State of Trans in Alberta: Trans Day of Visibility Report 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Monday, March 31, 2014 -- Alberta
INAUGURAL REPORT OUTLINES STATE OF TRANS IN ALBERTA
The Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA) is pleased to announce its inaugural State of Trans in Alberta: Trans Day of Visibility Report 2014.
"Trans Day of Visibility is an international observance every March 31," says report author and TESA board member Kate Schowalter. "TDOV is an ideal opportunity to help make matters concerning trans*-identified Albertans more visible to Alberta at large."
TESA's mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans*-identified Albertans. The State of Trans in Alberta report focuses on seven domains: identification, health care, education, social discourse, income and social status, social support networks, and housing.
"Trans* Albertans still face a number of exclusionary practises across each of these domains. TESA members routinely hear about trans* Albertans losing jobs, being shunned by family and becoming homeless, having their identity questioned due to lack of official identity documents, and other difficulties that do not seem to happen to non-trans* Albertans," says Schowalter.
Proclaiming March 31, 2014 as "Transgender Day of Visibility," Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson notes that "citizens of Edmonton share the responsibility to treat all individuals with respect and compassion regardless of background, age, race, sex or gender" and that "lack of recognition of trans-identified and gender variant individuals is a damaging form of gender-based exclusion ...".
"Visibility is important," affirms Schowalter. "Yet many trans* people remain afraid of personal visibility due to the consequences of that visibility. But without visibility, problems cannot be identified or addressed. TESA hopes that by providing an annual report to Alberta, important issues can be made more visible, while still protecting trans* individuals' right to privacy and respect."
One issue outlined in the report notes that trans* Albertans continue to have difficulty accessing medical care. "Transitioning in Alberta is done under the supervision of psychiatrists who specialise in this area," Schowalter notes. "Yet Alberta has only two of these specialists, and they're both located in Edmonton. Obviously, this presents significant barriers for access in a province as large as Alberta."
Schowalter hopes that Albertans ongoing willingness to learn about trans* issues will continue to result in improved quality of life for trans* Albertans. "Trans* Albertans have already seen some improvement around accessing official identification such as a drivers' licence," she says. "Hopefully, as trans* issues are understood better, other overly-restrictive practises, including policies and laws, will become more accessible to trans* people. Ultimately, trans* Albertans should be able to enjoy the benefits of our great province just as much as any other Albertan."
More information about TESA can be found at www.tesaonline.org
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INAUGURAL REPORT OUTLINES STATE OF TRANS IN ALBERTA
The Trans Equality Society of Alberta (TESA) is pleased to announce its inaugural State of Trans in Alberta: Trans Day of Visibility Report 2014.
"Trans Day of Visibility is an international observance every March 31," says report author and TESA board member Kate Schowalter. "TDOV is an ideal opportunity to help make matters concerning trans*-identified Albertans more visible to Alberta at large."
TESA's mission is to be a witness and a voice for matters concerning trans*-identified Albertans. The State of Trans in Alberta report focuses on seven domains: identification, health care, education, social discourse, income and social status, social support networks, and housing.
"Trans* Albertans still face a number of exclusionary practises across each of these domains. TESA members routinely hear about trans* Albertans losing jobs, being shunned by family and becoming homeless, having their identity questioned due to lack of official identity documents, and other difficulties that do not seem to happen to non-trans* Albertans," says Schowalter.
Proclaiming March 31, 2014 as "Transgender Day of Visibility," Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson notes that "citizens of Edmonton share the responsibility to treat all individuals with respect and compassion regardless of background, age, race, sex or gender" and that "lack of recognition of trans-identified and gender variant individuals is a damaging form of gender-based exclusion ...".
"Visibility is important," affirms Schowalter. "Yet many trans* people remain afraid of personal visibility due to the consequences of that visibility. But without visibility, problems cannot be identified or addressed. TESA hopes that by providing an annual report to Alberta, important issues can be made more visible, while still protecting trans* individuals' right to privacy and respect."
One issue outlined in the report notes that trans* Albertans continue to have difficulty accessing medical care. "Transitioning in Alberta is done under the supervision of psychiatrists who specialise in this area," Schowalter notes. "Yet Alberta has only two of these specialists, and they're both located in Edmonton. Obviously, this presents significant barriers for access in a province as large as Alberta."
Schowalter hopes that Albertans ongoing willingness to learn about trans* issues will continue to result in improved quality of life for trans* Albertans. "Trans* Albertans have already seen some improvement around accessing official identification such as a drivers' licence," she says. "Hopefully, as trans* issues are understood better, other overly-restrictive practises, including policies and laws, will become more accessible to trans* people. Ultimately, trans* Albertans should be able to enjoy the benefits of our great province just as much as any other Albertan."
More information about TESA can be found at www.tesaonline.org
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