Post by seeyalater52 on Apr 13, 2023 21:41:00 GMT -5
TW anti-trans policymaking Minor @ mentions
The Missouri AG’s emergency order from today is absolutely heinous. It effectively bans all gender affirming care in the state, including for adults. The first all ages ban (but several others likely to be passed this year in other states.) Along with other horrifying provisions it explicitly states that anyone who has depression, anxiety or other mental health diagnoses can’t access GAC (but also… gender dysphoria often causes anxiety and depression…) and Autistic people are also completely banned from affirming care.
Let’s be clear. This is genocide by unilateral “emergency” rule making. It is supposed to go into effect the 27th of this month. This is an absolute emergency for trans people and their families in MO.
Legal advocates think it’s on shaky ground legally so let’s pray this never goes into effect.
Post by seeyalater52 on Apr 13, 2023 21:43:34 GMT -5
Not to make this about me, but my wife was supposed to get top surgery this year and while we don’t live in a state where there is explicit risk at the moment, we also don’t live in a state that has proactive trans refugee protections. They no longer feel comfortable creating a medical record of their trans identity, especially since they also have bipolar disorder and are Autistic which are already both in their medical record.
I am gutted that we even have to worry about this. Even moreso because I think it’s likely we will see rollbacks of insurance coverage for gender affirming care over the next couple of years and the window to be able to do this surgery with coverage may close. It should not be like this.
Post by mysteriouswife on Apr 13, 2023 23:29:08 GMT -5
seeyalater52 I don’t think talking about laws that directly affect you is making this about you. These are genuine concerns and issues. Never apologize for that. I am sorry you and your spouse are dealing with this. I hope they go through with their surgery if they truly want it.
Post by mrsukyankee on Apr 14, 2023 3:42:34 GMT -5
This is horrifying and unfortunately also seeping into the UK, where what was once never seemingly an issue is now becoming one (thanks Republicans). It already takes years to get treatment here.
I'm so angry at the impact that this is having on so many people, including you, seeyalater52, and so many others on this board.
Post by penguingrrl on Apr 14, 2023 6:13:59 GMT -5
Holy fuck this is disgusting. It’s not “making it about yourself” when it personally affects you.
@@@@
My older two are both NB and it scares me that just as they both are finally comfortable coming out their rights are under direct assault. The middle one is also autistic, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need and deserve medical care based on their autism, nor do I appreciate the ableism and infantalization of the autistic community as if their autism somehow prevents them from knowing who they are.
Fucking fascists. This country gets more terrifying everyday. I'm sorry seeyalater52 and penguingrrl that this affects your families so directly. It's not okay.
Post by basilosaurus on Apr 14, 2023 9:42:03 GMT -5
This is probably frivolous sounding, but I don't mean it that way.
Last time I was in the states I was inundated with low t commercials with "virile" "masculine" men. I can see for just this one tx that had multiple users either being available to no one or requiring horrible genitalia checks.
I'm sure these assholes haven't even thought about how blanket bans affect those they're not trying to erase, but can that be used as a wedge?
It's not like pointing out Viagra being treated differently has ever done a thing
This is probably frivolous sounding, but I don't mean it that way.
Last time I was in the states I was inundated with low t commercials with "virile" "masculine" men. I can see for just this one tx that had multiple users either being available to no one or requiring horrible genitalia checks.
I'm sure these assholes haven't even thought about how blanket bans affect those they're not trying to erase, but can that be used as a wedge?
It's not like pointing out Viagra being treated differently has ever done a thing
There are some circumstances where cisgender people of any sex are impacted by some of these laws (especially the ones requiring genetic testing or genitals checks for anyone who is suspected to be trans - which could be… basically any woman.) In terms of the medications, we expect that there will be a push to forbid “off label” use of HRT through the FDA & court system. I’m not knowledgeable about medicine to know what uses in cis populations are off label use, but many of these laws and regulations specify that they only apply to people with a “gender dysphoria” diagnosis, so absent court intervention for most of the current policies cis people (or intersex people) using the same meds and surgical interventions for not GD reasons are still legal.
Post by seeyalater52 on Apr 14, 2023 10:25:26 GMT -5
Thank you all for the love. ❤️
I should also note that there is a new anti-trans law passed or signed nearly every day right now. It is crushing and relentless. I haven't posted every single one because it is exhausting and terrifying but if you aren’t following this national onslaught and you’re disturbed by this there is a LOT more more where this came from, unfortunately. Moments like this regulatory action in MO, TX actions previously to define gender affirming care for minors as child abuse, the bill passing this session in MT to define biological sex as binary, and the FL law allowing the state to get emergency custody over kids who are “at risk of” or who have a family member or parent “at risk of” receiving gender affirming care.
Equality Florida released a travel advisory this week saying that LGBTQ folks should use caution deciding to reside in or visit FL given these new laws and the threat of escalating violence. (We know this sort of legislation spikes hate crimes.) This is so scary and so exhausting.
seeyalater52 or anyone else, do you know of any specific organizations who are fighting these sorts of laws or offering help with medical care for those who are impacted? I saw the list of organizations recommended in another thread recently for various trans supporting organizations but IIRC I didn't see anything that was specific to the healthcare aspect.
If not don't worry about it, I'm sure I can find something, just wanted recs if you happen to know of one you'd prefer folks focus on.
Also this is only semi related but we cancelled HBO today after the announcement about the new Harry Potter series coming out and JK Rowling's involvement. Or should I say my H did - I hadn't thought of it and hadn't seen any calls for boycotts, but I absolutely agreed with him that we should. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case anyone else wants to do that too. It is really the least we can do with all this bullshit happening everywhere, but seemed like a pretty simple way to put our money where our mouths are.
Also this is only semi related but we cancelled HBO today after the announcement about the new Harry Potter series coming out and JK Rowling's involvement. Or should I say my H did - I hadn't thought of it and hadn't seen any calls for boycotts, but I absolutely agreed with him that we should. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case anyone else wants to do that too. It is really the least we can do with all this bullshit happening everywhere, but seemed like a pretty simple way to put our money where our mouths are.
Thank you. I think there is a lot of exhaustion after the boycott and resulting endless arguments about the goddamn video game that no one seemed to bother to care about boycotting in solidarity. Mostly I see people despairing about the decision (and the absolutely shit statement from the executive who commented about it) and saying that the silence from allies is… a lot.
Post by underwaterrhymes on Apr 14, 2023 13:13:44 GMT -5
This is an interesting article about trans rights. (I amended my wonderful to interesting because I don’t know if I agree with everything they said.) But still a good read.
seeyalater52 or anyone else, do you know of any specific organizations who are fighting these sorts of laws or offering help with medical care for those who are impacted? I saw the list of organizations recommended in another thread recently for various trans supporting organizations but IIRC I didn't see anything that was specific to the healthcare aspect.
If not don't worry about it, I'm sure I can find something, just wanted recs if you happen to know of one you'd prefer folks focus on.
My top pick right now for care assistance (paying for treatment and supporting transit and travel needs) is Campaign for Southern Equality. They work in a lot of states across the south and are also partnering with state and local groups to connect trans folks and their families to resources.
For legal definitely ACLU (national or if you know they’re working on a lawsuit in your state, they’re leading the majority of challenges to these laws)
seeyalater52 or anyone else, do you know of any specific organizations who are fighting these sorts of laws or offering help with medical care for those who are impacted? I saw the list of organizations recommended in another thread recently for various trans supporting organizations but IIRC I didn't see anything that was specific to the healthcare aspect.
If not don't worry about it, I'm sure I can find something, just wanted recs if you happen to know of one you'd prefer folks focus on.
My top pick right now for care assistance (paying for treatment and supporting transit and travel needs) is Campaign for Southern Equality. They work in a lot of states across the south and are also partnering with state and local groups to connect trans folks and their families to resources.
For legal definitely ACLU (national or if you know they’re working on a lawsuit in your state, they’re leading the majority of challenges to these laws)
Thank you - Campaign for Southern Equality was exactly the sort of org I was looking for.
It makes me furious that I now have two monthly donations set up to help provide necessary healthcare for people that has been taken away from them (this and our local abortion fund). WTF are we doing as a country.
I am gutted that we even have to worry about this. rollbacks of insurance coverage for gender affirming care over the next couple of years and the window to be able to do this surgery with coverage may close.
This is an eye-opening post about the enraging, exhausting mental calculus marginalized people have to do and re-do all the time, and I thank you for your honesty. I am so sorry.
It’s incomprehensible that the very same presumed “mentally ill“ person in MO can buy a gun immediately, permitless and with no waiting period of any sort but would have to wait 3 years to receive medical care because… they’re “unstable.” How infantalizing. Degrading. Disgusting.
TW? I can only conclude that the plan is to deter people from seeking affirming care altogether and genocidally banks on the already shocking suicide rates of transgender people.
Post by wanderingback on Apr 14, 2023 16:48:17 GMT -5
Ugh this is all so horrific.
If I have time at some point I can do a LGBTQ resource support thread like I did for abortion care.
This is also pushing medical providers out of certain states. I’m staying in this state for now specifically so I can continue providing abortion care and gender affirming care. It’s so fucked up.
I am gutted that we even have to worry about this. rollbacks of insurance coverage for gender affirming care over the next couple of years and the window to be able to do this surgery with coverage may close.
This is an eye-opening post about the enraging, exhausting mental calculus marginalized people have to do and re-do all the time, and I thank you for your honesty. I am so sorry.
It’s incomprehensible that the very same presumed “mentally ill“ person in MO can buy a gun immediately, permitless and with no waiting period of any sort but would have to wait 3 years to receive medical care because… they’re “unstable.” How infantalizing. Degrading. Disgusting.
TW? I can only conclude that the plan is to deter people from seeking affirming care altogether and genocidally banks on the already shocking suicide rates of transgender people.
Absolutely. And layered underneath that is the goal to make trans people as visible and policed as possible in all aspects of life so that they can face attacks and humiliation on a daily basis until they cease to be - detransition, don’t transition in the first place m, or attempt suicide. @@@ While the bans on care for minors are obviously eliminationist in themselves it is also very clearly an avenue to prevent the puberty blockers and HRT to allow the correct puberty which for many people is the only way to have their desired physical transition* without an immense amount of expensive (often uncovered) and painful medical interventions. It’s a playback to the thing that terrifies anti trans conservative men - that they won’t be able to tell if a woman they think is sexually attractive is trans. They say they can “always tell” and all of this is a back door way to make that more possible. Ditto rollbacks on accessing gender market changes on licenses and various documents. They want it to be the impossible to just live your life. To have to come out to HR and face (even more) discrimination. To dishonor people in life and in death by refusing to recognize their correct names and genders. To be forced (again, this is an ancient standard of care) to seek therapy and socially transition for YEARS without providing any medical relief for the crushing symptoms of GD and to make work and social life as isolating and difficult as possible for as many people as possible.
It is so unbelievably evil and hurtful and wrong and truly I think a lot of people have not absorbed what this is going to mean for millions of people. It makes me feel physically sick.
*noting that “passing” is not a desired goal for many trans and GNC people, but also acknowledging that it can be safer in a variety of ways.
If I have time at some point I can do a LGBTQ resource support thread like I did for abortion care.
This is also pushing medical providers out of certain states. I’m staying in this state for now specifically so I can continue providing abortion care and gender affirming care. It’s so fucked up.
So many of the attacks on gender affirming care providers mirror the same legal and legal political attacks on abortion providers. Same damn playbook. In addition to driving people from states it is scary to see the stripping of liability coverage for affirming care procedures and open ended or very lengthy periods during which the provider can be personally sued for the care they provided even if all outcomes were discussed and there was informed consent. It is absolutely bonkers and doctors are just trying to do their jobs and legislators don’t know shit about medicine. I’m really sorry you also face this bullshit.
Post by seeyalater52 on Apr 14, 2023 18:21:43 GMT -5
@@@
Also I’m sobbing watching the GLSEN live breaking the silence event for the national day of silence (which was today.) This year’s theme was the day of (no) silence: rising up. For the first time since this day was established in the 1990s youth leaders at GLSEN asked that youth and allies who feel safe and adult allies to queer youth speak out about the attacks happening across the country right now instead of being silent.
These kids are incredible and they are hurting and not enough people are standing with them (with us.) Hearing them speak was powerful - I definitely recommend finding the live if you’re on Instagram. They are facing what no kid should ever have to face and confronting it with poise and anger and action.
You heard it here first, friends: Pride 2023 is a fucking riot. Period. This year’s themes and tenor for the week of visibility/TDOV and Day of Silence are leading the way for a re-visioning of what these days and celebrations and calls to action in light of the unprecedented year the community is experiencing and the amount of fear and grief it is generating. I hope that Pride festival organizers and their corporate sponsors take note… and I’m also afraid they won’t, and the whole vibe is going to be sanitized and it’s going to create more panic and spiraling within the community. Personally I am extremely upset to know that some corporate sponsors and organizations who haven’t done shit all this year to stand with the trans community and queer community are going to roll up with their pride stickers and whatever like it’s the same old same old. It’s wrong and if that’s going to be you… don’t. (Although obviously my efforts to get my organization to act right have been unsuccessful so good luck. I’m probably going to get fired if I don’t shut up about it soon.)