Durban NGO welcomes transgender guidelines
A local advocacy group has welcomed the World Medical Association's approval of new guidelines for physicians regarding transgender healthcare.
The guidelines proposed by the German Medical Association state that everyone has the right to determine their own gender and reject any form of coercive treatment or forced behaviour modification.
The Durban Lesbian and Gay Community and Health Centre says the transgender community remains a group that is largely misunderstood.
The centre's Nonhlanhla Mkhize says the challenges they face are unique especially when it comes to accessing medical healthcare.
''When I'm trying to access health care services - how am I identified? Am I placed with women or men in wards or am I placed in solitude.
''If I'm on the wrong side of the law where do you put me in a prison cell? So we're talking about people whose lives are an ongoing challenge,'' he said.
(File photo)