to meet the performance standards of quality care and client safety while respecting Accreditation Canada‘s standards.

Then come the values of the code of ethics based on human nature which, implicitly and naturally, lead each employee to constantly take actions based on the human being behind the patient. In this sense, the quality of care offered is not only found in the respect of standards, however important they may be, but also in the “way” in which it is given

L’article What is the code of ethics of GrS Montreal? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

This organization was founded in 2007 with the goal of connecting a network of healthcare providers willing to meet annually to discuss and advance trans health issues and research. CPATH is therefore interested in people who self-identify as trans, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, in transition, non-binary, queer, and men and women with transitional medical histories. For the remainder of this text, we will use the term trans to encompass the entire spectrum outlined above.

Trans people are increasingly visible in society. They represent between 0.5% and 1% of the Canadian population . Also, the number of people requiring transition-related care doubles every five or six years. Although great progress has been made over the years, access to satisfactory healthcare for trans people remains a challenge. Not all healthcare professionals are personally or professionally aware of the issues faced by trans people or the complexities of care.

An american study found that 19% of trans people have experienced a denial of care, 28% have experienced harassment in a medical setting, and 50% report that they have had to educate their doctors about trans care. CPATH works mainly to improve access to health services in a positive way, end stigma, contribute to the development of skills for professionals working with trans people, and generally disseminate information to broaden the inclusion of trans people.

In a two-year process, CPATH also worked towards generating ethical guidelines for research involving trans people and communities. These ethical guidelines list six overarching principles for trans research:

• Attentiveness to Issues of Legitimacy and Impact on Communities;
• Engagement with Communities;
• Consent and Confidentiality;
• Consideration of Diversity, Power, Marginalization and Representation;
• Accountability to Participants and Trans Communities;
• Reflexivity on the Part of Researchers and Research Teams.

These Ethical guidelines were developed by a team of trans people and professionals and are the result of workshops and consultations held at the CPATH conference in Halifax in 2015, at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) conference in Amsterdam in 2016, and at the Two Spirit and Queer People of Colour Call to Conversation with LGBT & Allies conference in Winnipeg in 2017.

L’article What is the CPATH? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

On site, everything has been designed to promote rest, tranquility, and self-care education. A beautifully landscaped exterior allows you to read, rest, or chat with others in a calm and inspiring country setting.

Delicious meals to remember

People who have stayed at Asclépiade will tell you the meals offered are not only balanced, but delicious.

“The menu is highly varied, the dishes are plentiful, and the meals succulent. They have nothing to do with those served in traditional hospitals: they are concocted meticulously by the chef,” confirms an employee.

“The food is scrumptious. It’s no wonder that in our cafeteria, the employees eat exactly the same food served to our patients!” he says with a smile.

As if that wasn’t enough, Asclépiade’s food is offered in the form of a buffet. In this way, each person designs their own plate. For example, they can replace beef with trout or take a little more (or a little less) of a food offered. Soups, complete meals, desserts, and what else? The menu always contains surprising proposals.

Note that no specific menu is imposed before or after an operation. Thus, each person is free to choose the foods that will be on his or her plate.

‘’Our meal service meets all allergy standards,” says a nurse at the CMC, who is also a fan of the meals served at Asclépiade. Definitely, people with food allergies need not fear.”

Asclépiade: a renewed and shared pleasure

Typically, CMC patients reside at Asclépiade for six to eight days.

Fortunately for the people who stay there, the atmosphere is very pleasant and serene. The reason is simple: at Asclépiade, as is the case throughout the CMC, employees have a lot of fun working together and this can be both seen and felt.

The atmosphere is tinged with this lightness and there are many quiet places. Moreover, when the weather allows it, many people gather on the nearby outdoor terrace to savor the succulent dishes. With nature as a backdrop and calm as a prevailing gift, this is an experience that…tastes like heaven!

Quiet atmosphere, nature, and good food. What could be better?

Despite the high quality of this offer, however, it is important to note that patients who wish to do so can also order food in one of the many restaurants located near the CMC.

But of course, when they discover the peaceful atmosphere of Asclépiade as well as its balanced, tasty, and meticulously prepared meals, the temporary residents of Asclépiade often realize that they are among the lucky ones who will remember fondly their time in this inviting and warm place. So they opt for…the buffet!

One thing is certain — Asclépiade is the only convalescent home in the world dedicated to trans people with such a food service. A truly unique experience.

L’article What will you eat at Asclépiade? est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

It is well known that trans people are very present in the business world and some of them perform brilliantly in numerous spheres of activity. They can be found as the head of companies and at the origin of many organizations of all kinds – in short, they are dynamic and shine. Martine Rothblatt is part of this prestigious list and is even in a class of her own, that of pioneer and fighter.

Born in a male body in Chicago in 1954, Martine Rothblatt grew up in San Diego and Los Angeles with a dentist father and a speech therapist mother. She spent her childhood with her head in books and clouds as she was raised in a religious Jewish family within a Hispanic environment.

Martine Rothblatt has a law degree from the University of California in Los Angeles and lived the first part of her life as a man. It was during this period, in 1979 to be precise, that she met the love of her life, her wife Beverlee Prator (alias “Bina”), whom she married in 1982. Together, they will have two children named Gabriel and Jenesis. It should be noted that Martine and Bina each had a child from a previous relationship and that they also adopted a fifth child.

It was in 1994 that – after the deep reflections required for this kind of decision, Martine Rothblatt chose to make a transition and feminize her name. Throughout this process, Martine was supported by her spouse, Bina.

Professionally, Martine Rothblatt began her amazing journey by founding the pharmaceutical company United Therapeutics Corp with the primary goal of finding a cure for her 7-year-old daughter Jenesis, who had developed pulmonary arterial hypertension – a rare disease that proves fatal within two years of diagnosis. Ms. Rothblatt will hire the person who will find the right treatment and, as a result, will become the head of a company whose primary focus is to decode the pharmacogenomic properties of drugs, manufacture anti-rejection transplantable organs and, first and foremost, generate and propose new treatments for people with rare diseases.

A few years later, this brilliant businesswoman will be at the origin of major startups such as GeoStar and Sirius Radio, a major company specializing in satellite operations, as well as Terasem, a transhumanist movement she created in 2004 with her life partner.

Still today, it is through this movement that she formulates her theory that any person will be able one day to be reincarnated in an artificial world.

On this subject, Martine Rothblott and her team created, in 2010, a robot in the image of her spouse and bearing the name Bina48. Impressive in its appearance and communication skills, it is technologically updated on a very regular basis.

Over the years, Martine Rothblatt has also written numerous articles and books on xenotransplantation (Your Life or Mine), cyberethics (Virtually Human) and “non-binary” (Transgender to Transhuman).

Today, this visionary woman earns an annual salary of $38 million, which is set according to a contract that aligns this amount with her firm’s share price. A true figurehead of transhumanism, Martine Rothblatt was the highest paid CEO in America in 2016.

Highlights

1954 – Birth of Martine Rothblatt in Chicago

1982 – She marries Bina

1990 – Founded the satellite communications operator Sirius

1994 – At age 40, she undergoes gender affirmation surgery

1995 – She publishes a report on “Gender Apartheid”

2004 – She launched the transhumanist movement Terasem

L’article Martine Rothblatt, an exceptional trans woman est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.