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to to provide LGBTQ student organisations with knowledge on transgender issues by creating, collecting <strong>and</strong> distributing educational materials <strong>and</strong> lectures. The Students for Transgender Inclusion conference in Århus, Denmark, 15-21 May 2008, was attended by LGBTQ student activists from all Nordic <strong>and</strong> Baltic Sea regions. One of the outcomes of the conference is the webpage www.transweb.wordpress.com. 434 Health Healthcare is of the utmost importance for many transgender people, while at the same time representing one of the biggest problems in their lives. Transgender-specific healthcare Transgender-specific healthcare (i.e. healthcare directly related to the gender identity of a person) is a medical necessity <strong>and</strong> should be covered by health care plans in the same way as other medically necessary procedures. This principle has been the basis of several decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, as in the cases of van Kück v Germany 435 <strong>and</strong> L v. Lithuania. 436 The European-wide Transgender EuroStudy, however, shows that more than 80 per cent of the respondents were refused state-funding for gender transforming hormone treatments (often a life-long necessity), while 86 per cent were refused state-funding for surgery. More than half of the transgender respondents reported funding their own treatment. 437 Another hurdle involves finding an informed <strong>and</strong> sensitive healthcare professional. Approximately a third of respondents said they were refused treatment because a healthcare professional did not approve of gender reassignment. A quarter of the respondents were met with refusal when they first approached a doctor or psychiatrist about transition. 438 In the United Kingdom ‘Engendered Penalties’ study 439 , 6.3 per cent 434 See http://www.anso.dk/ (17.10.2008) 435 European Court of Human Rights: van Kück v. Germany, Application no. 35968/97, judgment of 12 June 2003, in: in: International Commission of Jurists (2007) Sexual Orientation <strong>and</strong> Gender Identity in Human Rights Law; Jurisprudential, Legislative <strong>and</strong> Doctrinal References from the Council of Europe <strong>and</strong> the European Union; Geneva: International Commission of Jurists, p. 36 436 European Court of Human Rights: L. v. Lithuania, Application no. 27527/03, judgment of 11 September 2007, in: International Commission of Jurists (2007) Sexual Orientation <strong>and</strong> Gender Identity in Human Rights Law; Jurisprudential, Legislative <strong>and</strong> Doctrinal References from the Council of Europe <strong>and</strong> the European Union; Geneva: International Commission of Jurists, p. 10 437 Whittle, S, Turner, L, Combs, R, Rhodes, S (2008) Transgender EuroStudy: Legal Survey <strong>and</strong> Focus on the Transgender Experience of Health Care, Brussels: ILGA-Europe, p. 53ff 438 Whittle, S, Turner, L, Combs, R, Rhodes, S (2008) Transgender EuroStudy: Legal Survey <strong>and</strong> Focus on the Transgender Experience of Health Care, Brussels: ILGA-Europe, p. 55f Part II - The Social Situation 123
<strong>Homophobia</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Discrimination</strong> on Grounds of Sexual Orientation <strong>and</strong> Gender Identity in the EU Member States 124 of the transgender respondents’ General Practitioners refused their requests for help in finding treatment for gender identity issues <strong>and</strong> a further 13.4 per cent did not appear to want to help. While 80 per cent did want to help, only 20 per cent actually could help because they had the relevant knowledge. Sixty percent wanted to help but lacked information. It is rare that healthcare professionals have sufficient knowledge of transgender issues to be of effective help. For example, finding a healthcare provider in Hungary who is willing (<strong>and</strong> able) to help is so difficult that only the most persistent individuals are able to get through the system. Cases of corruption have been reported regarding medical assistance in relation to transgender issues. 440 In situations where there are few medical professionals willing, <strong>and</strong> less actually able, to assist in undertaking the medical procedures necessary for gender alteration, there is a high likelihood that the methods of operation will be dangerous for the patient. In Pol<strong>and</strong> a decree by the Minister of Health (2003) defined sex reassignment surgery as ‘non-st<strong>and</strong>ard health service’ <strong>and</strong> therefore excluded it from the National Health Fund. 441 Photos posted on the internet, as well as anecdotal evidence suggests that surgery results are generally poor, with few well-trained surgeons who have the level of experience required to perform adequately this level of surgery. In Hungary researchers go so far as to say ‘transphobia <strong>and</strong> lack of experience make safe treatment unlikely.’ 442 Waiting times for transgender-specific healthcare services can be very long: in the United Kingdom it is two years on average. 443 In the United Kingdom, the Scottish Needs Assessment Programme Survey among all health professionals found that treatment by health professionals, especially psychiatrists, often appears to be biased, <strong>and</strong> carried out in the absence of sufficient knowledge in the area. 444 In Hungary, research found that (hetero)sexist attitudes 439 Whittle, S, Turner, L, Al-Alami M (2007) Engendered Penalties: Transgender <strong>and</strong> Transsexual People’s Experiences of Inequality <strong>and</strong> <strong>Discrimination</strong>, Wetherby: The Equalities Review, p. 44 440 Solymár, Bence (2005) The Situation of Transgender People in the Hungarian Social <strong>and</strong> Health Care System in: Takács J. (ed.): A lélek műtétei [Surgery of the Soul], Budapest: Új M<strong>and</strong>átum Kiadó; Solymár, B, Takács, J (2007) Wrong Bodies <strong>and</strong> Real Selves: Transsexual People in the Hungarian Social <strong>and</strong> Health Care System, in: Kuhar, R, Takács, J (eds.) (2007) Beyond the Pink Curtain; Everyday Life of LGBT People in Eastern Europe, Ljubljana: Mirovni Institut 441 Whittle, S, Turner, L, Combs, R, Rhodes, S (2008) Transgender EuroStudy: Legal Survey <strong>and</strong> Focus on the Transgender Experience of Health Care, Brussels: ILGA-Europe, p. 34 442 Solymár, Bence (2005) The Situation of Transgender People in the Hungarian Social <strong>and</strong> Health Care System in: Takács J. (ed.): A lélek műtétei [Surgery of the Soul], Budapest: Új M<strong>and</strong>átum Kiadó 443 Whittle, S, Turner, L, Al-Alami M (2007) Engendered Penalties: Transgender <strong>and</strong> Transsexual People’s Experiences of Inequality <strong>and</strong> <strong>Discrimination</strong>, Wetherby: The Equalities Review, p. 47 444 Scottish Needs Assessment Program (2001) Transsexualism <strong>and</strong> Gender Dysphoria in Scotl<strong>and</strong>, Scottish Executive
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European Union Agency for Fundament
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Foreword On December 18 2008 the UN
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Contents FOREWORD .................
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Executive Summary Background The pr
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Fear of discrimination, homophobia
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usually young men in groups. In rec
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Bullying and haras
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Asylum Although all Member States r
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Opinions According to Art 4(1)(d) o
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more public awareness on LGBT issue
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25. Sports organisations or institu
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Introduction ‘Respect for the rig
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Clarification of terms and<
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assigned to them at birth. This inc
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Methodology The present analysis re
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PART I: Lesbians, gay men, bisexual
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in 2003 by the Campaign Against <st
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impact that I think profoundly affe
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These results come as no surprise.
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‘came out’ to their parents. In
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Legislation regarding homophobic ha
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and National Equal
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'A group of young people from my to
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Several factors may contribute to t
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eveal that the National Equality Bo
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'We must say a clear "no" to all th
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The Office of the Equal Opportuniti
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Bans In recent years there have bee
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news media. Violent attacks on demo
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efused to rent office space to the
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A Finnish study 153 indicated that
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National Equality Bodies There is a
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Interviews with National Equality B
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Research on workplace experiences T
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Another United Kingdom study, 194 b
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Conclusions LGBT persons are subjec
Page 74 and 75: In interview, the Belgian LGBT NGO
Page 76 and 77: ‘horseplay’ or ‘messing aroun
Page 78 and 79: LGBT youth examined suggested that
Page 80 and 81: educational curricula, as it contri
Page 82 and 83: on the grounds of their sexual orie
Page 84 and 85: 'I was an out patient at hospital <
Page 86 and 87: general population, and</st
Page 88 and 89: I.7. Religious institutions It was
Page 90 and 91: specified. The EU has criticized th
Page 92 and 93: I.8. Sports This section addresses
Page 94 and 95: issue of homophobia or the situatio
Page 96 and 97: I.9. Media This section examines ho
Page 98 and 99: appear as heterosexuals in order to
Page 100 and 101: Conclusions Incidents of homophobic
Page 102 and 103: In other Member States data indicat
Page 104 and 105: interaction with police was support
Page 106 and 107: Conclusions All the Member States i
Page 108 and 109: National Council for Combating <str
Page 110 and 111: empowering ethnic minority LGBT peo
Page 112 and 113: Conclusions People with multiple id
Page 114 and 115: ief overview is given here in order
Page 116 and 117: e closely linked with, among other
Page 118 and 119: sexual abuse (4 per cent) were also
Page 120 and 121: eported that they were afraid of ha
Page 122 and 123: The Labour Market There is no evide
Page 126 and 127: towards gender identity are common
Page 128 and 129: Good practice: In the United Kingdo
Page 130 and 131: Elderly transgender people have bee
Page 132 and 133: Homophobia, transp
Page 134 and 135: Annex 1 Country Report Authors Coun
Page 136 and 137: Annex 2 Stakeholder E - Questionnai
Page 138 and 139: 2. A minority accepts 3. Half of p
Page 140 and 141: 4. Almost full recognition 5. Tota
Page 142 and 143: 4. Good protection 5. High protect
Page 144 and 145: 31. Please state your assessment of
Page 146 and 147: Asylum and family
Page 148 and 149: 48. Primary education (Basic school
Page 150 and 151: Don't know Does not apply/Not rele
Page 152 and 153: 4. Somewhat high level of awareness
Page 154 and 155: 76. If you have any further comment
Page 156: European Union Agency for Fundament
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