Mastodawn

DrBob, 🧠 Mechanic Apr 15, 2023

Finally some GOOD News!

“Access to #Abortion and #GenderAffirming care is now further protected in #Colorado after Gov. Jared #Polis signed a trio of bills Friday afternoon to shield out-of-state patients, expand insurance coverage and crack down on deceptive advertising for anti-abortion centers.

“We celebrate #Freedom. Today is really about freedom, standing up to protect freedoms that are under attack, sadly, in many other states”

#LGBTQ #Trans #ColoradoNewsline
https://bit.ly/43Ec6UH

Colorado Gov. Polis signs 3 abortion-related protections into law - Colorado Newsline

Gov. Jared Polis signed three reproductive health care bills into law, including one that protects out-of-state patients.

Colorado Newsline

Ruthie Apr 15, 2023

@drrjv what is your opinion regarding children’s ability to make gender choices when our frontal lobe does not mature until the early 20’s? Also, someone mentioned-do doctors guiding these children, test hormone levels to see if they are lacking and could be resulting in gender dysphoria?

ocdtrekkie Apr 18, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv So one thing that's really important to realize: The alternative to gender-affirming care is very frequently depression and suicide. We could decide gender affirming care should wait until adulthood... but we can't stop kids from killing themselves before then.

So the question you need to ask is very simple: Which is worse, trans kids or dead kids? I think anyone with a shred of humanity must conclude we should provide gender-affirming care.

Ruthie Apr 18, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv yes, I am well aware of all this, but one must also ask are the suicidal tendencies/attempts due to the dangerous psychotropic meds one might be on? There have also been some testimonies by transgender people who are now suicidal, because they have regretted that premature decision done basically in childhood. I am not saying this is an easy decision by any means.

ocdtrekkie Apr 18, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv People dealing with gender dysphoria are depressed and suicidal *before* any medications.

And while there are one or two banner cases transphobic people cling to, reversion is very uncommon, and if they change their minds as an adult... no problem, they're an adult! And while suicide is awful at any age, in such a scenario, that person lived significantly more years because they transitioned, even in the unlikely scenario they regret it later.

Ruthie Apr 18, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv a person is not necessarily transphobic if they don’t believe the transition should take place in childhood. I am not transphobic at all, but really continually question the safety of what we are doing regarding our youth and the best way to preserve their mental health regarding this

DrBob, 🧠 Mechanic Apr 18, 2023

@EllieRuth @ocdtrekkie For me the real question is why not let the parents, the child and the doctor (who is the recognized expert) decide what’s best rather than the Government? Why should you or Ron DeSantis have any say at all?

While I’m a physician, I know I am not an expert in this area and clearly and happily would defer to an appropriate specialist to help make the right decision in concert with the parents and patient.

Ruthie Apr 19, 2023

@drrjv @ocdtrekkie I do agree the decision should not be in the government’s hands until it involves protocols/regulations for the schools/environment/sports, etc.-then it would go outside the realm of a doctor, child or parent to make sure no one else’s rights are compromised or taken away

DrBob, 🧠 Mechanic Apr 19, 2023

@EllieRuth @ocdtrekkie The whole issue is ridiculous! Look at what Kansas passed, a law that affects 3 kids (2 of whom graduate in a few months, so really 1 kid!)

“Currently, the legislation will affect three student-athletes in the state”

Don’t they have more serious problems to deal with? I’m really incensed with the Republicans banning books over guns, banning abortion and cutting child support and destroying the economy (esp if McCarthy defaults debt ceiling!)

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article273997945.html

@drrjv @ocdtrekkie I could not read your article unless you’re a paying member subscribing and I don’t believe anyone should be refused medical care or insurance due to their gender change but I stand firm that it is not fair to allow athletes who have transitioned to compete in women’s sports when there is the obvious physical advantage.

ocdtrekkie Apr 19, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv The sports topic is pretty interesting because it highlights an uncomfortable truth about how we handle sports: The existing systems are already inherently sexist, with different guidelines and expectations based on gender. Sports teams have generally decided "lower expectations for women", and as a society we are okay with that? Somehow?

It's probably the only area of transgender politicking I think is probably a legitimate position to discuss.

ocdtrekkie Apr 19, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv It's both unfair to demand transgender individuals play sports with a different gender than they identify, and it also probably renders the whole point of "womens' sports" irrelevant if the only way to be on top is being transgender.

I am not sure either option is fair or reasonable though. Perhaps we need to obliterate gendered restrictions on sports.

Ruthie Apr 19, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv regardless of what is decided, it will never be fair to everyone. Sexist or not, people have accepted that sports have gender restrictions and all this exception has done is create more hate. Bathrooms are certainly an issue. A transgender may very well feel perfectly comfortable in the gender bathroom they relate to but you can’t expect the general public to jump on board with this.

ocdtrekkie Apr 19, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv "People have accepted that" is the sort of thing people used to justify segregation and sexism historically. The fact that we currently gender sports does not make it okay.

Bathrooms are really easy: Outlaw gendered bathrooms. The idea that anyone can see you in a bathroom is a travesty. Everyone should have individual genderless bathrooms. Society can afford to do this. Like, at minimum, stall walls should be floor to ceiling.

Ruthie Apr 19, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv there will be many who will never be comfortable with unisex bathrooms but that would definitely solve the problem.

ocdtrekkie Apr 19, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv Everyone has unisex bathrooms at home? Give everyone a floor to ceiling wall and a door with a lock. Get rid of absolute horrors of gendered bathrooms like urinals entirely. Nobody should be seeing anyone else's stuff while they're in the bathroom.

Ruthie Apr 19, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv very true, but people will argue their home is a safe place with family members in their natural biological state

ocdtrekkie Apr 20, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv What isn't safe about individually-locking individual bathrooms?

Ruthie Apr 20, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv places will never pay for individual bathrooms. That would be too expensive. The cost-effective way for a big corporation is what they have now -1 bathroom with many stalls and for many unisex will not be acceptable

ocdtrekkie Apr 20, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv There was a time when employers didn't have equal access to bathrooms for women. The way things are now is because the law required it. So the law mandates single-occupancy bathrooms, and every place has at least two already.

Ruthie Apr 20, 2023

@ocdtrekkie @drrjv interesting-places like grocery stores have public bathrooms and then ones for the employees that are more private but then that might involve the public invading the employee’s space. It will be most interesting to see what develops with this.

ocdtrekkie Apr 20, 2023

@EllieRuth @drrjv Funny enough, our grocery store chain here predominantly already has all single-occupancy bathrooms open to the public.