Transgender people aren’t hurting anyone, so why do we care so much? Photo: Wagga MardiGras.
I don’t understand — if transgender people aren’t hurting anyone, why do they make others so angry?
Last week, my story Transgender people forced to leave Wagga for medical services was published. Like most Gen Zs, I don’t use Facebook, so I never checked the comments until our editor rang me yesterday.
Almost 100 comments were posted on the story, and I can count on one hand the number that were even vaguely sympathetic. If this was an article about any other form of medical service, I’m sure people would be falling over themselves to express their frustrations.
One commenter even said it was “good” that transgender people couldn’t access care locally.
I’m not an expert on the topic, but if an elective surgery is enough to stop people from taking their own lives, why are we against it?
A University of Melbourne survey looked at the health and well-being of more than 900 transgender adults in Australia, and found that 73 per cent of participants were clinically depressed while 67 per cent had anxiety.
On top of that, more than a third of them said they faced workplace discrimination because they were trans, and their unemployment rate was more than three times higher than the national rate.
We already know being unemployed is tied to an increased risk of suicide.
Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which looked at the response from almost 7000 participants, paints a very grim picture: 91 per cent of transgender men surveyed had a lifetime prevalence of suicidal thought, and more than half of them had attempted to take their own lives.
Actually, let’s back up for a bit: did we all forget about Leelah Alcorn?
She was a 17-year-old transgender girl from Ohio whose suicide sparked international outcry in 2014. In a suicide note, she said she’d killed herself after years of struggling with her strict Christian parents’ refusal to acknowledge her true identity as female.
There was even a petition to ban “transgender conversion therapy” – something Ms Alcorn was subject to before she eventually took her own life – that got over 300,000 signatures.
Aside from a lack of understanding or acceptance and employment discrimination, transgender folk also face discrimination when accessing healthcare.
In a Trans Health Research survey, one respondent said they were “insulted, taunted” and called “it” by healthcare staff.
I understand that many Wagga residents need to travel for medical services, and I’m definitely not saying we need to put gender affirming surgeries above others.
What I was trying to point out in my story was how inaccessible it was in Australia, not just the Riverina.
I can’t lie, I have very mixed feelings about the cosmetic surgery industry as a whole.
But if going under the knife is enough to stop someone from taking their life, who are we to stop them? It’s not like they’re hurting anyone.
The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights clearly states that everyone in Australia has the right to receive healthcare in a way that respects their dignity, values their identity and culture, and acknowledges their beliefs and personal choices.
Can we include transgender people in that charter please?
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.auMensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
