Throughout my transition I have been very fortunate with the doctors I have visited and the health care I have received. Nearly everyone has treated me with compassion, respect and affirming support. But this Utopian daydream was not to last.
6 Months after I transitioned I had my first #transhealthfail. I had started dating again, and I wanted to get a few routine tests done. Perhaps I couldn’t get an appointment with my usual doctor, or maybe I was just ready to experience the world of healthcare as a woman. For some reason I eschewed my primary care doctor and decided to go to Planned Parenthood in Bellevue, WA.
I was taken back to the doctor’s office, and the nurse did the usual blood pressure and new patient routine. I told her I was transgender, at which point she promptly handed me the male patient form and told me I had to fill the form out as a male.
It wasn’t even half a year after my surgeries and my sense of identity was still solidifying. Or in this case, dissolving. As the nurse left the room I broke down in tears. I felt completely and utterly invalidated. My spirit was crushed and the remains tossed to the winds. I never expected to be treated with such dissrespect by a medical professional.
When she returned I was still in tears, the form unfilled. I honestly don’t remember whether I had the tests done, but I’ll never forget that moment. That was the moment I learned to fear doctors.
Quality Transgender Healthcare
Finding qualified and trustworthy doctor is often a difficult challenge for those in the transgender community. Whether you’re a part time crossdresser, considering transition or just looking for basic care it can be daunting. Readers of Crossdresser Heaven have shared stories of doctors laughing at them instead of giving them care in the ER, nurses snickering behind their backs, and psychologists pushing reparative “therapy”. And these were the people lucky enough to be able to afford health care.
Our country has a health care crisis, and nowhere is it more acutely felt as in the transgender community.
Today you have an opportunity to change that.
A Kickstarter project called MyTransHealth recently launched. They are raising money to connect doctors with the transgender community, and provide a free source to find trusted healthcare providers who understand how to treat transgender patients.
Their website is just getting started at MyTransHealth. They already received enough funding to launch in their first few cities: New York, Miami and San Francisco. Additional funding will allow them to bring on more cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia.
Stop what you are doing right now
Go to the MyTransHealth Kickstart Project and give what you are able. Perhaps you’ve already transitioned and want to make the road easier for others, or you’re just starting your journey and will soon need access to quality healthcare yourself. Even if you’re happy as a crossdresser and never intend to transition, we need your help. As more of us are able to shine our lights the whole community will be brighter.
I just donated today, it takes just a second, please donate today.
I’d also like to thank publications like TechCrunch and TechInsider for sharing this outside of the transgender community.
More Articles by Vanessa Law
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Vanessa Law
Latest posts by Vanessa Law (see all)
- 7 Essential Tips to Crossdressing - January 4, 2024
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- Hope in Despair, Light through the Darkness - March 22, 2020
I had to have a dot physical and I used a cvs minute clinic. I told her that I cross dress and she didn’t seem to care she did however ask if she needed to refer me to another doctor for treatment. I know that when I do decide to go further I will see if I can go through her due to she didn’t judge me and I live in the middle of the Bible Belt.
Elaine.
I have a female doctor who just ignored me when I asked her for help with my transition–