= Who we are = Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) is a non-profit organisation supporting the transgender community in Ireland in all its variety. Liaising with a variety of LGBT and other community organisations in Ireland and Europe we seek to improve conditions and advance equality for all trans people in Ireland through support, education, capacity building and community activism. [[About Us|Read more...]] ---- = Updates = [[http://www.teni.ie/?action=rss_rc|RSS feed]] == European Commissioner for Human Rights comments on Foy Case == The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, published today a Human Rights comment on the final settling of the Dr. Lydia Foy Case in Ireland. The Irish Government has withdrawn its appeal against the Supreme Court's decision and will recognise Dr Foy's gender identity as a woman. Thomas Hammarberg welcomes in his comment this step by the Irish Government, but highlights also issues of concern for many transgender people such as the need to be diagnosed with an mental disorder or being forced to being sterilized and divorced for official gender recognition. [[http://commissioner.cws.coe.int/tiki-view_blog_post.php?postId=74|Read Thomas Hammarberg's comment…]] == Tender for LGBT Parenthood Research == LGBT Diversity (Building Sustainable LGBT Communities Programme) wishes to commission a research project on parenthood amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Ireland. Qualified and experienced individuals are invited to tender for this research project, the aims and objectives of which are set out below. [[http://www.activelink.ie/sites/default/files/files/files/noticeboard/2010-08/lgbt-parenthood-research100810.pdf | Download the full tender document]] Completed Tenders should be submitted electronically to: Derek McDonnell, Programme Manager: derek@lgbtdiversity.com To be delivered no later than: 5pm, September 2nd, 2010 Any queries in relation to this tender should be addressed to: derek@lgbtdiversity.com Closing Date for Submissions: Submissions should be submitted by September 2nd, 2010 and short-listed candidates may be called for interview the week beginning September 13th, 2010. == TV3 interview with TENI's Development Worker == Vanessa recently appeared on TV3's The Morning Show to discuss the issues around growing up trans. This follows on from her recent piece with the Irish Examiner and links in with the launch of LGBT Diversity's programme. You can read the Irish Examiner piece here: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfcwojgbojsn/rss2/ and watch Vanessa on TV3 here:http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=themorningshow&tv3_preview&video=25223. Happy viewing! == Visible Lives == Visible Lives is a research project that aims to explore the lives, experiences and needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Ireland who are aged 55 and over. This study is commissioned by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) and funded by Age and Opportunity and the HSE. A wide range of organisations are also working with GLEN on this study including older people’s groups and a number of LGBT organisations. The study is being conducted by a group of researchers in Trinity College Dublin, led by Professor Agnes Higgins. The project advisory group and the research team are comprised of people of various sexual orientations and gender identities. As part of this two-part project, they are first collecting data using an anonymous survey and then interviewing participants in order to learn more about the experiences and opinions of older LGBT people. The findings from this study will be used to improve services and to make recommendations for how to best address the identified needs of the older LGBT in Ireland. You can participate by completing the anonymous survey either online, by post, or by phone. You can then decide if you would like to participate in a further interview. [[http://www.visiblelives.ie|Click to complete the survey]] == Success for Dr. Lydia Foy == Transgender Equality Network Ireland strongly welcomes the announcement today, 21st June 2010, of the State’s official withdrawal of its appeal against the Supreme Court’s declaration of incompatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights in the case of Dr. Lydia Foy v An t-Ard Chláraitheoir & Others. This will bring to a close the 13 year long legal battle which Dr. Foy had to initiate following the Register General’s refusal to issue Dr. Foy with a new birth certificate that would recognise her preferred gender. “Today’s announcement is an important step forward by the Irish State”, said Carol-Anne O’Brien of TENI. “It will bring Irish law closer to EU norms and it contributes to the human rights of transgender people in Ireland.” Carol-Anne O’Brien said: “TENI would like to take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Dr Foy on her victory. Dr. Foy’s courage and tenacity has won an important achievement for all within Ireland’s trans and wider LGBTQ community.” Martine Cuypers of TENI added: “TENI urges the government to act quickly to honour the commitments given in the current Programme for Government to bring forward Gender Recognition legislation”. Press queries may be directed towards Garrett McCord, administrator, 01 633 4687 / 087 763 6193, admin@teni.ie == Gender Recognition Symposium, Cork, 14th May 2010 == A symposium, entitled ‘Towards a Gender Recognition Framework for Ireland’ took place on Friday May 14th at University College Cork to contribute to the debate leading to the drafting of Gender Recognition legislation promised in the Renewed Programme for Government. In particular, we hope to learn from the experience of the drafting of the Gender Recognition Act, 2004 in the UK and to highlight the human rights issues which require consideration in the drafting process. From an Irish perspective, we hope to identify the existing protections available to trans and intersex persons under Irish law and to emphasise the need to introduce such legislation. Speakers at the symposium included: Ms Mary White, T.D., Minister for Equality, Integration and Human Rights (Opening Remarks); Prof. Andrew Sharpe, School of Law, Keele University; Prof. Stephen Whittle, School of Law, Manchester Metropolitan University; Ms. Eilís Barry, Barrister at Law; Mr. Michael Farrell, Solicitor, Free Legal Advice Centres; Irish Human Rights Commission; Ms. Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, Faculty of Law, University College Cork; Prof Martha Fineman, Feminism and Legal Theory Project, Emory University, USA. The symposium forms part of an Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences thematic project, on [[http://www.ucc.ie/en/lawsite/staff/smullally/IRCHSSthematicproject/#d.en.71573|Gender Equality, Religious Diversity and Multiculturalism in Contemporary Ireland]]. The event is hosted by the Centre for Criminal Justice and Human Rights at the Faculty of Law in UCC. == Serious Game Exhibition == In April-May Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) in association with the Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Programme hosted “Serious Game”, an audio-visual installation by Anja Weber and Sabine Ercklentz. The exhibition was launched on Saturday 24 April and ran until 8 May, Monday to Saturday 12pm - 6pm, at Monster Truck Gallery, 73 Francis Street, Dublin 8. It included portraits accompanied by the voices of individual trans people sharing their experiences. [[SeriousGame|Read more…]] Join the [[http://www.facebook.com/pages/Serious-Game/110495565630269|Serious Game Facebook group]] || {{attachment:serious_game_poster.jpg|serious_game_poster|width=250}} || {{attachment:map.jpeg|map|width=410}} || The exhibition forms part of the “…And Others!” project, a collaboration of European transgender organisations to develop a best practice tool-kit for trans-equality, rights and inclusion throughout Europe. On 22-25 April TENI welcomed representatives from Scotland, the Netherlands, Austria, France and Germany for an international project meeting. Events included a 3-hour seminar on transgender issues at Exchange Dublin (topics: obtaining EU funding; media representation; employment rights; healthcare; hate crime legislation; gender recognition; family and relationship recognition), followed by a screening of the film "Identities", attended by the film's director. == Building Sustainable LGBT Communities == A Joint Working Group of Irish LGBT organisations, including TENI, has acquired substantial three-year seed funding from [[http://atlanticphilanthropies.org/|The Atlantic Philanthropies]] to implement the Building Sustainable LGBT Communities Programme. [[News|Read more...]] '''For more news items see [[News]]…''' ---- = Upcoming Events and Support Group meetings = <> ---- = Become a Member or Supporter = TENI depends on membership fees, donations and grants to carry out its work. New members and supporters are always welcome. We encourage transgender people, their friends, partners, family and anyone with a commitment to Irish trans issues to join TENI by filling out the membership form posted under [[About Us]] or to support TENI by clicking the 'Donate' button below. <> ---- = Funders and Supporters = TENI carries out its work with the grant-aid and support of the following agencies and organisations: [[http://atlanticphilanthropies.org|The Atlantic Philanthropies]] [[http://www.equality.ie|The Equality Authority]] [[http://www.cosc.ie|COSC]], National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence [[http://www.pobal.ie|Pobal]] [[http://www.foundation.ie|Community Foundation for Ireland]] [[http://www.stop-discrimination.info/|EU campaign For Diversity, Against Discrimination]] [[http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc86_en.htm|European Union Grundtvig Lifelong Learning Programme]] [[http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=327&langId=en|PROGRESS]], EU Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity [[http://www.ilga-europe.org/|ILGA Europe]] [[http://www.tgeu.org/|Transgender Europe (TGEU)]]