February marked LGBTQIA + History Month, a designated period to mark the progress made by our community. The themes serve as a reflective warning of what can be learned from the current and carry forward each month. The design for this year was to honor the gay contributions made in the field of healthcare. Despite the fact that February is much around, we still want to discuss transgender inequality.
The connection between the transgender and non-binary communities, the medical field, and gay story are complex. Many of us are unaware of the pioneers who made a difference in the field of medicine and LGBTQIA + healthcare, such as Magnus Hirschfeld, Harry Benjamin, and Sophia Jex-Blake, who are well-known names in this field.
Rather, we see conversations on the lives of trans, non- linear and gender- different people take area without the neighborhood involved. We read sensationalized articles that focus on the subject of transgender care and treatments, frequently defining them by that very content. Whether it’s about discussing gender-affirming operation or puberty blockers, transgender identity issues are frequently brought up through the lens of medication. Yet, many trans, non- linear and gender- different folk may choose to never opt for the medical route, while some will. Whatever decision is made by the individual, remains true. However, the ongoing discussions towards the community, mostly, remain tied to medication.
But, Trans Day of Visibility, as the topic of healthcare remains important, we asked five trans and non- linear folk to share their thoughts on the trans society’s relationship with medicine. Munroe Bergdorf, a transgender writer, discusses the value of reiterating the dichotomy between transgender and non-binary people. She likewise calls for the need to replace cruel and dangerous media coverage with encouraging local reports. However,
Not A Phase charity founder and CEO Danielle St. James discusses the complexity of the trans and non-binary experience, noting that you do n’t have to transition medically to be a member of the community.
Through historical contexts, academic and author Kim Heyam examines the circumstances under which transgender liberation can take hold. Additionally, Cleo Madeleine of Gendered Intelligence shares her thoughts on the tense relationship the transgender community has with the UK’s present state of healthcare. And, lastly, musician Jocelyn Sithey shares their opinions on sourcing accurate fact- checked information on the trans + community and what we can learn from inner LGBTQIA + community conversations.
