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.

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.

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.

Marie-Marcelle Godbout died in 2017 at the age of 73 and was considered by many to be the Mother Teresa of trans people in Quebec. She founded the Association des Transsexuels (les) du Québec (now Aide aux Trans du Québec) and was one of the first trans people to proudly give open-face interviews.

Born in 1943, Mrs. Godbout has always been a woman.

“As far back as I can go in my childhood, when I was three or four years old, I’ve always been the person I am now,” she confided when she spoke with host Liza Frulla on Radio-Canada in 2000.

“I’ve always been a woman,” she confirmed on that television set. According to her brother, he realized she was a girl when he was only four years old. Some people closed their eyes, but many had understood since she was a little girl. It was obvious to the person who points to the genetic code to explain her reality.

Marie-Marcelle Godbout became an adult at the end of an adolescence made more difficult for this reason. She was one of the first people to opt for gender affirmation surgery, which was obviously very little known at the time.

“I’m one of the first,” she revealed in the year 2000. “At the time, in the 1960s, simply dressing as a woman was criminal…you could go to jail. So I chose to exile myself to Vancouver where it was much more permissive. I lived there with the identity I have now. But first, I was in therapy for two years, followed by a psychiatrist, sexologist and psychologist,” she said.

An ear and a voice for the trans community

“We can’t even put a number on the amount of people who avoided suicide because Marie-Marcelle Godbout answered the phone in the middle of the night,” the then president of the organization Aide aux Trans du Québec, Julien Leroux-Richardson, told the Journal de Montréal the day after her death.

Deeply committed to her lifelong cause, Marie-Marcelle Godbout has testified on all levels about the realities of transgender people, which are still often unknown.

“She has been instrumental in the advancement of LGBTQ rights by being at the forefront of numerous conferences and meetings with politicians at all levels. Behind her courage and dignity was a woman of heart and generosity. The world has lost count of the people she has kept company with her active listening, 24 hours a day, for more than 37 years. Thousands of people from all over the francophone world listened to her in their difficult moments. With her patience and her heart of gold, she transformed and saved their lives,” read a message from the organization Aide au Trans du Québec dated July 24, 2017.

Fortunately, the passionate commitment of a woman like Marie-Marcelle Godbout has inspired many. Today, thanks in part to this woman of heart, support for trans people is much more accessible.

Marie-Marcelle Godbout (1943-2017)

L’article Marie-Marcelle Godbout, Mother Teresa of the Quebec trans people est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

At the beginning of the 20th century, psychoanalysis was recommended for patients suffering from gender dysphoria. It was believed that the mind must be changed to match the body. Today, we see things differently, mostly because of Dr. Harry Benjamin who made his career in the United States. He created the term Benjamin’s Syndrome to designate “transsexualism” which he is the first to define as “neither a perversion, nor a homosexuality” in 1949. He was one of the first to believe that the body must be altered to fit its perceived identity, and to recommend surgery or hormone therapy to his trans patients. Initially considered as an eccentric by the medical community, his views were eventually adopted.

The decision to begin a transition is usually made when an often complicated psychological journey is already well underway. Symptoms of anxiety and depression often mark this difficult journey. This is commonly known as gender dysphoria. Support from loved ones can be of major importance.

The often complicated socio-economic factors only make this suffering worse. For example, the number of homeless trans people is statistically higher than in the general population. Once on the streets, access to information about gender affirmative surgeries and related care that could alleviate their suffering becomes much more complicated. That is not even considering the additional barriers faced by trans people belonging to Aboriginal minorities or refugees, who are alone and do not yet have access to the public health system or speak official languages.

Because morals change slowly, the long journey of accepting oneself and others can be a source of pain that is equally worthy of recognition. However, a recent study from the Yale University School of Public Health in the United States showed that in the years following surgical procedures, transgender individuals are significantly less likely to require mental health follow-up for depression, anxiety or suicide attempts.

More recently, Dr. Pierre Brassard of the GrS Montréal clinic told a journalist from Le Devoir about his first patient: “I saw the extraordinary effect that surgery had on this person and the suffering that had beset her until then. Her reaction convinced me to continue doing this kind of surgery. There is no better patient than a trans patient.”

If a hundred years ago trans individuals were secretly operated on by courageous surgeons who defied the existing laws, today these surgeries are more and more accessible and recognized as therapeutic in the treatment of gender dysphoria. However, it is important to always remember that this choice is very personal and can contribute greatly to improving mental health.

L’article Mental health and gender affirmation surgery 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 this article, I decided to ask some questions to June Pilote, executive director at Alterheros in Montreal and social media vlogger on queer and trans realities.

Alex Simon: If you feel comfortable sharing, how would you describe yourself in terms of queer and trans identity? (transmasculine, transfeminine, non-binary, etc) What pronouns do you use?

June Pilote: I’m a non-binary trans-masculine human and I use they/them pronouns in English and il/lui in French. I don’t strongly relate to any non-binary pronouns in French, so I decided to go with the “masculine” alternative.

AS: What kind of activism do you do in the LGBTQ+ community?

JP: I’ve been doing LGBTQ+ activism for a little more than 5 years now. I started with being on different organizations’ boards, doing active peer support and facilitating workshops. These days, I’m the executive director for AlterHéros, an online resource for and by LGBTQ+ people, where we answer questions regarding sexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation and plenty of other subjects. We also offer services for and by neurodiverse LGBTQ+ youth, peer support, social events, resource sharing, etc. I also have an online presence where I talk about my gender transition, and my queer identity in general. Through my Instagram, podcast and blog, I discuss stuff like my top surgery, gender dysphoria and what sex toys can alleviate dysphoria!

AS: What is your academic background? Your current career or dream career?

JP: With the mental health stuff that comes with being queer and trans, I was never able to finish a degree. I did 2 years of a bachelor in history back in 2011, and a year and a half of gender studies at Concordia University in 2017.

AS: What queer/trans/gender non-conforming role models did you have growing up?

JP: None (laughs). I first had access to the internet when I was 14 years old, I did a few research on lesbian and gay stuff, but never about gender identity. I always felt a discomfort with my gender, but never had the words to describe it. I first started to hear about trans stuff when I got to university and met Sophie Labelle in 2013. Being friends with her really opened my eyes to what being trans is, and how I don’t need to live with the discomfort my whole life.

AS: What was your coming-out experience with your family, friends and colleagues?

JP: For friends, I mostly had LGBTQ+ friends, so rather easy. For my family a bit harder, I’m still dealing with a bunch of feelings regarding that, so I prefer not to talk about it too much. You can hear me talk about my coming out story in the first episode of my podcast “C’est quoi mon genre” (in French).

AS: What is something you wished a younger self would’ve known in regard to self-love and acceptance as a queer/trans person? About your relationships with other people?

JP: That I’m not alone, that it will be hard but worth it. That being trans and queer is not as lonely as I think and that I will discover myself along the way.

AS: What do you think the next steps in advancing queer and trans rights would be? What issues should be brought to the spotlight?

JP: So many issues! Rights for trans migrants, easier access to surgery and hormonal replacement therapy for everyone, more coverage for trans-feminine affirming surgery (including Facial feminisation surgery and hair removal), etc.

AS: What advice would you give to queer/trans people starting to discover their true selves?

JP: If you can, follow trans people on social media platforms, surround yourself with digital trans acceptance. You don’t have to come out if it’s not safe or accessible, for you.

Alex Simon

L’article Interview with June Pilote est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

Gender identities are multiple and cannot be quantified or defined in a very precise or fixed manner. This is why it is important for a clinic such as GrS Montréal, which specializes in gender affirmation surgery (formerly called “sex change”), to offer a variety of options to its patients.

What is an orchiectomy and why choose it?

Orchiectomy is a relatively simple procedure involving the removal of the testicles. The surgery itself takes about 30 minutes and patients return home the same day. The surgeon makes a first incision in the groin to remove the blood vessels that supply blood to the testicles and then in the scrotum itself. This surgery can be part of a larger process and can be combined with other surgeries: for example, it can be performed during a vaginoplasty. However, if the orchiectomy is performed before the vaginoplasty, it will be necessary to stretch the skin of the scrotum to make sure that it does not shrink too much since this skin will be used to cover the inner wall of the future vagina.

Since the removal of the testicles drastically reduces testosterone production, orchiectomy is a surgical option for people who do not want or cannot do hormone therapy. It can sometimes be recommended by an endocrinologist.

Following the surgery

Upon returning home, it is advised to rest for one week and wait four weeks before resuming physical activities such as sports. As with all procedures, it is recommended that patients stop smoking six to eight weeks before surgery and maintain good hygiene and general health to minimize risks and surgical complications.

Other surgeries

Some surgeries can be combined with orchiectomy such as face and body feminization surgeries, breast augmentation, etc.

The GrS Montréal clinic is the only private clinic specializing in trans surgeries in the country and its surgeons will be able to advise and guide you according to your needs. They have pioneered a movement of acceptance and accessibility that, hopefully, will continue to grow exponentially in the coming years.

L’article What is an orchiectomy surgery? 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.

Pronouns: something we often use, but don’t often refer to by name. On an everyday basis, we use pronouns to refer to someone in the third person. For instance, if we want to tell our friend that the person across the street has a nice dress, and said person looks feminine, we might tend to use “she” and “her” pronouns. If you want a short haircut similar to the client sitting next to you, you might say “I want the same style that he has”.

To non-transgender individuals, this might seem completely anodyne. If someone were to ask you what pronouns you use, you wouldn’t give it a second thought. You might even say, “Well, I use feminine pronouns obviously”, or “I just use normal pronouns, like any other guy”.

However, these generalizations are problematic in more ways than one. First, it demonstrates how pronouns are generally associated with someone’s esthetic or physical attributes. Having short hair doesn’t automatically mean that you are masculine aligned, nor does wearing a dress make you inherently use feminine pronouns.

Second, it makes any divergence from said norms seem like an abnormality. By stating that one’s pronouns should be “obvious” or “normal”, it discredits any individual or pronouns that are non-conforming. This can be the case for transgender and cisgender people alike. Whether it be in the outside world or in the performance world (take drag, for instance), expression of one’s self has so many more nuances and shades than ever before.

Third, the strict usage of she and he pronouns in such scenarios erases the use of gender-neutral pronouns and neopronouns by the transgender and non-binary communities. The pronoun they, named by Mirriam-Webster as the Word of 2019, is a pronoun often used by individuals whose gender is not within the gender binary. Neopronouns, while perhaps not as known to people outside of the LGBTQ+ community, are new pronouns developed by trans and non-binary individuals who feel that the currently existing terms do not correlate with their sense of self. Examples of these include “ze/hir” (pronounced zee and here, respectively) and “xe/xem” (pronounced zee and zem respectively). While these might seem like a new concept entirely, these examples in particular date back to the early 1970’s (xe/xem) and late 1990’s (ze/hir)!

Singular they with a singular antecedent can be traced back all the way to the 1300’s, where a Middle English text by the name of William the Werewolf was published. Although its popularity wavered throughout the following centuries, contemporary usage of said neutral pronoun rose from the 1990’s and onward. We even use singular they unbeknownst to us, in situations where we do not know a person’s gender. For instance, we say “someone lost their phone”, or “someone called my number, but they didn’t leave a message”. They is much more fluid in speech and in writing than using alternatives like he/she. So how do you use this pronoun when referring to someone in the third person? It’s quite simple: you replace the person’s name by the pronoun they, and you conjugate the verb as usual (ex. They are, and not they is).

Aside from pronouns themselves, connotations to the adjectives we use can also differ from person to person. For instance, someone might prefer being called handsome as supposed to beautiful or might rather use neutral terms such as “attractive”. Keep in mind however that just because someone might use pronouns that are masculine, feminine or neutral in nature, that doesn’t mean that the adjectives referring to them are of the same alignment.

On a day-to-day basis, one of the ways that we can normalize having differing pronouns from our appearance or assumed pronouns is sharing them when introducing ourselves. This is something that non-transgender individuals can do as well, as will benefit society as a whole. Typically, transgender and non-binary individuals are the sole people who might possibly share their pronouns in a direct manner, possibly outing themselves. This burden might prevent gender non-conforming people from expressing their identity and thus tend to be misgendered by those around them. Cisgender people can help relieve this pressure by taking part in sharing their pronouns as well. That way, by having everyone share their respective pronouns, the possibility of being involuntarily outed decreases tenfold.

From a more systemic point of view, public and private institutions can make steps to be more inclusive of the pronouns that their clients use. This includes the prefix and pronoun options in documents and forms. Regardless of whether or not the person has undergone a legal transition, being able to express oneself in a basic conversation with a health provider, staff member or otherwise facilitates the professional relationship between both parties and decreases the likelihood that transgender and non-binary individuals avoid those services altogether (this is particularly the case for healthcare services that can be particularly cisnormative). For example, transmasculine individuals might feel more at ease with undergoing gynecological care or mammograms if the service provided to them wasn’t exclusively targeted as for being “for women” and possibly being misgendered by staff members.

Therefore, having pronouns that differ from what people might expect you to use doesn’t make your existence less valid, the problem is the current lens that society has on gender nonconformity. We all can take steps to ensure that everyone is respected equally for who they are and how they express themselves. From both individual and societal standpoints, changing pronouns for someone we love (or a complete stranger) might initially be a challenge, but using them will be one less burden on that person’s shoulders, one less obstacle they have to overcome, and it results in one more person in the world who feels seen, loved and validated.

Alex Simon

L’article The importance of pronouns est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

During the FTM or FTX (non-binary) transition process, genital surgery alone is often thought of whereas several surgical procedures are available, depending on what patient seeks. One of these procedures is mastectomy, also known as masculinization of the torso.

Why a Mastectomy?

While mastectomy is often associated with breast cancer, it can also be an important step in the transition for transgender people. By masculinizing the torso, there is an opportunity to truly change the silhouette of the patient for whom the body doesn’t match the mind. Mastectomy, therefore, can profoundly improve self-esteem by allowing the person to feel better about their body. We note a significant decrease in gender dysphoria.

Two Different Methods

There are two techniques to perform a mastectomy, a decision that will be made by the surgeon based on the patient’s amount of breast tissue and glands.

The first is called a subcutaneous or periareolar mastectomy and it may be performed on a patient with less breast tissue. It consists of extracting the mammary glands through small and discreet incisions made at the bottom of the nipples and then closed. This method leaves less visible scars but is not possible for everyone.

The second, bilateral double incisions mastectomy with nipple grafting, is for patients with a higher amount of breast glands and breast tissue. This technique first involves the removing of the entire nipple and then the removing of the tissue and glands through a subpectoral incision. The nipple, reduced if necessary, is then attached to the natural location of a male nipple.

Advice and Post-operative Care

As with all surgeries, mastectomy is more likely to be successful and will heal better on a healthy body. In preparation for the procedure, the patient is, therefore, advised to get in shape and lose weight if necessary. A high body mass index (BMI) makes healing more difficult, and obesity increases the risk of complications or infections. Smoking is also problematic and surgeons recommend that the patient stop smoking at least six weeks before the operation and eight weeks after.

After this procedure, which will lasts about two hours, it takes four to six weeks to recover. The patient will be able to resume their physical activities six to eight weeks after the procedure. However, it is expected to take nine to twelve months for the tissues to stabilize. For more information, consult your surgeon.

L’article What is a mastectomy? 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 as long as we can remember, humans demonstrate the need to categorize that which is part of their day-to-day life. Whether it be the social class we find ourselves in, the subset of religion we adhere to or something as simple as the kind of food we eat, many find comfort in being able to distinguish the characteristics of one thing to the next. Human beings, however, are not so simple. We have the unique quality of being so vastly different from each other, each person having multiple dimensions and nuances to their personality, sense of self and expression. Yet, from biological and sociological perspectives alike, it would be overly simplistic to assume that one’s gender identity can without exception be categorized as man or woman.

We are all assigned a gender at birth, meaning a medical professional decides whether or not our genitalia are characteristic to that of a male or female. Intersex individuals, meaning those whose sex characteristics are ambiguous to a certain degree, are often victims of non-consensual surgical procedures in order to align their genitalia to what it “should” look like (these surgeries are typically cosmetic in nature, are not essential to a baby’s survival and can actually cause serious medical consequences). The sex that we are assigned at birth fails to take into consideration other characteristics, such as hormonal levels, internal reproductive structures and genetics.

The sex that we are assigned at birth has repercussions on the way we live our lives. Different societies project different gender roles onto youth and adults depending on their assigned sex. While many individuals’ gendered sense of identity is coherent with the way they were assigned at birth, that’s not always the case. This is what differentiates cisgender and transgender people: those whose gender is the same as their sex assigned at birth, and those whose gender is different.

For binary transgender individuals, those who are assigned female at birth tend to identify as male, and vice versa. However, there are individuals who regardless of how they were assigned do not feel like their gender (or lack thereof) is exclusively male or female. Bring forward the word non- binary.

Non-binary is a term for individuals who do not feel solely male or female. It can be used either as an umbrella term for more specific identities, or it can be used to label an identity itself. Some might think of a gender spectrum as being female on one side and male on the other, with a gray area between the two. More accurately speaking, the spectrum can be seen as a multi dimensional sphere, with infinite possibilities of finding your sense of self within. This view allows people who don’t define as male or female at all to find themselves among the spectrum, as supposed to settling with a midpoint halfway in between male and female.

Non-binary identities are not specific to Western society. In fact, Indigenous people in North America have an identity specific to their culture, named Two Spirit. A third gender known as Hijra is legally recognized in the Indian subcontinent, and Fa’afafine is a feminine-aligned gender identity acknowledged by Samoan jurisdiction.

For those who aren’t accustomed to non-binary realities, it can be easy to get lost in the numerous labels and terminology. What’s important isn’t the exceptionalism of your knowledge, but rather your willingness to learn about and from non-binary people. Keep in mind however the emotional labor taken on these people who may feel like they have to constantly educate others on their own existence, so remind yourself that other resources are at your availability for your questions as well.

It’s important to also remember that someone’s expression of self, romantic or sexual orientation doesn’t equate to their gender identity. A woman having short hair doesn’t make her less of a woman, and a man who enjoys wearing dresses or makeup doesn’t make him less of a man. While gender expectations have slowly become less demanding over time, the remainder of said expectations and stereotypes tends to fall upon transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people. If we don’t conform well enough with the norms of our assigned sex, we’re seen as abnormalities. If we don’t conform to the standards of our gender identity (for instance, a transgender man who is seen as too feminine), we’re told that we’re not “trying enough” to fit in or that we aren’t “trans enough”. Even though the concept of passing, meaning that we are perceived by others as our true self rather than our assigned sex, can be a matter of safety in a very cis and binary-dominated world, our validity as trans people shouldn’t have to rely on the very same stereotypes that non-transgender people have been working themselves away from.

Pronouns for non-binary people differ from one person to the next. While some may choose to go with neutral options like “they/them”, “ze/hir” or “xe/xem”, others may choose to use “she/her” or “he/him” pronouns. Choosing to use these pronouns doesn’t make a person any less non-binary than using gender-neutral pronouns.

Some individuals may choose to undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT), such as testosterone or estrogen. They may decide to undergo gender affirmation surgery, such as a double mastectomy (top surgery), a phalloplasty or a vaginoplasty, just to name a few examples. Some may choose to have neither or have both. There are as many narratives to trans people’s medical transition (as well as any type of transition) as there are trans people, so every experience is unique.

Navigating the world as a non-binary person is a challenge in itself. Being able to access gender-affirming care can mean having to pay fees for reference letters, prescriptions and/or surgeries. Not all medical professionals have proper training to treat us, meaning that we can be subjected to evaluations meant to deem us ‘’worthy enough” to access vital healthcare. Many regions do not yet allow modifications to official documents like birth certificates, making any legal process a challenge. This is particularly the case for trans and non-binary migrants. The current educational system rarely makes mention of non-binary individuals, leading youth to be further ostracized and isolated from gaining access to resources about their own self. All of the strains mentioned above, among others, contribute to systematic discrimination of transgender and non-binary people, making the simple act of existing a genuine act of resistance. It shouldn’t have to be this challenging and draining to exist.

Regardless of where you are on your journey to self-discovery, one of the most crucial aspects to blossoming as a non-binary person is having an adequate support system. Whether it be family members or friends, having people you can count on as you learn more about yourself and build your self-esteem to express yourself to the fullest is of utmost importance. They’ll be the ones by your side as you get your first haircut, take your first hormone shot or accompany you to the doctor’s office to get your bandages removed. You are not alone; we all have a chosen family with us.

Alex Simon

L’article Non-binary identity est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

In recent years, more and more countries have recognized the existence of a third gender by allowing people who would rather do so to check a box called “different”, “other” or “neutral” than check a “male” or “female” box when the time comes to specify their gender. Germany, India, Pakistan, the state of California, Denmark, Argentina, Australia, and many others have adopted legislation allowing people to identify themselves to an alternative gender .

In Canada, Statistics Canada initiated consultations in 2017 to review how the census questionnaire could collect information on the sex and gender of respondents. The 2021 edition of the Census should, therefore, include two questions to distinguish the gender assigned at birth from gender identity and do so in a non-binary way. It shall also recognize the fact that a person’s gender identity can change over time.

Even though certain legislations have looked into the matter of third gender and transidentity for at most ten years, the social recognition of people belonging to this group has existed since the dawn of time.

Near the city of Thebes, Egypt (where the existing city of Luxor is located), potteries dating from the era of the Middle Kingdom was found. These potteries bore reports of three sexes: male, female, and a third sex, which many have translated as eunuch, although few sources suggest that these eunuchs were actually castrated . This period took place from around 2060 to 1770 BCE.

In Indian culture, references to a third sex are found in ancient texts of the three spiritual traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. It is estimated that there are approximately 5 million hijras in India today. At that time, the hijras were the guardians of the harems. Considered to be neither men nor women, hijras today represent a community of transvestites, eunuchs, transsexuals, and hermaphrodites. They are the third sex. Even if their existence is proved to be a thousand years old, the fact remains that their daily lives is complex. Over time, many have sunk into begging and prostitution.

Since 2014, the Supreme Court of India has given hijras the right to legally identify themselves as a third gender, which now allows them to benefit from social assistance and jobs reserved for the disadvantaged . That being said, a transgender woman who wishes to identify herself as a woman under the law would, at the same time, be deprived of the social rights for transgender people. Note that homosexuality was decriminalized there in 2018 , four years after the legal recognition of a third gender.

Photo credit: Michael Garten

L’article The third gender est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

The first cases of MTF or FTM surgeries are difficult to trace since they have often occurred clandestinely, and some tracks have been scrambled to protect the identity of the people concerned. The story of the great surgeons of sex change is the story of the liberation of morals.

First in Europe

Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld was one of those pioneers; he dedicated his life to the humanization of homosexuals, and he coined the term transsexuality. In the inter war period, he created the Institute of Sexology in Berlin, which aimed to normalize, educate, and protect, through science, practices that were then deemed abnormal. He collected the testimonials of transgender people he met, actively worked for their acceptance, and supervised Dr. Ludwig Levy-Lenz, who went on to perform one of the first MTF surgeries on Lili Elbe. Dr. Levy-Lenz then performed another sex change with Dr. Felix Abraham on Dora Richter. The Institute was destroyed by the Nazis, and the three doctors spent the rest of their lives in exile.

Then in North America

Dr. Harry Benjamin, a friend of Dr. Hirschfeld, was born in Berlin and made his career in the United States. In 1949, he created the term “Benjamin Syndrome” to designate transsexualism which he was the first one to define as “neither a perversion, nor a homosexuality”. He was one of the first to believe that the body must be altered to match perceived identity, and to recommend surgery or hormone therapy rather than psychoanalysis to his transgender patients. First seen as eccentric by the medical community, his views were eventually adopted.

Dr. Christian Hamburger, in Denmark, became famous in the early 50’s for taking over the sex change of Christine Jorgensen, who could be described as the first transsexual star. Her openness about her gender dysphoria throughout the 1960s and 1970s brought a lot to the liberation of morals in North America.

Today

In Canada, Dianna Boileau was the first patient to undergo a MTF surgery. She first received hormone therapy in the United States until Canadian research groups were created and she then underwent gender affirmation surgery at the University of Toronto in 1970. When she was involved in a car accident in 1972, her sexual identity made headlines.

Given that a hundred years ago transgender people were operated on secretly by brave surgeons who defied the existing laws, such surgeries today are more and more accessible and recognized as one of the effective treatments for gender dysphoria.

L’article The Great Sex Change Surgeons est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

In the recent weeks, not a day (or almost) has ended without someone talking to her about her gender affirmation surgery performed at the Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie (GrS Montreal). Khate, who now resides in Laval, was indeed operated on for a vaginoplasty.

“When I started to think about the operation and felt ready to start the process, I had to begin by creating my file. I don’t know how it goes in Montreal, but in my region, in Abitibi, it took months. I had to meet with several specialists and each of them had to write a letter of recommendation,” she explains.

Then, at the end of many private meetings with a sex therapist, a psycho-educator, her family doctor, a psychologist, and other healthcare professionals and specialists, Khate had what was needed to take the next step. No less than a year and a half has passed between the start of the process and the “D” day.

“Once there, I was surprised to see how beautiful the clinic is and how caring the whole team is! Let’s say it was a good thing for me because I get anxious very easily. Whether we like it or not, even if we inquire about the subject first, we still are afraid to enter, as if it were a dark room, when arriving at the hospital … but everyone was so nice! The employees came to introduce themselves one by one. It felt like a family atmosphere. Everyone is calm and very attentive, at all times. In short, you quickly feel like you are part of a big house!” explains the former OD candidate.

The Human Experience

“During my entire stay at GrS Montréal, I really felt the human touch. I expected it to be like in a hospital where the employees are always on the run because there is a lot to do, but it was not. During the first days, I was not without pain, but I received all the attention I needed,” she assures.

As one can imagine, when a celebrity is operated on for gender affirmation surgery and then this news is publicized, there are reactions. Without trying to promote herself, Khate Lessard is happy to provoke reactions and debate around this theme.

“I didn’t do this for fun or to get attention. You can’t do this to get attention. I really want to focus it on the informative side. We need to talk about sexual diversity and be able to see what revolves around it, like, among other things, a vaginoplasty. I want to help demystify all of this. I want to do good things and take good action. If it can help people who will have to live through it, so much the better!” she believes.

The Asclépiade, a place to remember

“I spent about seven days at the Asclépiade. The food there is really excellent! For real, it’s a buffet at every meal. It’s not cheap food. I remember eating excellent Greek-style chicken breasts with cheese … you can feel that the chef is having fun making his menus,” assures the one who has produced several web capsules. “In fact, I took the time to speak with him. He said to me that after an operation like the one we undergo, either a vaginoplasty or a phalloplasty, it is important to eat protein foods.”

And it’s not only the food that is well-suited to the needs of users: everything is planned to provide comfort and peace of mind for the occupants of the Asclépiade.

“There is a large fridge filled with cranberry juice, which is very good for the bladder, and cushions that allow us to sit comfortably and painlessly on the chairs. It’s fun because everyone there goes through the same thing and we all eat around the same table. We can talk and some people have been there longer than others. Sometimes they give advice to others about the days ahead and what to do next. We feel listened to and followed in all the steps and throughout the whole process,” concludes the former communications student.

Close Follow-up

“I am back at home, but every week, the people from GrS Montreal follow up. We talk on the phone and through email, and I also need to send photos to make sure everything is fine. I find it very reassuring. For example, if bleeding occurs, I only have to take a picture and send it to quickly receive an answer,” said the young woman.

What about the future?

A good communicator, Khate Lessard became close friend with Julie Snyder. Also, in the near future, she plans to show her true colors on the small screen.

“I have always loved doing all kinds of things in life. For now, I am anchored in this wave because I am recognized for this. I will always campaign for this cause, but I will also do something else!”, promises the refreshing Laval girl.

Those who follow her have adopted her and it’s a safe bet that her career is just beginning. A new career, but, above all, a new life…

L’article Khate Lessard (Occupation Double – OD) tells us about her experience at GrS Montreal est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

The month of November 2019 was very busy for the GrS Montreal team . We worked hard to present our current projects and to unveil the launch of other projects that had been in preparation for quite a few months.

Preparing for the CPATH (Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health) convention in early November required countless hours of work for the development team. Henri Labelle, the GrS Montreal social worker psychotherapist, teamed up with nurse clinician Daphney Prophète to present surgical services to Canadian and international professionals on site. In pre-conference, the duo presented a detailed version of the surgical services. A shortened version of 90 minutes was presented 2 days later to other professionals. Dr. Brassard and Dr. Bélanger had the pleasure of participating in the closing plenary of the convention. This plenary was under the theme of the accessibility of trans care in Canada. The opportunity was perfect to answer questions and talk about upcoming projects.

The same team took advantage of the conference to unveil the Monarch platform, a system entirely designed to facilitate exchanges between patients and GrS Montreal professionals . More than 3 years of development were needed to achieve a result that is both user-friendly and secure. This highly anticipated platform will be launched in the beginning of 2020. A video on Monarch has been produced, you can watch it here.

The CPATH conference was also the occasion to launch the Trans Avenue blog that you are currently reading! Already more than a dozen texts are there and several others are in preparation. You will find, for example, articles on vaginoplasty and phalloplasty, another on the Two-Spirit people or the 50 years anniversary of the Stonewall riots . A newsletter dedicated to readers of the blog has also been implemented. You can register by following this link.

At the beginning of November, we also launched our own Youtube channel and, for the first time, published a very touching video in which 3 of our patients shared their transition experience. A corporate video was also unveiled. Here are the two videos.

Also noteworthy is the participation of GrS Montreal in the conference of the Ordre des Infirmières et Infirmiers du Québec – Quebec Nurses Association (OIIQ). A presentation on the development of the preoperative clinic was made by two of our nurse clinicians. Our Director of Human Resources was there to inform the nurses present of the benefits of working for the Complexe chirurgical CMC. This kind of participation in conferences allows GrS Montreal to demonstrate the quality of the services offered at its establishment, but above all to share its knowledge of trans-specific health care in order to improve accessibility. It is in this spirit that the development team presented the services of GrS Montreal in community organizations and with mental health professionals.

Although November 2019 has been a very busy time for GrS Montreal, we are already working on other projects coming up soon. It’s a safe bet that you will hear about GrS Montreal in the media in January 2020.

Our goal is to continually improve care delivery and accessibility, and we work hard to remain pioneers in trans health.

L’article Recap of November 2019 est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.

The truth is that there is no obligation to come out, nor is there an ideal time to do so. The choice is purely personal and depends on you and you alone. What is important, however, is to act coherently with your thoughts and feelings, at the pace that suits you, if and when you feel ready to do so. Weigh the pros and cons, consider the positive and negative impacts on your life, from all perspectives: personal, emotional, financial, etc. If you choose to come out, give yourself time to prepare.

Feeling nervous about coming out or uncertain, proud, relieved, guilty, confused, enthusiastic, and otherwise is all normal. The very first step is to be open and honest with yourself. You could connect with a trans community, “real” or virtual, to help you understand and tame all those overwhelming emotions. Talking with people who share what you are going through will help you feel less alone and answer some of the questions you may have about what you are going through and the next steps you will take.

Then, if the idea of unveiling your trans identity is still right for you, you may take the time to formulate a plan. Think about what you want to say and the words you would like to use to be understood. Putting one’s ideas in writing also helps structure one’s thinking and, eventually, help others better understand the issues you want to share with them. Learn about trans identity so you will be better prepared to answer questions from your loved ones and, thus, be able to better explain your reality.

Allow yourself to choose to whom you will come out and whether you will do it in writing or in person. Go step by step. First, choose people who can offer support and help you pursue your coming out. Remind yourself about the length of time you needed to accept who you are. Your loved ones may also need time to fully understand your situation and incorporate all the changes that this requires. The reactions can be varied and it is possible that some people do not respond as you had anticipated. Others will surprise you with their openness and acceptance. You must be ready to face a wide range of reactions.

“I was not expecting my family to accept me.” “I had the impression that a huge burden was finally off my shoulders.” The comments after a coming out often mention a relief, an appeasement of the torment that finally leaves room for serenity. However, let’s be honest: the path that opens afterwards can be beautiful, but could also be strewn with obstacles. When you decide to unveil yourself to those around you, it may feel like a trip that you will not take alone, but that will require adaptation from everyone. You might see changes in your relationships. Everyone has their story, everyone has their own pace. There is no good or bad way to talk to your friends: the important thing is that you are ready to do it, comfortable with your decision and that you are authentic when speaking with them.

Life is like a roller coaster: it has its ups and downs, but in the end you have smiles and giggles because, you know … you did it.

Julia Serano, author

L’article Trans Coming Out est apparu en premier sur TransAvenue.