Most of these proposed changes would be wonderful and most are unlikely to happen anytime soon. Still we will never get there if we don't make a start.
Unless this is picked up by democratic politicians, it's too soon to expect to hopscotch over other groups at this time. I hope you either come back when we're closer to getting the country back, or plop it on the desk of a bunch of politicians who might care. Many of the things you've stated are still being fought for by Black people. There are things going on in the healthcare system that you wouldn't believe, let alone be able to tell why we're treated differently/worse by that very system. It's been going on for centuries.
I'd like to add that the surgeries are also medically necessary. My desire for them came in stages, not all at once in the beginning of my transition. The costs are ridiculous, and depending on our situations, not even achievable. Top surgery is far less expensive than bottom surgery. Starting at $100k for bottom surgery (addition of a penis/testicles), that's not even possible without insurance. I'm a disabled veteran and can't get to civilian insurance right now. At my age, I think I'm depressed because I may never be able to get to it as an old man. The quality of my life is being fucked with as a result.
I like this, but it isn't realistic in 2025. Fascists want to believe we don't exist and it's getting intense out here.
I honestly wish more people would listen to you, Ray. We, as a trans community, cannot look for these gains and supports without also seeking it for the Black community, especially because we are intersectional. Ditto for the disabled community, the chronically ill community, and all other marginalized peoples. I like how Ari proposes that many of these items benefit all of us, and those are the key items to fight for. No one is free until we are all free.
I love you, man! ❤️ The LGBTQ+ community has always ignored who has been fighting the longest for these gains, and then get mad when I bring up these simple (but horrendous) facts. I can be discriminated against for several reasons, so some of these things mentioned can be denied to me even if the T gets them ... because they'll use racism out of nowhere. 🙄
They will, you're 100% right about that. I think there is also a big misconception about who the trans community includes, and lots of us have been in this fight for other reasons. Your knowledge and experience and the stories you tell are vital. We need to hear all of it, and we need to face the problems within our own community right now.
So, here's one that happened in 2023. I have a hernia on my belly button. I got a surgeon assigned to me by the VA ... a civilian. He knew exactly what the problem was, but the nurse got the shock of her young life when she asked me twice if I meant to say I had a vasectomy, not a hysterectomy. I planned to tell the surgeon, not her, but I disclosed that I'm a transman. She starts stuttering and left the room. Went to tell the surgeon. I can just imagine that little conversation. He comes running into the room almost out of breath 😂.
"Sooooo, you're transgender? Really? Ummmm..." He could tell by the look on my face that I was not amused or open to a thousand questions, so he said he wanted to inspect the area of the hernia. I undo my pants so I could get my shirt out and he immediately starts poking around. Then he goes lower, and I tell him the hernia is in my belly button ... not down there. He then sees the tab of my packer and grabs it. I grab my dick and pull the opposite direction. He tried to pull my packer out of my pants, instead of asking me what it was. I shot him a look that could've killed him, so he let go. I wanted to punch him in his pervert face.
Now, ladies, gentlemen, and others. Did he do that because I'm trans or Black? It was sexual harassment, or maybe even assault. Mind you, he was a Black doctor. Did he think he could get away with that because I'm Black or because I'm trans? Male or did he secretly think I'm a female? I left there upset and disgusted, and indeed told the VA what happened. I fired him immediately and told them to find me someone else. All they said was, "Sorry, sir."
These are the kinds of sleazy things that we have to deal with in this country. He could've claimed anything, had someone serious gone after him. He had nerve to have worked for the VA directly in his past.
Wow. That was a horrible thing for you to endure! That doctor had no right to violate you like that. But you ask a good question--was it because you're Black or trans? No way to know now, but it feels important. Maybe both? Did he somehow feel entitled to your body?
And in the end you still had to fight just to get the basic healthcare you need, which ain't right.
Now that I think about it, I feel like it was both. Who would've believed me in a legal sense? Like I said, he could've said anything as to why he pulled on it like he did. I glanced at the nurse and she looked away. It would've been my word against both of them. Reminds me of something else unrelated, but who would believe a Black transman? Had I been white, I bet he would've gotten into trouble after telling the VA ... simply because he was a Black doctor. So, yeah, a bit of both, brotha. Complicated & strange thing to happen, not to mention upsetting. I've been sexually violated before, and it felt like that in a small way. Good thing I healed from that kind of bullshit, or what happened that day could've fucked me up good in the head.
Hmmmm ... I think so, Robin. Like his curiosity was more important than my bodily rights. It was rude AF. If he had asked me, I would've told him and even showed it to him. But what he did felt like a violation for sure. I imagined what he would do when I was out cold, and it felt creepy. So, I got away from him.
Since even if gender affirming care is NOT legally persecuted, it is unlikely to be covered by insurance, there is a real opportunity to create trans-led centers of excellence in every region that are motivated by a desire to make excellent care affordable to everyone who needs it. By eliminating the profit motive and insurance red tape, care would become more accessible. There should also be options for financing the care so not only does it cost less than under the for-profit system, but people have better access to funds for care.
HRT is already covered by my insurance as is top and bottom surgery. Face, voice, body and considered elective and are not covered. Thing is even with insurance the cost is thousands of dollars so certainly not affordable by everyone.
Everyone can dream... I rather look at human frailties... transgenderism isn't the norm within the human population. Some area of life will remain closed... and we have to learn to accept it. Any changes will be slow but progressive, just don't shove it into people's face... like sport, unless you have transitioned pre puberty, participating yes, competing no... even after 20 years of change from estrogen, I still have a strength that would disqualified me against cis women of my age... anywho, stay safe and keep moving forward...
Well, that's the issue that threw us out onto the public stage and once the fascists got a hold of it, we're all backed into the corner now. Don't be mad. It's just a fact. They took a couple hand fulls of people (if that) and took us to the cleaners over them.
An honest question Ari: Do you actually think Democrats are planning for a progressive run for office? I am for everything that you've otherwise written but your opening statement is one that I simply do not believe to be a possibility in the slightest. Democrats have hated their progressive side for years and make some legitimate moves against them in the past, making the proposals you're suggesting things that will not be fought for by the Democratic Party, but by socialists and the actual left in whatever venues they can get holds in, against the grain of both major political parties.
As somebody who worked in the DC think tank space for years, I do think the people who work there are genuinely progressive and will work to try and put progressive policies in the hands of the next Democratic president, even though they might get ignored if we nominate somebody too milquetoast.
I could accept that the people who work at think tanks are progressive, but you didn't answer the question if the Democratic Party itself would actually work towards those goals. I don't think we should assume the Democratic Party will help at all, especially given how quickly the establishment got behind the idea of simply never helping trans people and throwing them under the bus for their most recent loss.
I agree, Justin. Please don't let us go back to the status quo who took every opportunity to throw us under the bus in 2024. Also when jackass took us there in 2017. They're all so damn weak when it comes to trans issues. Other issues, too.
Most of these proposed changes would be wonderful and most are unlikely to happen anytime soon. Still we will never get there if we don't make a start.
Always worth putting the ideas out there!
Unless this is picked up by democratic politicians, it's too soon to expect to hopscotch over other groups at this time. I hope you either come back when we're closer to getting the country back, or plop it on the desk of a bunch of politicians who might care. Many of the things you've stated are still being fought for by Black people. There are things going on in the healthcare system that you wouldn't believe, let alone be able to tell why we're treated differently/worse by that very system. It's been going on for centuries.
I'd like to add that the surgeries are also medically necessary. My desire for them came in stages, not all at once in the beginning of my transition. The costs are ridiculous, and depending on our situations, not even achievable. Top surgery is far less expensive than bottom surgery. Starting at $100k for bottom surgery (addition of a penis/testicles), that's not even possible without insurance. I'm a disabled veteran and can't get to civilian insurance right now. At my age, I think I'm depressed because I may never be able to get to it as an old man. The quality of my life is being fucked with as a result.
I like this, but it isn't realistic in 2025. Fascists want to believe we don't exist and it's getting intense out here.
I honestly wish more people would listen to you, Ray. We, as a trans community, cannot look for these gains and supports without also seeking it for the Black community, especially because we are intersectional. Ditto for the disabled community, the chronically ill community, and all other marginalized peoples. I like how Ari proposes that many of these items benefit all of us, and those are the key items to fight for. No one is free until we are all free.
I love you, man! ❤️ The LGBTQ+ community has always ignored who has been fighting the longest for these gains, and then get mad when I bring up these simple (but horrendous) facts. I can be discriminated against for several reasons, so some of these things mentioned can be denied to me even if the T gets them ... because they'll use racism out of nowhere. 🙄
They will, you're 100% right about that. I think there is also a big misconception about who the trans community includes, and lots of us have been in this fight for other reasons. Your knowledge and experience and the stories you tell are vital. We need to hear all of it, and we need to face the problems within our own community right now.
So, here's one that happened in 2023. I have a hernia on my belly button. I got a surgeon assigned to me by the VA ... a civilian. He knew exactly what the problem was, but the nurse got the shock of her young life when she asked me twice if I meant to say I had a vasectomy, not a hysterectomy. I planned to tell the surgeon, not her, but I disclosed that I'm a transman. She starts stuttering and left the room. Went to tell the surgeon. I can just imagine that little conversation. He comes running into the room almost out of breath 😂.
"Sooooo, you're transgender? Really? Ummmm..." He could tell by the look on my face that I was not amused or open to a thousand questions, so he said he wanted to inspect the area of the hernia. I undo my pants so I could get my shirt out and he immediately starts poking around. Then he goes lower, and I tell him the hernia is in my belly button ... not down there. He then sees the tab of my packer and grabs it. I grab my dick and pull the opposite direction. He tried to pull my packer out of my pants, instead of asking me what it was. I shot him a look that could've killed him, so he let go. I wanted to punch him in his pervert face.
Now, ladies, gentlemen, and others. Did he do that because I'm trans or Black? It was sexual harassment, or maybe even assault. Mind you, he was a Black doctor. Did he think he could get away with that because I'm Black or because I'm trans? Male or did he secretly think I'm a female? I left there upset and disgusted, and indeed told the VA what happened. I fired him immediately and told them to find me someone else. All they said was, "Sorry, sir."
These are the kinds of sleazy things that we have to deal with in this country. He could've claimed anything, had someone serious gone after him. He had nerve to have worked for the VA directly in his past.
Wow. That was a horrible thing for you to endure! That doctor had no right to violate you like that. But you ask a good question--was it because you're Black or trans? No way to know now, but it feels important. Maybe both? Did he somehow feel entitled to your body?
And in the end you still had to fight just to get the basic healthcare you need, which ain't right.
Now that I think about it, I feel like it was both. Who would've believed me in a legal sense? Like I said, he could've said anything as to why he pulled on it like he did. I glanced at the nurse and she looked away. It would've been my word against both of them. Reminds me of something else unrelated, but who would believe a Black transman? Had I been white, I bet he would've gotten into trouble after telling the VA ... simply because he was a Black doctor. So, yeah, a bit of both, brotha. Complicated & strange thing to happen, not to mention upsetting. I've been sexually violated before, and it felt like that in a small way. Good thing I healed from that kind of bullshit, or what happened that day could've fucked me up good in the head.
Hmmmm ... I think so, Robin. Like his curiosity was more important than my bodily rights. It was rude AF. If he had asked me, I would've told him and even showed it to him. But what he did felt like a violation for sure. I imagined what he would do when I was out cold, and it felt creepy. So, I got away from him.
Project 2029? That's some shit marketing
https://open.substack.com/pub/marlowe1/p/job-chapter-9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sllf3
Since even if gender affirming care is NOT legally persecuted, it is unlikely to be covered by insurance, there is a real opportunity to create trans-led centers of excellence in every region that are motivated by a desire to make excellent care affordable to everyone who needs it. By eliminating the profit motive and insurance red tape, care would become more accessible. There should also be options for financing the care so not only does it cost less than under the for-profit system, but people have better access to funds for care.
HRT is already covered by my insurance as is top and bottom surgery. Face, voice, body and considered elective and are not covered. Thing is even with insurance the cost is thousands of dollars so certainly not affordable by everyone.
That's why we have to start by making sure there are no legal barriers to care--and follow up by making sure there are no financial barriers to care.
Everyone can dream... I rather look at human frailties... transgenderism isn't the norm within the human population. Some area of life will remain closed... and we have to learn to accept it. Any changes will be slow but progressive, just don't shove it into people's face... like sport, unless you have transitioned pre puberty, participating yes, competing no... even after 20 years of change from estrogen, I still have a strength that would disqualified me against cis women of my age... anywho, stay safe and keep moving forward...
I didn't even mention sports in here - why go on about it? Most trans people face a lot of other very important issues!
Well, that's the issue that threw us out onto the public stage and once the fascists got a hold of it, we're all backed into the corner now. Don't be mad. It's just a fact. They took a couple hand fulls of people (if that) and took us to the cleaners over them.
An honest question Ari: Do you actually think Democrats are planning for a progressive run for office? I am for everything that you've otherwise written but your opening statement is one that I simply do not believe to be a possibility in the slightest. Democrats have hated their progressive side for years and make some legitimate moves against them in the past, making the proposals you're suggesting things that will not be fought for by the Democratic Party, but by socialists and the actual left in whatever venues they can get holds in, against the grain of both major political parties.
As somebody who worked in the DC think tank space for years, I do think the people who work there are genuinely progressive and will work to try and put progressive policies in the hands of the next Democratic president, even though they might get ignored if we nominate somebody too milquetoast.
I could accept that the people who work at think tanks are progressive, but you didn't answer the question if the Democratic Party itself would actually work towards those goals. I don't think we should assume the Democratic Party will help at all, especially given how quickly the establishment got behind the idea of simply never helping trans people and throwing them under the bus for their most recent loss.
I agree, Justin. Please don't let us go back to the status quo who took every opportunity to throw us under the bus in 2024. Also when jackass took us there in 2017. They're all so damn weak when it comes to trans issues. Other issues, too.