TRANS-SCRIBE

Chinese Transgender Man Wins First Ever Dismissal Case

A transgender man in China, identified only as Chen, has won a landmark discrimination legal case against his former employers, in what has been described as the first such case in Chinese history.

The court ruled that Chen was illegally fired from his job at a medical centre in south-west China after having been employed for only a week.

Despite being found guilty of illegal dismissal, the company was not ordered to apologise to Chen by the judge, who has claimed that there is not enough evidence to say that he was dismissed due to his gender identity. Chen was awarded 2,000 yuan (£234), which equates to a months wage.

Chen has spoken out regarding the outcome of the case, saying 'I have always said that this case was never about the money. This lawsuit was about three things, dignity, raising awareness of transgender and other sexual minorities, and pushing for anti-discrimination legislation.'

Chen has said that he was 'quite happy' with the ruling; 'It is the first case in China where a sexual minority wins, it's also good news for the community.'

Although he has a positive attitude regarding the outcome, Chen has said that he will continue legal challenges against his former employer to force for an official apology.

Sadly, Chen has said that this is not the first case of discrimination that he has had to face in his life. Despite having caring and accepting parents, he claims that he was often bullied at school by both classmates and teaching staff due to his gender identity.

'I was bullied by classmates and teachers would just ignore my existence. When I first started looking for work I often felt discrimination and was never promoted.'

China remains a deeply conservative country in regards to both gender identity and sexual orientation, with homosexuality only being decrimilised in 1997, and being anything other than straight being classed as a mental illness until 2001. In 2016 authorities within China banned all depictions of LGBT+ people on Chinese television, as part of a cultural clampdown aimed at 'vulgar, immoral and unhealthy content'.

Amy.
xx

Monday, 21 November 2016

Everything Left Episode 9 - Building A Fourth Wall

I’m joined by Adi and Hannah, as we talk about new laws being proposed in Texas that will target LGBT+ youth, a mother who is suing her transgender daughter, and we take a brief trip to the theatre.

Twitter: @_EverythingLeft
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EverythingLeftPodcast
Acast: http://www.acast.com/everythingleft
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/everything-left-podcast/id1159488919?mt=2
Worpress: http://www.everythingleftpodcast.wordpress.com
Blogger: http://www.everythingleftpodcast.blogspot.co.uk

Everything Left is a Trans-Scribe Production
Hosted by Amy Walker
Theme music http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Thursday, 17 November 2016

LGBT+ Bullying At High Rate In Scottish Schools

LGBT Youth Scotland has announced that LGBT+ students are facing increased bullying at schools throughout the country.

The group has reported that students have said that they are not confident in reporting the abuse they have been receiving, and that that strong leadership from school leaders and local authorities is needed to tackle the issue.

This news comes in conjunction with a new anti-bullying strategy released by the Scottish government developed with the help of LGBT+ organisations.

LGBT Youth Scotland has said that its study shows that transgender youth face more difficulty than their LGB peers, facing greater levels of bullying.

Megan McIntyre, a member of LGBT Youth Scotland's national youth council, said homophobic bullying is often not taken seriously when reported.

'I had to move school because they wouldn't deal with the bullying at all.' She told the BBC. 'Once I had moved my new school wasn't much better. As a result, my attendance dropped as I didn't want to be there. I wasn't in a good place.'

A spokesperson for the Scottish government has spoken out against anti-LGBT+ bullying, saying 'Respect for All, the refreshed national anti-bullying strategy for children and young people, which has been developed in collaboration with organisations including LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland, will take a holistic approach to tackling the issue.

'Last week, Deputy First Minister John Swinney wrote to the Scottish Parliaments Equalities and Human Rights Committee to welcome their input into the process and agree to put the publication on hold to allow for meaningful engagement.

'We have also committed to a programme of teacher education on equality for all, proving further funding where necessary and have updated relationship teaching guidance.'

Amy.
xx

Kong: Skull Island Trailer Released

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. have released a new trailer for the upcoming 'Kong: Skull Island', the latest reboot of the King Kong franchise set in the same universe as the 2014 Godzilla reboot.

The film is set in the 1970's and follows a team of explorers that are brought together to venture into the uncharted Skull Island deep in the pacific. The team become stranded on the island when they venture into the territory of the massive ape Kong.

The latest trailer reveals that Kong may not be the 'villain' of the film, as a teams exploration appears to have awoken a host of underground creatures that are definitely more in keeping with the kinds of Kaiju seen in the Godzilla universe.

Kong: Skull Island is set for release March 10 2017.

Amy.
xx

Seattle Bans Conversion Therapy For Children

In a unanimous vote Seattle City Council has voted to pass an ordinance to ban conversion therapy on minors.

The bill was sponsored by Seattle city council-member Lorena Gonzalez and had the support of the city mayor Ed Murray before it came to vote.

The ban prevents mental health providers or religious groups from offering 'gay cure' or 'conversion' therapies on any members of the LGBT+ community, as well as advertisement of the practice. Anyone found in breach of the ban will face a fine of $1,000.

Lorena Gonzalez spoke out on the practice, saying 'It's absolutely offensive to me, that instead of providing these children, who are going through perhaps a moment of confusion ... instead of providing them the support that they need, there are people out there who believe it appropriate to convince these children that their same-sex orientation is somehow a disease or an illness, or something that can be cured.'

'Being gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer or transgender is not an illness, nor is it something that needs a cure.'

City council member Debora Juarez, a member of the Blackfleet Nation, compared the practice to the assimilation forced upon native peoples.

'Conversion therapy is 20th century or 21st century version of what happened to my people all in the name of assimilation. We were forcibly taken from our families, from our children. I am literally one generation removed from that practice.'

'It breaks my heart that we have to pass a law to recognise your humanity.' She added, addressing the LGBT+ community.

Amy.
xx

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Channel 4 To Air Documentary Focusing On Transgender Children

Channel 4 are to air a new documentary show focusing on the struggles of transgender children in the UK as they seek help and treatment on the NHS, and the struggles they experience in their daily lives.

The first episode of the series 'Kids on the Edge', which will air at 10pm on Wednesday 16th November, will follow a group of children who attend Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS). Tavistock is the only facility for transgender youth in the UK to be funded by the NHS.

The show will look at the consequences of living with gender dysphoria, as well as the work that GIDS does as a whole. The show explores transition and medical intervention, as well as the increase in referrals to the clinic in the past year (a 100% increase).

The episode is directed by BAFTA-winner Peter Beard.

Amy.
xx

CW Reveals First Look At The Dominators For DC Cross-Over Event

Since the CW acquired the Supergirl television show and added it to their ever expanding roster of DC universe programs the prospect of a cross-over that would encompass Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl has had fans excited for months.

Having previously teased the introduction of the Dominators as the threat that would unite all of these heroes together, and revealing the title of the four part event to be 'Invasion!' after the classic 80's event series, the CW have finally revealed the first look at the Dominators in a fantastic new trailer.

The event will see the Dominators coming to Earth to eliminate Metahumans, forcing the heroes to band together across dimensions and time to fight this new threat.

The trailer also teases the return of fan favourite villain Deathstroke, as well as the costume for Legends of Tomorrow newcomer Steel.

Amy.
xx

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Everything Left Episode 8 - The Fight Is Not Over

I'm joined by Adi, as we discuss the outcome of the American election, and desperately try to find other stories to discuss.

https://www.acast.com/everythingleft/episode-8-the-fight-is-not-over

Twitter: @_EverythingLeft
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EverythingLeftPodcast
Acast: http://www.acast.com/everythingleft
iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/everything-left-podcast/id1159488919?mt=2
Worpress: http://www.everythingleftpodcast.wordpress.com
Blogger: http://www.everythingleftpodcast.blogspot.co.uk

Everything Left is a Trans-Scribe Production
Hosted by Amy Walker
Theme music http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

BBC Radio 1 Show Accused Of Transphobic Game

The BBC has come under criticism for a new segment on their popular Radio 1 breakfast show, where host Nick Grimshaw is joined by comedian and television personality David Walliams to play a game entitled 'I'm A Lady', where they encourage the public to call in so that the hosts can guess if people are male or female just from the sound of their voice.

The name of the game comes from a popular series of sketched from Walliam's television show 'Little Britain', where it was a catchphrase of the character Emily Howard. The sketches were often mocking of the transgender community, something that people have complained about in regards to the new radio game.

'I've been caught out by this a lot of times over the years. You wake up in the morning and you're in for a surprise.' Walliams joked before the game began.

Sadly for Walliams and Grimshaw the game was met with some criticism online, with a number of people taking to Twitter to express their anger over the game, with one commenter even pointing out the poor timing of the game in the lead up to the Trans Day of Rememberance on 20 November, in which the community mourns those lost over the last 12 months.

So far neither Walliams, Grimshaw nor the BBC have commented on the incident.

Amy.
xx