Meeting notes, AGM 2003
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
GENDER IDENTITY RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SOCIETY
On Sunday 15th September 2003
At Melverley, The Warren, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2SP
The Chairperson welcomed members and guests (including Julie Denning and Vicky Williams from the Gender Trust, and Michelle O'Brien) to the meeting. 29 members and 3 guests attended; 43 members sent apologies for absence and 13 proxy votes were received by post.
- Appointment of the Executive Committee
The Chairperson thanked former members of the Executive Committee, Emma Martin and Linda Packer for their hard work, and informed the meeting that Janine Elliot, Susie Withers and Nick Bray had been co-opted. All existing members of the Executive Committee (Nic Bray, Janine Elliot, Jennifer Gradidge, Bernard Reed, Terry Reed, David Willis, Janeen Willis and Susie Withers) were elected. Proposed by: Rose Donovan Seconded by: Janeen Willis Agreed by a show of hands. There were no objections and 13 proxy votes in favour.
- Approval of the minutes of last year's Annual General Meeting
Proposed by: Terry Reed, Seconded by: Janine Elliot
Agreed by a show of hands. There were no objections and 13 proxy votes in favour. - Review of the charity's past year and approval of its report and accounts
The Chairperson gave a brief overview.
Bernard Reed highlighted the work Terry Reed has done over the past year in the medical areas including talking to conferences and nurses groups, as well as bringing together doctors and scientists to re-evaluate the known scientific information.
Gender Recognition Bill - Angela Clayton, Chair of The Gender Trust and also a member of GIRES, kindly provided a review of the intended legislation. She summarised this by saying that the Government is now forced to address these issues and that, if the bill is put through in the form we hope, it should make a significant difference.
Angela explained that the bill is very narrow in scope. It gives a simple way forward to change birth certificates etc, except where people are married, and it also creates a register.
The Gender Trust view is that there is a much wider scope of things that need to be done. There is legal discrimination in employment, and the legislation does not protect anyone from having to give detailed information about their gender history. An analysis of the areas needing to be covered has been done and will be on the Gender Trust website shortly.
Terry Reed commended The Gender Trust on the work they have done and explained to the members that GIRES' position is that the charity wants to support Gentrust's view and just add a few points about wording and about marriage. Terry emphasised that GIRES wishes to add support to what is already being done well - not to duplicate it.
BR called attention to literature on display and invited members to take information to read.
Bernard informed the meeting about the research prize, given this year to Professors Peggy Cohen-Kettenis and Friedemann Pfafflin for their work with children and adolescents. The book produced is readable, both for clinicians and parents (a copy was displayed). GIRES is keen to support information for parents, particularly as a person's gender situation affects their own family. The award for this piece of work was made at the Harry Benjamin Symposium in Ghent, where the recipients were presented with cheques and certificates. Thanks to Terry for producing these works of art.
Questions about the accounts were invited.
Bernard informed members that the accounts package had been provided by a member - Toinie Tomsett, and the accounts were being kept by Susie Withers who was now Treasurer. Bernard thanked them both and highlighted Susie's success in reclaiming tax from the Inland Revenue via the Gift Aid scheme.
It was asked why the Research Prize was £829, rather than the usual £500. This is because the prize was shared amongst 6 eminent scientists, the prize money was converted from sterling into Euros and was rounded up slightly to 400 Euros each. Included in the total are the bank charges for conversion into Euros and the costs of producing and framing the certificates.
Toinie Tomsett asked about the Colloquy.
Bernard explained that this was a group of experts in the gender identify field, from Holland, UK, and USA, who came together to re-examine the definition and etiology of gender dysphoria and transsexualism. This is currently defined as a psychiatric disorder. That is not only incorrect but also takes control of treatment away from the people it refers to, and disempowers them. GIRES is keen to change this position and encouraged the meeting of experts to look at alternative possibilities - a range of things including brain biology. Colloquy 2 was a follow up to this, again including an international group. The papers produced in the two Colloquys have since been signed up to by a number of other eminent scientists. Costs of this project included air travel etc.
Approval of Report and Accounts:
Proposed by: Mary Chisham, Seconded by: Rose Donovan
All in favour, none Against 13 Proxy votes in favour. - Appointment of Honorary Auditor
Donald Yule has recently retired as the treasurer of another major charity. As he is a member of GIRES Bernard has obtained confirmation from the Charity Commission that it is in order for him to be Auditor for GIRES as well.
Proposed by: Bernard Reed, Seconded by: Chris Gidden
All in favour, none Against 13 Proxy votes in favour - Members General Questions from
(a) Chris Gidden (Editor of TV/TS news) asked what members thought about the Gender Recognition Bill and
(i) Birth Certificates - what about the people who are neither sex?
(ii) Marriage issues - what about people who don't want to get divorced?
Nicola Tee (a member of The Gender Trust Management Committee and a member of GIRES): stated that The Gender Trust is objecting to this bill from a purely Human Rights Issues point of view. There are aspects that result in loss of rights gained through other court actions.
Vicky Williams (a co-opted member of The Gender Trust Management Committee and also a barrister) explained that she felt the worst situation is the possibility of defective legislation being passed. The Government is required to put legislation in place following obligations placed on it by the European Court of Human Rights. Vicky said she would be prepared to see the bill sent back and done again properly rather than have ill considered legislation passed that would have negative effects on people's rights compared to how it stands now. - There was a discussion about documents of identity, driving licenses, ID cards, etc.
- Close of Meeting, tea, social discussions and group photos. Many thanks to Bernard and Terry Reed for their hospitality and all their hard work.
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