Trans* people are marginalized – often in extreme forms – in virtually all societies, in all parts of the world. In the last 4 years, a new generation of trans* activists have started to build a political movement on the grassroots level. These groups, however are not linked amongst themselves yet, and most of these activists have little experience or knowledge of activism, let alone the financial resources that are needed to be successful. Funders are only now starting to ÔdiscoverÕ trans* issues, and most have no coherent policy yet.
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) are reviewing the International Code of Diseases (ICD), and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which gives activists the unique opportunity to lobby for changes of the current (mental health) pathologization of trans* identities. There is also an urgent need for information on trans* issues, especially the legal situation for trans* people in all countries of the world.
Many trans* activists feel 'left out' by so-called LGBT groups. Having reached a level of dissatisfaction with the representation of trans* people at the international level, trans* activists felt the need to create an independent structure, which focuses on trans* issues.
Working in Partnership with IGLHRC (International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission), GATE is a trans* network coordinator, facilitator and advocate to the ÔoutsideÕ world. GATE works to unite the movement for a common goal, while developing the Ôtrans* agendaÕ on a conceptual policy level.
We assist trans* movements and structures at the local, national and
regional level, in order to facilitate the development of a new global network
of trans* organizations. Important
to the work of GATE is its support of constructive communications between
existing groups and new audiences.
GATE - Global Advocates for Trans* Equality produces a periodic report on the legal situation worldwide, so that governments and activists around the world have access to this much-needed information. This report is an on-going research project, updated over the course of time. We have started a dialogue with the WHO, the UN and other international actors about the urgently needed reform of medical classifications of trans* identities, which is erroneously referred to as a Ôpersonality disorderÕ.
GATE
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Believes
that the respect and celebration of gender diversity is an integral part of a
society that is based on the fulfilment of human rights.
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Aims
to protect the Human Rights of trans* people
worldwide.
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Works
for the empowerment and self-determination of all trans* people and aims to
increase the visibility and respect of all trans* people.
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Opposes
the continued exotisation of trans* people and the
persistent pathologisation of gender variance as a
mental disorder.
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Works
to combat the violence, discrimination and unequal treatment experienced by
trans* people.
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Regional
and international lobby on trans* issues
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Help
build trans* movements and structures in all parts of the world
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Make
critical knowledge and resources available to trans* activists
GATE is a
group of advocates working for trans* equality worldwide. GATE works on the
basis of the expertise and knowledge of its associates, while cooperating with
existing national, regional and international structures. GATE is more
think-tank than membership-driven organization.
GATE is
born out of the need for lobbying at global level, especially with UN system institutions,
mechanisms and agencies. There is a clear need for better networking between
different regions to exchange ideas and experiences of trans* groups. GATE thus
fills a gap in the existing national and regional structures. Existing
international/global LGB organisations often lack specialized knowledge about
trans*-specific issues. GATE aims to fill this gap and provide strong advocacy
for the rights of trans* people.
GATE works
in partnership with IGLHRC, which functions as a fiscal sponsor.
Mauro Cabral became the co-director of GATE, Global Advocates for
Trans Equality in January 2010. He has been involved with trans and intersex
activism since 1995. From 2005 to 2007 he was in charge of coordinating the
Trans and Intersex Area at IGLHRC Latin American Office. The following three
years he worked at Mulabi – Latin American
Space for Sexualities and Rights, starting as its Watchdogs Officer and
occupying the Executive Director position during 2009.
During the last fifteen years most of Mauro CabralÕs work
has been focused on lobbying, training and writing. Since 2004 he has regularly
participated in political initiatives at the UN and in 2006 he was part of the
expertÕs group that elaborated the Yogyakarta Principles. In 2009 he compiled
the book ÒInterdicciones. Escrituras de la intersexualidad en castellanoÓ.
This year he will finish his dissertation on juridical aspects of transsexuality and intersexuality within Argentinian Law.
Justus Eisfeld is co-director and co-founder of GATE - Global
Advocates for Trans Equaliy. He was the first
chairperson of TransGender Europe and Transgender Netwerk Nederland. As an experienced lobbyist for the Dutch
national LGBT organization COC and assistant to member of the European
Parliament Emine Bozkurt,
he knows trans/LGB politics inside out. Justus Eisfeld is the author of a
recent report on Transphobia for the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and is
advisor to the Human Rights Watch LGBT Program and the International Day
Against Homophobia and Transphobia Committee (IDAHO). He has been a speaker at
many international events, including the first-ever high-level panel discussion
on LGBT rights with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Pillay. In a previous life as a lesbian activist since 1994
he was chairperson of IGLYO (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
and Queer Youth and Student Organisation).
Agniva Lahiri
(People Like Us, India)
AndrŽs
Rivera Duarte (Organizacion de Transexuales
por la Dignidad de la Diversidad, Chile)
Julia Ehrt (Transgender Europe, Germany)
Liesl Theron (Gender DynamiX, South Africa)
Nicolas Beger (Amnesty International EU Office, Belgium)
Paisley Currah (City University of New York, USA)
Susan Stryker (Indiana University, USA)
Tamara Adri‡n (International Lesbian and Gay Law Association, Venezuela)
Activities for the first year are:
á Designing and launching a website conceived as a political forum for the international trans* community.
á Starting an international mailing list focused on trans* issues.
á Writing, editing, publishing and distributing a critical compilation of trans* issues at the International, Latin American, European and African Human Rights Systems, as well as of trans* legislation around the world.
á Travelling to different regions in order to meet regional activists and build a network of trans* activists.
á Organizing an international trans* conference.
á Advocacy at the global level and starting and maintaining a durable relationship with UN Special Rapporteurs, member states and global NGOs.
By the end of 2010, GATE will have
á established a working organization (GATE), with a business plan to assure the organizationÕs continuation on a sustainable basis
á a Global Trans* Conference in June 2010 to bring together activists from all parts of the world
á a clear advocacy strategy for global structures like the UN, WHO etc., preferably in collaboration with potential allies
á a report on the legal situation for trans* people in most parts of the world
á a mailinglist for trans* activists, and a resource website
* trans* people (as used above) includes those people who have a gender identity which is different to the gender assigned at birth and/or those people who feel they have to, prefer to or choose to - whether by clothing, accessories, cosmetics or body modification - present themselves differently to the expectations of the gender role assigned to them at birth. This includes, among many others, transsexual and transgender people, transvestites, travestis, cross dressers, no gender and genderqueer people.