Gender DynamiX is committed to a programme of support for all transgender people. To this end, they have set up support groups, including a parent support group for the parents of transgender people; a trans woman support group; and a safe space for masculine identified youth. SOFFA and trans men support groups are also on the cards. Creating a safe space for masculine identified xx youths between the ages of 16 and 25 is the aim of the Siyahlangana support group run by Gender DynamiX Outreach Officer, Tebogo Nkoana. Tebogo explained that Siyahlangana challenges some of the behaviour of butch lesbians and other masculine identified xx bodied youths - such as aggressiveness and alcohol and drug abuse. “Male identified lesbians and trans men see such behaviour as proof of their masculinity. They tend to drop out of school as a result of their rough lifestyle. At Siyahlangana we promote a healthy lifestyle and teach a way of earning respect from the broader community,” Tebogo said. He added that at the meetings they talk about challenges experienced from peer groups, specifically looking into gender concepts and challenging patriarchal behaviour. In addition, Siyahlangana raises awareness around transgenderism and work towards creating a good relationship between lesbians and trans men by creating understanding and trying to breach the differences and sharing the commonalities. The Siyahlangana group meets on the first Friday of each month at the GDX walk-in centre, Saartjie Baartman Centre, Klipfontein Road, Manenberg. Tebogo can be reached at 021-633 5287, ext. 2040. 'Boys will be boys and they want to talk about “rude” things. FTM's need a bit more encouragement to do so, i.e. talk about their bodies and things relating to treatment. We need a Trans men’s Support Group", says Robert Hamblin, Deputy Director of Gender DynamiX. "Hormone treatment brings about radical change in our bodies and personalities. Often that comes with anxiety. Sharing experiences with peers helps with this – and it’s free”, Robert said. “Trans men need to have a network of men that understand the issues that an FTM goes through in the world, so that we can call one another when we are in trouble. We could also offer one another resources when planning to make our fortunes,” Robert added laughingly. Contact Robert at Gender DynamiX on email
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or send an sms to Robert at 083 226 4683. The Trans women’s Support Group was started because there is a specific need for trans women to share experiences, explains Caroline Bowley. “There are issues specific to Trans women which need to be addressed,” she added. The first meeting was held in April 2010 The dates of future meetings will be confirmed. The Parents Support Group was initiated as a support and information-sharing opportunity for parents of transgendered children. This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Gender DynamiX offices. Gender DynamiX also wants to start a SOFFA support group for Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies.
Applying for an amendment to your ID document at the Department of Home Affairs can be tedious and could take up to two years depending on what you need.
First you have to apply for a name change. This could take from four months up to a year in practice. Only once you have received that ID document with your new name, can you apply for gender amendment, which in theory is supposed to take from six to eight months. However, in practice it could take up to a year before this ID document is issued.
So, in reality, a new identity document with a name and gender amendment can take up to two years and that is ridiculous, says Robert Hamblin, Advocacy Manager at Gender DynamiX.
Deidre* is a 17-year old MTF, currently homeless, and was taken to IAM’s (Inclusive and Affirming Ministeries) Ithembelam shelter by Caroline Bowley, Programmes Manager at Gender DynamiX. She was first brought to the attention of Gender DynamiX (GDX) when she was brought to the GDX drop-in centre by Constable Conradie of the Philippi Police. Deidre had been kicked out of school for refusing to cut her hair. Since then Caroline Bowley has been following up as Deidre has been living with various people and on the street because Deidre refuses to live at home due to issues with her mother and brother. Caroline has made contact with the Department of Social Development to start the process of getting Deidre placed, although the department has admitted that it would be difficult to place her because she is a transgender child. Caroline has also contacted RAPCAN (Resources aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) who have said they cannot help but referred her to the Social Worker at Wynberg Court whom she has not yet been able to contact. Deidre has not been back to school and is still living at the shelter.
Gender identity Disorder has been renamed Gender Incongruence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) and seems to be more flexible while taking away the stigma of a mental disease. The proposed revision defines Gender Incongruence as “A marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender of at least six months duration...”
A lively discussion in the forum of the Gender DynamiX website followed the release of the draft criteria. Andrea felt that “We do need a critical criteria to sort the true ‘T’s’ from those who are ‘mixed up’. She added that “One cannot play with Gender Dysphoria as once changes take place there [is] no turning back.”
“The mere fact that transpeople are living out their lives and their identities, makes them by default vulnerable to gender-based violence, discrimination and secondary victimisation.” This was the message delivered by Liesl Theron, director of Gender DynamiX at the 4th Conference on Sexual Health and Rights in Ethiopia recently.
In her paper Liesl said there was a huge rate of under-reporting when it comes to going to the police stations to report any kind of crime against them or even if they were a witness to a crime.
SOFFA