For GMPA Embracing Difference conference 2012.

1. EMBRACING DIFFERENCE
CONFERENCE 2012
TRANSGENDER HATE CRIME
WORKSHOP
Catherine Poulton
Trans Resource & Empowerment Centre

2. Workshop Aims
• To raise awareness of how transgender
people are victims of hate crime; &
• The steps that can be taken to reduce their
vulnerability & feel safer

3. Some Terminology
Transgender
– Transexual
– Transvestite/Cross Dresser
– Genderqueer
– Androgyne
– Bi Gender
– Drag King/Queens

4. Some Definitions
Transgender: Inclusive term for those whose
gender expression is outside typical gender
norms
Transexual: Identify as members of sex
opposite to that assigned at birth
Transvestite /Cross Dresser: Cross dresses
in clothes of opposite sex

5. Difference Between Gender & Sex
Gender Identity: Psychological
identification as boy/man or girl/woman
Gender Role: Social role – interaction with
others expresses & reinforces gender role
Sex: Male/female biological development – the
phenotype
Sexual Orientation: Trans people may be gay,
straight bisexual or asexual

6. Causes of Transexualism
Gender Identity is:
• Not determined by genitalia or gender rearing
(though these are powerful influence)
• Sex differentiation of brain is inconsistent with
other sex characteristics – can result in self
disgust with phenotype
• This condition is termed ‘gender variance/gender
dysphoria/gender identity disorder’
• Sometimes physical sexual characteristics are
ambiguous – this is termed ‘intersex’

7. Diagnostic & Statistical Manual
• In current version (DSM IV-TR) Gender
Identity Disorder (GID) in Adolescents &
Adults is categorised as a ‘Sexual Disorder’
with the sub category ‘Gender Identity
Disorder’
• There is a view that the term ‘Disorder’ is
inappropriate – it is seen as ‘stigmatizing’

8. Opponents
Some don’t accept the ‘legitimacy’ of the
transgender identity/reject any notion of
gender identity disorder including:
– Some sections of the press & media
– Some religious groups
– Some medical professionals
– Some legal professionals
– Some politicians

9. POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE
• Gender Recognition Act 2004 enables trans
people to apply for Gender Recognition
Certificate (GRC) - entitles holder to
recognition of gender stated (on certificate)
‘for all purposes’
• Transgender is ‘protected category’ under
Equalities Act 2010

10. HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights Act 1998 provides for:
• Protection of life
• Public safety
• Protection of health & morals
• Right of individual to fair trial
• Protection of rights & freedoms
• Freedom from discrimination

11. Legal Definitions
Hate crime is any criminal, offence motivated
by hostility or prejudice based upon victim’s:
– Disability
– Race
– Religion or belief
– Sexual orientation
– Transgender identity
(agreed by Crown Prosecution Service & Association of Chief Police Officers)

12. cont/
Transphobic hate crime is:
Any criminal offence - perceived by the victim
or other person - to be motivated by hostility
or prejudice against a person who’s
transgender, or perceived to be so.

13. cont/
A Hate Incident is:
• Any incident (which may or may not constitute
a criminal offence) perceived by victim, or any
other person, as being motivated by prejudice
or hate
• There is no evidential test as to what is or isn’t
a hate incident

14. Physchological Effects
Hate crime may have extreme consequences
psychologically as follows:
– Effects on people – repercussion on victim’s sense
of identity & self esteem
– Effect on targeted group – generalised terror in
group to which victims belong
– Effect on other vulnerable groups – ominous
effects over minority groups or groups that
identify with targeted one

15. Transgender Day of Remembrance
Occurs annually on 20 November to:
• remember those who’ve been killed as a
result of transphobia, or the hate or fear of
transgendered or gender non-conforming
people, &
• acts to bring attention to the continued
violence endured by the transgendered
community

16. Information/Organisations
Trans Resource & Empowerment Centre
www.transcentre.org.uk
Transforum
www.transforum.irg.uk
Gender Trust -
http://gender trust.org.uk
GIRES
www.gires.org.uk

17. Cont/
Mermaids
www.mermaidsuk.org.uk
Press for Change
www.pfc.org.uk
Trans Media Watch
www.transmediawatch.org.uk