Opinion: My gender transition has been costly, but I need it
[ad_1]
Cazzorla (he/him) is a trans man, a San Diego native and an SDSU alumni that works as a project manager. He lives in Linda Vista.
“Transitioning” — a journey that is often only seen in its physicality, while endless medical and legal processes churn behind the scenes. For me, it has been a web of challenges and triumphs: appointments, surgery dates, navigating insurance, gender marker and two legal name changes. As I look back on my transition deep in the process of my second (and final) name change, I am reminded of the importance of support: community and resources that made my journey possible, and that hopefully will continue to be accessible in the future.
My social transition began during high school, where, in my first year in 2012, I was one of the first two students to ever come out as trans. I timidly experimented with a nonthreatening, gender-neutral name with friends and in classrooms, and it ended up sticking. Like many young trans kids, I turned to the internet to find representation. Trans men on YouTube vlogs became my lifeline. It was a time when the word “transgender” was starting to gain prominence, in my memory partly thanks to figures like actress Laverne Cox in “Orange Is the New Black.”
Still, this representation remained disconnected from my immediate life until my first semester at community college in 2015. It was then that a professor took me under her wing and accompanied me to a trans meet-up group at The Center in Hillcrest. It was both intimidating and incredible to meet people who were on the journey I wanted to begin. The fact that this introduction to my community came from a straight, cisgender woman who recognized the need for support in my life was nothing short of remarkable.
Then in 2016, I began hormone replacement therapy. At that time, obtaining hormone replacement therapy required submitting a letter verifying one year of counseling. Once I started hormone replacement therapy, everything moved at a faster pace. My endocrinologist’s enthusiasm was infectious as she sent me for my first testosterone shot. With hormone replacement therapy underway, I scheduled my top surgery and proceeded with my first legal name and gender marker change. Two years after my first visit, I returned to The Center and received assistance from its clinic. At the time, a fellow trans legal aid volunteer guided me through the paperwork and helped me get the fee waived. Several months later, I finally stood before a judge. The sound of her gavel marked the end of my birth name on documents, a moment accompanied by a warm smile and her invitation to help myself to candies from the bowl at the front on my way out.
My current, second name change to Rafael, a name more personal and fitting of the man I have become, has cost $500 in fees. Between surgery co-pays, prescription costs, and the legal processing of both name changes, transitioning again proves to not simply be a social undertaking, but also financial. In all, I have spent nearly $5,000 in transition costs out of pocket, and this will continue to build with any other future surgeries and life-long hormone replacement therapy. This is on the low end — some trans people have a transitioning price tag upward of $100,000 as additional surgeries become harder to clear through insurance. Frustratingly, these surgeries are not just cosmetic, but life-saving, and should be treated as such.
In the past year, the freedom for trans people to live authentically is continually challenged by misconceptions and prejudice. I am concerned that trans people today have less access to resources making the journey easier. It is disheartening to think that transgender youth around the state now fear forced mandated reporting of their identities to their parents by their schools, especially when home situations can be unsafe. And the threat of violence at our doorstep remains ever-present: last month, the horrifying murder of Adriana in her apartment in Yerevan, Armenia, was a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing struggle for safety. Closer to home, I also reflect on the beating of Black transgender woman Skyy Perez, who was attacked and stripped outside of a bar in Palm Springs last month. These abuses underscore the continued urgency of addressing the constant marginalization of trans people everywhere.
It is imperative that we advocate for the continuation of resources and support for all those navigating the complex path of transition. Every person deserves the opportunity to live authentically and pursue their happiness. It is my hope that social and legal resources that have supported me in my transition continue to exist, and thrive.
[ad_2]
Source_link
Post Publications || Join us on Whatsapp || Post Disclaimer
SEND A STORY: Do you have a story for us or need a promotion/advertisement? Submit them via our email admin@edulearnweb or Ghanaeducation.org
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
DOWNLOAD OUR EDUCATION NEWS APP - MOBILE APP
JOIN OUR EDUCATION NEW GROUPS (WHATSAPP)
Join one of our Whatsapp/Telegram Groups for current Ghana Education Service News Updates:
JOIN ONLY ONE... THANKS
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
Group 1 >>New Group> [JOIN]
Group 2 >>New Group> [JOIN]
TELEGRAM PAGE >>> [JOIN]
Only websites that give us a URL backlink can repost our content on their sites.
The information contained in this post is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by edulearnweb.com and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the post for any purpose.
||About Us|| Contact Us