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Transgender people have fought a long and hard battle to be recognized as exactly what they are: human beings. While some strides were made in recent years, this fight was shoved back into the spotlight after President Trump took office, reversing certain civil rights for transgender people, particularly young people in schools. Again, that battle has been spotlighted this week, after Trump seemingly reversed a right won just a year ago for transgender people to serve openly in the military. In the announcement on Twitter, Trump's policy has some contradictory points about transgender health care, particularly that it's too costly to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military — when in fact many other parts of care for cisgender people are much more expensive. While the military isn't taking action on Trump's Twitter decree just yet, it's these kinds of misconceptions that can breed prejudice. That's exactly why it's so helpful that Reddit called in the experts.
In a week-long AMA (ask me anything) with various experts, Reddit users have had the chance to ask questions and bust myths about the transgender community. Through these questions and answers, there's one thing that's abundantly clear — transgender people aren't these mysterious, confusing folks, they're people just like anyone else. This should, of course, go without saying.
Below are some highlights from the week-long session.
Young people aren't transgender because it's "cool"
u/Throwmeaway080808: Now that the LGBT community has become more main stream and accepted, are you seeing more children and teens come in who may not actually be trans but rather are trying to fit in or find some way to find an identity?
Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, Children’s Hospital L.A.: What is true is that unpacking the gender binary is becoming increasingly popular, because I think youth recognize that it is not adequate for deeper human existence. Gender roles are largely archaic in many regards. SO are youth experimenting with gender bending? Yes, absolutely. But they are not in distress. They are bending in solidarity with a movement to dismantle an obsolete set of gender rules, and stand in solidarity with their trans friends and the community. There are distinct differences in these youth. They are not likely to stick a needle in their body every week to be trendy. There is no reward for being trans. I can't get adolescents to finish ten days of antibiotics. It is so critical to differentiate between distress and social change.
Prime example: even going to the doctor can be distressing
u/kerovon: What are some of the unique challenges facing transgender patients in a primary care setting?
Fenway Health: One of the biggest challenges for gender diverse patients in a primary care setting is having equal access and equal affirmation. Often a clinic will have providers who are happy to serve the transgender community, but what about the front desk staff? … We advise asking all patients about their gender identity and sexual orientation (and, in fact, if you are a federally funded health center, you are now required to do so), and then to be open, honest, and willing to listen in visits.
Representation really matters
u/shiruken: How has the rise of transgender celebrities and prominent transgender YouTubers affected your patients? Do role models actually matter or does having a community (online or in real life) have a greater impact?
Fenway Health: I would say that the rise of transgender celebrities has absolutely affected my patients. YouTube and the ability to find other people online who are sharing the entirety of their transition in real-time is an unprecedented benefit for so many of my patients. For myself, I did not meet another transgender person until I was 21. … Now I see 11-year-olds and they know all kinds of very detailed words to explain their identities and are familiar with how they might go about better aligning their bodies with their gender identity. Simultaneously, I'm seeing a lot of patients who are thinking about gender as far more expansive than a traditional masculine and feminine model. I do think online role-models have helped these patients to more quickly identify what they need and seek out appropriate treatment.
It doesn't matter why someone is transgender
u/Popsychblog: The larger question is what causes those [transgender] brain structures to develop differently.
Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy: Transgender experience has been around since human experience. I am certain that while exploring the question of where gender identity lives is one of interest, I find it troubling that we would pursue that in order to scientifically validate trans experience.
Or how old they are
u/Dreamcast3: Wouldn't it be better to wait until [children] were an age when they could decide for themselves what they really are? I know that if I could make important decisions at age 3 than I would have named myself Hotwheels Dunkaroos.
Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy: I think we understand that when people are miserable, we don't wait until they are a certain age to address the distress.
You can't change someone's identity
u/chompnstomp: What is the risk of parents encouraging what ultimately could become dangerous and harmful behavior with their children?
Dr. Joshua Safer, Boston University: Parents who allow their children to express a gender identity opposite of their external body parts won't make their children transgender. That's the point. We can't change gender identity.
And transgender people don't want to
u/Miseryy: Surely there must be some false positives, and then what? Is there a way to go back?
Fenway Health: in over a decade working with the community, I have never met someone who regretted transition or who wanted to de-transition, even if their lives had been extremely hard.
Related: How to be an Ally to Transgender People
