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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In these uncertain times, LGBTQ+ youth can feel more isolated than ever. Resources for these marginalized individuals exist in and around the Montreal area, but sometimes are not necessarily known by their target audience. L’Asterisk, a safe space located in the Gay Village, is one of these resources. Located at 1575 Atateken Street in Montreal, the space is run by the Coalition of LGBTQ+ Youth Groups and is used by multiple organizations and charities catering to the specific needs of LGBTQ+ youth. These organizations include Project 10, Jeunesse Lambda and Alterheros.

Project 10 is a multilingual resource run for and by LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 14 and 25 in the Montreal area. They host weekly hangouts for youth, active listening, and accompaniment services, as well as provide safer sex and injection materials. They collaborate with Jeunesse Lambda on acquiring gender affirming gear for trans and non-binary youth. They also host a camp for queer and trans youth during he summer with a variety of activities. Although in-person hangouts are cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, they continue to host weekly meetings online and hold listening services to those who need it.

Jeunesse Lambda is a bilingual resource run for and by LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 14 and 25 in the Montreal area. They host weekly hangouts for youth, active listening, and accompaniment services, as well as provide safer sex and injection materials. They collaborate with Project 10 on acquiring gender affirming gear for trans and non-binary youth. As do the other organizations in l’Asterisk, Jeunesse Lambda also facilitates kiosks at secondary and post-secondary institutions. During the pandemic, Jeunesse Lambda is not holding their weekly hangouts in person. However, they will continue providing food and entertainment for youth by offering a food delivery service on a weekly basis, as well as gift cards for grocery stores and/or entertainment subscriptions.

Alterheros is both an online and in-person resource directed towards neurodivergent LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 14 and 30 in the Montreal area. Their website offers the “Ask Us Your Question!” section, which allows anyone to anonymously inquire about subjects like coming out, gender identity, sexual health, and other available resources in the region. They also host weekly in-person hangouts for neurodivergent LGBTQ+ youth. Although they are no longer in-person during the health crisis, they are holding Zoom meetings weekly for youth to continue to socialize with each other.

Some services are shared by several of these organizations such as the gender gear program, the clothes donation area within the space, supporting the Jeunes Queer Youth program that gives access to funding and mentorship for youth projects, and educating the public through kiosks and workshops. While their services may not look the same for the time being, they continue to offer adapted services to the youth who need it, across the city, region, and province.

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

Between 1871 and 1994, paragraph 175 of the German Penal Code made homosexuality punishable by imprisonment. It was between World War I and World War II more specifically, that Germany saw the rise of fascism that culminated in Hitler’s seizure of power in 1933. However, while this part of history is more readily known, less often is the parallel liberal movement that so exasperated the extreme right discussed. At that time in Europe, many doctors were beginning to explore the possibility that, medically, one cannot ignore what happens in the brain, that the mind is a valid source of information about the patient’s torments.

Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld was one of those pioneers; he dedicated his life to the humanization of homosexuals and was the first to use the term transsexuality. Throughout his life, through science, he worked to normalize, educate, and protect practices that were then considered abnormal or even disgusting. He collected the testimonies of the transgender people he met and worked actively for their social acceptance.

His experience in the army as a doctor on the front lines during the First World War gave him first-hand experience of the mistreatment of homosexual soldiers. He also had the opportunity to work with women who dressed as men so they could participate in combat. Himself Jewish and gay, he also received these people in his office and witnessed their suffering.

It was after he returned from the war, in 1919, that he created Berlin’s Institute for Sexual Science – the first institute of this type in the world. The institute was open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It offered group therapy, and information on sexually transmitted diseases (at the time, syphilis cognitively affects and kills those affected). Patients could sleep there if necessary or consult a well-stocked library. Taking advantage of the Institute’s prestige, he negotiated with the police to grant passes to those who were called transvestites in those days. He published several books and even participated in the production of the film Different from Others, in which he played himself interviewing homosexual soldiers.

Dr. Hirschfeld supervised Dr. Ludwig Levy-Lenz, who performed one of the first MTF surgeries on Lili Elbe. In 1933, the Institute was destroyed by the Nazis, the books burned, and the three doctors ended their lives in exile.

The history of sex reassignment surgery is a fascinating one. It begins with inspiring men and women who defy prejudice and twist the law to do what they believe is right. Early cases of MTF or FTM surgery can be difficult to trace as it often took place clandestinely and was sometimes covered up to protect the people involved. The history of sex change surgeons is the story of the liberation of morals.

L’article Dr Magnus Hirschfeld and his legacy est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

On May 30th, 2019, Dr. Pierre Brassard was awarded the Phénicia Medal, surrounded by his main collaborators. Plastic surgeon, and medical director of Complexe chirurgical CMC and GrS Montreal, Dr. Brassard is recognized worldwide for his work in the field of FTM and MTF gender affirmation surgeries.

Career

Recently, Dr. Brassard told a journalist from the newspaper Le Devoir, about his first patient:

“I saw the extraordinary effect that the surgery had on this person and the suffering that had beset him until then. […] There is no better patient than a trans patient.”

Dr. Brassard graduated from Laval University in medicine and then in plastic surgery at University of Montreal. He then worked in various hospitals before becoming medical director of the Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie in 2000. Dr. Brassard has carried out thousands of trans surgeries.

He is also invested in different institutions as an instructor or a lecturer emeritus. In addition to being a brilliant presence in the community, he contributes to the training of doctors who will follow in his footsteps.

The GrS Montréal Clinic

The main contribution of Pierre Brassard is not a small one. His clinic, GrS Montreal, is the only one in Canada that specializes in FTM surgery and MTF surgery. Since its opening in 1980, surgeons have operated on nearly 10,000 patients. The four surgeons currently working there are labouring tirelessly. GrS Montreal welcomes patients from around the world who come for phalloplasty, vaginoplasty, mastectomies, or even facial and body feminization surgeries.

The Phénicia Medal recognizes his dedication and empathy towards the well-being of patients who often carry a long, complicated history with them. His surgical skills and dedication to continuous improvement of his science make him an outstanding practitioner.

L’article Dr. Pierre Brassard, recipient of the CC-LGBT Phénicia Medal est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.