A local trans* activist has proposed a peak national body to deal with the needs of the gender diverse and intersex community.
Over the past few months, WA Chameleon Society coordinator Claire Manchesi has been seeking interest for a National Transgender Council (NTC) made up of existing organisations nationwide.
Manchesi said a united front could ‘achieve much more in the way of public education and health benefits than single entities’.
‘Transgender issues are fairly unique… setting up an NTC is not an attempt at empire building – anyone could run such an organisation, I just believe – as others do – that such an organisation is long overdue,’ Manchesi said.
The Chameleon’s coordinator envisioned the body as a hub for idea-sharing and networking; organisations and community groups could pool ideas and strategies to be shared with everyone.
‘No one club would receive kudos for being a central body, nor would the council form some unwieldy, top heavy body,’ she said.
‘Singly, the organisations may not achieve much but together we may.’
In 2009, the Sex Files report recommended establishing a national board to harmonise the different gender recognition certifications between the states and territories.
WA Gender Project spokesperson Aram Hosie said a formalised coalition would be ideal but the resources just weren’t there.
‘To make that really work, we would have to come up with some money… even the National LGBTI Health Alliance hasn’t been able to get funding for that,’ Hosie said.
To date, the WA Gender Project has been loosely affiliated with trans* and intersex advocacy groups from the eastern states such as the ACT’s Gender Agenda.
However, no official coalition or apex organisation has been agreed upon.
‘Whether we need a specifically trans* peak organisation, I’m undecided,’ Hosie said.
‘There are a number of smaller ones from different states working together closely.
‘While were not coming together to form a peak organisation, we are collaborating with each other.’
Benn Dorrington
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