NI 486 - October, 2015

The transgender revolution

A note from the editor

The transgender revolution and how it could free us all

A couple of years ago, at a National Union of Journalists event in London, I heard a speaker from Trans Media Watch talking about the way in which the tabloid papers had ‘outed’ and hounded Lucy Meadows, a transgender schoolteacher who subsequently committed suicide.

The incident was an example of the gutter press at its most despicable – and ignorant. Trans Media Watch condemned it, of course. But they also set about working with even the most bigoted and offensive sections of the media to try to change the way in which transgender people and their issues were reported.

The work of transgender organizations is often two-fold – to provide practical and emotional support to transgender individuals, but also to undertake the massive task of educating non-trans or cisgender people.

This month’s Big Story shows some of the progress being made, as well as the many challenges ahead. Most of the stories and illustrations are the work of transgender writers and artists, from different countries, while invaluable help has come from Christabel Edwards and Jennie Kermode of Trans Media Watch.

Elsewhere in this edition: as Burma heads for the polls, what is in store for its ethnic minorities? Worldbeater, meanwhile, takes a closer look at Wolfgang Schäuble, German finance minister and darling of the ruthless.

Vanessa Baird for the New Internationalist co-operative.
www.newint.org

The big story

Expressing a gender spectrum on their face – a trans person takes part in the 2015 Korea Queer Festival, held in Seoul.

Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

NI 486 - October, 2015

The transgender revolution

A note from the editor

The transgender revolution and how it could free us all

The big story

It’s in the air – and calling for a mindset reset. Vanessa Baird tracks the course of transgender rights and their liberating potential for us all.

Features

Small things, as suggested by CN Lester. But if every cis – or ‘not trans’ – person followed them, we’d be living in a kinder world.

Marti Abernathey picks a way through the panic, confusion and maltreatment that surrounds transgender children.

This New Internationalist fact spread looks the number of trans people around the world, the violence and discrimination they face, health, education, work, legal protections and vulnerabilities.

Visibility offers no protection for trans people in Brazil. Amanda Palha analyses the roots of violence and exclusion faced by her community – and its fight to stay alive.

There are myriad ways of being transgender – and experiences across the world are equally varied. Illustrations by Jason Barker.

Jennie Kermode on being ‘in the middle’.

A collection of pro trans organizations, websites, support groups, books, movies and more.

Burma’s elections this November will be closely contested - but will the country’s ethnic minorities finally be heard? Tina Burrett reports.

Blogs

Three million concerned Europeans signed a petition against a controversial new trade deal that will undermine human rights, explains Mark Dearn.

Opinion

Mark Engler hopes that the pontiff will use his US visit to promote a message of social justice.

Love is a dangerous concept, argues Kate Smurthwaite.

Agenda

A day of global protest marked mining giant Vedanta's annual general meeting. Samarendra Das and Miriam Rose report.

Koren Helbig on a fairer, more equal way to solve Spain's homes crisis.

Fergus Simpson visits a hospital helping Congolese women and children recover from conflict-related trauma and violence.

Katie McQue on Agent Orange's toxic legacy.

Richard Swift on the things you need to know about the president of Burundi.

Chris Brazier takes a look back at what we were writing about 20 years ago.

Support for the decriminalization of sex workers causes uproar. Cristiana Moisescu reports.

A pro-democracy campaigner refuses to allow the state to break him, reports Peter Kenworthy.

The state argues it cannot cope with more migrants, but solidarity volunteers disagree, writes Lydia James.

Trade talks stall amid ongoing protests.

Good news stories this month.

Regulars

Praise, blame and all points in between? Your feedback published in the October 2015 magazine.

Giving a voice to the voiceless, Ruby Diamonde's friend Tatiana is an inspiration.

Cartoon by Simon Kneebone.

Alex Falco Chang from Cuba with ‘Another Migrant Tragedy’.

The Ecuadorian photographer captures a moment of relaxation on Santay Island.

Cartoon by P J Polyp.

The dodgy dealings of bankers and financial traders continue to amaze and appal us. But few people realize that they, rather than governments, control the very creation of money, as Peter Stalker explains.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble: ruthless schemer and reactionary heavyweight.

Cartoon by Marc Roberts.

Stories, silences and songs - the Ethiopian musician talks to Graeme Green.

Film, Book & Music Reviews

99 Homes, directed by Ramin Bahrani; A Girl at My Door, directed by July Jung.

Ya Balad by Bachar Mar-Khalifé; Try To Be Hopeful by The Spook School.

The Underground by Hamid Ismailov; The New Threat by Jason Burke; The Wikileaks Files by Wikileaks; and America’s Dreyfus by Joan Brady.

More reviews from the October 2015 magazine.

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