Getting a name change is an important step for a transsexual seeking to assert his or her gender identity, for legal and psychological reasons, and the refusal of judges to grant such name changes freely has remained a significant impediment, even in New York, where there is a well-established legal tradition of freely granting name-change petitions. Volunteer lawyers in New York staff a special legal clinic under the auspices of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center (gaycenter.org) to provide assistance to transsexuals seeking legal name change orders.Rejecting a trial judge’s objection that a gendered name-change would cause “confusion,” a unanimous panel of the New York Appellate Division in Albany ruled on November 26 that the person formerly known as Earl William Golden III should be allowed to take the name Elizabeth Whitney Golden.
However, the appellate court also ruled that Justice Jeffrey A Tait, the Broome County trial judge who had denied the name-change petition, should include in his order a statement that the name change could not be used as proof of a change of sex.
Franklin Romeo of the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, a New York-based organization that provides legal assistance to transsexuals, represented Golden on the appeal.
According to an article about the case published in the New York Law Journal on November 28, the original petition to Tait explained that Golden sought the legal change of name because she now identifies as female. Golden is married to a woman, who does not object to the name change. Golden presented no evidence of any surgical alteration of sex.
Justice Tait asserted that the change from a traditionally male to a traditionally female name was “fraught with confusion,” and dismissed the petition.Justice Anthony V. Cardona, writing for the appellate panel, noted that under New York law anybody can assume a new name without going through any legal proceeding as long as this is not being done to commit fraud or deception, but a state law authorizes trial courts to grant name-change petitions in order to make such a change “speedy, definite, and a matter of record.” Having a court order expedites the process of getting other documents, such as driver’s license, social security card, other forms of identification, and passports issued in the new name.
Courts have routinely granted non-fraudulent name-change requests unless there is some sort of “reasonable objection” to the selected name. Since a name change will always engender a certain amount of confusion, potential confusion is not a grounds for refusing to grant the petition, as long as all technical requirements of the law are met. Evidently, the appellate panel felt that the lack of evidence of sex-reassignment surgery was not an impediment, as the issue was not discussed by the court.
In a move that could only be thought up by some damned government, Swedish health authorities have sparked controversy with their decision to supply free prosthetic penises that are not fully functional to transsexual men. Female to male transsexuals will be allowed prosthetic penises fitted by a plastic surgeon at no cost, but the prosthetic penises being offered by health authorities cannot be used to urinate and cannot become erect.
Ottar, a monthly magazine published by the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education, said the prosthetics will be available to women seeking to undergo a sex change operation starting Jan. 1, 2009. This move was designed to promote equality due to the publicly funded wigs, breast implants and hair removal operations available for transexual women.
Sexologist Cecilia Dhejne said: “It’s pretty strange to approve prosthetics that can’t get erect because that is, after all, what penises do - get erections. It would be appropriate to pay for those as well.”
Health authorities said they cannot offer free fully-functional prosthetic penises because of regulations that bar them from using taxpayer money for products or procedures aimed that are considered sexual aids.
The move has been made to correct a transsexual gender bias in Sweden, as male to female transsexuals have long been able to get free breast implants, wigs and hair removal operations.
Health authorities say their decision on the flaccid penises is justified as there is a law preventing using taxpayer’s money for products or procedures considered to be sexual aids. - Bang
It appears that once more the transgender community is still being seen as having some sort of disability and ‘handicapped’ people are still not expected to have a sex life.
This is a Crossdressing vacation…not a convention… An extended vacation weekend of fun and companionship.
There are no speakers, no seminars, no talent contests, and no big communal closet feeling. However, they have a complete schedule of activities of all types. Make sure you check out their TG Golf TournamentWhere else but Las Vegas can you have an opportunity to get away and be yourself?
Crossdressing Femme Getaway In The Ozarks - Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The 2009 dates aren’t confirmed yet, so you’ll have to visit the site http://www.femmegetaway.com/info.html to get the complete information on the conference.
En Femme Getaway event, in this unique and totally accepting town. The last two events have been a total sell out, so don’t miss out on the fun!
They will have a make-up, hair and nail demonstrations and a fashion show.
Hopefully this year’s conference will take in Halloween again!
Tiffany Club of New England is sponsoring their first annual conference to be held in Peabody Massachusetts.
First Event is one of the largest transgender conferences in the world and is held in the Boston area! First Event welcomes everyone from the Transgender Community and our Supporters: Crossdressers, transsexuals, intersex individuals, M2Fs, F2Ms, and their significant others are all welcome.
First Event features over 65 workshops covering all aspects of being Transgender with local and national speakers from universities, fashion, medicine, activists, makeup, hair removal, skin care, counseling and more; outstanding evening entertainment; fun activities; opportunity to visit transgender friendly Boston, Cambridge or historic Salem; the TCNE Shopping Mall; and the chance to enjoy being yourself while connecting with others for an entire unpressured week!
Mark Your Calendars …. January 14th - 18th, 2009
Getting a name change is an important step for a transsexual seeking to assert his or her gender identity, for legal and psychological reasons, and the refusal of judges to grant such name changes freely has remained a significant impediment, even in New York, where there is a well-established legal tradition of freely granting name-change petitions. Volunteer lawyers in New York staff a special legal clinic under the auspices of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center (gaycenter.org) to provide assistance to transsexuals seeking legal name change orders.Rejecting a trial judge’s objection that a gendered name-change would cause “confusion,” a unanimous panel of the New York Appellate Division in Albany ruled on November 26 that the person formerly known as Earl William Golden III should be allowed to take the name Elizabeth Whitney Golden.
In a move that could only be thought up by some damned government, Swedish health authorities have sparked controversy with their decision to supply free prosthetic penises that are not fully functional to transsexual men. Female to male transsexuals will be allowed prosthetic penises fitted by a plastic surgeon at no cost, but the prosthetic penises being offered by health authorities cannot be used to urinate and cannot become erect.