What’s New

Can Public Transport be Better? Much was said this March!
Around 40 transport users and operators from across Europe met in Coimbra, Portugal in March to discuss how to realise social inclusion. Europe's transgender community added its views to their agenda with a Statement on their experiences in the use of public transport and other means of sustainable mobility plus a series of ten recommendations. The statement has been picked up by a number of media sources including Green Horizon magazine, the European Local Transport Information Service portal and the CIVITAS Initiative's website. More on the original call is available here.. (Updated Apr. 2012)

Why Ovens don't like Wigs!
If you wear a wig like Inésita, then let her pass on a tip. A synthetic wig’s ‘operating instructions’ discourages its use near ovens, saunas and grills… Inésita happened to overlook this important advice until she looked in the mirror following a long day’s film preparation, and yes, a spot of cooking. See for yourself whether you can spot the difference: visit The Dressing Room and search for '2011', where you will retrieve the results of Inésita’s last filming. Then search for '2010' and let Inésita know which year you think she looks better! Read more.. (Nov. 2011)

Hungary no Longer a Safe Haven?
The President’s signing on April 25, 2011 of Hungary’s first constitution in almost 62 years raised more than a few eyebrows, both locally as well as internationally, especially among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The problem is that although it was modeled on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU), and therefore ought to be the most modern constitution in Europe, it failed to guarantee equality before the law and to prohibit discrimination; both fundamental principles of human rights. Read more.. (July 2011)

Transforming the Media
The media will always be one of the keenest advocates of the freedom of speech. However, it can play havoc with others’ freedom of expression. In December last year the UK tabloid press derided one of its citizen’s attempts to fast track their male-to-female transition – because the health authorities were too slow to deal with their case. The episode had members of the European transgender community in uproar. Their forum at: trans-info-europe@lists.tgeu.org resounded with frustration and anger, because it highlighted two very real challenges faced by our community. First; the generally unsupportive attitude of the media; and second; the need for health services that offer more timely transition-related care. Read more.. (April 2011)

Cruising for a Bruising - Times Fifteen!
Lying on the couch I felt what a corpse might feel when it is hit with a defribulator, albeit on the face rather than on the heart. November 30th marked the 15th occasion Inésita visited the dermatologist, Dr. Kadar Laszlo, to undergo treatment for facial hair removal, a necessity for all male-to-female transgenders and most cross-dressers. The process works by using a so-called diode laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) which penetrates the follicle to ‘fry’ the root of the hair. Make no mistake, it’s a painful process and one that leaves you first swollen and flushed, and within a few days blistered and spotted. One colleague had the audacity to ask: ‘Have you got AIDS?' Another claimed I resembled a cadaver! It takes about two weeks to a full month before the bruising (and let's be frank, demoralising remarks) wear off, by which time facial hair falls out and the skin is left relatively soft and free of 'beard shadow.' But within 6-8 weeks it's back – which means a return to the skin doctor. Read more.. (Dec. 2010)

NB: More news is available in the archives