Issue 125

FEBRUARY 2013
ISSN 1835-4637

Australian TRANSGENDER SUPPORT Association of Queensland. Inc.

ABN 13 319 522 768

07 3843 5024
atsaq.inc@gmail.com atsaq.com PO Box 212 New Farm QLD 4005

Safety alert on contraceptive pill Diane-35

Diane 35, is an acne drug often prescribed by doctors as a contraceptive. It has been linked to four deaths in France. THE Therapeutic Goods Administration has issued a safety alert on the acne drug Diane 35, days after French authorities moved to ban it because of links to four deaths from blood clots in the past 25 years. The TGA says it is undertaking a review of the safety information available for Diane 35. The medicine is approved for treating acne and hirsuitism in Australia, but it also acts as a contraceptive pill. It is also available in Australia under the trade names Brenda 35, Juliet 35, Estelle 35 and Laila 35. The TGA said the French medicines agency (ANSM) had reviewed Diane-35 and found that the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots) outweighs the benefits of Diane-35 in treating acne and hirsutism. The European Medicines Agency is also planning to conduct a review of the medicine. Women using the medicine should consult their doctor immediately if they develop any symptoms of blood clots, such as persistent leg pain or tenderness, swelling, warmth and redness of the leg, severe chest pain or sudden shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, the TGA says. Therapeutic Goods Administration of the ANSM's action and will continue to update them as necessary, it said.

SUE DUNLEVY News Limited Network

February 05, 2013 10:10PM Read more: http://www.news.com.au/ lifestyle/health-fitness/safety-alert-oncontraceptive-pill-diane-35/storyfneuz9ev1226571159895#ixzz2KG7B4SrG

AFP PHOTO PHILIPPE HUGUEN

From Zoe Ellen Brain, Canberra Australia

Diane-35 is a mixture of cyproterone and ethinyl estradiol. I would STRONGLY recommend steering clear of ethnyl estradiol. This is *not* an estrogen. It is an estrogen-like molecule that doesn't easily break down as it passes through the liver, unlike estrogen. This is good, because its estrogen-like effects last longer, less is metabolised in each pass through. But it's ***BAD NEWS*** because the
(Continued on page 2)

"All oral contraceptives and other hormonal products, such as Diane 35, pose a small risk of blood clots. This risk is influenced by age, family history of blood clots and lifestyle factors, such as weight and smoking," the TGA says. Drug company Bayer, which makes Diane-35, said it took product safety "very seriously". "We are surprised by this action taken by the ANSM. We are not aware of any new scientific evidence leading to a change in the positive benefit-risk assessment of Diane 35," the company said. Bayer Australia Ltd has advised the

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 1

OBJECTIVES of ATSAQ
> To provide Queenslands transgender population with such support as our resources can permit. people. 07 3843 5024 8am-6pm weekdays. Write to us; PO box 212 NEW FARM Q 4005 Atsaq.inc@gmail.com atsaq.com PLEASE NOTE: ATSAQ is run from a private residence and is not an introduction agency. > To continue to address the problem of legal recognition and human rights for > To continue a program of public educa- transgender people in the state of tion aimed at changing the negative imag- Queensland. es which the community may have with Membership is available upon request. transgender people. Pick a form up at the luncheon or we can post one to you. Fees for membership are > To provide support for family and $30 pa single & $50 pa couple. friends of transgender people and help If you require one to one counselling or with understanding issues involved. would like to meet in a friendly, uncon> To provide information on medical and ventional atmosphere, please contact us health services available to transgender
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breakdown products are chemicals not naturally found in the body (unlike the harmless breakdown products of estrogen), and they have both unknown effects and known effects such as being coagulants. There is an increased cancer risk too. Please only take 17B-estradiol or oestradiol valerate. The first is a naturally occurring hormone, the second the same thing with a water molecule attached - that breaks off when it hits the bloodstream. Cyproterone Acetate needs care when taking it. 1 in 3 get bad side effects, including liver damage and muscle breakdown. However... this is detectable in blood tests long before any permanent or symptomatic damage occurs. So if you use cyp. in any form, blood tests every 3 months for the first year, then annually thereafter, are MANDATORY. The breakdown products of cyp. include progesterone, which has some anti-cancer properties, plus promotion of breast growth in some people. Cyproterone acts by reducing levels of FSH (follicular stimulating hormone) and LH (lutinising hormone), thereby reducing production of testosterone in testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands. It is IMHO the safest anti-androgen for the 2/3 who don't have problems with it.

Centrelink Community Based Service Officers

From Fortitude Valley and Stones Corner visit ATSAQs Headquarters on a as need basis. They will assist you with your claims, advise you of your entitlements and find out specialised information etc. Most times your query can be done over the phone. Call 07 3843 5024 for further info. Appointments are a must, places are limited. Confidentiality is guaranteed under Federal Government Legislation. Serving Brisbanes Transgender Community since 1994.

QUEENSLAND POLICE LGBTI LIAISON OFFICERS Always Dial 000 in a LIFE THREATENING situation. Ring 07 3234 2111 note this number in your purse/ mobile phone. www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/cscp/ communityLiaison/lgbti/ for your nearest Liaison officer.

If you are unsure if these drugs are or not suitable for you see your treating Doctor ASAP. Krissy

Please Remember whenever talking to a member of the QLD Police ServiceYOU must be TRUTHFUL, (give your legally correct name & home address, be to the point, NO sarcasm and be respectful and polite.

Disclaimer For writers wishing to be anonymous, a non-de-plume will suffice, providing a contact number is supplied. ATSAQ is committed to healthy debate and/or constructive criticism upon any subject, we reserve the right to omit material, which is offensive or inappropriate for publication Ideas and opinions in this publication are not necessarily those of ATSAQ or those of our advertisers. Articles appearing in THE UPDATE are written expressly for ATSAQ unless otherwise stated. All articles may be reprinted providing that the source and author is acknowledged.
PAGE 2 | ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013

NEWS and EVENTS

Morgan Wades Transition and Reenlistment
Brynn Tannehill On February 7, 2013 Reserve recruiters dream of people like Morgan Wade walking into their office. She had a sterling service record, was on the fast track to chief petty officer, and qualified in a field where the demand for skilled individuals is high. Top it off with a clear background check and a clean bill of health, and it should be easy, right? The problem: Morgan Wade is female now, but that is not what was on her original birth certificate. It wasnt what was in her records when she joined the Navy. Even before she joined the Navy, though, Morgan was already dealing with gender dysphoria. She treated it as something chronic but manageable. The first time I figured out I had body image issues was actually before I joined the Navy, though at that point I didnt know what it was or meant, she said. I just tried to ignore it. At that moment in my life, I didnt know what I could do other than just try to deal with it the way I always had. Joining the Navy Morgans father, Mark, saw someone looking for a calling and not just a job. Diving is Morgans passion, he said. She was not happy at Chico College and spent her summer vacation on our sofa just watching TV. When we told her to go out and get a job, she went to military recruiters and decided on the Navy Morgan found the dive program and pushed for that. Morgan saw a great opportunity: I wanted money for school and needed some time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. When it came to her dysphoria, she counted on her newfound endurance. There were hard times early in her Navy career, but those hardships also reinforced her confidence in her own abilities. At my first command, I was treated so badly, and hazing was such a regular thing that I sort of figured that if I could survive that, I could deal with my own personal issues. Despite the hardships, she loved her job. When I was diving, nothing else in the world mattered. It didnt matter how bad things were topside. As long as I got to be in the water it was a good day. She was stationed on the USS Safeguard, a salvage ship based in Sasebo, Japan. Being that it was a small ship, and the cruise was an independent steamer, I got to go to a lot of small ports that the rest of the Navy doesnt normally go. I loved the travel on that ship. Unfortunately, during the time on board the USS Safeguard, Morgans dysphoria began to catch up with her. I came to the conclusion that I wasnt going to be able to deal with my gender issues indefinitely. I did, however, make the decision to make it to the end of my contract. See more of the story on the link http://outservemag.com/2013/02/navycouple-recounts-tough-decisions/ Gabrielle Ludwig, Transgender Basketball Player, Makes Championship Game Debut
12/06/2012 11:12 am EST A transgender California woman is garnering national attention after making her debut on a junior college basketball team. The Contra Costa Times is just one of a number of publications to feature the story of 50-year-old Gabrielle Ludwig, who participated in the 19th annual Comet Classic tournament championship on Dec. 1. Ludwig, who is twice divorced and has three children, last played college basketball in 1980, more than 20 years before she transitioned, USA Today points out. Though Ludwig is decades older than some of her teammates (and, at 6ft 8in, substantially taller), coach Corey Cafferata nonetheless praised her to the Times as possibly going on to become "the most dangerous player in the state." Ludwig told USA Today she hoped to set "an example" for transgender youth. "If they see me as a normal person and we are not the bogeyman and love life and raise kids just like you, maybe some of this mystery of who these people are will be taken away and there can be more blending into society," Ludwig said. "People are afraid of what they don't know. I am willing to put myself out there. It was not like that before. It was just about playing basketball. It's about more because I see an injustice." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/06/ gabrielle-ludwig-transgender-basketball-player -debut_n_2250548.html ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 3

23th FEBRUARY 2013

11am
You are invited to come and enjoy the company, the conversations, and share knowledge or learn new things. Yes its the ATSAQ Luncheon ~ RISSOLES, MASH & GRAVY ATSAQ Green Salad Dessert Mystre Wine, tea & coffee Vegetarians also catered for please advise when booking ~ Lucky Door Prize Cost $15 ATSAQ Members $10 Contact ATSAQ 07 3843 5024 atsaq.inc@gmail.com by FED 20 20123to reserve your place and for the Venue address ~All are Welcome~ (you do not have to be a member to attend)

The Ex Federal Attorney general Nicola Roxon was proposing changes to the discrimination laws which will include conduct that offends or insults a person or persons. The Trans community should be awarded the Olympic Gold Medal for being insulted, offended, humiliated and discriminated against them constantly from the workplace, entertainment, hospitality, rental, shopping, medical etc. Anything that involves going out in the public arena one can expect to, as a Trans person, have a person or persons not understanding let alone accepting ones right to be their true self regardless of appearance will make their feelings made known. A snigger, a remark to someone else behind closed hand, is all part and parcel of a Trans persons life. Most have the intestinal fortitude to ignore the all this and carry on being part of the everyday community. Some unfortunately, take the comments and sniggers to heart and with drastic consequences. That said one would then expect me to embrace the proposed changes, but I feel that they are fraught with danger signs. In Queensland our community is well protected under the Queensland AntiDiscrimination Act, (the ACT) 1991-19932003, with the inclusion of Gender Identity in its attributes. Except for Sport, Religious Schools, these are for another day. Many cases, since 2003, have been presented to Queensland AntiDiscrimination Commission, (QADC), by our community under various attributes presented by the ACT. Some cases being resolved satisfactorily by all parties via the QADC whilst others were referred to the Tribunal, now known as QCAT, which were

majority wise were affirmative for the Complainant. Whilst discrimination, as mentioned, is still out there one cannot stop some peoples feelings toward one another. This has been a human trait since the cave man days and I firmly believe that if the proposed changes are implemented then it can and will lead to some sections of the community taken offence to their rights and may lead to more confrontations. As actor W.C. Fields once said I am free of all prejudices, I hate everyone equally. This could be taken as an offensive remark, but forcing people to be nonjudgemental and basically love one another, Ok poetic Licence, then W.C. Fields comment could become some radicals anthem. Surly we can have cohesion without forcing people to sit there and behave themselves, being careful not to commit an unfriendly comment. If I thought for one moment that these changes would help our community then I would not hesitate to support them but it glares out as a bad decision by all who are supporting it.
The last week or so we have seen Nicola Roxon resigning her commission as Attorney-General with Mark Dreyfus accepting the appointment of Federal Attorney-General. It is to be hoped that he may have a better understanding of such changes. Last months luncheon was interrupted by a social windbag called Oswald who slowly made his way down the Qld coast which stopped a few people from attending, 12 in fact, but we still had 19 turn up which was pleasing under adverse conditions and I would like to thank those who braved the weather.

Australian TRANSGENDER SUPPORT Association of Queensland. Inc. ABN 15 319 522 768 PO Box 212 NEW FARM Q 4005 trans.atsa@bigpond.com atsaq.com 07 3843 5024 8am-6pm weekdays ATSAQ is run from a private residence

PRESIDENT: Gina Mather SECRETARY: Kristine Johnson ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT: Roz Ferguson SPECIAL THANKS: Aunty Pat & Sally many, many things Lesley Volunteer at Brisbane Gender Clinic

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 4

NEWS
Improving Conversations About Transgender Issues
When I began coming out at work, it was the most mortifying thing I had ever done. I had no idea what stereotypes these people had, what they were going to do or how it would 01/22/2013 change how they saw me. I had zero control, and if they Brynn Tannehill Defense research scientist chose to use what I told them to hurt or humiliate me, I had This past week a writer in the UK, Suzanne Moore, made a little recourse. As I told more and more of my supervisors, my crack about "Brazilian transsexuals." Transgender twitterers HR manager observed that I seemed more comfortable telling responded immediately, and occasionally irately. Following people. an increasingly nasty exchange between Ms. Moore and her "It's never comfortable," I replied, "but it is necessary." Twitter followers, a friend of Ms. Moore published an Just as telling my co-workers that I am transgender was intentionally offensive-as-possible rebuttal. In the end the necessary to making progress in my transition, opening better second article was retracted, Moore left Twitter (then dialogue with would-be allies is necessary to making progress returned), battle lines were drawn and everyone was left on transgender issues. Bridging the gap requires both sides to angry and out of breath. The sad irony of it all was that adjust how they do things. Suzanne Moore has written supportive things about the Non-trans people, please do a quick Google search on transgender community in the past. After the vitriolic transgender etiquette. Take cues about willingness to talk. exchanges by both sides, that probably won't be happening Keep questions above the belt. Don't ask about bedroom again anytime soon. An opportunity to educate became a stuff. Really, it's gauche. Don't be defensive if someone debacle. politely corrects you on a word or phrase. Remember that at This incident sums up one of the great catch-22s that the the end of the day, all that transgender people want is basic transgender community faces. In order to make any headway human dignity. on transgender issues, first we have to convince others on the Members of the trans community, if you think you can, need, feasibility and rightness of our cause. Unfortunately, we please open up. Politely let people know when they make a exist in a culture that demonizes transgender people to the mistake or accidentally commit a faux pas. Try to understand point where many trans women often inspire visceral that for most people, crossing gender boundaries in almost reactions of disgust, and where many trans men all too often unimaginable. It is the seemingly exceptional things we do feel safer just staying invisible. This situation leaves our with our lives that are also the most interesting to others. community disinclined to talk about our experiences. It isn't And everyone, please remember that forgiveness is divine. comfortable feeling like a lab rat or a sideshow attraction. Mistakes will be made. How missteps should be dealt with Given the barrage of negative stereotypes in America about reminds me of a quotation I had to learn as a plebe: "[He or trans people, the subject can be very raw. she] should be quick and unfailing to distinguish error from As a result, the trans community is often distant, even to malice, thoughtfulness from incompetency, and well-meant potential allies. John Aravosis at Americablog summed up shortcomings from heedless or stupid blunder." An unfunny how he feels: joke that bombs would fall under "error," whereas an article One of my pet peeves of working on civil rights issues is that that uses every transgender slur possible can only be seen as it's awfully hard to learn about other communities, because if malice. you ask questions, and they're not phrased the right way, An LGB colleague at OutServe Magazine recently sent me an boy, get ready to get an earful. And as far as I'm concerned, if email that summed up the real value of taking the time to someone's heart is in the right place, and they want to learn, have thoughtful dialogue, even when working with someone they can ask me whatever they want about gay issues, and who doesn't agree with you at the start: I'm happy to be their guide. When LGB and straight people inquire about our experiences I will say that because of you, your community earned an as transgender people, they often feel like they are stepping advocate in me. I was very much not in favor of tackling trans into a mine field: What words should I use? What questions equality back when we launched our first trans article, but in are off-limits? What in the past is ok to ask about? So they working with you, I learned so much. It is exactly as they say: pull back and don't engage, and as a result, they walk away once you take the veil off the unknown, it all looks pretty hanging on to whatever preconceived notions they had normal. before. Frequently, though, telling our stories just plain hurts. It Along the way, both of us stepped in it a couple of times, but exposes us to ridicule and gawping and risks opening old we treated these as teachable moments. As a result, both of wounds. However, the thing that is killing us, sometimes us gained a mutual respect that made us mutual allies. We literally, is the lack of exposure to and education on realized that we are all just people trying to live our lives and transgender issues among our would-be allies, and the do right by our families, striving to love and be loved, taking resultant lack of acceptance of us as people. We are left with out the trash and picking up the dry cleaning. our own no-win scenario.

Don't ask and don't tell, and nothing changes for the better.

Don't ask us, and we won't be offended. Don't tell them, and we won't get hurt.

Follow Brynn Tannehill on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brynn.tannehill

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 5

NEWS and EVENTS

CHRISTMAS PARTY RAFFEL PRIZES.
1 st PRIZE: 2 nd PRIZE: 3 rd PRIZE: LARGE HAMPER. PAINTING. HAMPER. Q NEWS. (DRAWN LAST). Fiona

ESTELLE. Margot KEVIN COCK. A.D.C.Q. COMMISSIONER. Vanessa Bernie Darling Member ATSAQ

4 th PRIZE: 5 th PRIZE: 6 th PRIZE:

I POD SHUFFLE. ANGRY BIRD. HAMPER.

STEVE MINNIKEN. STATE M.P. CHATSWORTH. Toby ATSAQ. Terri ROBERT CAVALLUCCI. STATE M.P. BRISBANE. Terri VICKI HOWARD. COUNCILLOR FOR BRISBANE. Vanessa BERNIE. Trudy ATSAQ. Tom BERNIE. Lexy CARLY. Tom WHITES HILL CHEMIST. Terri KEVIN RUDD. FEDERAL M.P. FOR GRIFFITH. Kathryn Steve Minniken MP Chatsworth

7 th PRIZE:

TEA SET.

8 th PRIZE: 9 th PRIZE: 10 th PRIZE: 11 th PRIZE: 12 th PRIZE: 13 th PRIZE:

4 WINES. PEDAL BIN. 2 WINES. TUPPERWARE. PERFUME PLUS. WINE.

LUCKY DRAW GIVEAWAYS 8 x LIONS CAKES.

Adrian Schrinner, Deputy Mayor ADRIAN SCHRINNER. DEPUTY MAJOR. Random Guests

6 x $20.oo GIFT VOUCHERS.

COLES. Random Guests

Vicki Howard Councillor Brisbane

Whites Hill Chemist

Robert Cavallucci MP Brisbane.

ATSAQ UPDATE | ISSUE 125 | FEBRUARY 2013 | PAGE 6