TGEU Countries: Serbia gender marker does sometimes go smoothly, more employees, who started asking questions regarding the her request for a referral for a psychiatrist in Belgrade often than not it is quite complicated and completely difference between his gender marker and name and his was denied, and instead her doctor sent her to a local arbitrary, depending only on the particular official at a perceived gender. He explained that he is a trans man. psychiatrist due to lack of knowledge of the procedure. particular registrar’s office. The employee nodded and took his documents. Then, in Communication with the local psychiatrist was very un- consultation with another colleague, she told him that pleasant, and the psychiatrist declared that he had nev- Also connected to the absence of a legal gender-recog- it was not possible to give him any money because his er heard of such a thing as trans people, and he recorded nition procedure inclusive of people of all trans iden- card had expired and suggested that he begin the proce- homophobic remarks and diagnosed homosexuality on tities are difficulties trans people face when they need dure to receive a new card, which the trans person ac- her health report (in Serbia, this diagnosis is prohibited to show personal documents with a gender marker and cepted. Once the new card had been issued, he found he by both medical regulations and legislation). name that are inconsistent with their perceived gender. could not withdraw money from an ATM machine. He Experiences shared in Gayten-LGBT’s support group went back to the bank, only to hear from another em- There is a significant absence of cases of workplace psycho-social problems that trans people face on a demonstrate that these situations occur so often that ployee that his old card had not expired and that she did discrimination in the reports received by Gayten-LG- daily basis, there is still a lack of political will to adopt trans people do not recognise them as either institution- not understand why a new card had been issued. BT. Based on Gayten-LGBT’s previous work with trans the proposed trans-sensitive legislation, which would be al violence or discriminatory. In an incident reported has been made in regards to trans rights in Serbia and all the relevant stakeholders are familiar with the legal and people in Serbia, there might be several reasons for this: just one step, albeit an important one, in granting trans during the course of this project, one person had diffi- Discrimination is prevalent in the healthcare system as trans people do not perceive those cases as discrimina- people one of the basic human rights – the right to live culty trying to change an identity card that had expired: well. The current gender-confirmation process includes tion due to internalised transphobia/gender prejudice; with dignity and in accordance with who we truly are – if they have a job during their transition process, it is usu- and possibly reducing discrimination and violence against the administrative worker was very insensitive and kept on employing the individual’s female name despite “No matter where the person comes from ally unofficial and without any documentation (or legal trans people. Trans people face a tremendous number his attempt to explain the situation, so that by the end and no matter how old they are, protection) in order to avoid coming out to the employ- of challenges in their everyday existence, challenges that everybody in the waiting room was staring at him. This their first thought is always er; and it is difficult to find any job at all during the tran- demand constant work and education, transformation incident continued when the person left the building: that they are the only one sition process (as a result of which sex work is the only and awareness-raising. Institutions’ declared readiness a couple of people followed him out to the street and who has ever had their option for some trans people). However, one case that to deal with trans rights is largely rhetorical and often made loud comments about his situation in front of pas- specific problem.” received a great deal of media attention is that of Hele- masks fear and is delayed through resort to an argument sers-by. Attempts to embarrass trans people in public Kristian Randjelovic, na, a former major in the Serbian army who accepted that is well-known in Serbia – that it is not the right time by exposing their gender identity are not rare, and they trans activist and support-group facilitator the army’s offer of early retirement. But among the rea- politically to support such legislation – that is sons the army gave for its decision was that Helena had contrary to the core of the concept of human rights. been diagnosed with transsexualism, which was harm- Nobody’s rights can wait; we have already waited too long; one day of human suffering is too much. have been reported by other trans people as well. + 82 + Although visible and significant progress Before they obtain legal gender recognition, trans referrals from a general practitioner to specialists – ful to the army’s reputation. Based on this statement, people usually develop various strategies in order to psychiatrists, endocrinologists and surgeons – who are Helena submitted a complaint to the Commissioner for minimise the distress related to coming out. One trans members of the team for gender identity. However, gen- Protection of Equality, who found that there had been man reported to Gayten-LGBT that he always goes to eral practitioners are often not informed about either discrimination and recommended that the army apolo- Milan Đurić - Agatha the same bank branch, believing that everybody there the procedure itself or the spectrum of trans identities, gise to Helena and organise education on gender identi- Trans activist, founder of Gayten-LGBT knows his situation. However, one day he went to that and in some cases trans people report homophobic and ty in the military. branch to withdraw money and encountered two new transphobic incidents. One trans woman reported that + 83 +