Gender reassignment – what do you know about it?

Did you know? April Ashley was the first person to have gender reassignment surgery in the UK in 1960. What is gender reassignment? Have you ever met a trans person? How would you know? Many transgender people in Wales feel marginalised due to a lack of awareness of the issues that impact on their lives. Media portrayals of trans people have also cast a negative shadow over the trans population. Hate crimes against transgender people rose by 14 per cent across the UK in 2010. However, the UK Government announced in December 2011 that people convicted in transgender murder cases would have the ‘starting point’ in their sentencing doubled from 15 to 30 years, bringing it in line with murders motivated by race, religion or sexual orientation.     Watch this video from Jenny-Anne Bishop, a trans woman from Wales: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH_66ADXxfI&feature=relmfu] The Assembly celebrated International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) May this year. 17 Assembly Members, including the Presiding Officer and the Commissioner with responsibility for equality recorded messages of support for young people across Wales that may have been bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their participation in the campaign demonstrates the commitment the Assembly has to building a fair and equal society where diverse people can be themselves without fear of reprisal.   For more information, A:gender is the network for transsexual, transgender or intersex staff in the civil service while the LGBT Excellence Centre can provide guidance and links to trans support groups.