‘What Are Our Other Options?’: Year-Long Waitlists For Life-Affirming Care Put Trans Ppl At Risk

Accessing trans healthcare in Australia that’s appropriate, safe, timely and affordable is practically impossible, even in 2022. “There’s a perception that there’s something abject or extreme in changing your body that’s still pervasive in the medical community,” Melbourne resident and trans woman Angel Connolly told PEDESTRIAN.TV. “We’re so used to having people position themselves as the guarantors of our own lives and our bodies that it comes as no surprise doctors participate in that as well.” Connolly said she only felt doctors saw her as “certifiably trans” three years into her gender affirmation journey — a status of sorts she said she had to earn. “The longer you’ve been on the journey the easier it is for people to trust that you are genuine and sure. “There’s still a great deal of caution even at a trans-friendly gender clinic. There’s still a perception that the doctor needs to feel they’re satisfied that we’ve considered it enough. “I understand that, but I don’t think there’s any world where a trans person goes to a doctor [without knowing what they want]. I went through years of deliberation before I went to a doctor.” 

Joe Ball advises new patients on its website that it has “very long wait lists”similar disclaimerAda Cheungshe told the ABCfirst subsidised under Medicare in 2014Nic HolasThe lobby released a report last weekIf you’d like to talk about the issues raised in this story, you can call the QLife LGBTI peer support hotline on 1800 184 527 or chat online. QLife operates between 3pm and midnight daily.Under 25? You can reach Kids Helplineat 1800 55 1800 or chat online.

The post ‘What Are Our Other Options?’: Year-Long Waitlists For Life-Affirming Care Put Trans Ppl At Risk appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .