My Guy

After my rather anxious day yesterday, it was rather nice to be spoilt toady. I spent most of the day watching "Blade" DVD's with my guy. Then he treated me to a takeaway meal, before presenting me with the silver heart of my very own Vampire! :O)

Oh yes, and the man from Del Monte! He said the same as I did! :O)

Charing Cross

Suzanne accompanied me to Charing Cross Gender Clinic for my first appointment with them. We decided to let the train take the strain, rather than drive through London.

We travelled by over ground train to Tottenham Hale and the by underground train to Charring Cross. At Charing Cross we stopped for a coffee and a burger in Mc Donald's. The young girl serving us was quite polite and pleasant, but I was quite annoyed at her closing with "enjoy your meal, sir"! If I had more time I might have had a word with her manager it. I am sure she meant no harm in her statement. However, it is likely that other transsexual women use the store on there way to the gender clinic. In my mind it is pretty simple to get right. Either don't state the gender in the closing speech or use the gender that the person in front of you is portraying!

Suzanne was allowed to come into assessment room with me, which was a help as I would never have remembered all the details asked of me. Or remembered enough of what was said to relay it all to her afterwards.

As I suspected they are going to make me wait another three months for a second opinion and only after that will they consider prescribing hormones. I was assured that at least in my doctors opinion there is no reason why I should not receive the hormones though. My doctor has recommended me for speech therapy as he felt it might help me. I voiced my concern at not wanting to end up sounding false. However, I have agreed that if the therapy is geared towards me simply softening my masculine tones then it may be of some benefit.

I was rather happier to hear that my doctor will backdate my gender trial as I have enough documentary evidence that I have lived my life full time in the female gender role. So, I have already completed the first year.

A case can be made for breast augmentation if growth on hormones is deemed to be inadequate, but this seemed to be a little vague. One thing that might go against me there though is that I self prescribed for a couple of months in the past. I would argue that I followed a pretty standard regime offered to transsexual patients. My interpretation of the Harry Benjamin Guidelines is that I am more likely to receive hormone treatments as I had already self prescribed. So, it is a bit of a duel edged sword.

Hate Crime Reporting

OPPORTUNITIES TO REPORT HATE AND RACE CRIME

By Corporate Communication Dept

Following a number of successful surgeries, where members of the public have been able to meet their local Police Community Support Officer, several more have been planned for the coming year across East Herts.

A number of joint agencies have come together to tackle hate crime in East Herts and further surgeries have been planned for victims and members of the public to report it and seek advice.

Hate crime is harassing, victimising, intimidating or abusing someone because of their race, faith, religion, disability or because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans-gendered.

It is a crime where the perpetrator’s prejudice against any identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised.

Police Community Support Officer Adrian Pomfrett from the Hertford and Ware Safer Neighbourhoods Team, has set up a series of surgeries across the area including a number of surgeries to address the problem.

The surgeries and initiatives are also supported by Victim Support, Neighbourhood Watch, People In Partnership, Riversmead Housing and East Herts District Council.

Adrian said: “Hate crime can come in many forms and this is an ideal opportunity for members of the public to report it and seek advice about it.

“I would urge anyone who wants to report a crime or seek advice and / or support on hate crime to visit us at one of the surgeries or to contact us on the non emergency number 0845 33 00 222.

”The dates and locations for the surgeries are as follows:

Sat 9th Feb - St Michaels Mead - between 12 - 2pm

Saturday 15th March - Bishops Park - between 3pm - 4.30pm

Saturday 19th April - Markwell Centre - between 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Saturday 10th May - Parsonage Community Centre - between 1pm - 3pm

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Hate Crime Posters in adobe pdf format Hate_Crime.pdf


There will be members of the following agencies available to offer help and support in tackling Hate Crime....

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Victim Support

Neighbourhood Watch

East Herts District Council

Riversmead Housing

The PIP Project