Joanne Wing-yan
Joanne Leung, the first publicized transsexual woman in Hong Kong. Born with a male body, Joanne underwent sex-reassignment surgery in 2009 to become a woman. She became the founder and chairperson of Pink Alliance[1] and Transgender Resource Centre (TGR),[2] two active non-governmental organizations that aim to service the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) community and promote LGBTI cultures.
Sexual orientation
Before Joanne underwent sex-reassignment surgery, she experienced heterosexual tendencies, but did not feel comfortable with her body or with intercourse. After having the sex reassignment surgery, Joanne still finds herself attracted to women and admits to being a lesbian.[3]
Struggles and risks
Before Joanne underwent sex-reassignment surgery in 2009, she suffered from year-long depression, struggling with whether she should have the surgery. Joanne had thought of giving up on surgery if a girl accepted her as a person and built a family with her. Although women approached her, Joanne found it difficult to continue the relationships.[3] She has also gone through many struggles based on societal acceptance towards transsexual people because many regard them as ‘abnormal’; there was much conflict in her mind affecting her decision.[4]
Having sex-reassignment surgery involves huge risks, not only because it is an irreversible operation, but also because it greatly affects patients’ lives. As stated by Joanne, after the surgery, patients become physically weak, and most importantly, they lose the ability to have children. Consequently, apart from parents and partners, their family relationships are strained.[5]
Sex-reassignment surgery
In 2004, she started to consider sex-reassignment surgery and went to a sex clinic.[6]
In 2008, a doctor said that she could undergo sex-reassignment surgery. At first, she was happy. But then she started falling into depression one month before the surgery because she was so frightened. She spent a year recuperating from depression and had two operations in 2009.
Joanne said that when some transgender people consider sex-reassignment surgery, their focus is on the surgery itself. However, it is not true that all their problems will go away after surgery; instead, their lives can become disastrous. In the past few years, two of her trans friends committed suicide. ‘It seems that she ended her life because the doctor told her that she wasn’t a suitable candidate for the surgery. She burned charcoal and killed herself,’ said Joanne.
After the surgery, she felt as if she could do anything because she no longer had that confusion in her body and soul. She also started to think about supporting the transgender community.[3]
Life after surgery
The surgery was a big turning point in Joanne’s life. She is an icon in the Hong Kong transgender community after she came out publicly and received extensive media coverage. Regarding her career, Leung works with several organizations to improve the lives of other transgender or homosexual people and raise gender awareness in the community; this is her mission. She is planning to study at the University of Hong Kong and research transgender topics.[6]
Joanne has been fighting hard for LGBT rights in the territory. She wants to ensure that other transgender people do not have to go through what she endured, since there is only limited information available for them.[7]
Reactions
Joanne’s mother was supportive of Joanne’s decision[6] and only worried about whether the operation would affect Joanne’s health. Joanne’s sister was fine with Joanne’s decision but felt a little uncomfortable. After the surgery, both accepted Joanne’s new gender.
Most of Joanne’s friends accepted Joanne having sex-reassignment surgery and supported her. Only a few could not understand Joanne’s decision. Joanne’s boss and colleagues also did not have a problem with it.[8]
Pastors and Christians see Joanne’s action (having sex-reassignment surgery) as sinful. They thought that “God has given you a body, but you don’t accept it and you even want to change it. So that’s obviously a sin.” The Society for Truth and Light once invited Joanne to have a discussion. However, they cannot make a conclusion about transgender people to this day. They are not sure whether transgender people defy biblical teachings. But they insist that homosexuality is a sin.[3]
References
- ↑ "Pink Alliance 粉紅同盟 | TCJM 同志社區聯席會議". pinkalliance.hk. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ↑ "跨性別資源中心 Transgender Resource Center". www.tgr.org.hk. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tsoi, Grace. "Joanne Leung". HK Magazine. HK Magazine. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ↑ "Up close with Joanne Leung Wing-yan, a transsexual" (Gender). South China Morning Post. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ↑ 邢, 舟. "香港變性人平權之路道阻且長". Trend HK. Trend HK. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Evans, Annemarie (13 October 2013). "Joanne Leung raises transgender awareness". South China Morning Post. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ↑ Liang, Siran. "The Ongoing Lonely Journey of Joanne Leung—Six Years after Sex-Reassignment Surgery". Word Press. Word Press. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ↑ "Up close with Joanne Leung Wing-yan, a transsexual" (Gender). South China Morning Post. South China Morning Post. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
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