TransActual
I act for a living. That would make sense, what with going to drama school. It’s tough – brutal at times – but I love it. And I love being trans, in every capacity. Simply knowing myself to be ‘trans’ makes me feel whole. And being both trans and an actor makes me a ‘trans actor’ – I love that, too. But, prior to this year, I was stuck in a habit of forgetting who I am.
PrEP (Pre Exposure Prophylaxis) is a drug designed to reduce the chances of getting HIV for people who are at a higher risk of exposure, including men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users, and sex workers. Thanks to the efforts of HIV activist groups, over the past few years, PrEP has become available on the NHS in the UK. Those who meet certain criteria can access it through a sexual health clinic. As a queer trans man, I felt that it was important for my health and peace of mind to get on PrEP. Moreover, studies have shown that the drug is safe for transgender people to take, and does not interfere with HRT.
Harassment on the street, discrimination that prevents you from getting a job, and a transphobic landlord. All things that could easily affect a UK based trans person. For those of us with secure housing, we do at least have a place of safety to retreat to. Those of experiencing housing discrimination can, in theory, seek support to challenge the discrimination that the Equality Act protects us from.
In Kenya there isn’t a law to protect trans people from discrimination, in fact trans people are impacted by the homophobic, biphobic and transphobic laws that were originally imposed under colonial rule.
If you’re being messed about by your GP; if your GP is not taking you seriously or is failing to provide care you are entitled to; then our message is simple: complain! Complain loud. Complain long. And do not let go. Because trans healthcare in the UK is a disgrace. But medical practitioners get away with abysmal because people do not think it worth the while to complain.
Why? Because nothing ever happens to trans-hostile GPs. But do you know why nothing ever happens to them? Because no-one complains!
Calls for more funding are an understandable and desperate plea for improvements to the only system we’ve known. But funneling more money into a system which continues to fail us is not the answer.
But when I started to transition medically, it took a lot longer than other transgender people. When I asked for treatment, I had to wait a long time. They asked me loads of questions, like “you have a learning disability, so do you understand what transgender means?” Someone told me I couldn’t possibly be trans, because it was “too complicated for me.”