FTM minor in South Australia. Been pre-T and suffering for 3 years

[reddon]

I'm 16, came out at 13, been seeing Dr Lyons since 14, on Lucrin/Lupron since 15. I pass, but as younger than my age, androgynously enough to confuse a lot of people, and not in a way that outweighs how much I hate myself for what still appears in the mirror. I'm glad for what I've managed to do so far, but I'm caught in the middle of a tug of war between Dr Lyons and Dr Couper (endo) over what's going on that seems like it'll never be solved, and being pre-T is making my mental state worse and worse. I'm dysphoric to the level where it's considered a disability and I can't leave the house most days -- I go to school (as male) but I'm constantly scared I'll be outed and being around cis guys who are taller, less delicate, and just more male-appearing than myself makes me miserable.

I know I need to go through the courts system to get Gillick's competency and take T. I've been trying to do this for the past two years, but the cost kept stopping my parents from being in support. If I had any other condition this disabling and possibly fatal (I'm currently planning my suicide -- do not direct me to hotlines, I have extreme anxiety over phone calls) they would be throwing money at it, but regardless. Now that I'm starting to get into a situation where my mother is more supportive of it, I'm realizing that I have no idea how to do this. Dr Lyons has been such a dearth of information that the only logical conclusion I can draw is that he's trying a long-term version of the 'only tell people the negatives so they don't transition' phenomenon. I have to find a pro-bono lawyer...harder than it sounds, because everything I've looked at suggests there are no transition-friendly lawyers in this backwater ->-bleeped-<- of a state. Past that, I have to . I have not been told anything about the process. The closest thing to information I get is Dr Couper constantly insisting that there is a test case, followed up by Dr Lyons's insistence that there isn't and that if there was it would take like 3 years and I'd be  anyway so I should just wait (...and die, I suppose).

Also, I'm diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and the possibility of being denied competency for that keeps me up at night.

I've exhausted my offline support -- I tend to be the most transitioned trans minor I know, with half the people I talk to not even knowing that this system exists at all. I've been everywhere else on the trans internet. I've been on Tumblr, ->-bleeped-<-, Yahoo Groups, the half-warm corpse of Livejournal, everything. I just haven't been here, but I've been directed here for the last time. I know there are South Australians here. They're all about sixty years old, but they exist. If this is where I need to post to get the information that will stop me from killing myself, so be it.

How do I go through the system? Is there any way to make sure I get approved in the shortest amount of time? How absolutely screwed am I from my autism?

[Tripdistrans]

I'm 16, came out at 13, been seeing Dr Lyons since 14, on Lucrin/Lupron since 15. I pass, but as younger than my age, androgynously enough to confuse a lot of people, and not in a way that outweighs how much I hate myself for what still appears in the mirror. I'm glad for what I've managed to do so far, but I'm caught in the middle of a tug of war between Dr Lyons and Dr Couper (endo) over what's going on that seems like it'll never be solved, and being pre-T is making my mental state worse and worse. I'm dysphoric to the level where it's considered a disability and I can't leave the house most days -- I go to school (as male) but I'm constantly scared I'll be outed and being around cis guys who are taller, less delicate, and just more male-appearing than myself makes me miserable.

I know I need to go through the courts system to get Gillick's competency and take T. I've been trying to do this for the past two years, but the cost kept stopping my parents from being in support. If I had any other condition this disabling and possibly fatal (I'm currently planning my suicide -- do not direct me to hotlines, I have extreme anxiety over phone calls) they would be throwing money at it, but regardless. Now that I'm starting to get into a situation where my mother is more supportive of it, I'm realizing that I have no idea how to do this. Dr Lyons has been such a dearth of information that the only logical conclusion I can draw is that he's trying a long-term version of the 'only tell people the negatives so they don't transition' phenomenon. I have to find a pro-bono lawyer...harder than it sounds, because everything I've looked at suggests there are no transition-friendly lawyers in this backwater ->-bleeped-<- of a state. Past that, I have to . I have not been told anything about the process. The closest thing to information I get is Dr Couper constantly insisting that there is a test case, followed up by Dr Lyons's insistence that there isn't and that if there was it would take like 3 years and I'd be anyway so I should just wait (...and die, I suppose).

Also, I'm diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and the possibility of being denied competency for that keeps me up at night.

I've exhausted my offline support -- I tend to be the most transitioned trans minor I know, with half the people I talk to not even knowing that this system exists at all. I've been everywhere else on the trans internet. I've been on Tumblr, ->-bleeped-<-, Yahoo Groups, the half-warm corpse of Livejournal, everything. I just haven't been here, but I've been directed here for the last time. I know there are South Australians here. They're all about sixty years old, but they exist. If this is where I need to post to get the information that will stop me from killing myself, so be it.

How do I go through the system? Is there any way to make sure I get approved in the shortest amount of time? How absolutely screwed am I from my autism?

Hey there Reddon, welcome to Susans.

I'm sorry to hear about the state of your dysphoria. I shan't be directly you to hotlines, but if you ever need someone to talk to please do message me, I would be quite happy to give you any advice, or simply listen to a days recount.

The HRT court system is absolutely messed up for minors in Australia. A doctor will sign you off and say that you have GID and should be on HRT, and you then move onto the family courts, who ask for a large sum of money to sit down in a room, read some paper, and ask your doctor if you have GID and should be on HRT. Or at least that's the easiest way to understand it. It's a large roundabout of time wasting that (some of the wonderful australians) are trying to sort out. In Victoria, I was supposed to be a test case so that they could try and lower the age to 16, however I ended up finding a loophole and avoiding the court process.

I don't know anything at all about the laws in SA, so I can only tell you of my experience in VIC. However, I know that there are some wonderful ladys on here from SA who I'm sure would not mind at all answering some questions about the process.

I'm saddened by your thoughts of suicide, and I can right now promise to you that I'm here, and I'm listening, and you betchya do things get better. There are parts of what you've just said that could be words out of my own mouth two years ago. Australia really isn't the greatest place if you're transgender, it's beautiful and safe, but it's so hard to get the access and support you need. You're doing really well considering your age, and I want to see the day you start your transition.

I'll catch you 'round,

[Cindy]

Hi Reddon,
I may be the 60 odd year old you refer to! And yes I exist

The Law in SA is brutal and we are trying to change it. We have the worse transgender act in the world. I and others are trying to change it. But it is hard work.

Suicide is no option. It seems to be at times, but it won't solve anything.
Instead why not join us? There are active TG communities in SA that are very supportive.

Hey give me a call if you wish


Cindy

[Tripdistrans]

Hi Reddon,
I may be the 60 odd year old you refer to! And yes I exist

...

Cindy

And as I speak of her, she appears. Superwoman?

[Valleyrie]

Hey Reddon, I'm in a very similar situation to you except I'm 2 months shy of turning 18. I've too been waiting a long time to start hormones and it's been killing me. I don't even know how I've made it this far and I'm still not sure how long I can take all of this. I was recently in hospital for a month and have tried to kill myself twice already (almost succeeded the first time) so I get how you feel. I totally understand how your dysphoria can be a disability because it's the same for me, especially socially.

I'm not sure how it works in SA but the only way to get through the system under 18 is with both parent's consent and a very costly and timely process through the court which I think is absolutely ridiculous. Sometimes I want to kill myself just to show whoever makes these laws how stupid it is in hopes that it may change so other young trans people can have access to proper care. I know it seems like forever but I think you have the strength within you to hold out until then to be the person you're meant to be.

Please know that you're not alone in this suffering and that if you ever need someone to talk to then I'm here for you. <3

[carsandsarcasm]

I opened this thread to try and learn more about Dr. Lyons, to be honest. I will hopefully be seeing him soon but knowing he is about all there is in SA, I'm worried.

Anyway, this is the Standard of Care 7 which i know ANZPATH works to. I've read through the adult section a couple of times but I briefly read the teen section now. It does seem to encourage making it difficult for children to address gender dysphoria. It states a bunch of statistics about how teenagers are typically anxious and depressed anyway so this shouldn't be confused with genuine GD. It doesn't prevent it, though, and I can't imagine why, considering you are in obvious and specific distress, this is so hard for you.
http://www.wpath.org/uploaded_files/140/files/Standards%20of%20Care,%20V7%20Full%20Book.pdf

I remember reading the SA legislation of gender dysphoria and treatment too but for the life of me I can't find it. From memory, I think the worst of it was requiring a real life test or something but you already have that covered so i see no problems.




Out of my own selfishness, however, can you tell me anything I might want to know about about Dr. Lyons?

[Cindy]

I have spoken to Dr Lyons in regard to under 18's getting HRT. He is fully supportive and there are pro-bono lawyers available that he will direct clients too.

Under 18's require parental consent and due to the Law in Australia, consent from the Family Court.

I understand the frustration that people may have but that is no reason to insult people or to post inflammatory remarks.

I am locking this thread and removing insults.

Thank You

Cindy
Forum Admin.