Hateful rhetoric, new laws rob me of my security and safety | Opinion
“There is evil in this world …”
Indeed, there is, and it is being perpetrated against the transgender community on an unprecedented scale. The roots of this evil run deep in Florida’s current crusade against individuality, self-expression, and the freedoms of transgender individuals across the state. On a scale never seen in these United States, we are witnessing an extraordinary level of government interference from the “party of small government” as they seek to legislate the rights of the entire transgender community away. With the mass exodus of entire families from the state, one thing is clear; we are being purged to make way for a wave of red which threatens the sanctity of American ideals — those truths we know to be self-evident, that we are created equal with certain inalienable rights to pursue life, liberty and happiness. As a transgender woman living in Florida, this past year has been the most difficult year of my life. I have had to watch as myself and people like me are cast in vile fashion as “demons” or that we are somehow “evil.” Now, because of this astonishingly hateful rhetoric, I am beset every day by personal attacks against me. I have been robbed of my sense of security and safety as a citizen of the state of Florida. Regardless of the rhetoric of vilification, I am here to stand tall and proud as a defender of basic human rights, of basic human decency. To those that wish for me to leave or to be silent; to quote a favorite poem of mine, I will not go gentle into that good night.
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The existence of transgender people is not a new phenomenon and if we look beyond the simple-minded argument that it’s “basic biology” we can clearly see examples throughout nature and history that demonstrate that biology indeed goes beyond the basic premise that sex is binary. Those who speak out against the rights of transgender people are nothing more than demagogues by definition; making use of manufactured outrage to perpetuate their own personal prejudices to an echo-chamber audience.
I reject the notion of being a victim of the healthcare system. If anything, I am a victim of a right-wing, extremist agenda fueled by greed, personal prejudice, and special interest groups. I am a victim of people who cannot justify their position with knowledge but rather by belief; a firmly held conviction which exists regardless of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. I am a victim of propaganda perpetrated by hate groups. I am a victim of the personal interests of a select few individuals who cannot see past their own prejudices to see the factual, verifiable truth of my existence.
It is clear that the opposition is making every effort to outright ban my existence. Under Senate Bill 254, we are seeing up to 80% of qualified, proven, compassionate care providers restricted from providing care. We are seeing pharmacies refuse to service transgender patients. We are seeing transgender patients be dropped from care entirely.
Given that the premise of Senate Bill 254 was allegedly about “protecting children,” I ask of these lawmakers, why then restrict the practice of nurse practitioners to provide this care to adults? They will tell you these treatments have a “high risk of complications or side effects.” The occurrence of these is extremely uncommon. Have you read the side effects of the acetaminophen that you take? Have you read the side effects of that ibuprofen that you take for a headache? These medications are widely available without any kind of prescription whatsoever and both come with what’s called a “black box warning” which warns that taking these common medications can result in a variety of dangerous side effects and even death.
Of all the treatments provided to transgender patients for the purpose of supporting their transition, very few even have a black box warning. While it’s true that taking estradiol, a common component of any transfeminine treatment regimen, can increase the risk for deep vein thrombosis, this risk is no more than a cisgender woman might experience when taking an oral contraceptive. To make the argument that these proven treatments are dangerous to the point that they should only be provided by doctors is disingenuous and flat-out false. Any healthcare provider will tell you that they weigh the risks and benefits of treatments against the risks and benefits of withholding treatments, and this is no different in the case of transgender individuals.
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It's clear to that this assault on the transgender community is predicated on discrimination, objective falsehoods, and the belief that transgender people are somehow less deserving of respect as human beings. I am confident that the legislation which recently passed will be quickly overturned in favor of reason and knowledge and not on the nebulous concept of “belief.”
The truth is these lawmakers aren’t interested in knowing the truth. They are interested in furthering their own prejudices. I am here to say that regardless of your “belief,” I exist. I will not cut and run as is their desire. I will remain and I will use my power as a citizen of this state to ensure that justice is brought to this case — that transgender people of any age, of any creed, of any walk of life will be heard and understood. We have had to fight for our right to exist for decades. Our skills are sharpened and honed to face this assault head-on with sound reason, logic, and above all: knowledge.
So, I say again, there is evil in this world and I, for one, am ready to face it. We will not be eradicated. Will you stand with me?
Lana Dunn is the chief operating officer for SPEKTRUM Health, which provides primary care for LGBTQA+ individuals and which has offices in Orlando and Melbourne.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida transgender woman says she is victimized by new laws
