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Help!?! The following are only rough guidelines every hostel/shelter will have unique challenges. All levels of a shelter, including management, board, frontline staff, intake workers, counselors, and residents are responsible for creating a safe, stable environment and therefore all require input into the policy process. 1. A woman who has a history of sexual abuse runs up to you, hysterical and saying that there is "a man in disguise" in the women's bathroom. She is obviously in crisis as a result of being traumatized, but when she points to the person who scared her you see that it is, in fact, a trans woman who is also looking very upset herself. What could you do? Separating them is probably the best way to start. The first thing to know is that this was not the trans woman's fault. Both of these women need support. The trans woman may need support around what it felt like to be accused of being a man. She may be a survivor of abuse herself and may have had her experience triggered by this accusation. It is also important not to dismiss the non-trans woman's fears, as the experience of coping with abuse and flashbacks is very real. Sexual abuse or assault is a devastating experience with profound impacts on survivors. This must be clearly acknowledged. Staff must be clear, as well, on their mandate to provide a safe space to all women. Trans women are women and require women's services. A men's shelter is neither safe, nor appropriate for a trans woman. Staff must validate the experience of trauma but it can never be a reason to discriminate. It can be helpful in these situations to look at a form of discrimination that staff might be more familiar with, such as racism. Ask the question: "Should a shelter ask a woman of colour to leave because another woman is afraid of her? What if a woman had had a bad experience with a person of colour? Would this be acceptable?". This can sometimes make the appropriate action more clear. There is an enormous difference between "causing" someone's trauma and "triggering" it. Survivors of abuse often state that many things can be triggers a sound, a colour, a smell, but that those things can not be excluded from hostels/shelters any more than trans people can. Triggers can get more manageable over time and now that this issue has come up, there can be support for it. This is a good time to talk to her about healing and any supports she may need (ie) counselling, support groups, etc. After she is feeling a bit more calm, it would also be a good time for her to learn that this trans woman is just one of the many types of women. They may have different histories and they may have many things in common. Crisis can be an opportunity for change. The Trans Access Project believes in the ability of all people to heal from abuse. This incident could be prevented through some proactive measures. For example, the intake procedure at some women's hostels includes informing new residents of the following: "We house many different women here. We welcome women of different races, different religions, women with mental health issues, lesbian women, and transsexual women". At which point staff can explain what a transsexual woman is, why she might not look like a woman to you, and why she is welcome in a women's hostel. The new resident could then make an informed decision of whether or not she felt comfortable to stay. Training for staff is crucial for their ability to explain this issue to residents and effectively manage situations such as this. Training for residents is a chance for them to meet trans people, ask questions, break stereotypes, and see the ways in which our struggles are not so different. Our project provides both services as well as policy assistance free of charge to Toronto's hostels/shelters. 2. A trans woman who has been street active for many years, often says that she is being treated differently because she is trans and often complains of harassment that none of the staff have noticed. What could you do? Remember that discrimination is often a very subtle thing and often only noticeable to the person it is happening to. It can be very difficult to make rules about subtle discrimination (No eye rolling? No shuffling feet while someone talks? No getting up from the breakfast table when someone else sits down?) But what staff can do is validate that it's hard and try to work on the underlying reasons that it is happening. The Trans Community Shelter Access Project provides helpful workshops for residents. Sometimes having trans material/posters around can send a message of support (contact us to find out about available resources). Lastly, being street active for many years, she has probably had to defend herself daily and she may be expecting discrimination at every turn. That is quite real for her. Listen, validate, like you always would, but know that she may still feel discriminated against. 3. A trans woman who is not able to pass during the day, sometimes does sex work as a woman at night but dresses as a male during the day. Residents seem confused. What could you do? Make sure staff understand that although it is true that some trans people identify as both genders or alternate genders the issue for this woman is probably money and safety (try asking her in a respectful way if you need to understand it). Passing is always expensive for MtF's. Much needed surgeries, hormones, and electrolysis cost thousands of dollars and are often out of reach to people with little or no income. Passing during the day is also harder because of the daylight - she may not be safe attempting to. She knows her own safety best. If staff understand the issues they are in a better position to be able to explain it to residents. Ask her if you can explain her situation to residents if they ask. This can also be anticipated before a crisis situation arises. 4. A trans woman in your women's shelter is quick to lash out in conflict situations and this has been labeled by some staff as "exhibiting aggressive male behaviour" and seen as evidence that she is not a "real" woman. What could you do? Often times what is labelled as "male behaviour" is actually the behaviour of someone who has had to defend their body and their life on a constant basis for many years. Contrary to assumptions, trans women often have never enjoyed the privileges granted to males in this society. Perhaps she was harassed and discriminated against for not being a "real man" in her early life and for not being a "real woman" in her later life. Frustration and anger about unfair treatment often leads to less than ideal behaviour. This is not to suggest that bad behaviour is acceptable but simply that bad behaviour is bad behaviour and should be addressed as such. If any resident behaves aggressively or violently then staff can refer to existing policies and procedures. Unfortunately, living on the street is a high stress situation that requires defending yourself often. It would be difficult for anyone (male, female, or trans) to not absorb and act out this stress. Labeling aggressive behaviour as "male" is both unnecessary and unhelpful in this situation. It will break trust with trans women leading ultimately to a more volatile atmosphere in the shelter. Trans women need to know that they are understood to be women. In addition, other women need to know that they are responsible for their own aggressive or violent behaviours as well. Again, bad behaviour is bad behaviour. 5. An FtM attempts to access your women's shelter stating that he is not safe staying in a men's shelter. What could you do? There is currently no consensus on where FtM's should go in this situation. Men's services are often not safe for a trans man. FtM's are at risk for physical, verbal, and sexual assault in men's dorms/ bathrooms/ and showers. As well, men's shelters often have less privacy than women's… group showers, etc. There have been incidents of gang rape toward FtM's in men's shelters. The staff of men's services are not always trained to work with survivors. As men who face or have faced sexual assault, spousal abuse, and gender discrimination, some FtMs will attempt to access these supports from the women's system. Women's shelters are often not set-up to accommodate trans men. Some have been able to adapt their services and others not. Shelters which feel they can accommodate FtM's must be sure to still recognize the individual's identity. It is necessary for men's shelters to begin the work of creating safety for vulnerable men (including but not limited to FtM's). It is necessary for women's shelters to develop policy around how they respond to FtM's seeking services, and establish a safe referral system if they can not provide service. There is a need for a system-wide strategy on access to safe services for FtMs. Our project is anxious to assist the city in developing this. We have recently applied for a small grant to conduct community research into safe shelter for FtM's. |
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