3rd TGEU Council Condemns Trans Violence Aimed At Turkish Participants

TransGriot Note: From Sass Rogando Sasot concerning the transphobic insults and assault of Turkish trans activists attending the 3rd TGEU Conference currently being held in Malmo, Sweden.

Declaration of the 3rd TGEU Council on the discrimination and violence targeted at the trans participants from Turkey

2nd October 2010

We the participants of this 3rd TGEU Council are shocked at the experience of the trans activists from Turkey who were subjected to transphobic and racist violence on two occasions during their stay in Malmo. We are also concerned at the unacceptable discrimination and victimisation that they suffered at the hands of the police while they were reporting the violence that took place on the night of Thursday 30th September

On Thursday, the activists were entering a restaurant and were transphobically and racially harassed by a group of young men. On their way out the activists were physically attacked by this same group and pelted with eggs. The aggressors then also smeared egg on the face of an activist. The police did not respond adequately to the reported case of violence.

The following morning Transgender Europe and RFSL called for an appropriate investigation. However, when the activists were interviewed by the police, later in the afternoon, the police asked a series of unacceptable and offensive questions to the activists about their gender identity and right of stay in Sweden. In addition, the incorrect use of names and pronouns violated the dignity of the activists. Through their behaviour the police made the activists feel intensely violated and humiliated.

A further act of transphobic violence happened later on Friday night, when the activists were at Crown Nightclub and a customer slapped one of them on the face. Following the activist's complaint, the bar staff ordered the trans activists to leave without challenging the aggressor. At this stage the activists no longer trusted in an adequate police response and did not report this second incident.

In view of the above we demand that:

I. The Swedish Police:

1. Take responsibility for the inappropriate handling of the investigation of the case of violence that the trans activists reported
2. Investigate and take appropriate disciplinary procedures against the police officers who mistreated the trans activists and victimised them through their transphobic and racist questioning
3. Implement comprehensive training efforts to make sure that all police forces dealing with the public are respectful of all people regardless of gender identity/gender expression, race, nationality or any other ground, or an intersection of them.
4. Commit to working with RFSL and other LGBTI and trans organisations to effectively implement the above demands.

II. Swedish Discrimination Ombudsman:

1. Enhance the promotion of equality particularly looking at the experience of trans people in the acquisition of goods and services.

III. Sweden

1. Adopt hate crime legislation that explicitly covers the grounds of gender identity and gender expression
2. Raise awareness that trans people's equality and human rights must always be respected thus making sure that such incidents cease to happen.

The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe), the International Network for Trans Depathologization (STP2012) and the Global Advocates for Transgender Equality (GATE) express their solidarity with the activists from Turkey and support the statement.


The Berlin Wall Falls-20th Anniversary

For much of my life, the Berlin Wall was part of the world I grew up in.

It was created on August 13, 1961, eight months before I was born. It was strengthened and improved over several decades and symbolized not only the dividing line between West and East Berlin, but between communism and democracy.

It cost 136 East Germans their lives trying to cross it to freedom in West Berlin and billions for the East German government to maintain it and a similar barrier between the two Germanys.

It even became part of my own lexicon. If I had a 'no way in Hades' intention of doing something, I'd say, "That'll happen when the Berlin Wall comes down."

On November 9, 1989 it did.

The pump had been primed by demonstrations in Leipzig, East Germany that summer. They were allowed to happen despite a massive police and military presence. Remember the East Germans were the first to congratulate the Chinese government after the violent suppression of the June 4 Tienanmen Square demonstrations in Beijing.

Those demonstrations were fueled by Hungary and Czechoslovakia's August decision to open their border with Austria and allowing East German citizens on vacation there to leave their countries for the West.

At a routine late afternoon news conference, East German Politburo member Gunter Schabowski casually declared that East Germans would be free to travel to the West immediately.

The decision had already been made, but Schabowski got the date it was going to start crossed up. He tried to clarify his comments and said the new rules would take hold at midnight, but events moved faster as the word spread.

Thousands of East Germans surged toward the Wall checkpoints, including future German chancellor Angela Merkel, overwhelming the border guards. With no orders from the top forthcoming, they opened the gates and kicked off the biggest celebration in history.

The Wall fell, and months later East Germany ceased to exist as well.

Hard to believe twenty years have passed since then.

Angela Merkel Reelected German Chancellor

While we were sleeping on this side of the Pond, the Germans were headed to the polls today. The results were the opposite of what happened in the States and Japan.

German voters reelected their popular chancellor Angela Merkel to a second term.

While Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party CDU/CSU lost some support from the 35.2% they garnered in 2005 to 33%, another coalition partner, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDU) share of the German electorate rose from 9.8% to 14.5%

That means the center-right coalition she put together has a narrow majority over the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the two other major leftist parties which increased their share of the vote. The Greens picked up 12% white the Left grabbed 10% of the German electorate

"My understanding was, and my understanding is, that I want to be the chancellor of all Germans," Merkel told supporters, adding that protecting and creating jobs "will be my highest aim."

This election was also occurring at a critical time for Europe's largest economy, which is like everywhere else on the planet recovering from its deepest recession of the post-war era.

The resulting center-right government she's forming will allow her to pursue more conservative policies such as extending the life of German nuclear plants and renewing the increasingly controversial deployment of German troops to Afghanistan.

The last time a center right government led Germany was when Helmut Kohl was chancellor from 1982-1998.

Her challenger in the vote was Social Democrat (SPD) Frank-Walter Steinmeier. He appeared on television shortly after the first projections came out and conceded that his party had suffered a "bitter defeat", garnering only 22.5% support.

Merkel has ruled for the past four years in a "grand coalition" with the SPD but can now end that partnership and work with the FDP. She has stated that it's a grouping better placed to help nurture Europe's largest economy back to health.

We'll see in four years if Chancellor Merkel is right.

70th Anniversary Of Nazi Invasion Of Poland

Today marks the tragic 70th anniversary of the start of the Nazi invasion of Poland that kicked off World War II.

It lasted six years, resulted in 110 million people from 75 nations wearing the uniforms of their military, and 45 to 80 million people dying as the result of Adolf Hitler's dream to rule the planet.

Poland was first to fall to the German Blitzkrieg tactics as five German armies attacked it from three sides. The Poles fought hard, but were outgunned and outmaneuvered by the new German warfighting style.

Warsaw was surrounded by September 8 and put under siege. The Poles repulsed several German attempts to take the city, but with daily bombardment, increasing civilian casualties, dwindling food and water supplies and the invasion of the eastern half of Poland by the Soviet Union, surrendered on September 27.

Thus began Poland's long nightmare under Nazi occupation that would result in 6 million Polish dead and the bloodiest conflict that humankind has embarked on.

Black CDU Politician In Germany Getting Death Threats

No matter where we reside in the world as part of the African Diaspora, sooner or later, despite our best efforts, racism will rear its ugly head and we'll have to deal with it.

That message was driven home once again after I read on CNN.com and watched the news story about 45 year old Zeca Schall. He's a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling Christian Democratic Union party, was born in Angola, moved to Germany to live in 1988 and became a German citizen in 2004.

Schall has been named as a CDU expert for the integration of minorities.

I have much love for Germany. I took German in high school and I'm fascinated by its history, scientific and technological prowess, its politics, its people and its culture.

It's also where some world transgender history was made. Much of the research that made it possible for us to deal with our gender issues was done by people such as Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld.

But there is that twelve year period from 1933-1945 in which Germany lost their damned minds and succumbed to right wing madness. They elected that failed Austrian painter and author of Mein Kampf as chancellor to the detriment of Germany and the world.

I'm also concerned about what's happening to Schall because I have family members who live in Germany. Schall resides in Thuringia, a state bordering the Czech Republic that used to be part of the former East Germany.

While its not as problematic in the western states that made up the former West Germany where my cousins reside, in those five eastern states they still have problems with fascist and racist behavior.

There was an October 1993 incident in Oberhof in which African-American luger Robert Pipkins was verbally and physically attacked by 15 neo-Nazi skinheads while visiting a disco during an international luge competition. Duncan Kennedy received facial and chest injuries while coming to the aid of his teammate.

The denizens of Oberhof were so disgusted by the incident the then mayor of Oberhof sent a letter of apology to then President Bill Clinton. The owner of the disco offered to treat both American lugers to free drinks and admission during their next visit to the town.

Schall has attracted the ire of a far-right anti-immigration German party. The National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) is channelling their inner Nazis and called on him to leave the country.

The NPD has been under surveillance by Germany's Office for the Protection of the Constitution for alleged contacts with illegal neo-Nazi groups. However, past efforts to ban the party have failed on technicalities.

But judging by their rhetoric, they ain't exactly rolling out the welcome mat for him either. A statement posted on their website said, "The CDU seems to be realizing that even after years of re-education, negroes cannot be accepted as permanent guests in our state."

Schall has the support of the CDU and the denizens of his adopted hometown of Hildburghausen, where he is a volunteer firefighter. But even the residents admit they still have some rockheads who want to turn the clock back to 1933.

The situation escalated to a worrisome level Wednesday when the NPD held a rally in Hildburghausen. They attempted to get to Schall's home but police dispacted to protect him thwarted the attempt.

NPD Party Chairman Udo Voigt claims in a press rel;ease all they wanted to do was speak to Schall "and persuade Mr. Schall that he is needed more in Angola than in Germany."

Yeah, right.

Because of the numerous death threats he has received in the runup to this state election in Thuringia, Schall has been pulled from campaign events because the CDP feels it's too risky for him to do them.

Schall told CNN he had never before been subjected to such a level of racial hatred.

"I am shocked," he said Thursday at a campaign event in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. "I simply cannot believe that people would do this to fellow humans."

"I have police patrolling at my house day and night, and some officers stay in my house overnight," he said.

Schall, who appears on a CDU election poster, said he is scared but won't be intimidated by far right thugs.

Nevertheless, I'll still be saying a little prayer on your behalf for your safety.

Germany's Transgender Community

Germany's transgender community has an interesting and tumultuous history. In 1930 the first surgery was performed there in Berlin with Danish transsexual pioneer Lili Elbe. Tragically, Lili is also buried in Dresden after dying from complications from an additional surgery in 1931.

In addition to supervising Elbe's groundbreaking surgery, much of the research and terminology concerning transsexual issues was either done by or coined by Magnus Hirschfeld at his Institut für Sexualwissenschaft housed in Berlin.

It's also no accident that one of the first public book burnings after the Nazis gained power took place on May 6, 1933 in front of Hirschfeld's office. Years of research and volumes of books were burned in what a New York Times writer called a 'bibliocaust'.

It also ushered in the dark period in which some of the first concentration camp internees into Dachau were gay and transgender persons who wore the pink triangles on their prison uniform. The pink triangle is now in addition to the rainbow flag the universal symbol for the GLBT community.

Germany has a transgender law on its legal books since 1980 called the Transsexuellengesetz or the TSG in German. It has come under fire from German transpeople because it allows for first name changes, but not for legal gender changes unless you had SRS. If you were married, you had to divorce your spouse and have SRS before the gender change was allowed.

Thanks to a June 2008 court case, that is no longer the case, and the court also ordered the German legislature to modernize the TSG within a year.

It's also home to Kim Petras, who at 16 is believed to be the youngest person to have undergone GRS. Kim's case has been closely followed for several years, and as of this writing has arguably become to the rest of the world the most well known person representing the German transgender community. Kim has also signed a recording contract and is doing some modeling in her homeland as well.

Kim's not the only German transperson whose recently garnered international attention. In the wake of the East German Olympic athletic doping scandal Andreas Krieger was front page news as he testified in 2000 at the trial of former East German sports official Manfred Ewald and doctor Manfred Höppner.

Recently transman Bailian Buschbaum has also been in the news in the wake of his transition after retiring from international pole vaulting competition in 2007.

While German transpeople still report facing some challenges, organizations such as Transgender Network Berlin, a consortium of 21 Berlin based transgender groups are trying to keep the positive momentum going while seeking to expand outside the German capital city.

The other thing they want to expand is their civil rights and continue to ensure that things improve for all German transpeople as well.

Balian Buschbaum's New Life

In a December 2007 post I talked about the retirement of junior world record holding German pole vaulter Yvonne Buschbaum from international competition for an interesting reason. His transition from female to male.

He said at the time,"I feel as if I am a man and have to live my life in the body of a woman. I am aware of the fact that transsexuality is a fringe issue, and I do not want to be responsible for it remaining on the fringe."

Well, two years later he is now the very handsome Balian Buschbaum, and in a diary entry on his website stated, "Courage is the road to freedom. I woke up in complete freedom today. The sky is wide open."

Balian chose his new name in January 2008, after the blacksmith in the movie Kingdom of Heaven.

Since taking his first testosterone shot on Christmas Day 2007, Balian has documented the metamorphosis from Yvonne to the handsome guy he is now. He's appeared on a few talk shows and has received support from his former colleagues in the athletics (track and field) world.

He was required to quit pole vaulting under IAAF rules because testosterone, one of the primary drugs used for a female to male gender change is considered a doping substance. Buschbaum won European championship bronze medals in 1998 and 2002 and had a personal best vault of 4.70 meters (15 feet 4.2 inches)

On the other side of the gender fence Balian wore his hair shortly-cropped, but now he has facial hair, growing muscles and a deeper voice to complement his new ID card. He's also endured the initial surgeries to complete his metamorphosis from female to male.

Thanks to his gender transformation, he also has a ringside seat concerning the effects of testosterone because he's living through the effects of the changes. He told the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung that "I felt like an over-bred pitbull."

He also noted that he was far more aggressive in training and could jump with poles Yvonne Buschbaum could only dream of using.

He changed his mind about retiring from the sport, and is staying in shape by continuing to vault in preparation for his new role as a coach for the USC Mainz club in central Germany.

Angela Merkel Up For Reelection

I was surprised when I first heard the news that Germany elected its first female chancellor in Angela Merkel.

She won that historic November 22 election by a razor thin margin in 2005, but so far polls are indicating that she might have an easier time when the German federal elections are held in September.

She was already overwhelmingly reelected in December 2008 as the head of the Christian Democratic Party.

As the leader of the nation with Europe's largest economy, Merkel was not only ranked Number 1 by Forbes Magazine in its survey of the 100 Most Powerful Women, she was also voted by Europeans as their most influential politician.

Merkel not only has Germany's economy growing, she's made sure that German women are occupying senior government posts as well. Mattel even created a Barbie doll in her honor complete with her signature bob hairdo they unveiled at a German toy show but as of yet haven't decided if they are going to put it into production.

In addition to becoming the first woman to become Germany's chancellor, in 2007 she became the second woman to chair the G-8 after someone she's frequently compared to, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

If the polls hold and there are no big surprises between now and September, she'll be there in Berlin to greet President Obama on his first official presidential trip to Germany or at the next G-8 summit.

Kim Petras Video

Congrats to German transteen Kim Petras, who recently had her SRS and is happily embarking on her new life. She has a blog called Kimperium (written in German and English) and a recording contract. Girlfriend's future is so bright she needs shades to walk down the street.

Here's the latest entry from her YouTube video blog.




And a September 21, 2008 entry

Kim Petras Update

Remember Kim Petras, the German teen who is believed to be the youngest person in the world to ever undergo GRS?

Boy, how time flies. Three years ago the controversy was raging all over the world whether Kim, much less any transkid was too young to transition at age 12. We had a rather spirited debate about it on TSTB, and it led me to compose a post about the issue of teen transition and my thoughts on it.

Just an FYI, I'm in favor of doing it in your teens.

Kim is now a stunning looking 16 year old. After enduring years of taunts from fellow classmates she shook it off and focused on her music, which became cult hits on MySpace and You Tube.

The cult hit status has paid dividends for Kim and led to her recently being signed by a German company to a recording contract. She's now focused on her budding music career and achieving pop star status, not her unique path to womanhood.



"My music is most important to me at the moment. It's the way I can best express myself."

"I know that because of my past people will always bring up the subject, I can't get away from it. But I hope that one day I might be better known for my music than for my past."



As Kim prepares to release her first CD, it's what her sisters and brothers all over the world wish for her as well.

Yvonne Buschbaum's Retirement With A Twist

German Olympian Yvonne Buschbaum, the world junior record holder in the pole vault, announced her retirement November 21 from the sport. She finished third in the European championships in 1998 in Budapest, Hungary, won the European junior title in 1999 and placed sixth at the Sydney Games in 2000. Buschbaum's best year was 2002, when she finished second in the European Indoor Championships in Vienna, Austria and third at the European Championships contested on home soil in Munich, Germany.

The interesting twist in this story is that the other reason she cited for her retirement decision in addition to her persistent injuries was a desire to transition to male.

In a statement from her web site, Buschbaum said, "I feel as if I am a man and have to live my life in the body of a woman. I am aware of the fact that transsexuality is a fringe issue, and I do not want to be responsible for it remaining on the fringe."

Buschbaum also asked for respect for her decision and urged observers not to draw false conclusions. "I do not dope," she said and added that her upcoming hormone treatments to facilitate her transition contributed to her decision to quit along with the persistent injury.

As I keep saying over and over, transsexuality is an international medical and social issue that cuts across class, race, religious and geographic boundaries. Just as transpeople exist who are in politics, business, education, law, and the arts and sciences, we have transgender athletes as well. It's why the IOC and other international sports governing bodies allow transgender people to participate.

I wish Yvonne much happiness and success as a new chapter unfolds in her life.