UPDATE BASED ON THE NOTES OF THE MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON TRANSSEXUALISM

Thursday 14 November 2002

Campaigning
Lynne Jones and Evan Harris met with the Minister responsible at the Lord Chancellor’s Department, Rosie Winterton.  The Minister informed them of the Government’s intention to make an announcement in the near future.  Tim Boswell, the Tory MP who had agreed to attend the meeting was ill and therefore unable to attend the meeting. 

The Minister agreed that the LCD would consult the Forum before they made any decision/announcement.

LJ will put down another EDM, an excuse for people to start lobbying, particularly Tory MPs (This has now been put down, EDM 214 TRANSSEXUAL PEOPLE’S RIGHTS, text reproduced at the end of this update).  Anything we can do to maintain momentum will be appreciated by the LCD who are keen to act.

Gires has produced a Colloquy Synopsis on Transsexualism which will be a useful tool for campaigning.

The need for a 10 Minute Rule Bill has been superseded by the proposed Government bill.

Academic Studies

Responses from deans on medical schools’ teaching material
The report of the responses to a letter from Lynne Jones to deans about their teaching material was circulated to deans and generally welcomed.   LJ will send report to the Royal Colleges.    The next step is to pull together some materials that can be used.

Colloquy Synopsis
There was discussion of the issues raised by GIRES colloquy synopsis of the condition of transsexualism and the need for material on the condition for lobbying busy people.
It was noted that once the legal battle is won the medical battle should get easier.

Good Practice

- Forum Guidance to Health Authorities
Work still ongoing – Lynne Jones will make contact with the relevant people at the DoH to inform them that the Forum is working on a set of guidelines and our intention to pass these to the DoH with a suggestion that we work on them together. 

- Consent forms
There was discussion about consent forms produced by GIRES for treatment and it was pointed out that any form needs to be built on the NHS template consent forms as Trusts won’t allow the use of other templates.  The work done so far by GIRES would be integrated into the NHS template.  It was noted that continuity between child and adolescent and adult services also needs to be taken into account in the proforma. 

- Legal Update
Good news that the W.Yorks Police lost their case and a transwoman is a woman for the purposes of employment.

PFC raised £6000 when it appealed to the trans community for donations to take a pensions case of a transwoman denied her pension at age 60 to court.  The money was needed as the DWP said that they will claim full costs if they win.
 

A summary of current key court cases for the Forum will be produced for Lynne Jones to distribute.
 

Police Guidelines
Essex Police are compiling a draft policy which needs to be amended in light of the W.Yorks victory as Essex Police are still saying that Trans people can’t strip search suspects. 

The Beaumont Trust have asked to be represented on the Forum.  It was agreed that a Forum member who is also a member of the Beaumont Trust would fulfil this function.
There was discussion about The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s request to have a representative on the Forum and the request was agreed.

Early Day Motion 214

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