• We have the right to know about our SPL Transgender, preferably before this becomes a a significant factor in their lives and they wish to contact support groups.

• We have the right to honest open communication with our SPL, with negotiation and compromise on both sides, particularly in regard to allocation of couple resources and in matters pertaining to children of or the responsibility of the couple. Old patterns of selfishness and deception must cease.

• We have the right not to be pushed to "accept" things before we have had time to learn enough about them and to begin to get used to them.

• Neither partner in a relationship has the right to significantly alter body features without the full knowledge and preferably consent of the other.

• We have the right to support groups for ourselves that promote our own personal growth and well-being, help us understand our SPL needs, and provide tools for relationship building.

• We have the right to support groups for our SPL that encourage their feminine development without denigrading healthy masculinity, that welcome us as full members on an equal basis with our SPL, and that fully support relationship commitments.

• We have the right not to be mocked and demeaned by sexually explicit or otherwise offensive conversation, dress and behavior at group meetings.

• We have the right not to be pressured to attend group gatherings at public locations, night clubs, or other places that pose security risks.

• We have the right to be asked our permission before our clothes, make-up, jewlery or other personal items are borrowed.

• We have the right to personal time in which to get in touch with our own femininity, pursue our personal growth and work on creative projects.

• We have the right to expect local, regional and national gender organizations and conventions to fully support and promote these rights in their programs and policies.

It is time for the transgendered community to take a stand, a strong stand, against all gender-based discrimination simply because some people are different and simply because some people do not fit into current social norms of gender roles. It is time the gender-based community articulate this stand in words that clearly define exactly what our gender rights are. It is time to stand alongside other minority rights movements to declare these gender rights as follows:

The Right To Assume A Gender Role

Every human being has within themselves an idea of who they are and what they are capable of achieving. That identity and capability shall not be limited by a person's physical or genetic sex, nor by what any society may deem as "masculine" or "feminine" behavior. It is fundamental, then, that each individual has the right to assume gender roles congruent with one's self-perceived identity and capabilities, regardless of physical sex, genetic sex, or sex role.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their Human and/or Civil Rights on the basis that their gender role or perceived gender role is not congruent with their genetic sex, physical sex, or sex role.

The Right To Freely Express Gender Roles

Given that each individual has the right to assume gender roles, it then follows that each individual has the right to freely express gender roles in any manner that does not infringe on the freedom of another individual.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their Human and/or Civil Rights on the basis that a private or public expression of a gender role or perceived gender role is not congruent with their physical sex, genetic sex, or sex role.

The Right To Make One's Body Congruent With Gender Role

Given that each individual has the right to assume gender roles, it then follows that each individual has the right to change their body or alter its physiology so it better fits a gender role. These changes may be cosmetically, chemically or surgically induced, provided these changes are supervised by an appropriate licensed professional and the individual accepts sole responsibility for their actions in this regard.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their Human and/or Civil Rights on the basis that they changed or wish to change their body, cosmetically, chemically, surgically or any combination of these, to better fit a gender role.

The Right To Sexual Expression Congruent With Gender Role

Given that each individual has the right to assume gender roles, it then follows that each individual has the right to express their sexuality within a gender role.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their Human and/or Civil Rights on the basis of sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. Further, no individual shall be denied their Human and/or Civil Rights for expressing a gender role through private sexual acts between consenting adults in any manner that does not infringe on the freedom of another individual.

JoAnn Roberts Ph.D., December, 1990