Susan's Place Transgender Resources

News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Natasha on July 02, 2009, 09:51:17 AM

Title: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Natasha on July 02, 2009, 09:51:17 AM
Why I Hate Filling Out Forms

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/07/01/why-i-hate-filling-out-forms/ (http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2009/07/01/why-i-hate-filling-out-forms/)
7/1/09

I hate it, every single time.  Name, sorted.  Then...  clunk.  Sex – M or F.  Sod.

It seems like an easy question, right?  For most people it is.  For me, it should be an easy question.  I live and identify unequivocally as female.   I'm not a genderqueer person for whom the very either/or question is wrong.  So why the rising sense of panic?

The problem is this, my birth certificate says I am male, my gender presentation is female.  They do not match.  Until I can afford expensive genital surgery, I cannot change the marker on my birth certificate.  No matter what I put, in a cissexist world, I am situated as a liar.
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: mickie88 on July 02, 2009, 05:12:09 PM
be one of us that will have surgery someday and STILL can't change the marker on your BC, ever... >:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(>:(
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Mister on July 02, 2009, 06:19:01 PM
Yet another post about how hard it is to be trans *sniffle* without so much as a hint of what the author or reader can do to take action and attempt to change things.  As for Illinois, they were enforcing the current laws on the books.  How horrible.
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: mickie88 on March 26, 2010, 12:41:34 PM
for your info, Mister, i finally AM able to change the gender on my everyday id, that's really all that's important to me since it is the most used. no one asks for bc's at your job unless maybe for federal security. but i am HAPPY that the DMV in Columbus took the INITIATIVE with prompting from a local therapist and the trans community to change THEIR policy, the license was never the state, it's just the bc, which still lets me marry another female legally, and that is absolutely fine with me!!
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Iolanthe on March 26, 2010, 01:29:10 PM
In CA, which despite Prop 8 is still comparatively enlightened, one can obtain a legal F identity w/out GRS.

As for my BC, somehow I've never experienced any desire to change it. Fact is, I was born a male. Lousy luck for me, I guess, but not my fault and nothing I'm ashamed of. The important thing is, life's good now, for which I'm daily thankful.

Of course I detest filling out forms, too, simply because I detest filling out forms.  (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.snapstream.com%2Fvb%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fwink.gif&hash=b3605d5fd1e8746e8296093375058d39fb20a909)

~Lannie~
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: tekla on March 26, 2010, 01:32:14 PM
Of course I detest filling out forms, too, simply because I detest filling out forms.

Pretty much this.
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Hikari on March 26, 2010, 02:58:25 PM
One of my biggest problems filling out forms, is that they ought not to require much of the information that they do.

For example, the county wanted to know much more information than they should of for the marriage forms when me and my wife married.  Do they need to know that we are different races? or what our educations are? or that she was born in another country? (shouldn't proof of citizenship be enough? why do they even want to know where you were born?) I mean, isn't this the sort what the census is for?

I
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Dawn D. on March 26, 2010, 03:57:41 PM
If it's a hospital or other medical setting, this issue can be of consequence for the trans person involved. Some medical tests are bio-gender specific. Accuracy in medical tests are critical to proper diagnosis and treatment. So just being able to tick off your preferred gender marker may make you feel right but it may not be adequate information to your care giver.

This is something that is being looked at for trans care here in California. We recently discussed this very issue at a local Project Health council meeting. Hopefully, it is something that can be solved by simply adding another choice next to the standard Sex = M or F. Such as another category; Transgender Identification = MTF or FTM or GQ (Gender Queer), Non-op or Post-op, etc. It will undoubtedly be something that will involve some debate including expediency and health treatment accuracy with caregivers as well insurance issues.


Dawn   
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: Iolanthe on March 26, 2010, 04:39:41 PM
Quote from: Dawn D. on March 26, 2010, 03:57:41 PM
This is something that is being looked at for trans care here in California. We recently discussed this very issue at a local Project Health council meeting. Hopefully, it is something that can be solved by simply adding another choice next to the standard Sex = M or F. Such as another category; Transgender Identification = MTF or FTM or GQ (Gender Queer), Non-op or Post-op, etc. It will undoubtedly be something that will involve some debate including expediency and health treatment accuracy with caregivers as well insurance issues.

That would actually be very helpful and medically sane.

Of course the insurance ghouls, Torquemadas all, can be counted on to fight any such measures with their usual avarice-fueled viciousness.

~L~
Title: Re: Why I Hate Filling Out Forms
Post by: mickie88 on March 26, 2010, 10:57:01 PM
Quote from: Iolanthe on March 26, 2010, 04:39:41 PM
That would actually be very helpful and medically sane.

Of course the insurance ghouls, Torquemadas all, can be counted on to fight any such measures with their usual avarice-fueled viciousness.

~L~

yep i concur with both, my gynecologist knows i was born male but since he doesn't know what he's doing i haven't gone back since he refuses to listen to me