what % problems in community are exacerbated by fear o identifying as trans

[stephaniec]

just a curious question on what effect if any is the fear of being perceive as trans inwardly or outwardly affect the community as a whole. I went for my doctors appt. in the heart of the LGBTQ... community today and felt the power of total freedom to be me. I sat in the clinics waiting room and read a magazine for doctors treating the trans community and all the problems we as trans encounter seeking medical care and how the medical community needs to snap out of it. The articles were about the treatment or lack of because of the stigma of being trans. I'm just curious as to how much of these problems are due to the fear of us transgender to identify as being trans.

[alex82]

I don't understand the question.

On the medical thing. Thank god for the NHS. I dealt with them again today, and they were utterly brilliant as always. Offered off the cuff to set me up with therapy if I didn't already have someone. Fantastic care, sensitivity mixed with humour, amazing staff, total respect in both directions.

[Michelle_P]

I don't fear being perceives as Trans.  It is what I am.  I fear more the rejection of those I felt connected to, and social isolation from rejection.

[RobynD]

I don't fear my identity either, not really sure of the question.

There are sometimes negative ramifications when your identity is a statistical outlier numbers wise, for a variety of reasons but that would be the similar in any non-majority group.

What percentage of the problems we face are a projection of our own fear? (like don't let the bear see your fear, he will charge you..) That is certainly an interesting question. I had a friend once that was way to chatty in bars and that led to some over-drinking and other problems (fights etc). The basis of it is that he was fearing being alone, so he felt the need to go out every night.

[stephaniec]

my therapist wants me to become more involved in th LGBTQ... community to ease the social isolalation

[Deborah]

I don't fear being trans and to be honest it, by itself, has never really bothered me at all.  It's who I am. 

I do fear other people's reactions though.

[DawnOday]

I am extremely lucky because I live in a west coast state. Except for the central valley where the JF's live.

[stephaniec]

maybe a way to look at it would be how far could the transgender community grow if 100% of all transgender people totally accepted the fact that they were transgender and were proud to be a member or a distinguished  and unique segment of society. The medical article I was reading at the LGBTQ... clinic suggested that part of the problem is that the transgender individual is afraid to seek out medical care because of a perceived stigma of being trans. Like seeking out HIV treatment for fear of association of being trans and sexual activity ax an example.

[KathyLauren]

I think we have all felt the fear of being perceived as trans before we were out to ourselves.

Now that I am out to myself, my wife, and some friends, I have no fear of being perceived as trans.  I would not hesitate to see a doctor.  If the doctor was a loser who had a problem with my being trans, I would be pissed off, because getting onto a new doc's waiting list here is a royal pain.  But I still would not hesitate to sign up with another one (if I could find one).

[Deborah]

I could not seek any treatment because it was illegal.  That does tend to make one paranoid about being found out.  After 30+ years of that constant paranoia it gets ingrained. 

[Michelle G]

I don't fear being perceives as Trans.  It is what I am.  I fear more the rejection of those I felt connected to, and social isolation from rejection.

That's totally it!
Plus I have a small business to run and I don't know what would happen.

[LauraE]

I am extremely lucky because I live in a west coast state. Except for the central valley where the JF's live.

Hey! "I" live in the central valley. (Modesto). What's a JF?

Laura

[Michelle G]

Hey! "I" live in the central valley. (Modesto). What's a JF?

Laura

I'm east of Sacramento near Tahoe and I don't know what that is either

[paula lesley]

General community is us, isn't it ? The medical community is ( In UK ) ok by me. The LGBT community is something I have no knowledge of, sorry. I am trans therefore I am... 







Paula, X.