So my friend got a bunch of articles about the way they treat trannies in Kuwait...

[Kukulofori]

She's translating them into English now, and she's going to send them to Human Rights Watch, but their record on trannies is far less than ideal, so is there anything else she can do with it?

[Rangi]

I'm not sure if 'trannies' is the most politically correct term. Trans-gender or transexual is the preferred term I think.

[Dr Mindbender]

Whats interesting is that during the 80's the Iranian government issued a fatwa legalising sex changes (transgenderism seen as a 'lesser evil' than homosexuality). Tehran has now become a popular destination for Western pre op transexuals seeking the operation.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9583SsPh_NY&feature=related

[bcbm]

I'm not sure if 'trannies' is the most politically correct term. Trans-gender or transexual is the preferred term I think.

I've always found "transfolk" to be the most inclusive term and one many of my trans friends use.

[Kukulofori]

I'm actually an op at the irc room where we met, #transsexual_support, and the general consensus is that tranny is not an offensive term, and most of us use and even prefer it.

She's thinking about making a documentary on trans discrimination in the middle east, any ideas for funding?

[bcbm]

I'm actually an op at the irc room where we met, #transsexual_support, and the general consensus is that tranny is not an offensive term, and most of us use and even prefer it.

Fair enough. It seems there is definitely some debate about the usage of the term within the community, but that seems to be the case of any oppressed community and certain language.

[SocialRealist]

Why not post the translated work on here. I would like to read it very badly.

Well discrimination is very high in the Middle East due to the facts of fundamentalism of the Muslim faith and pretty much the things that follow around that area.

[Killfacer]

Whats interesting is that during the 80's the Iranian government issued a fatwa legalising sex changes (transgenderism seen as a 'lesser evil' than homosexuality). Tehran has now become a popular destination for Western pre op transexuals seeking the operation.



Not exactly for positive reasons though is it. They just hate gays more than they hate transexuals.

[Sean]

I don't mean to derail this thread but I thought this is relevant enough to post, since its also about religious nuts and transexuals.
The other day, while haunting wikileaks, I came across the 1999 edition of the Mormon Church's Handbook (http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Mormon_Church_Handbook_of_Instructions_%281999%29) .

Persons Who Are Considering or Have Undergone a Transsexual Operation
Persons who are considering an elective transsexual operation should not be baptized. Persons who have already undergone an elective transsexual operation may be baptized if they are otherwise found worthy in an interview with the mission president or a priesthood leader he assigns. Such persons may not receive the priesthood or a temple recommend.I just find the grey area that transphobia seems to occupy in religion quite interesting. Its something that their church founders, be they bronze age desert tribesmen or 18th Century polygamists just didn't see coming (although hermaphrodites and transvestites have existed throughout history) so they have to make up the divine rules as they go along. The ability to safely change gender through surgical means, and its growth/popularity has thrown these establishments a real curve ball and a documentary across the board on this would certainly be worth watching.