We are conscious that many within mainstream society are unaware or unfamiliar with the distinctions between the Transgender community and the LGB community which make the issues so different for these distinct communities that it is totally inappropriate for us to be viewed or treated as one umbrella group. The issues of Transgender people and the LGB community are quite distinct and separate and cannot and should not be addressed as if we are the one homogeneous group.
If we can explain, Transgender issues are about gender, gender identity and gender expression whilst LGB issues are about sexual orientation, attraction and expression.
The adjective transgender was coined by Transsexual people in an attempt to separate our condition from connotations of sex and sexual orientation. Transsexual is the term ascribed by the medical profession to those diagnosed as having the condition Gender Dysphoria, also formerly known as Gender Identity Disorder (GID).The condition Gender Dysphoria is characterised as being severe dissonance and discomfort experienced when the innate gender identity is inconsistent with the visible sex characteristics.
Gender Dysphoria is a condition described in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and presently sits within the subset of mental health conditions.( ICD is the medical profession’s “bible” of all conditions and diseases known to affect mankind). So for Transsexual people the adjective Transgender has a very specific meaning describing a very discreet medical condition
Over time the term Transgender has become diluted to the present day where it is now considered an umbrella term to describe all types of gender variance from accepted society’s norms and this has further blurred the lines of difference between the LGB community and Transsexual People.
When we use the term Transgender we do so only in the context of its original meaning.
The Trust which we represent “ FOCUS : THE IDENTITY TRUST” is the only group on the island of Ireland exclusively representing members at various stages of transition ( the medical term used to describe the process of gender re-assignment or in layman’s terms –sex change): we prefer to call it by what it is for us – GENDER AFFIRMATION which permits us to be the person we have always felt ourselves to be. The group of individuals we represent are the only Transgender people who enjoy protection under existing Equality Legislation in Northern Ireland.
We have as little in common with LGB people as we have with any other group in society e.g. people with disabilities, people with learning difficulties, ethnic minorities or travellers. The one and only issue we all share is that we are all marginalised by and from society at large.
Some members of the community we represent may identify as Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual. Equally some may identify as asexual or heterosexual but these are all separate from our Transgender identity and issues.
Transgender (GID) is a whole of life condition which affects us as individuals from birth when we are assigned the wrong sex, through childhood and adolescence, into adulthood and on into older age where we will no doubt suffer from all the conditions of old age we can all look forward to. It also has an effect on our siblings, families and friends.
The condition doesn’t stop to affect our lives and health just because we transition: the very treatments we go through to achieve our gender confirmation themselves produce conditions which uniquely affect us in our old age. Additionally we will continue to be at risk from diseases to which our genetic gender predisposes us. These are quite distinct from healthcare issues for LGB people.
Since its inception in early 2013 FOCUS : THE IDENTITY TRUST has worked tirelessly to have these distinctions recognised and to have Transgender Issues dealt with separately from those of the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual Community. The Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Dr. Michael Wardlow in a written response to Maeve McLaughlin , MLA ( Chairperson of the Stormont Assembly’s Health Committee, [part of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly]) advised that in terms of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1999), the main piece of equality legislation in Northern Ireland, which specifies the 9 separate categories of individuals and characteristics which are protected by the Act, that Transgender does not properly sit within the protected category “ sexual orientation” but rather under the “ gender” category, specifically “ men and women, boys and girls generally”.
Additionally The Gender Equality and Sexual Orientation Unit within the Office of First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has separated out these 2 distinct categories. OFMDFM is the Department within the Northern Ireland Executive which has overarching responsibility over all Northern Ireland Government Departments for policy development and monitoring the implementation of equality strategies in all areas. This unit is currently revising and consulting on (a) the Sexual Orientation Strategy for Northern Ireland and (b) the Gender Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland.
In the case of the Sexual Orientation Strategy, this only contains references to the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual Community and all references to the “ invisible” and thus far “silent” T have been omitted.
In the case of the Gender Equality Strategy, Transgender is seen as an essential, integral and equal part of this strategy. OFMDFM is being advised on the content implementation and monitoring of the implementation of this strategy by the “Gender Advisory Panel” (GAP), a body made up of experts and representatives from statutory and NGO organisations. FOCUS: THE IDENTITY TRUST is proud to be part of GAP and currently has two Trustees sitting on GAP.
The distinction between Transgender Issues and those of the Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual community is now generally recognised and accepted by most Government Departments and Agencies with most having developed separate policies and strategies and publishing separate and distinct reports on their actions for Transgender Individuals as distinct from Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual individuals, including the Policing Board for Northern Ireland, The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Policing Service for Northern Ireland.
The Trustees of FOCUS: THE IDENTITY TRUST work continuously to ensure the Human Rights and Equality of Transgender Individuals and their families, we are not seeking additional rights over others in society but we are demanding the same access to these rights as the rest of society rightly expects and largely enjoys. We will support all campaigns for equality and human rights for all so that we can all live in a society of equals where each is valued and treated with dignity and respect and permitted to make their own unique positive contribution
The Trust which we represent “ FOCUS : THE IDENTITY TRUST” is the only group on the island of Ireland exclusively representing members at various stages of transition ( the medical term used to describe the process of gender re-assignment or in layman’s terms –sex change): we prefer to call it by what it is for us – GENDER AFFIRMATION which permits us to be the person we have always felt ourselves to be. The group of individuals we represent are the only Transgender people who enjoy protection under existing Equality Legislation in Northern Ireland.
