Pandemic heightens anxiety for trans folk
When I tested positive for the coronavirus, I went straight to Google and read articles and personal essays about the varying degrees of symptoms individuals had. The takeaway was that this virus affects everyone’s body differently. For three weeks this virus physically debilitated me, but the greatest impact was how it affected my mental health.
I am very lucky to have health insurance and a doctor who can monitor my health in the future, but my anxiety was worsened by the fact that I am visibly queer and a Latinx individual. I personally identify as a gay, trans-nonbinary person. I have 10 tattoos and five of them are LGBTQIA+ inspired. Most recognizable are a rainbow band around my bicep and a heart with the transgender flag colors on my leg.
In Texas, being gay is still a reason to be cautious and being part of the transgender community is sometimes a death sentence for people of color. In 2019 we saw 27 murders of trans and gender non-conforming humans in the U.S., and most of those deaths were Black trans women. In 2020 we have already seen 26 murders. As recently as 2019, President Donald Trump’s administration introduced a proposal that allowed for health care workers to cite religious reasons to deny care to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This hostility is very anxiety inducing when looking for a doctor who is competent and affirming of all humans.
Trans and non-binary people often deal with a great amount of anxiety, apprehension and sometimes fear when seeing a new doctor for the first time. Far too often we are met with non-affirming language in regards to our gender identity which can create debilitating dysphoria and trigger past trauma. According to a survey from the Center for American Progress, 23 percent of trans folks said they were misgendered or their birth name was used during office visits. During a pandemic, it’s disheartening to know that some folks might not be seeking medical care because of these barriers. Now more than ever is the time for health care providers to make sure they are taking steps to be as inclusive as possible.
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to educate my doctor on how to best care for me when it concerns my sexual health. I find it hard to believe a straight individual would be told they must get an HIV test when they are at a doctor’s visit for a common cold. I spend extensive amounts of time researching doctors before I make an appointment. I often have to make a choice about which parts of my identity are needed at appointments. If I’m there for a cold or something pretty common, I tend to check the boxes indicating I’m male and anything related to sexuality or gender identity, I leave blank. This usually makes for an uneventful visit free from discrimination. However, I am not showing up wholly.
There are private Facebook groups I am a part of that are really helpful to find out who’s had a good experience at a doctor’s office and which offices to avoid. Health care providers need to realize we are not asking for extra treatment, we are asking to be treated with respect and dignity. The knowledge we expect the doctor to have is not something that takes years of training to understand. It shouldn’t have taken me five years and several different doctors to finally feel comfortable with my current health care at Legacy Community Health in Montrose. Even adding pronouns to intake forms and or your email signature are simple and effective clues that offices are informed and inclusive.
I am 35 years old, and aside from the occasional cold or very rare flu, I am fortunate to have a good medical history. I have no underlying conditions and am not immunocompromised. As lucky as I was during the active virus days, I felt like a human time bomb. I was convinced that at any moment one of the harrowing accounts I had read about would become my kismet. That feeling has subsided substantially now that I have tested negative. The one worry I do have is the unknown of any long term effect that the virus has on the human body.
This virus is very real and wreaks havoc on our bodies and our minds. Those of us who are systemically othered for simply existing as our true selves in a heteronormative, cis society have added weights on our shoulders. For trans and non-binary folks, don’t be afraid to reach out to others for advice on where to seek care. For medical providers, I cannot stress enough the need to be LGBTQIA+ competent and affirming. As a medical professional, I am sure you are aware of the language in the Hippocratic oath you took. The oath tells you to not be afraid to say “I know not,” and seek more education on a subject. Most importantly, leave your personal beliefs and biases at the door and do your job. Trans and non-binary folk are counting on you.