Number 141

 A Rant

The latest assault against transgender folks and our struggle to be treated with fairness, respect, dignity, and, yes, equality, comes from social/religious conservative legislators. In state houses across our country they are working overtime to pass laws that would make it illegal for medical professionals to use the standard methods of care for the treatment of transgender patients under the age of 18. In other words, they want to make it illegal for doctors and therapists to treat their patients using "best practice" methods, i.e. the methods currently recognized by medical professionals as the most effective treatments for any particular healthcare concern. This is pre - fucking - posterous.

"You broke your leg? Nah, no need to set the bone or put your leg in a cast. Just wrap a stick around your leg for a few months."

"Well... we could give you insulin for your diabetes, but we really think all need to do is just chew on some bubble gum when you feel light-headed."

"Yes we could use stitches to close that gaping wound, but we really think wrapping it with a lot of Saran wrap is the better way to go."

I fucking hate social/religious conservatives. These assholes are not happy unless they're sticking their profoundly large noses in other people's business. Their desire to control and legislate the way everybody should live is infuriating. They are utterly incapable of allowing other people to think and live in a manner that is incongruous to theirs. They make all kinds of claims as to why they do this. About how it's because their "religious freedoms" are being compromised, but that's just bullshit. No one is asking them to change how they think or feel. If they wanna be prejudicial racist homophobes that's their choice. All I'm saying is they should not have the right to make things challenging/difficult/illegal for the folks who disagree with them.

Here's the thing when it comes to the treatment of transgender youth that these cognitively disinclined individuals either don't understand or intentionally ignore. By the time it gets to the point where decisions are being made about taking medication to block the onset of puberty or any other medical treatments, that particular kiddo has already traveled a long road. A kid, or their parent(s), can't just go into a doctor's office and say, "I'm think I'm trans, gimme some pills." Any evaluation and treatment of a transgender youth is going to be extensive and carefully managed by multiple people who are experienced in the treatment of gender dysphoria. It's not like the drive-thru window at McDonalds ("I'll take a Big Mac, a Sprite, and a side order of testosterone, please). 

The other spin these ass hats try to foist upon us is the notion that the medical professionals involved in the treatment of transgender folks are intentionally 'pushing' their patients to seek out various gender confirmation procedures. Just like the episode of Ellen DeGeneres's sitcom when she came out, they must think doctors get a new toaster every time they 'convert' someone. It may appear that way because, duh, only people who are already feeling uncertain about their gender identity are seeking out the medical professionals that deal with gender related issues. Go figure.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Apparently these idiots are also 'concerned' that the percentage of young people claiming to be trans or non-binary continues to rise. If I understand correctly, they are concerned about teenagers expressing themselves in a way that is so much different than when they were younger. Huh, I've never known teenagers to do that before. (sarcasm intended)

Look. The bottom line here is simple. These legislators are trying to legally mandate the manner in which medical professionals treat patients. That is not only wrong, it is morally repugnant.