NikitaK

—got confused about why I’d never been a boy scout because he forgot i was trans

—told me he was gonna get top surgery scar tattoos to match me after i get mine

—laughs at all my trans jokes, even if they’re supremely unfunny

—calls me big dog (and him little dog) even though he is about as tall as two of me

MY FACEBOOK PAGE “FASHION BLACK” ✨🖤✨

The concept of societal gender has, and continues to, harmed cis people for a very very long time and causes cis folks to suffer similarly to their trans siblings.

While, yes, trans folks on average may have a greater sense of (and reaction to) gender dysphoria - a lot of that comes from actually understanding what that feeling IS and knowing how to combat it in the way they need.

Cis people, however, will sit there and be uncomfortable while not knowing WHY and when they are told “that sounds like gender dysphoria” they will say “no, that’s only for trans people” - and then… continue to suffer.

Additionally “Societal Gender Norms” depending on where you are in the world you are and what is “Girl” and what is “Boy” can change DRASTICALLY depending on where you are from or the culture you grew up in.

This is to say that, overall, people attempting to adhere to the “American Societal Gender Norm” as some “Universal Standard of Gender” are far more likely to be depressed over their gender presentation than in most other countries and societies in the world.

Why? Well… our standard of “Boy” and “Girl” is not only the YOUNGEST acting societal standard but it changes SO OFTEN that if you look at “The Standard of Beauty for Women” and “The Standard for Manliness” across the last 100 years you will see such dramatic shifts EVERY 10 YEARS which can cause increasing amounts of dysphoria as time goes on because:

1. The standard you grew up with and idolized is NOT the standard you live in NOW and you feel “out of sorts” with your gender.

Or

2. The standard you WERE considered “Womanly”/“Manly” in has changed DRASTICALLY with time and now you are no longer considered that DESPITE not changing how you present your gender.

This is to say… cis folks and trans folks deal with a lot of the same issues, and by breaking down barriers between statements like “YOU CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND (X TYPE OF PERSON)” we can realize that AS PEOPLE we are all more alike than things appear.

Be that by gender, color of our skin, sexuality, spirituality, or ANYTHING!

We are all human, we all suffer, we all grow, we all learn, we all cry, we all smile, we all are people among other people.

If your GP refuses a referral:

1) Ask them to officially note the refusal in your file so that they cannot deny that they refused a referral later.

2) Talk to the practice manager - point out that it is a requirement that they refer you.

3) Speak to PALS.

Finally, once they do agree to refer you - chase up on it. A reluctant GP may 'lose’ or 'forget’ your referral. Don’t sit for 6 months thinking that a referral has gone through when your GP hasn’t 'gotten around’ to it yet. Chase weekly.Advocate for yourself. Sometimes being a (polite, but firm) nuisance is the only way to get things done.