Victory (Patreon)

How do I say this?

The year is 2021, and I decide I will no longer put up with being misgendered.   I will stand up for myself every time, no matter what.

Who picks a fight with me about this?

Here's what happened:

MAY:  I'm a Trans patient with special needs, misgendered continuously as my pain (which lasts entire summer) fails to be treated, or taken seriously.

AUG:  Dubious Consent Surgery is scheduled, and botched!

SEPT:  I file a report with the help of my therapist.  They respond in writing—getting my name and pronouns wrong—and it goes downhill from there.

DEC:  Christmas Eve I open my final letter summarizing my mistreatment, apologizing, and informing me (with regrets) that I must pay for everything.

It was awful.

This was my invisible war, and it really shook me up.  In the worst times I couldn't tell if it was responsible to recommend The University of Rochester to another Trans person.  

Is there an implicit bias at play?  Do they serve Trans people? or are they only actually prepared to treat cisgender patients?

...were they singling me out?  Did I do something wrong?  Was I being unfair?

I refused to pay the bill, because that's the only card I had to play.  I felt paying for my own mistreatment would send the wrong message, and harm the Trans community at large. 

BY THE GODS how I wanted to back down!  but I couldn't.

It took 278 days.

It's my last resort—out of ideas—I turn to my Coven and reach out to a damn lawyer.  

Word of this move travels fast, and suddenly I'm taking a phone call and being told that every last penny is being waived (even though they sent it to collections before the report/filing had concluded).

I am left with scars visible and invisible.  

But I am nevertheless left, victorious.

Fuck around and find out.

With love,

-J (they/them)