Every once in a while I think of something that changes the way I look at things. Most of the time it's something small that should have been obvious all along but for some reason just escapes me.
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I had a realization like this at some point last week. I don't remember exactly when it 'hit me' but it was significant.
Next weekend I have an appointment that should be the first in a string of 4 - 6 appointments that would lead to me getting a prescription for testosterone... FINALLY. I don't know how long the appointments will drag out, I don't know how long it will be in between appointments all I know so far is that I heard good things about the doctor from Rainbow Health and that it could potentially be much sooner than my referred appointment with Dr. Fung on May 16th. I'm still pursuing both avenues though. I'm keeping my appointment with Dr. Fung and am on the cancellation list in case I can get in sooner.
I'm also going down to Toronto on the 4th for readiness assessment with one of the facilitators of Gender Journeys. This assessment would be good to have to give to Dr. Fung and hopefully it would be of -some- use when it comes to CAMH whom I still haven't heard from in any manner.
I'm also having issues with Passport Canada which is really ticking me off and may be the kick in the butt that I need to really start advocating for some reform when it comes to trans peoples access to things that cis people take for granted.
I applied for my passport a couple weeks ago using the form that was provided during Gender Journeys.
I got a call on Friday from a woman asking if I'd had 'the surgery' (literally, that's what she asked)
I told her no and she told me that she could then only issue me a 2 year passport with Male as my gender based on Passport Canada Policy.
I asked her if I could receive a copy of their Policy she said she'd have to find out and call me back.
She called me back saying that I'd have to request the policy via freedom of information (which I'm going to) but that with further reading that to get a passport with Male as my gender marker I would have to PROVE that I was HAVING SURGERY within 12 months or they could not issue me a passport with Male as my gender.
I pushed her while I was on the phone explaining the obvious danger of carrying a passport which does not corroborate the gender I present as and she said that if I had my family doctor fax her a letter saying that I am PURSUING surgery that MAY be enough. I do not know if my doctors office has sent that fax yet (I asked them to also fax me at my workplace what they send her) and I probably won't hear back from her until Monday (when I will call her if I haven't)
She was very vague on the phone about what they consider 'surgery' about what 'proof' they require (whether it's male on the birth certificate or a letter from a surgeon, but she said there were no ACTUAL forms)
So, yes, pretty pissed off in that regard and going to deal with it.
I applied for my passport a couple weeks ago using the form that was provided during Gender Journeys.
I got a call on Friday from a woman asking if I'd had 'the surgery' (literally, that's what she asked)
I told her no and she told me that she could then only issue me a 2 year passport with Male as my gender based on Passport Canada Policy.
I asked her if I could receive a copy of their Policy she said she'd have to find out and call me back.
She called me back saying that I'd have to request the policy via freedom of information (which I'm going to) but that with further reading that to get a passport with Male as my gender marker I would have to PROVE that I was HAVING SURGERY within 12 months or they could not issue me a passport with Male as my gender.
I pushed her while I was on the phone explaining the obvious danger of carrying a passport which does not corroborate the gender I present as and she said that if I had my family doctor fax her a letter saying that I am PURSUING surgery that MAY be enough. I do not know if my doctors office has sent that fax yet (I asked them to also fax me at my workplace what they send her) and I probably won't hear back from her until Monday (when I will call her if I haven't)
She was very vague on the phone about what they consider 'surgery' about what 'proof' they require (whether it's male on the birth certificate or a letter from a surgeon, but she said there were no ACTUAL forms)
So, yes, pretty pissed off in that regard and going to deal with it.
