>From: Christine Hood <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, January 15, 1981 6:37 PM
>Subject: Re: GIRES
>Dear Mairi
>I am associated with GIRES and was saddened to read your posting which
>seems designed to discredit it and the work it does on our behalf. I have
>forwarded your post to GIRES Chairman, Bernard Reed, as he is much >better
>qualified to answer the points you raise than I am.
I've been following this thread (which should be on trans-theory).
Having for 10 years run a nonprofit much like GIRES, but in the U.S. -- and
one with a board of medical advisors, I find it sad that Ms. Hood seems to
be missing the point, which is that it is not in our best interest to
empower medical professionals who denigrate us or who believe and behave as
if there is something wrong with being transsexual or transgendered. There
are, in this country, at least, plenty of medical professionals, including
some transgendered and transsexual physicians, who have moved beyond the
medical model. Those are the ones I tried to select back in 1991, when
AEGIS put together its advisory board, and the ones I would select today.
Incidentally, the advisory board came through when asked to take positions
on controversial issues. For instance, in 1993 or so I was concerned that a
one-year RLE was not enough and asked the board whether two years would be
better. The advisory board set me right. Every since one of the 29 members,
including surgeons, endocrinologists, plastic surgeons, psychiatrists, and
psychologists, said the RLE did not need to be increased. The late
sexologist Bonnie Bullough was the most eloquent in explaining that the RLE
was an abrogation of individual autonomy not required of nontranssexuals,
and should certainly not be made longer.
As witnessed at the 1997 HBIGDA meeting, many medical professionals are
changing their theories and ideas about transfolks. It's the progressives we
should want on our advisory boards, not those who are entrenched, holding
onto old models. Consequently, I would be happy to have Richard Green, who
has been coming along, on an advisory board, but certainly not someone who
would offhandedly use the word "rubbish" in a description of transsexuals.
I think GIRES would be well-advised to thank those who brought this matter
to their attention rather than taking a defensive position.
Dallas Denny
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