Tilly Bridges

Welcome to #TransTuesday! I’ve talked so many times about how trans people and cis people really aren’t all that different, but there’s one way most cis people never realize that may just blow your mind. Strap in for CIS PEOPLE GET GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE TOO.

This one is VITAL for cis people to see. Cis friends, please boost this thread! We REALLY need cis folks to understand what's going on here.

#trans #transgender #transrightsarehumanrights #transrights

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRR8AlSWptr3yfwqxNblwe9io7jkJJjNDlkV9a-2toAwTfhEQsSKtfbcAA3itgGDBMd4h1KQ9JEtmdn/pub

Trans Tuesday 140 - cis people get gender affirming healthcare

May 30, 2023 at 6:07pmWeb
Show threadChris ♾️May 30, 2023
@tillybridges Viagra is gender affirming care
Rogaine is gender affirming care
Breast augmentation and reductions are gender affirming care
Show threadTilly BridgesMay 30, 2023
@beautifulmind yep!
Show threademmaMay 30, 2023
@tillybridges I lost my ovaries and uterus to endometriosis a decade ago. Pap smear results were worrying so the gyno surgeon removed my cervix too and I now have what's called a vaginal vault. Basically my sex-related internals are pretty similar to a post-op trans woman's.
I've been on HRT since. It's not for anything like gender dysphoria. The rapidity of change in going from having an internal source of estrogen when I woke up one morning to having none by lunch time was real hard on my body. Hair loss, emotions all over the place, memory and concentration problems so severe keeping myself fed was a major accomplishment.
GPs have been gaslighting me ever since on what's possible re trying a higher dosage or adding progesterone. So that part tracks with affirming my gender. The practice's pharmacist did my last HRT review on Monday and she was happy to give me an increased dose to see if it helps with memory and concentration decline. Here's hoping.
But I'll have to come off of it altogether once I hit 60. That's approaching quickly. How do you square that with gender affirming healthcare? The invisibility of aging cis women?
Trans women should have the healthcare they need, but please, don't erase the reality of cis women like me, the reasons some of us are on HRT and how it's only ever a temporary thing. Some of us are vulnerable and hurting too.
Show threadTilly BridgesMay 30, 2023

@emma literally not what I did.

also trying to prevent hair loss IS gender confirmation, as is adding estrogen because your body can no longer make it so you go back to feeling like YOU.

I certainly didn’t erase you in stating the drugs are given to cis people for gender dysphoria (they are) and that that’s what they were developed for (they were).

they are also used for other things! other things that are not what this essay is about.

Show threademmaMay 31, 2023
@tillybridges My hair falling out like I was a cancer patient in a telly drama felt very different from gender affirmation. I didn't care if I looked more masculine or less feminine. I truly didn't. I've always been shite at conventional girl stuff like make-up and accepted that decades ago.
I went on HRT because I was struggling cognitively and emotionally, not to retain some femininity.
I'm terrified of how much I'll struggle again when I'm forced off it when I reach 60. When I asked how you square that I actually want to know because it hurts every time I read one of these sorts of essays.
But this is about you and I deserve to be fucking invisible because of my identities so sorry for butting in with my question and point of view.
Show threadTilly BridgesMay 31, 2023
@emma I’m sorry for what you’re going through, truly. but everything someone writes literally cannot account for every possibility every other human is going through. and demanding that a trans woman writing about trans issues talk about your one specific issue that’s unrelated or else I’m “erasing” you is nonsense. please write your own essay about what you’re going through. don’t demand others do it for you when talking about unrelated topics. be well.
Show threademmaJun 1, 2023
@tillybridges Would it truly be that arduous to not write in such a sweeping, declarative way? It's not like you'd need to go into any detail, just leave a little space for the other more important and more common reasons cis folk use HRT. "Some uses of HRT are gender affirming" does that. Really simple, and your argument would be stronger because it would be more accurate.

Is that really an intolerable demand? Changing a few words. Trans people very understandably want to be represented accurately and to be talked with, not at. Cis people do to, and your essay is about cis people.

Or if you really mean to say that ALL uses of HRT are gender affirming care, then could you, or someone, kindly help me get my head around what that means when I'm forced off it in three years?
Show threadmiraculous enbybugJun 1, 2023

@emma
I think this is an interesting point of view; but the essay isn’t trying to erase other’s experiences: it’s specifically talking about gender affirming healthtare, saying that a lot of cis people get it too, and for example it says:

HRT was all developed for cis people, and they get it too (often for the EXACT SAME REASONS), […]

Here the «often» acknowledge it’s not always the case. Besides, your experience is common with e.g. trans women with incorrect dosages.

Anyway, why should you stop at 60? It seems weird to me since it’s precisely for post-menopausal cis women that some of these drugs have been created and/or marketed and used. I personally don’t intend to stop taking HRT at all, maybe adjust dosage, that’s all.

Show threadShari EmersonJun 1, 2023

@melunaka @emma

good morning everyone!

cis lady weighing in on this convo because Hello Menopause (which could just calm down. seriously.)

If my hormones become physically or emotionally unmanageable on this ride, I probably will seek out the same hormones used for treating dysphoria, in order to maintain reasonable levels.

And being rather sick of my curves, I may look at reduction surgery at some point because I can't diet the damn things away. I am not dysphoric but I live in my body+

Show threadShari EmersonJun 1, 2023

@melunaka @emma

and i'd rather not be unhappy in it. That might look like surgery used for people needing gender-affirming care.

Thankfully, my frustration isn't anything close to what Trans men& women & enbies go through.

But if I support my own right to medical care in the hormonal/reconstructive healthcare arena, I am being very oblivious if I cannot support *Everyone* pursuing the same care.

And Emma, I wish you a gentle and safe healing - I'm hoping you receive all the care you need.