Human Rights Office: Transgender/Transsexual: Contents: Appendix B

Trans Accessibility Project:
Appendix B

Section One

1. Please identify the services provided by your organisation:
   

   Providing short term shelter	29
   Counselling	29
   Referrals	28
   Education	24
   Political activism	13

   Other (please specify)
   

   • legal advocacy
   • advocacy
   • long-term counselling, resource centre
   • group programming
   • child care programme, outreach
   • 24 hour crisis line, volunteers for adult sexual assault victims
   • sexual assault/sexual abuse crisis line

2. Who may access your services?

   Women	29
   Men	3
   Children	27
   Male children to age?	21 (range 12-21, typically 16)
   Lesbians	26
   Women with disabilities	24
   Transgendered/transsexual women	8
   Transgendered/transsexual men	2

   Summary of Comments
   

   • all women & their children may access services
   • policy supports Human Rights Code; so we would be expected to serve those included in the code protections - we are not aware of providing service to TG/TS women
   • TS/TG women & men are dealt with on a case-by-case basis
   • men are limited to non-residential services, such as counselling
   • older teen boys do not always want to stay with their mothers
   • no age limit on male children if they agree to follow house rules
   • many noted limited physical access in their shelters

3. What are the main reasons for accessing your services?

   Housing crisis	12
   Counsellor/support services	14
   Escape from abuse	28

   Other (please specify)

   • chronic homelessness
   • to receive community resources

4. Does your organisation currently have policies that deal with:

   Racism	23
   Homophobia	20
   Transphobia	5
   Sexism	21
   HIV/AIDS	22

   Other forms of discrimination (please list)
   

   • age
   • ableism (2)
   • ancestry, place of origin, religion, age, marital status, record of offences, sex, disability
   • anti-harassment policy
   • anti-discrimination policy in process of change to strengthen areas related to culture/religion
   • professional standards policy
   • our statement of philosophy addresses these concerns although we don't have a specific policy outside of our "no abuse" policy, code of ethics & professional relationship policy

5. Does your organisation have one or more policies/procedures that address the following issues?

   Drug or alcohol use on the premises	28
   Smoking	6
   Private rooms	6
   Aggressive behaviour	26
   Discriminatory behaviour	25
   Sexual behaviour	14

   Other (please identify)

   • private rooms not available
   • violence & house rules
   • sexual behaviour is specified to the staff
   • alcohol & drug policies
   • anti-harassment
   • prevention & management of abuse
   • private rooms - each family & adult children (14+) has their own room, space permitting
   • no abuse policy extends to toys, movies, TV shows, etc.

6. If a resident of the shelter was acting in a discriminatory manner towards another resident, how would this situation be handled by the staff?

   Intervention by staff	26
   Intervention by director	16
   Education of resident	28

   Other (please identify)

   • would depend on situation
   • request to leave if necessary
   • may be asked to leave the shelter/program (7)
   • warning system may be activated, possibly asked to leave (2)
   • can lead to forming an ad hoc group, seldom ends negatively
   • dealt with according to anti-harassment policy
   • education at residents meeting (2), education of other residents

7. If a staff member was acting in a discriminatory manner towards a resident, how would this situation be handled?

   Intervention by other staff	17
   Intervention by director	27
   Application of disciplinary procedures	26
   Staff education	23

   Other (please specify)

   • would depend on situation
   • assessment of situation by the Personnel Committee
   • if necessary, suspension or termination of employment (6)
   • anti-harassment policy

Section Two

8. Does your organisation have any experience with transsexual women? This could include any of the following possibilities?

   Transsexual woman trying to access your services	7
   TS woman wishing to volunteer with your organisation	1
   TS women applying for employment with your organisation	0

   Other (please specify)

   • no experience with transsexual women (17)

   IF yes, please describe the circumstances:

   • I don't think so, not sure (3)
   • not applicable
   • very little experience
   • have provided telephone crisis support & safe accommodation at a hotel as all our rooms are shared
   • woman was abused by partner & disclosed... her issues as a transsexual, we provided her with safe shelter & support
   • transsexual woman needed safe place to stay - stayed one night
   • transsexual women are welcome to stay at our shelter

9. If you do not provide services to transsexual women, would you know where to refer them for appropriate services?

   Yes	7
   No	14
   Unsure	8

   Summary of Comments

   • clarification: we do provide services but are not able to provide residential services
   • could learn more about services & information resources
   • yes to community resources, no for the residential shelter for spousal abuse
   • the situation has never arisen: we would have to address it should the request be made as we do provide service to all women
   • there are no services in our county

10. Have your staff, volunteers or Board received any training on transsexual issues?

    Staff received training	4
    Board of Directors received training	2
    Volunteers received training	2
    No training	23

    If yes, please describe:

    • wouldn't know where to get this training in our region
    • our volunteer training sessions have a section on this; all staff & volunteers are required to take this training
    • two educationals for staff & one educational for Board members
    • staff attended a basic training session
    • discussion among the staff

Section Three

11. Does your organisation believe that it should provide services to transsexual women?

    Yes	10
    No	2
    Unsure	19
    N.B. Total is greater than 29 as some responded to more than one option

    Please comment:

    • we have had no/only partial discussions about this issue (6)
    • never come across this as an issue (5)
    • no policies developed
    • mandate is to serve to all women (5)
    • unsure of our ability to provide residential services
    • needs to be dealt with at the Board level (2)
    • would require extensive training (staff & residents) (2)
    • depends on more information on process/issues in women/men's transformation change process and their specific needs.
    • need Board support for training & policy development

12. What would need to happen to make your organisation accessible to transsexual women?

    Policy development	19
    Information and education	24
    Training on transsexual issues	22
    Funding for education	17
    Provincial legislation	4

    Other (please specify)

    • alteration in building in order to provide private rooms (2)
    • nothing, since services are available
    • provincial legislation
    • clarification of MCSS guidelines
    • recognition of the issues on a societal and political level
    • political decision by Board
    • critical numbers in need
    • we are a shelter N. W. Ontario in a small remote community; currently not an issue for us
    • interpretation of policy into procedure/practice

13. What do you believe would be the greatest barriers to providing services to transsexual women?
    1. What are the barriers for residents:
       • safety/comfort of other women & children (residents): may feel unsafe (4)
       • they will identify gender as male & respond with hostility & aggression
       • may prohibit women from accessing services
       • lack of education, awareness, information (12)
       • lack of private rooms (2)
       • discrimination & discriminatory attitudes (6)
       • lesbophobic/homophobic related fears

    2. What are the barriers for staff:
       • acceptance of transgendered women residents
       • discrimination (2)
       • lack of education/information /training (11)
       • comfort level/fear (3)
       • ignorance/myths (5)
       • issue has not been discussed with staff
       • lack of direct experience
       • none
    3. What are the barriers for administration:
       • policy development (3)
       • procedures (2)
       • getting Board approval and support
       • education/awareness/information (6)
       • new service content and delivery for different populations
       • biases (3)
       • lack of direct experience
       • none

    4. What are the barriers for the community you serve:
       • lack of education/information/awareness (7)
       • unknown
       • lack of services and referral
       • awareness of organisations mandate
       • general discriminatory attitudes (3)
       • racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. of community (2)
       • bias in rural communities
       • perception of community towards shelters who accept TS individuals

14. Other Comments:
    • TS/TG more challenging if genitals are male & live in shared rooms
    • residents not necessarily going to be aware of TS/TG status
    • haven't thought about it
    • barriers for all groups: will identify gender as male
    • barriers for all groups: lack of information, bias, cultural differences, fear

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