Oprah’s interest piqued by Alta.’s sex-change funding decision

Edmonton Journal, Canada
Oprah’s interest piqued by Alta.’s sex-change funding decision
By Jodie Sinnema, Edmonton Journal

April 13, 2009

EDMONTON — The Alberta government’s decision to stop funding
sex-change surgery has attracted the attention of the Oprah Winfrey
Show.

Edmonton resident Sarah King, who’s hoping to get the surgery next
year in Montreal, said she was contacted through e-mail by the popular
U.S. talk show when it got word Alberta was cutting funding.

A message from Harpo Studios in Chicago said the show wasn’t doing a
story now, but would contact her for an interview if it does a segment
on transsexuals in the future.

Kris Wells, a researcher at the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies
and Services at the University of Alberta, said if Oprah tells her
audience about the funding cuts, Alberta’s $25-million attempt to
boost its oilsands-tainted image would be a waste.

“Oprah would undo the reputation of Alberta,” Wells said. “Alberta is
going to look like one of the most fundamental jurisdictions in the
world.”

Meanwhile, transgender Albertans are ramping up efforts to reverse the
government’s decision to stop paying for the surgery.

More than 30 people are expected to crowd question period at the
provincial legislature in Edmonton on Tuesday, with some planning to
file human-rights complaints en masse Wednesday morning.

“It’s important to show people that we are far different from the
assumptions that are made quite often,” said Mercedes Allen, a
Calgarian who was scheduled to have a sex-change operation in August,
before Alberta Health and Wellness stopped paying for the procedures,
which cost $18,000 to $70,000, as part of its 2009 budget.

“People expect us to be fringe and rabble and such, and that’s not the
case. Many of us are professional people, and I think the public needs
to see that.”

To that end, Allen said, the group won’t be holding signs or chanting
on the legislature steps. Instead, they are crowding question period
to show politicians the surgery is not cosmetic, but a medical
necessity for those who believe they were born in the wrong body and
are the wrong sex.

Allen said she hopes an official human-rights complaint won’t be
necessary if the government reinstates funding.

“We would rather not see the human-rights issues go ahead, because
then it becomes an expensive legal issue, and a lot of us have seen
that happen with the Delwin Vriend case,” Allen said, referring to the
landmark gay-rights case that ended up in the Supreme Court.

“I’m an Alberta and a taxpayer, too. I would rather not go down that route.”

But Allen said she will file a complaint, if necessary. A similar
human-rights complaint in Ontario forced the government to reinstate
funding for the surgery, 10 years after the province delisted it.

“There stands to be a lot of people who stand to lose a lot
financially with the delisting,” said King, who’s meeting with lawyers
to discuss filing a class-action lawsuit against the Alberta
government. Even if the government decides to change its budget
decision, King said she still wants to file an injunction preventing
the government from ever delisting the service again.

Wells said some people think the government delisted the surgery as a
way to test the ground for further delisting — and has been surprised
by the negative, vocal response.

“A lot of people are speculating that this is part of the government’s
Machiavellian plan to throw this particular issue out there as a
smokescreen, one they knew would be controversial and will detract
attention from other cuts,” Wells said.

“There are some who believe this is just one tactic by the current
government to start a wholesale initiative for delisting health-care
services. Now, when it’s targeting one vulnerable community and the
other communities don’t speak out, which will be next?”

Laurie Blakeman, the Liberal representative for Edmonton Centre, said
she thinks the government’s decision to cut the program funding was
based on ideology, and not on the need to tighten belts.

“They just don’t like and support this community, so they’re just
going to punish them,” said Blakeman.

“It is bigger than the transgender community. If there is any one
thing that can make a difference, it’s that kind of effort from the
community to pressure the government, because it does seem to be the
one thing they respond to: that real push back from the public on a
given issue.”

Edmonton Journal

jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com

© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Oprah+interest+piqued+Alta+change+funding+decision/1492407/story.html

There are a number of ways to get involved.

Update Monday April 13th
There are a number of ways to get involved.
___________________________________

1. Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
1:00pm - 4:00pm at the Alberta Legislature (901 9718 107th St)

We will have a contingent attending Question Period in anticipation of GRS coming up during the budget debate. Question Period to discuss the Provincial budget begins at 1:30 at the Legislature Building. We would like a strong showing of people attending in the gallery, so if you are at all able to attend, please do.

We would also like to have people onhand for distributing brochures and information, to create awareness to the public of who we really are and why GRS is necessary.

We ask that people be respectful and put our best face forward as much as possible.

QUESTION PERIOD – TUESDAY, April 14
Question Period is from 1:30 to 3:00 with the actual question part of it from 1:50 to 2:40pm. If you wish to attend Question Period you MUST get a security pass through your MLA or by calling Visitor Services. You should be prepared to be on-site by no later than 1:15pm as it takes some time to get through security and find a good seat. You can leave at any time.

Laurie Blakeman has asked for a question spot, however, those decisions are not made until late morning in the Liberal caucus meeting. So a question cannot be guaranteed, but there is a STRONG possibility that a question will be asked on Tuesday.

Says Michelle:
"There is limited seating inside, but it more important we make a show so they can see the people they are affecting and the people who support us. We can all gather on the south side of the legislature main fountain/pool between 12:30-1:30. I would assume this could be an all afternoon event. Remeber parking is limited, but there is LRT right to the leg grounds. Please dress accordingly as this is the legislature not a park party."

And from Laurie Blakeman's Office:
"I'm Tamara Gorzalka, I run Laurie's Facebook for her. I will pass on your questions and answer the ones that I can answer.

Last time I went to the gallery, I had to sign in and get a pass at the front door. Then I went upstairs to the gallery entrance where security is. No electronics or bags are allowed in the gallery and they take everything and put it away for you there. Then you have to go through a metal detectors and hand scanners like at the airport. You are better off taking as little in with you as possible but it doesn't really matter.

I'm pretty sure that while Laurie can introduce specific people (and possibly the reason you are there, if time allows), she can not introduce something like `the trans community'. it would be different if it was a specific organization but I don't think she's allowed to introduce a whole group of people. I'll ask.

I believe you can bring banners onto the steps but that's it. You may not be allowed into the building with them and you definitely won't be allowed into the gallery with them. You might be better off leaving them in the car until after question period.

I will double check everything with Peter at Laurie's office and get back to you.

I strongly encourage you and anyone else who will definitely be attending to contact Laurie, Rachel or your MLAs office to be introduced and to be put on the list beforehand."

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=69155932251&nctrct=1239669788866
____________________________________

2. Also Tuesday April 14th, 2009

ACCESS Television will be taking a look at the issue, and guests will include Dr. Lorne Warneke. Of course, you'll be attending Question Period, so set your VCRs! Starts at 1:00 in the afternoon.
____________________________________

3. Wednesday April 15th

There is a mass Human Rights complaint filing on Wednesday April 15th at 9:30 AM. You are not required to disclose anything about yourself to the media if you're stealth, just tell them that you prefer not to be on record. There will be people present for the media to talk to. But by being present, your numbers give our action strength.

This is not a protest action, we don't want signs or chanting or anything -- our protest IS our filing, so we focus on that, and again, want to be civil and orderly. We also want to put our best face forward, and show people that we are far different from the stereotypical "rabble" assumptions that are often made about us. The HRC people are not our enemy, and in fact they are the people we need to appeal to for support.

In Edmonton, we meet at Beaver Hills Park (Amiskwaskahegan Park) on the north side of Jasper Avenue, at 105 Street at 9:30. We will be proceeding together to the offices at 800 Standard Life Centre, 10405 Jasper Avenue for 10:00.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=70344074260&ref=mf&nctrct=1239669701165#/event.php?eid=90819766376

In Calgary, we meet at the Cenotaph (the monument where they lay the wreaths on Remembrance Day) on the 4th street side of Memorial Park (between 11th and 12th Avenue), also at 9:30. We will be proceeding together to the offices at Suite 310, 525 – 11 Avenue SW for 10:00.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=70344074260&ref=mf&nctrct=1239669701165

--

For information on filling out and filing a Human Rights Complaint:

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1049135840749#/topic.php?uid=85048933488&topic=8336
__________________________________

4. Ongoing

Sarah has an online petition started at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/re-list-sex-reassignment-surgery-funding-in-alberta

Be sure to stop by and add your name.
__________________________________

5. We have a letter appeal out to all Albertans. Please visit http://dentedbluemercedes.wordpress.com/2009/04/11/to-our-allies-two-ways-to-help/ and copy the "19 Cents" article following the intro and forward it to anyone in the Province that you think might listen.
_________________________________
6. Tell Me A Story

This will be a longer-term project, originating in Alberta. It will also be something that can perhaps translate on a national or international scale. Trans folk from around the world can participate if they like, and we will also be able to share the file with other communities if they want to raise funding to print and distribute it elsewhere.

I'm hoping to compile a hand-out booklet, professionally-printed, colour cover and B/W interior, telling our stories in individual testimonials. I'll be funding it by donations, which will determine how many pages and how many copies can be produced. I can do the layout and design and nuts and bolts of it at no cost -- that's what I do in my day job, after all.

The purpose is to tell our stories to the general public, how transition and GRS have transformed our lives for the better, how the pre-transition grief and anxiety hampered our lives and why we've had to make our choices. I find that giving a realistic face to who we are helps us tremendously. I believe in full inclusion in the trans community, but because of the current need to focus on GRS and full transition, the focus will be on the issue of gender identity solely -- on people who need transition, people in transition, and people who have completed their transition and moved on (and will be sectioned in that way, so that readers can see the progression).

Spouses and / or parents who have seen a partner / child through transition or part of transition and would like to talk about the change they've seen, how it's affected family, etc. are also welcome to contribute, because I believe these stories are also an important part of providing a rounded picture.

Participation is voluntary, I can't pay for the content. I also can't promise to use everything sent in, I will have to make editorial decisions based on length, number of pages I can raise funds for, relevance, and more. I may need to edit what is sent in for length, spelling / grammar, appropriateness of language for the audience, and such. As a writer myself, it's my intent to make as few edits as possible, because I understand the importance of keeping the spirit of what is written, so I will make every effort to make these edits with caution and careful consideration.

Contributors can use a pseudonym: keep in mind that using a real name will give the project more veracity and impact, but using a real name can also mean that what you write can come back to you in the future. I respect that, so you have the choice. Photos are also welcome (and great!) but the same caution applies.

For information or to submit a story, contact Mercedes Allen at dentedbluemercedes@gmail.com

--
Take care,
Alberta Transgender Resources: http://www.albertatrans.org/

Lawsuit in works over sex surgery

Calgary Sun, Canada
April 13, 2009

Lawsuit in works over sex surgery
Transgendered demand province reinstate funding

By TARINA WHITE AND CLARA HO, SUN MEDIA

Calgarian Niqolai Gryphon is considering legal action against the
province after it announced it would no longer fund sexual
reassignment surgeries.

The 21-year-old, who has spent the last three years transitioning from
a woman to a man, is also planning to lodge a human rights complaint.

"For me, and for many other trans people who haven't had access to
surgery yet, this could mean giant cases of discrimination," said
Gryphon.

"We're going to fight this."

Meanwhile, an Edmonton businesswoman is spearheading a class action
lawsuit against the Alberta government's decision to cut the funding
to save about $700,000 in the provincial budget.

Sarah King said she will bring the case to court on Wednesday in hopes
of first obtaining an injunction that will force the province to
approve funding for everyone on a gender reassignment surgery waiting
list. The next move will be to fight to have the funding relisted, she
said.

Currently, there are more than 16 people represented in the lawsuit --
and that number continues to grow by the day, said King, who was
recently notified that funding for her own gender reassignment
surgery, scheduled for January, had been cancelled.

"By delisting gender reassignment surgery, the government is
performing capital punishment or execution on that person," said King,
citing examples of transgendered individuals hurting themselves
because of their gender identity disorder.

Gryphon said he hasn't joined the lawsuit because he doesn't yet know
whether he will be denied sexual reassignment surgery.

"All of us are uncertain where the province will be cutting off the
funding -- are they going to be cutting it off for people who have
been approved already?" he said.

Gryphon, who has been on a waiting list for the surgery since
February, said its a poor financial decision on the part of the
province.

"It's going to be way more costly to fight the human rights complaints
that are going to be lodged and the potential class action lawsuit
than it would be to fund the surgeries," he said.

A Calgary woman, who has spent the past four years transitioning from
a man, said she's planning to join the class action lawsuit if she is
denied surgery.

"This is medically necessary -- it's not like cosmetic surgery like a
boob job," said the 24-year-old, who didn't want her name printed.

TARINA.WHITE@SUNMEDIA.CA
Copyright © 2008, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2009/04/13/9096776-sun.html

Edmonton woman leads Gender Reassignment funding lawsuit

Edmonton woman leads Gender Reassignment funding lawsuit
5:00PM 4/12/2009

As Alberta dives into a recession many things had to be cut from the
provincial budget. That includes cutting funding for gender
reassignment surgeries for Albertans with Gender Identity Disorder.
The move saves about $700,000 in the provincial budget.

Edmontonian Sarah King, 33, is meeting with lawyers this week to file
a lawsuit against the Alberta Government. Her own surgery was
scheduled for next January, but without funding she won't be able to
afford the procedure she says is way more than just cosmetic. "Without
the surgery, we're caught in transition, we're caught as abnormal
people in society. We're discriminated against. People have lost jobs,
they have been disowned by family, they have lost friends. The surgery
is so important, that without it, people could die. It's called
suicide."

King hopes to get an injunction that would force the government to
fund gender reassignment. She says about 20 people have joined the
class-action lawsuit, and more sign up every day.

The Government of Alberta plans to spend $36.4 billion in the 2009
budget. King says the $700,000 needed to fund gender reassignment is
petty change in comparison.

Meanwhile, King is urging all Albertans to support and sign a petition
to re-list Sex Reassignment Surgery Funding in Alberta

. (jg,ly,blb)

Copyright © 2008 CHQT-AM. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1081409

'I felt so trapped'

Edmonton Sun, Canada
Sun, April 12, 2009

'I felt so trapped'
Transgendered individuals to launch lawsuit to get surgery funding reinstated
By CLARA HO, SUN MEDIA

Sarah King lost jobs, friends, relatives and, most devastatingly,
custody of her daughter when she made the decision to transition from
a male to a female.

But like many other transgendered individuals, it was a decision King
needed to make in order to survive.

And for many, the transition cannot be done without gender reassignment surgery.

Now the 33-year-old self-employed businesswoman is spearheading a
class-action lawsuit against the Alberta government after it announced
it would no longer fund gender reassignment surgeries to save about
$700,000 in its budget.

"By delisting gender reassignment surgery, the government is
performing capital punishment or execution on that person," King said.

She cited examples of transgendered individuals hurting themselves
because of their gender identity disorder.

King said she will go to court on Wednesday in the hope of obtaining
an injunction that will force the province to approve funding for
everyone on a gender reassignment surgery waiting list and then
eventually relist funding.

King and other members of the local transgendered community are in
talks with the same law firm that represented Delwin Vriend, a gay
teacher who took his case to the Supreme Court when he was fired from
his job for his sexual orientation.

The landmark case forced the province to protect gays in its human
rights legislation more than 10 years ago.

Currently, more than 16 people are represented in the lawsuit -- and
that number continues to grow by the day, said King, who was recently
notified that funding for her own gender reassignment surgery,
scheduled for January, had been cancelled.

Dominic Scaia is one of those individuals fighting to have the funding
reinstated.

"Somebody stole our hope away," said the 26-year-old.

Scaia moved from British Columbia to Alberta two years ago to have all
the necessary surgeries to fully transition from a female to a male.

When he was living as "Donna" years ago, Scaia said he was deeply
depressed, very self-destructive, and promiscuous, and was taking
drugs and cutting himself.

A friend helped him realize that if he didn't transition, he would
eventually harm himself. He immediately started taking the necessary
steps to become a male.

He saw a psychiatrist, took hormones, lived as a man for two years,
and obtained funding approval from the province to have chest surgery,
scheduled for November.

Now he's unsure if that approval still stands.

"I bawled my eyes out," he said when he heard the funding had been
cut. "I felt so trapped."

CLARA.HO@SUNMEDIA.CA
Copyright © 2009, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2009/04/12/9088846-sun.html

Class action suit over gender reassignment funding

iNews880.com, AB, Canada

Class action suit over gender reassignment funding
10 pm
Edmonton / iNews880.com
4/11/2009

A 33-year-old woman is spearheading a class-action lawsuit against the
Alberta government over its decision to stop funding gender
reassignment surgery.

The move was made to save about $700,000 in the provincial budget.

Sarah King was recently notified that funding for her own gender
reassignment surgery, scheduled for January, had been cancelled. She
says she hopes the court will grant an injunction that will force the
province to approve funding for everyone on surgical waiting list.
Then she hopes to have the funding relisted.

Currently, there are more than 16 people represented in the lawsuit
and King says that number continues to grow by the day. (CP, ES, td)

Copyright © 2008 CHQT-AM. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.inews880.com/Channels/Reg/LocalNews/story.aspx?ID=1081335

Re-list Sex Reassignment Surgery Funding in Alberta

Care2 - The Petition Site, CA, USA
Re-list Sex Reassignment Surgery Funding in Alberta

Target: Gov.Of Alberta, Health Minister Ron Leipert and Premier Ed Stelmach

Sponsored by: Sarah King & The Edmonton GLBT Community and the
Citizens of Alberta

I would like all citizens of Alberta, Canada and those all over the
world to support and sign the petition. First gender identity was
excluded from proposed amendments to the Alberta Human Rights,
Citizenship, and Multiculturalism Act, and now gender reassignment
surgery is de-listed from Alberta Health Care coverage. This has
caused many on the list who are waiting and need this procedure to be
suffering in many ways.

We are calling on everyone to sign our petition. Help send a message
to the government of Alberta to re-list funding for gender
reassignment surgery. This is an essential medical service that a lot
of transgendered individuals require to live normal and productive
lives.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/re-list-sex-reassignment-surgery-funding-in-alberta