GATE (Global Action Trans Equality) commentary on WHO ICD-11

GATE (Global Action Trans Equality) have released a post regarding WHO removing trans-related categories from the chapter on mental health at the International Classification of Diseases. The GATE Team believed that the aforesaid modification made by WHO is very problematic as it contributes to naturalize stigma associated with mental health issues and ignores the reality of trans and gender diverse people with mental disorders.
 
For more information please check out https://wp.me/p8AH0y-BM

PRIDE Line 同。一線

東華三院「 同。一線」 (2217-5959)

Hi , 大家好, 我地東華三院會開一條24小時專為性小眾而設既服務熱線, 你地如果有心事, 想搵人傾下計,又或者遇疑難,都可以話我知, 我地社工都好樂意陪伴和聆聽你地既需要架。仲有呀, 除左熱線服務,我地會定期舉辦一d 活動, 讓大家可以識下新朋友、輕鬆下, 減下壓,同埋互相支持添。

24小時熱線號碼係(2217-5959), 都好容易記, 唔好猶疑呀, 攞起電話, 希望你地、你地嘅屋企人又或者關心你既朋友都可以係27/1/2018(星期六)開始打黎, 希望比機會我地認識你地, 聽到你地把聲, 等你地啊!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TWGHsPrideLine/

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Pride Line (2217-5959)

Hi Everyone , we are going to start a 24-hour Hotline for LGBT community and their families. We can be reached at (2217-5959). Our service will start on 27 Jan 2018 (Sat). You are more than welcome to call us if you need help or even just want someone to listen . We are here for you. If you would like to meet people and have a chat , join our activities which we run regularly. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

TRANSGENDER RESOURCE CENTER (TGR) NEW WHAMPOA VENUE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN 31 DEC

Established on 1st July, 2008, Transgender Resource Centre (TGR) is the long-established non-profit organization dedicated to serving the transgender communities in Hong Kong and Mainland China. In its ninth year, TGR finally has a space to call its own - a street-facing, easily accessible locality in the friendly neighborhood of Whampoa.
The new venue offers a positive and supportive space for the trans community as well as hosting all kinds of resources across the board of the trans experiences, including support group, counseling, mental health, parenting and family, faith, and much more. 
Psychiatrist Dr. Mak Kai Lok, Gregory has been vital in making this new venture possible: “As a psychiatry specialist, I’ve seen over the years a lot the inner pains and struggles the transgender people have to endure. Their life journey is a grueling one, which I wish to walk with them through, offering them some kind of care and support.” 
“…I’m also glad to see TGR continuing its operations in the new space. I hope by having a trans community center at work within the community at large, more people would learn to understand the trans people and discard their prejudices, thus allowing for more tolerance and acceptance in helping the trans people live a happy, healthy life,” Dr. Mak remarks. Dr. Mak was involved in transgender individuals’ psychological assessment since 2008. He also assisted them in their transitional period, especially in building up healthy self-esteem.
 
We all live in the same city, yet the trans people face a very different life: rejection by friends and family, discrimination at school, at work, disrespect, and harassment when opening a bank account and accessing health care, by public bodies and law enforcement agencies. Such individual and institutional discriminations are the results of laws and policies that create inequities or omission of trans people from benefits and protections afforded others and have already been found to induce stress which links to suicide attempts.
 
It’s time Hong Kong addressed all these problems and caught up with international standards and good practices in the field of recognizing and protecting the rights of sexual minority. The Government has earlier put forth a consultation paper on gender recognition, yet what shared and debated are widely disparaging views. While the consultation will soon be over, how may the government and the society be steered towards the right direction? Former Legislative Council member Ms Emily Lau Wai-hing has been one of the few gender advocacy forerunners in Hong Kong, and here is her advice: “We have to lobby for support and validation from the public, so that they’d at least not be in opposition. We’d therefore need to get into dialogue with different sectors, hoping that’d lead to discussions and negotiations. We’d also need to communicate with different political parties and government agencies for achieving a consensus.”
 
As long as the Hong Kong majority are still bound by traditional gender ideologies, it seems unlikely the gender minority would truly be taken in. TGR Founder and Chairperson Joanne Leung thinks otherwise: “The term ‘minority’ exists only to contrast the severity of a social problem. In fact in striving for social acceptance, I would rather bring out our similarities, calling for care and kindness to our neighbor as fellow community members. In recent years, the trans movement has been emphasizing the human rights aspect, yet to me it’s the humanity aspect that matters more.”
 
With a firm belief in the value of every life and in respect and concerns for all human beings, TGR ventures to bridge the gap between the minority and majority. Anyone visiting the new space is free to explore your thoughts about one another candidly, to learn to respect our differences in gender identity and embrace our common humanity, and to recognize that friendliness with people apparently different from us and accepting people for whom they truly are, is indeed possible.
 

The new TGR Whampoa venue will be officially open on Sunday, 31st Dec, 2017, with the opening ceremony being officiated by Dr. Mak Kai Lok, Gregory, Ms. Emily Lau Wai-hing and
Chairman of Equal Opportunities Commission, Professor Alfred Chan Cheung-ming.

 
 Opening Guests：From the left: Ms. Emily Lau Wai-hing, Chairperson of TGR Joanne Leung, Dr. Mak Kai Lok, Gregory and Chairman of Equal Opportunities Commission, Professor Alfred Chan Cheung-ming.
 
Opening Group Photo

Press Invitation 2017.3.6

Press Invitation

 

Joanne Leung, Chairperson of Transgender Resource Center

Awarded 2016 Woman of Courage

Cum Transgender Book Launch

 

 
Joanne Leung, founder and chairperson of Transgender Resource Center and transgender rights activist was awarded U.S. Consulate Hong Kong and Macau’s 2016 Woman of Courage. The award will be presented by the Consul General Kurt W. Tong. The award presentation ceremony will take place on 7 March (Tuesday) at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Hong Kong office. At the same occasion, the Transgender Resource Center will also launch “Gossip Boys and Girls”, Hong Kong’s first English publication detailing local transgender people’s situation.

“Woman of Courage” was nominated by the U.S. Consulate General around the world. It honors women who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in acting to improve others’ lives.
 
Details of the Award Presentation Ceremony cum Book Launch：
Date：
7 March 2017
Time︰
11:00am
Venue：
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
(11th Floor, Two Exchange Square, Central)
 
 

「跨樂園」交友平台

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跨性別資源中心於2016年開始接管「跨樂園」交友平台，並投入了相當資源，終於完成了整個平台的更新工程。我們亦於2016年9月25日的「一點粉紅」Pink Dot 正式啟動這個專為跨仔跨女、跨粉和跨友而設的交友平台，亦改進成為一個LGBTIQS的全功能平台。

進入跨樂園: http://www.transnation.asia/

簡介：
TransNation.asia 「跨樂園」成立於2015年，是亞州首個跨性別主題交友及資訊分享平台，期望通過網上科技，提供交友、生活及論壇版塊，連繫中、港、台及亞洲各地區的性別友善人群，尤其是跨性別者、間性人及跨性別粉司群體，在網絡世界交流、支持、分享，甚至發展情緣。「跨」是跨越的意思，舉凡在性別身份上被視為另類的，這個國度也是TA們的樂園！

 

Trans Social Platform

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In 2016, Transgender Resource Center (TGR) took over TransNation.asia online platform and put abundant resources to renew it. In the Pink Dot event on 25th September, 2016, we officially launched this social platform which specifically serving trans men/trans women, trans fans and trans friends. This is also a full-fledged LGBTIQS platform.

Enter into TransNation.asia : http://www.transnation.asia/

Introduction: 

Founded in 2015, TransNation.asia is the first Transgender socialising and information sharing platform in Asia. In hope of connecting gender friendly people, especially transgender, intersex and transgender fans communities from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and all other Asian countries through online technology. TransNation contains features such as socialising spaces, life-sharing message board and forum that everyone can communicate, support, share, or even develop romantic relationships in online world. ‘Trans’ means transcend. TransNation is also a fairyland for anyone who is deemed as unconventional regarding their gender identity.

Survey of Transgender Individuals living with HIV

Transgender Resource Center is conducting a survey about Transgender People living with HIV. We would like to recruit 10 interviewees (who identify themselves as a transgender person or a gender different from the one assigned at birth) to conduct an in-depth interview. If you meet all the following criteria, please send your name and contact number to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You may also call 8203-2100 between 11am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. We will arrange an interview with you. Please help share this message.

  1. Gender Identity: Transgender/a gender different from the one assigned at birth.
  2. Hong Kong citizen/temporary residence.
  3. People living with HIV and willing to take a HIV Rapid Test (VCT) to confirm the status at our center.
  4. Willing to take part in a 1.5 hour one-on-one interview. Interviewee's identity will be kept confidential.
  5. Give TGR the permission to use the interview content for research purpose. All individual data will be kept confidential.
  6. Interviewees will receive $250 allowances upon the completion of the interview.
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