A while back someone told me that I did not know anything about GLBT issues because I said that the transgender phenomena, like vegetarianism and other diets, was a sign of of an affluent society; that people who are really poor do not have the luxury of focusing on being picky about food or thinking they were born the wrong gender. Well, perhaps I don't.
But there is one thing I do know about and that is medical costs. When I heard about the Ohio teenager who committed suicide because his/her evil Christian parents wouldn't go along with his/her transition, I thought, wait a minute. There is something that is not being discussed here, and perhaps my unhappy reader would care to enlighten me.
It is true that I am ignorant of a lot of things, but the last I knew, to transition from one gender to another takes a LOT of doctor visits, a lot of medications (hormones), and surgeries. And unless I am mistaken, all of these things cost money, at least in the United States. To be honest, I do not know how much, if any, of this is covered by insurance or if it is treated as an elective procedure. That's assuming that a person HAS insurance.
So how much does it cost to go through a full transition? This is the heart of the matter. I don't know how well off this teen's parents were, but I can understand them not wanting to shoulder a major medical bill when they did not have to. Because unless there is a fund for such procedures, I doubt very much a teen has access to that kind of money. Someone has to come up with it. Who?
As I said, I know about medical bills. I know people WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES because of major LIFE AND DEATH medical conditions. There are people who have to decide every month between food and medicine. I've gone into restaurants and seen the little fundraising canisters for families that are facing major medical expenses--transplants, cancer, rare diseases. These are life-threatening conditions. They aren't optional.
As it so happens I have a friend who is going through the transgender process. I am very happy for them that they are able to have access to the money and the technology that they need. But, not everyone has that access. When I say that this is a sign of affluence, I am not saying that my friend and others like them are rich. I am saying that they are fortunate, when you consider the situations I mentioned above. If a person has to delay their transition or is not able to, it's not life or death. They may be unhappy, but as long as they don't commit suicide, as did this teen, they will survive. But if you have cancer and you don't have access to treatment, you will die. And sadly, I know people who don't have access to life-saving treatment. This is where I am coming from.
But there is one thing I do know about and that is medical costs. When I heard about the Ohio teenager who committed suicide because his/her evil Christian parents wouldn't go along with his/her transition, I thought, wait a minute. There is something that is not being discussed here, and perhaps my unhappy reader would care to enlighten me.
It is true that I am ignorant of a lot of things, but the last I knew, to transition from one gender to another takes a LOT of doctor visits, a lot of medications (hormones), and surgeries. And unless I am mistaken, all of these things cost money, at least in the United States. To be honest, I do not know how much, if any, of this is covered by insurance or if it is treated as an elective procedure. That's assuming that a person HAS insurance.
So how much does it cost to go through a full transition? This is the heart of the matter. I don't know how well off this teen's parents were, but I can understand them not wanting to shoulder a major medical bill when they did not have to. Because unless there is a fund for such procedures, I doubt very much a teen has access to that kind of money. Someone has to come up with it. Who?
As I said, I know about medical bills. I know people WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES because of major LIFE AND DEATH medical conditions. There are people who have to decide every month between food and medicine. I've gone into restaurants and seen the little fundraising canisters for families that are facing major medical expenses--transplants, cancer, rare diseases. These are life-threatening conditions. They aren't optional.
As it so happens I have a friend who is going through the transgender process. I am very happy for them that they are able to have access to the money and the technology that they need. But, not everyone has that access. When I say that this is a sign of affluence, I am not saying that my friend and others like them are rich. I am saying that they are fortunate, when you consider the situations I mentioned above. If a person has to delay their transition or is not able to, it's not life or death. They may be unhappy, but as long as they don't commit suicide, as did this teen, they will survive. But if you have cancer and you don't have access to treatment, you will die. And sadly, I know people who don't have access to life-saving treatment. This is where I am coming from.
