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Jan. 4th, 2011 10:45 pmSo I've been sick a bit, and the past few days have been a real struggle. Today was particularly bad as my first back at work, being still rather exhausted and dealing with some effects of whatever it was I caught. Then I saw a little bright spot: http://huffingtonpost.com/joanne-herman/transgender-surgery-with-_b_803495.html The comments are, of course, rife with ignorance, which is the usual at that place. Many of the good responses are from people I recognize from elsewhere.
I find the focus on surgery troublesome. I don't mean to downplay its significance, but to state that it too often dominates the discussion, to the point that everything else is ignored.
By policy, my state (I am an employee of a state government agency) does not cover anything related to my transition. This means that my HRT is, per policy, not covered. Spironolactone, a common diuretic used to treat high blood pressure and potassium deficiency and prescribed for me due to antiandrogenic properties, is not covered for me by policy but is for most for whom it is prescribed. Estradiol 17β transdermal patch, commonly prescribed to menopausal women for HRT purposes, is not covered for me by policy but is for most for whom it is prescribed.
This presents a financial barrier to many. The American Medical Association has recognized and formally opposed this in Resolution 122 (incidentally; it was adopted about the time I was taking my first steps toward transition.)
While I did not face the financial barrier, I have faced other barriers, particularly delays due to dealing with gatekeepers. I spent nearly two years of my life going through procedures maintained by cis people to gain access to such basic treatment? This is by far in excess of the WPATH Standards of Care guidelines, which I reject in favor of the Informed Consent model. I jumped through multiple gatekeeper hoops to get here, but I know privilege I posses was no small part of my success in doing so.
I find the focus on surgery troublesome. I don't mean to downplay its significance, but to state that it too often dominates the discussion, to the point that everything else is ignored.
By policy, my state (I am an employee of a state government agency) does not cover anything related to my transition. This means that my HRT is, per policy, not covered. Spironolactone, a common diuretic used to treat high blood pressure and potassium deficiency and prescribed for me due to antiandrogenic properties, is not covered for me by policy but is for most for whom it is prescribed. Estradiol 17β transdermal patch, commonly prescribed to menopausal women for HRT purposes, is not covered for me by policy but is for most for whom it is prescribed.
This presents a financial barrier to many. The American Medical Association has recognized and formally opposed this in Resolution 122 (incidentally; it was adopted about the time I was taking my first steps toward transition.)
While I did not face the financial barrier, I have faced other barriers, particularly delays due to dealing with gatekeepers. I spent nearly two years of my life going through procedures maintained by cis people to gain access to such basic treatment? This is by far in excess of the WPATH Standards of Care guidelines, which I reject in favor of the Informed Consent model. I jumped through multiple gatekeeper hoops to get here, but I know privilege I posses was no small part of my success in doing so.
