A BC to create fund for gender- affirming surgeries >» Fund will be the first of its kind in western Canada Naomi Ambrose Staff Writer Mors of British Columbia’s transgender community needing gender-affirming surgery will soon have their options expanded. A November 16 press release from the BC government revealed that a public fund will soon be available for British Columbians who want to have gender- affirming surgeries at a lower cost. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, said in the press release that people have been wanting this fora long time. “The trans community has advocated over a number of years for improved access to care, including access to complex lower surgeries within BC,” said Dix. Dix further added that British Columbians who wanted to have lower surgery had to travel outside of the province, which put them at risk. “People were required to travel to Montreal or to the US, resulting in additional medical risks associated with travelling long distance after surgery and in receiving follow-up care if there were complications,” said Dix. Lorraine Grieves, director of Trans Care BC, also shared her insights about the rationale for the fund in the press release. “With increased access to physicians, surgeons, and other medical experts who are knowledgeable about health care for trans people, we have seen an increase in demand for gender-affirming surgeries,” she said. “When we were planning the Trans Care BC program, we heard from trans communities that training more surgeons and establishing a surgical program for lower surgeries in BC was crucial to improving access to this care.” The public fund, along with the low- cost surgeries, also represent a historic achievement for BC. “We are proud to be Tania Arora Staff Reporter Have an idea for a story? Mi news@theotherpress.ca the first province in western Canada to provide these surgeries,” said Dix. The release also included details about when the surgeries will begin as well as the types of surgeries that will be supported. From 2019, Vancouver Coastal Health will offer reconstructive gender-affirming lower surgeries. The fund will also cover gender- affirming chest and breast surgeries. Throughout the province, 14 surgeons will offer the surgeries in Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Port Moody, Prince George, Vancouver, and Victoria. According to the press release, next year the number of chest and breast allow women to be better educated. Anushka Basantani, an international student at Douglas, ¢ Referendum deadline has been extended * Government introduces ride-sharing legislation ..and more! Photo by Ted Eytan via Wikimedia Commons surgeries in BC is expected to be above 200. The number of people receiving these gender-affirming surgeries per year has more than tripled between 2014. and 2018— in 2014 only 56 people underwent this type of surgery, but it has increased to 178 this year. In BC, there are approximately 46,000 people who identify as trans or gender diverse, and current estimates state that one percent of the general population identify as transgender. As stigma against trans people is neutralized and education on trans issues becomes more prevalent, however, there’s a chance these numbers could rise. Overcoming biases in a professional environment » Event focused on building better communities for everyone and work. According to Soroptimist International’s website, economic his conference sought to motivate people affected by sexism in the workplace. In partnership with the City of New Westminster, Marcon, and Soroptimist International, Douglas College organized a day-long event on November 22 that focused on inspiring people to pursue their dream careers. The Gender Equality Conference: Overcoming Biases in the Workplace event involved women from different parts of society coming together to share their stories in hopes of inspiring others. The event was hosted at the Anvil Centre and ran from 8 am to 2:45 pm. Food was included with the ticket cost. Soroptimist International, one of the partners of the event, is a global volunteer organization with the goal of empowering women to pursue their dreams. They emphasize providing resources that shared her experience of taking a loan to study, leaving home and flying thousands of miles toa different country, living there alone, working two jobs, and managing her home and everything by herself. She said in an interview with the Other Press that education is crucial for women to advance themselves. “The journey has been long, [I] won't say difficult, but it definitely was adventurous,” she said. “I [graduated in] India, but all that I have learned in my life sums up in one word to education. Whatever you do, wherever you are, whomsoever you are with, your confidence and education will always be with you and help you. And today, it is most important for women.” Empowerment to Soroptimist International means allowing people take care of basic necessities that can prevent a person from pursing their goals: well-being, finances, health, family, confidence, empowerment for women gives them a measure of control over their finances and, as a result, over the important decisions governing their lives and the lives of their families. “When women and girls are empowered, they have a personal sense of autonomy, self-confidence, and the power to control their private and public lives. We focus on access to education because we believe it’s the most effective way toward empowerment,” reads the website. In addition to motivating women, the Douglas College event also highlighted gender biases many people face at the workplace. The topics covered at the conference included work opportunities, how to set up goals and accomplish them, overcoming the difficulties faced at the workplace, and not letting any failure hold you back. The speakers included a range of politicians, local businesspeople, and members of Soroptimist International.