On Medical Dignity for Nonbinary Patients

Earlier this month, I landed in Urgent Care after four weeks of battling what I can only call a "supercold". The infection had settled in my lungs, and I couldn't fully exhale without coughing violently. My albuterol inhaler was of no help. So I did what needed to be done and got myself to the doctor.  Historically, as a fat nonbinary femme, I've found doctor's offices anxiety producing at best, and shaming at worst.  Fortunately, aside from being called by my deadname over and over, the Urgent Care folks treated me like a human being.  A nebulizing treatment restored my ability to breathe, but the relief that my ordeal was over faded when they got the results back from the chest x-ray.

I will never forget the doctor's words.  "The good news is that you don't have pneumonia.  We did see on the x-ray that your heart is just a little bit enlarged. We encourage you to follow up with your primary care doctor." I froze.  I hadn't been to a doctor in years, due to factors mentioned in the first paragraph of this post. This was a wake up call that I needed to see someone.  I needed a functioning body to do my Work in the world, and the memory of my father dropping dead last summer was still all too fresh.  I got home from the clinic and arranged to see the same doctor who has been taking care of my wife, a transwoman, with competence, care, and compassion.

This medical group has definitely joined the 21st century. As I filled out my New Patient forms online, I noticed that there were more than just the two tickyboxes designating Male and Female.  There was also a large blank space on the form that said, "Is there anything else we need to know about your gender?" What a breath of fresh air! I gratefully typed "I am a mxgender nonbinary femme. My pronouns are zie/zir." The next space below asked what name I preferred to be called. I breathed a sigh of relief that I wouldn't have to endure hearing my deadname at this clinic *EVER*.

I have since had two appointments at that clinic, with a doctor who specializes in trans and nonbinary health.  In both visits, she treated me as an expert on my own body, never once shaming me. My usual defensiveness on the examining table melted away. Minutes before my diagnosis of hypertension, she told me as she put on the blood pressure cuff, "There is no good or bad reading. It's just a number that will help me take care of you." Thanks to her, I am on the road to healing my heart.

I count myself to be very lucky to have medical insurance through my wife's employer, and to live in the city of San Francisco, where I have the opportunity to access competent, caring, and compassionate medical care in a clinic that sees me for exactly who I am, with no judgments. Many of my trans and nonbinary siblings are dying from lack of care and from being dismissed by doctors who can't and won't understand what they are going through.  I pray and fight for the day when all of my siblings have access to the care I now enjoy.

Witches of Transgression— With Water We Heal

AN INVITATION TO THE WITCHES OF THE WORLD - PLEASE SHARE WIDELY!

2018 Witches of Transgression Working:

With Water We Heal

The Divine Spiraling Rainbow Tribe is a Mystery Tradition within CAYA Pagan Congregation devoted to exploring and honoring sacred mxgender Mysteries. Our Priestxes embody the experience of identity beyond the gender binary, and celebrate the glittering prism of Divine existence that is Powerful, Delightful, Enthusiastic, Playful, Transformative, Magickal, Compassionate, and Reverent. We invite people of all genders or none, but especially mxgender and non-binary people, to join us in doing a public, world-wide working to bring a better world into being. By performing this ritual in our own spaces all over the world each Full Moon, we grid the Earth with the energy of the Divine, toward a shared vision of intentional change.

I want to participate. What should I do?

Retraction of Statement of Solidarity with Yeshe

We, the undersigned, had previously supported Jessica Matthews aka Yeshe 
Rabbit, with this Statement of Solidarity which we now retract. We have recently 
received information concerning multiple allegations of transphobic actions on 
her part that have caused us immeasurable concern. We believe those who have 
shared their experiences with us. We will protect their confidences and their safety.

Accountability is important to us. We recognize the harm that our initial Statement 
caused and extend our sincere apologies. If you feel you need further information 
or would like to discuss accountability with us, please contact us at 
 divinespiralingrainbowtribe@gmail.com.

Let this be our public declaration that we will fight to protect our trans, enby, agender, 
intersex, gender questioning, gender abolitionist, and other beautifully gender diverse 
kin with our hearts, souls, minds and guts. We are stronger together.

In solidarity,

Rainbow Melissa ra Karit, Baba Jaina Bee, Ravensong Phoenixfire, 
Kitsune Hearthweaver, Shell Selvans