The following is an information piece sent to Shadmith & Crystal, the current
facilitators of the Transition Support group from Rupert Raj, one of the originators
of the group. Rupert is currently an LGBTT Counsellor at the Sherbourne Health
Center.
Hi Shadmith & Crystal:
PLEASE SHARE THIS NEWS WITH EVERYONE!
Did you know that TRANSITION SUPPORT was one of the first three ts/tv peer-support groups to be formed in Canada, and is now the only one of those first three to be still running, some 25 years later - the longest-running trans group in Canada!
The group derived from a peer-run service organization/support group, which I founded with two other transmen (Chris Black and Kyle Spooner) in Calgary, Alberta in January of 1978. Our organization was called the FOUNDATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CANADIAN TRANSSEXUALS (FACT), which I incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the province of Alberta. (BTW, my legal male name was NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER GHOSH at that time, which I eventually legally changed to RUPERT RAJ in 1988).
We (read: "I") provided information, referrals, resources, networking links, research, education and support to transsexuals, transvestites and their partners and family members by mail and phone (we had no computers in those days!) all across Canada and in the United States - and to a limited extent, in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and several other countries, as well. We also held irregular support groups in Calgary (and later, in Toronto) in my home.
In addition, I edited, published, produced & distributed a 12-page, biweekly newsletter, "GENDER REVIEW: The FACTual Journal" to subscribers in North America and abroad.
We (read: "I") also provided information, referrals, resources, education, professional development (transpositive training presentations), as well as copies of the newsletter to members of the medical, nursing, psychological, social work, therapeutic, legal, religious and other service communities.
I then brought the group to Toronto with me when I relocated here in July 1979, and we developed chapters in Ontario (Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, etc.) and Quebec (Montreal). I think we also had chapters in British Columbia and Alberta. The main chapter here in T.O. was called FACT TORONTO and was led by Susan Huxford (a transwoman) and myself.
We initially used to meet at Vicki Bellefeuille (an electrologist's) office, then in church basements for a time, and finally found a "home" at the 519 Church Street Community Centre, where it still runs out of today. I also held social/support gatherings in my home for transmen and transwomen and their partners/lovers, which were in lieu of formal meetings or structured peer-support groups.
This group eventually seceeded in the Fall of 1986 (I believe - my memory is getting fuzzy here), and was taken over by Connie Radbone (a transwoman) and renamed TRANSITION SUPPORT.
Thank you to all of the people who were or still are involved in this group, which was the third trans peer-support group to be launched Canada, and is now the only one of the initial three such Canadian groups still running!
Thanks, Shadmith and Crystal, for keeping this group going!
Best wishes,
Rupert.
RUPERT RAJ, M.A., Counselling
LGBTT Counsellor
SHERBOURNE HEALTH CENTRE
333 Sherbourne Street
Toronto, ON M5A 2S5
Tel: (416) 324-4174
Fax: (416) 324-4181
rraj@sherbourne.on.ca