Government-funded gender reassignment surgery successful
A Bahraini trans person’s gender reassignment surgery, paid for by his government, has been successfully carried out in Thailand.
According to English-language newspaper Gulf Daily News, 33-year old Hussain Rabie underwent eight hours of surgery.
Rabie, who is partially blind in his right eye, hopes to return to represent the Bahrain Disabled Sports Federation in the men’s shot put and discus.
His trip to Thailand was fully funded by the Bahrain Health Ministry and he was also given a court order to protect him if questioned by immigration officers.
The ministry paid more than BD5,000 (£6,400) for his operation, accommodation, plane ticket and food and drink while he is there.
“She is in a stable condition but is very weak and is going to be under supervision for two weeks,” his lawyer told Gulf Daily News.
“Doctors told her that if she is stronger after the two-week period, they might allow her to return to Bahrain.
“This is a step forward in her fight to become a man and we are very happy about the success of the operation.”
As a result of his decision to have the operation, Rabie was suspended from his job, shunned by peers, separated from his husband and stopped from going to the gym.
However, he said although society is slowly starting to accept his situation after he went public, people are still opposed to him having the operation.
Rabie first approached a lawyer in August 2005 and legal papers calling for him to be legally recognised as a man were filed in June last year.
He submitted medical reports from Al Khalidi Medical Centre, Jordan, Ibn Al Nafees Hospital and Shifa Al Jazeera Medical Centre, Bahrain, at two court hearings last year.
The High Civil Court also ordered for a medical report to be compiled by a Public Prosecution doctor.
That report stated that he is suffering from a gender identity problem and has no female reproductive organs.
