25
JAN
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The 4th European Transgender Council will be held in Dublin, 7-9 September 2012 at Dublin City University.
The Council is the largest European forum for transgender rights and activism. Organized by Transgender Europe (TGEU) and a local host organization every second year, the conference attracts trans activists, policy makers, allies and supporters from across Europe. With over 200 delegates, first class key note speakers and panelists, ample workshops and a diverse cultural programme, the Council sets the agenda for European trans politics and celebrates Europe’s lively trans community.
Thanks to a successful bid from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) this year's council will bring hundreds of trans activists to Ireland.
“The Council is very important for the European trans movement,” said TGEU Executive Director Julia Ehrt. “Right now there is real momentum for trans human rights across Europe. The European Transgender Council provides a vital space for trans activists to come together and instigate real change. We are very happy to have a reliable partner in TENI to jointly organize this important event.”
“We were delighted to be chosen,” said TENI Director Broden Giambrone. “This is a great opportunity for the trans activists in Ireland to meet with their peers from across Europe. Trans people are often stigmatized and isolated, and one of TENI’s goals is to increase trans visibility in Ireland. Hosting the Council will do just that.”
The Council serves as an opportunity to share information and strategic approaches, and to socialise. TGEU Co-Chair Wiktor Dynarski commented, “We are looking forward to welcoming the European trans communities to the Emerald Isle for our fourth Council. A great deal has happened in the time since our last council: there are lessons to learn and milestones to celebrate. We will surely see old friends and make new ones”.
“The Council also puts a spotlight on Ireland.” Giambrone added. “With Gender Recognition Legislation on the cards, this is the perfect year to highlight Ireland’s trans community within a European context.”
Ireland is one of the last EU countries to enact gender recognition legislation which is a necessary step in protecting the human rights of trans people in Ireland. At the moment, the proposed legislation contains controversial criteria, including a recommendation that would force couples to divorce or dissolve their civil partnerships prior to accessing recognition. The legislation is slated to come before the Oireachtas (National Parliament) this year.
Registration details and scholarship information for the Council will be made available in the coming weeks at http://www.tgeu.org/council2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact TENI on +353 1 8733575 or email news@teni.ie.
TENI Director BrodenGiambrone is available for interview and can be contacted on
+353 87 1359816.
www.teni.ie
Contact TGEU Secretary Maria Sundin by email secretary@tgeu.org for more information and interview.
www.tgeu.org
TENI Press Release 20Jan2012
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18
JAN
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There is a new edition of the book entitled 'Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Europe' available now from the Council of Europe. Go to the following web address for more info: http://book.coe.int/sysmodules/RBS_page/admin/redirect.php?id=36&lang=EN&produit_aliasid=2622
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21
DEC
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LGBT Diversity would like to thank everyone who supported us in 2011. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and an even better 2012. Enjoy the holidays, see you in 2012!
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08
DEC
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Partnerships between LGBT groups and key service providers such as An Garda Síochána and the HSE are crucial for promoting diversity and inclusion in Ireland. That’s according to LGBT Diversity and Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), which hosted a national conference in Cork today (02.12.11).
The conference, entitled, ‘Working Together’, was organised by LGBT Diversity and TENI to explore ways in which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sector (LGBT) and mainstream agencies can work together to make the principles of diversity, rights and inclusion an integral part of key service delivery at a national and regional level.
Speaking at the conference, Broden Giambrone, Director of TENI, said: “Partnerships between the LGBT sector and key service providers such as An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are crucial for promoting diversity and inclusion in Ireland.
“It’s only by working together, we can make sure that principles of equality and respect become an integral part of service delivery, both at national and regional level. One of the main focuses for today’s event is on building relationships between the LGBT sector and mainstream agencies so that people of all sexualities feel that they are respected and included when accessing services such as health or policing.
“By organising this conference, LGBT Diversity and TENI wanted to bring mainstream agencies, LGBT organisations and individuals together to explore ways in which we can work together to create a more inclusive Ireland and to highlight successful alliances that have brought about positive change in the quality of people’s lives.”
During the conference, a number of successful partnerships in the areas of health, arts and culture, and policing and community were highlighted, including a groundbreaking partnership between TENI and the HSE, aimed at improving the standard of healthcare available in Ireland for transgender people. The initiative will see the formation of a Transgender Health Working Group to address the considerable issues faced by transgender people when accessing health services in Ireland.
“In developing the initiative, TENI worked closely with the HSE’s National Specialist in Accessibility.” Mr. Giambrone said. “Firmly rooted in both the transgender and medical communities, the partnership will conduct a national survey of health professionals experienced in working with the transgender community and will offer targeted training to the inexperienced. The database of ‘trans-sensitive’ healthcare professionals will be a resource for organisations like TENI, who can signpost individuals and families to appropriate service providers.
“This is a significant step forward for the quality of transgender healthcare in Ireland,” said Mr. Giambrone. “The project is going to make a tangible difference in the lives of transgender people: from greater ease of accessing a doctor experienced in transgender healthcare, to increased numbers of service providers able to work with transgender clients.”
A number of keynote speeches were given during the conference, including by Dr Philip Crowley, National Director of Quality and Patient Safety, HSE; Nacie Rice, Deputy Commissioner for Strategy and Change Management, An Garda Síochána; and Ins A Kromminga, internationally acclaimed intersexed artist and activist.
Cllr. Terry Shannon, Lord Mayor of Cork, expressed his pleasure in officiating at the national conference: “I am glad this conference is happening in Cork. The City has an interagency working group focused on LGBT issues. It is working to ensure that all gay, lesbian and transgender citizens living in, and visiting, Cork can live and work openly in the city and that their sexual orientation is not used to differentiate them from others.”
ENDS
Contact: Sarah O’Sullivan, LGBT Diversity, Tel: 021 4305000 / 087 9009246
Broden Giambrone (TENI) is available for interview on 087 135 9816.
Patrick Stoakes (LGBT Diversity) is available for interview on 086 3057485.
About LGBT Diversity
The LGBT Diversity programme is a coordinated response, by local and national organisations which aims to build the capacity of existing services, groups, organisations and centres that work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people, so that they may offer a wide range of high quality supports and services to LGBT people at a local level, in order that they can live more active and healthy lives and are empowered to advocate on their own behalf. For more information see www.lgbtdiversity.com.
About TENI
Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) seeks to improve conditions and advance the rights and equality of transgender people and their families. Our vision is an Ireland where transgender people are understood, accepted and respected, and can participate fully in all aspects of Irish society.
For more information see www.teni.ie.
Photo below by John Allen, names from L to R:
Garda Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice
Martine Cuypers, Chairperson TENI
Ailbhe Smyth, NLGF
Ins A. Kromminga
Deputy Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald
Patricia Prendiville, Chairperson LGBT Diversity
Patrick Stoakes, Programme Director, LGBT Diversity
Davin Roche, GLEN
Garda Karl Griffin, LGBT Liaison Officer Cork
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