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[–] 9 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The connection between politicized medical disinformation surrounding COVID-19, and potential disinformation campaigns targetting trans people is interesting. Is there something in particular you're referencing, or is this more speculation on a potential issue?

I know my biggest barrier to care was indeed medical clearance and medication/tools restriction. Even with socialized coverage, it was about a thousand dollars and five months of my time to get started; let alone the years I spent waiting to even start the process because I knew that would be the most expensive hurdle. Hardly had to go through the same process for ibuprofen, which also carries fairly severe side effects if abused.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 days ago (1 child)

    Oh I didn't mean to imply that they were connected, the COVID-19 stuff was just a high profile and memeworthy example of how much harm people can cause when they can't or won't see a doctor

    I'm in a similar boat. Healthcare is free here, but the system is so slow (underfunded) that I joke I won't get help in my lifetime

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  • [–] 3 points 2 days ago

    Ahh okay, bringing it up in this context made it appear as though the motivations of either people who subscribe to that misinformation, or the groups that propagate it would align in some way with a potential misinformation campaign that would effect trans peoples' ability to access information. The systemic violence described below suffices, so I'd be surprised if there was such a campaign that actually worked on what is a substantially different target audience.

    I'm privileged to have had that money and time, many trans people do not. It's important to remember that many of us experience shelter- and other forms of material insecurity at disproportionate rates, and that is not disconnected from the overwhelmingly high suicide and self-harm rates for young trans people. Slow delivery of care with the caveat of privilege for access does literally constitute the systemic violence that perpetuates those rates.

    I mentioned this in another comment on this thread, but I think it is a perfectly acceptable cost to introduce a potential generalized risk by expanding access and substantially mitigating the preexisting and specific forms of violence that trans people experience. I don't see how it is reasonable to argue that a less immediate and threatening risk to a general population which regularly refuses us care is an unacceptable cost to address the needs of our own community. We already have information and support networks in place within our community for this very reason.

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