The TransR conference aims to deliver accountability about the results of the TransR project for its stakeholders, Trans Sex Workers in the first place, as well as service providers, intervention teams, policy makers and other groups with special interest. The results will provide a common base to think about the current situation, preparing the advance of the rights of Trans Sex Workers in Europe.

The conference will take place during an important date for the transgender community. In November 20th, the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) memorializes and mourns those who have been murdered due to transphobia and transviolence, the election of this day is particularly important as the transmurder affects trans sex worker’s community more than any other community.

On Tuesday 19th November at 10am: A Sex workers (only) meeting will be held in Portuguese, English and Spanish.

The final agenda is available TransR Conference Final Agenda

Free registration until Sunday 17th at the online registration form: https://bit.ly/34zaMmu

Conference Details

When: Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th November 2019

Where: Junta de Freguesia do Bonfim, Campo 24 de Agosto 294, 4300-506 Porto, Portugal

European Commission Study: Transgender People in the EU

The European Commission (DG Justice and Consumers) is conducting a study to better understand the socioeconomic and sociodemographic position of transgender people in the EU. It also aims to understand how national legal gender recognition policies and procedures can influence this.

As part of the study, ICF will be gathering the views and experiences of 250+ transgender people across the EU. We invite you to take part in this study if you:

• Identify as transgender (either currently or in the past)
• Are aged 18 years or over
• Live in an EU Member State

Whilst any adult who identifies (or has identified) as transgender can participate, we are especially interested to hear from those who have gone through a legal gender recognition process (either partially or fully) or would like to access legal gender recognition in the future.

For transgender individuals, there are four main ways of taking part between July 2019 and September 2019:

1. Telephone interviews. These will be available in ten languages (English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian, Czech, Hungarian or Bulgarian).
2. An online consultation. You can do an online questionnaire in eight languages: English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish, Romanian and Czech.
   • The link to the English-language questionnaire can be accessed here and will be available from 1 July 2019.
   • The multi-language version of the questionnaire can be accessed here and will be available from mid-July.
3. Seven focus groups. The study team will conduct face-to-face focus groups in seven EU Member States. So far, focus groups are confirmed in the following Member States: Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Greece, Germany.

If you are interested in taking part in an interview or focus group and/or would like to find out more about the study, please email participate-TG@icf.com and somebody from the study team will be in contact with you. You can also access the online consultation using the links above.

More information available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discrimination/lesbian-gay-bi-trans-and-intersex-equality/study-transgender-people-eu_en

#TransSexWorkersVoices  

S. living in Portugal, 25 years old said:

“I wish there wasn’t prejudice against transsexuals and that we all had a job. I’ve been subjected to transphobia, not only by people in the street, but also by my friends. I wish people were more open-minded and didn’t judge others.
It’s a normal way to make money. I only feel bad because it’s a sad life.
****
Que as pessoas não tenham tanto preconceito por nós transsexuais e que haja trabalho para todas. Já tive problemas com transfobia, por parte de amigos, pessoas na rua. Gostava que as pessoas tivessem mais mentalidade e não fossem tão preconceituosas.
Para mim é uma coisa normal para ganhar dinheiro. Eu me sinto mal porque é uma vida triste.“

Follow us on Facebook to read our news and more personal stories of trans sex workers living in Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain and Austria.

The European project TransR – Trans Sex Workers Rights are Human Rights – which main goal is to contribute to the full exercise, deference and protection of trans sex workers’ vital rights – will join this action, in memory of Vanessa Campos.

The TransR consortium includes five organisations from different European countries: APDES (Portugal); Hetaira (Spain); LEFÖ (Austria); MIT (Italia) and Positive Voice (Greece), which will implement concerted actions that focus on the individuals, but also on the circumstances and agents that prevent trans sex workers from having full access to physical and psychological healthcare services in 2018-2019.

We will join ICRSE, TGEU, STRASS, ACCEPTESS-T and all the European and global movement demanding: a) to end violence against trans people, migrants and sex workers; b) to repeal the criminalization of clients and to decriminalize sex work and c) to support migrant’s regularization and access to work and justice.

These crimes are a direct result of the repression measures carried out by several member states of the EU, such as Sweden and France. They have been (and remain) the consequences of the lack of concrete measures adopted  by said member states, thus perpetuating the non-existence and disregard for the fundamental Human Rights and dignity of all people – regardless of gender, sexual orientation or administrative legal status.

We urge the Member States of the EU and other European bodies to take action and implement concrete measures and resources aimed at reducing hate crimes against trans people in Europe.

Gabi, from Tunisia, was sitting right next to Natasha, holding her hand, until the moment the judge ordered everyone to leave the room. Gabi is also a transgender refugee woman who has been granted asylum in Greece. When Natasha decided to correct her legal gender, Gabi was very skeptical, she was not sure if she wanted to do the same. Now she is certain she wants to follow suit.

https://www.dw.com/en/transgender-refugees-in-greece-reclaim-their-dignity/a-44551880

The main changes this new law brings are the following:

– Trans portuguese adults are now able to change their documentation solely base on their self-determination, with no need for medical reports.

– Persons between 16 and 18 can now change their documentation through their legal representatives. For this, they need a medical report that asserts their decision ability and their informed willness.

– Intersex persons (including babies and children) have now the right to the protection of their sexual characteristics, so they should not be subject to medical interventions that aim for body changes, unless in a health risk situation.

– Intersex persons are now able to change their documentation solely base on their self-determination.

Of the amendments provided for in the first law’s draft, the possibility of self-determination of persons between the ages of 16 and 18 remains unfulfilled.