PWN at 20: Of Course “Women-Focused” Includes Trans Women

In this, our twentieth year, we’re featuring a monthly blog series, PWN at 20 that looks at PWN’s unique place in Canada. Last month we looked at ‘If HIV is a Woman’s Issue, Why Don’t Women Speak Out?

Let’s call her Susan.  She was one of the first members I met when I started at Positive Women’s Network. Her humour was funny and well-timed. She volunteered at many events, attended retreats, and led a support group for several years. She was on the Board of Directors. And she was a trans woman.

 We’ve been asked many times over the years about our position on serving trans women. Some women-focused organizations say a flat out "no" to including trans women, others are struggling with it and when they hear we d0,  they come to us for our rationale.

Positive Women’s Network welcomes trans women because they are women.

Not every service sees it that way. The most recent local issue was when Vancouver Women’s Heath Collective opened Lu’s Pharmacy for women in the Downtown Eastside a couple of years ago. They wouldn’t serve anyone who wasn’t a “woman-born woman.” It caused a huge and deserved uproar. Months later they did allow trans women, but ultimately Lu’s shut down within a year of opening. Whether or not the trans policy played a role is unknown.

Trans women experience discrimination just as other women do, and often more as they face transphobia. As they’ve struggled to deal with their own inner journey, they’ve faced the roadblocks and jagged violence that comes as a result of coming out trans. Trans women may have been born biologically male, but they identify as women. Positive Women’s Network is a place for women.

We have a wide diversity of members who are part of the Network, and what makes women different from each other is based on so much more than how they were born. To work to honour each woman, we ask that members respect each other, whether it’s around the lunch table or on a weekend retreat. On the rare occasion a member has expressed discomfort about having another member who is trans at the table, we explain our position. And on we go.

We have a number of trans women who’ve said that PWN’s acceptance has helped them considerably in their lives, in relation to having HIV and beyond. Working with trans women is up to each women’s organization, but we will continue to do so.

As for Susan, she made a move out of province and I lost touch with her as the years went by. Wherever she is, I wish her well and welcome, should she return. I can always use a good laugh, and she’s great at delivering them.

- Janet 

This was posted on Friday, May 6th, 2011 at 6:15 am and is filed under HIV stigma, Networking, News, PWN at 20, Spiritual and Emotional Health, Support, transphobia . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.

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