http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35800405/ns/health-sexual_health
Too bad that the US health system is so bound into the "free" market system. Notice how a person who is TS has the same feelings as a TS and another language in another country. So much for a "lifestyle choice". Nice that the new leader is trying to drag Cuba into a more liberal attitude.
HAVANA - Looking in the mirror used to make Yiliam Gonzalez sick to her stomach.
“I would see myself, and my body didn’t match who I was,” said the 28-year-old wedding pianist, who went by William before receiving a sex change under Cuba’s universal health care system.
Gonzalez is living proof of a small but remarkable transformation for the rugged revolution of Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and a band of ever-macho, bearded rebels, who long punished gays and transsexuals – but now are paying for sex changes and relaxed attitudes toward LGB.
Comments
Dusty
Carol,
What I write below is meant as no offense to you personally- Danielle
In the effort to sell health care to the people of the United States, is the news media recycling old news.
*****
Friday, June 06, 2008
HAVANA — Cuba has authorized sex-change operations and will offer them free for qualifying citizens, an official said Friday.
The move is the latest in a series of changes implemented by President Raul Castro since he succeeded his elder brother, Fidel, in February. Raul Castro's daughter, Mariela, heads Cuba's National Center for Sex Education, which strongly backs the new policy.
Health Minister Jose Ramon Balaguer signed a resolution approving sex-change surgery, said an official at the center who spoke on condition of anonymity because the measure has not been formally published. The resolution will be posted on the Internet on Saturday, the official said.
The procedure would be available to Cubans for free as part of their country's health-care system.
*****
The 2010 report is essentially an update or rehash of the 2008 news. Why is it newsworthy now? Isn't there something else to report about from Cuba besides rumors of Fidel's demise.
The media does rehash old news and ideas. Here's an excellent example and how it led to disgrace for a Southern California sports columnist and his newspaper. What Mark Whicker wrote about Terry Anderson in 1991 didn't fly when it came to Jaycee Duggard in 2009.
BTW I'm a lively critic of the media and have been credentialed to cover LPGA Tournaments on two occasions.
Danielle
"Writing is like walking in a deserted street. Out of the dust in the street you make a mud pie."- John le Carre
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
Look at the articles
No offense to you personally, Danielle, but I have to comment.
The two articles referenced, the new and the old, are distinctly different. One is a story about a proposed future change in a law in a foreign country and the other is about the results of that change and the impact on a particular person's life. To say it is a rehash of old news is inaccurate and not helpful to understanding what either story actually is. Shall a story only be reported once in one news channel and developments never followed up in another? That is a ludicrous standard and would be the death of any useful journalism.
The situation with Mark Whicker's callous and frivolous commentary is NOT parallel in any way. BTW, I am a former reporter and news photographer myself. MOST of the news in any news channel is follow-up on previous stories; it actually can't be done any other way.
Also, I find the thought that either story would influence any major segment of the American people to favor the current push for health care reform to be silly. It would most likely have the opposite effect. If there is any agenda behind this reporting, that's the one I would expect--an attempt to stir up transphobia to energize opposition to the current bills under consideration. But even at that, I doubt there is any intentional manipulation of the news in this case.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Since 1972
In Sweden we have had this since the law was given. Unfortunatly the new law that would allow the two surgeries here do the operation on non-Swedish citizens has been delayed without any outspoken reason. We suppose though it is because the minister of Health comes from the Christian Democratic party.
Greetings from
Ginnie
GinnieG