Delegates Protest Ministers Speech

Delegates of a transgender Human Rights conference protested during  Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton?s keynote speech this  morning.  Delegates stood holding placards saying ‘No Forced Divorce’,  ‘Not Good Enough’, ‘My Identity, My Right’, ‘Minister Burton Hurry Up’ as Minister Burton concluded her address to the 4th European  Transgender Council taking place in Dublin City University.

The protesters expressed anger and frustration at the ongoing delay  hindering the introduction of Gender Recognition Legislation in  Ireland.  Such legislation would facilitate trans people to have their  birth certificates amended to reflect their gender identity.  For the  past five years, Ireland has been in breach of its obligations under  the European Convention on Human Rights to introduce Gender  Recognition Legislation and is one of the only remaining countries in  the European Union without such legislation.

Noise Organiser Cat McIlroy criticised, ‘Current government proposals  would violate the dignity, autonomy and human rights of trans people.   Requiring individuals to be diagnosed with a mental disorder to access  a legal right is humiliating and degrading.  Also proposed is the  requirement that individuals not be married or civilly partnered, thus  forcing people to divorce or dissolve supportive relationships.  These  proposals would enshrine in legislation further shame, stigma and  discrimination of an already marginalised group.’

Noise welcomes Minister Burton’s promise to refer the proposals to the  Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education for  further consultation with trans people and families.

Noise will be joining with trans activists and conference delegates at  a Rally for Recognition in response to Minister Burton’s speech at 7pm  tonight on the President’s Lawn in Dublin City University.

Noise calls on Minister Burton to ensure that the legislation respects  and upholds the dignity and human rights of trans people.

LGBT Noise
www.lgbtnoise.ie

News Just In:: MARRIAGE EQUALITY WELCOMES COMMITMENT TO GENDER RECOGNITION LEGISLATION

MARRIAGE EQUALITY WELCOMES COMMITMENT TO GENDER RECOGNITION LEGISLATION

07.09.2012 – Dublin:  Today Marriage Equality welcomed a commitment by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to closely examine the issue of gender recognition for transgender people this autumn.  The minister was speaking at the opening of the 4th European Transgender Council in Dublin, hosted by the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).

Speaking from today’s launch, Marriage Equality Director Moninne Griffith welcomed the minister’s comments, but expressed reservations: “Although we are delighted to hear that Minister Burton intends to closely examine the issue of gender recognition, the proposed Gender Recognition Scheme published in July last year excludes candidates who are married or in a civil partnership.  This means that transgender individuals in loving marriages, civil partnerships and families could be forced to make the agonising choice between having their true gender recognised, or their relationship.”

“For these individuals, official recognition of their true gender will mean separation, divorce, and splitting up families.  No one should ever have to make that choice.  We are calling on the Government to begin the Constitutional Convention without delay, so that the issue of marriage equality can be addressed, and same sex couples and families can be protected equally under the law.”

Marriage Equality have worked with TENI to highlight the ways in which allowing same sex couples access to civil marriage would benefit couples and families in Ireland.  TENI had previously argued that the proposed Gender Recognition Scheme was contrary to a recent Council of Europe report dealing with gender recognition that encourages the separation of marriage from the legal recognition process.

“We have seen such amazing progress in the past few years on the issue of marriage equality,” added Ms Griffith. “In the case of transgender people, it is more important than ever that the marriage ban for same sex couples is removed without delay.  In modern Ireland, with 73% of the public in support of marriage equality, no one should be forced to choose between having their
true gender recognised, and their family.”

www.marriagequality.ie

Minister Joan Burton to address European human rights conference

Minister Joan Burton to address European human rights conference

4^th European Transgender Council – Dublin, 2012

Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton will open the 4th European Transgender Council at Dublin City University on 7 September 2012.

More than 200 human rights activists have travelled from across Europe and Turkey to meet in Dublin for the three-day conference. Messages of welcome have come from President Michael D. Higgins and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise Ó Muirí.

The opening will highlight Ireland’s human rights record and discuss the lengthy struggle to recognise transgender people in this country. The Minister will deliver a keynote address at 10am. Other keynote speakers will be Michael Farrell, senior solicitor at FLAC and Senator Katherine Zappone.

“We are delighted that the Minister is part of this conference,” said TENI Director Broden Giambrone. “Gender recognition for transgender people is a basic human right, and Ireland – one of the last EU States to legislate – has an opportunity to lead Europe in drafting inclusive, marriage-friendly legislation. We are looking forward to hearing from the Minister.”

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD said: “I want to pay tribute to Dr Lydia Foy for her long and tenacious battle to have her true gender and identity recognised by the State and her human rights vindicated. As a result of the High Court’s ruling in Dr Foy’s case, the State now has an obligation to put a process in place to legally recognise the acquired gender of transgender people. I am very anxious to make progress on this matter; I want to ensure that transgender people will have legal recognition and to extend the protections of the equality legislation to them.”
“I intend to request that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education examine the issue of gender recognition in October or November. I would like all groups with an interest in this area to engage with the Committee on this important issue, which will then assist my Department in drafting the legislation,” concluded the Minister.

It has been five years since Ireland was declared to be in breach of the EU Convention on Human Rights in this respect. The proposals for Ireland’s legislation would controversially force people to divorce before their true gender would be recognized. There is also a proposal forcing people to be diagnosed with a mental illness in order to gain recognition.

The conference is programmed by Transgender Europe and will feature their fourth biannual Council. It will be hosted in Ireland due to last year’s successful bid from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI). TENI have worked in partnership with Dublin City University, whose research group EROSS (Expressions, Research, Orientations: Sexuality Studies) investigates sexual identities and gender role formation. Dr Mel Duffy from EROSS said, “This is not about individualism. This is about human rights and equality. This is about acceptance.”

The theme of the conference is Trans Rights Now! – Realizing Respect, Recognition and Equality

The conference details are as follows:

Dates

7-9 September 2012

Venue

The School of Nursing

Dublin City University

Collins Avenue

Dublin, 9

Photo Call: 9.45am Friday 7 September, The School of Nursing, DCU

Due to the sensitive nature of the event, photo opportunities will be restricted or by prior arrangement with TENI. There will be a photo opportunity, for press and television, with Minister Burton as she arrives at the venue at 9.45am.

FURTHER DETAILS

Please contact Dr Orlaith O’Sullivan, TENI Communications Officer on 087 2140488 for photography or interview arrangements.

Broden Giambrone is available for interview.

The TENI office is closed until Tuesday 11 September.

Transgender Equality Network Ireland, Carmichael Centre, Brunswick Street North, Dublin 7

(01) 8733 575. ● info@teni.ie ● www.teni.ie ● facebook.com/TransEquality ● twitter.com/TENl_Tweets

For details on DCU’s EROSS see: http://www.dcu.ie/eross/

Missed Our 1st Birthday Show?

If you missed our 1st Birthday Show on Sunday, September 2nd fear not! We’ve got you sorted!

You can check out all the cool music and our chats with Ben Power and Broden Giambrone of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland who were chatting to us about the 4th European Transgender Council in DCU with Transgender Europe (TGEU)!

To listen back to the show head to the ‘Show Recording’ link above or click the image above!

YAY! We are 1 year old today!!!

Well one year on and we’re celebrating our 1st birthday! We just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported the show so far, we love you all! xxx