by Simona de Ciero
As of October 2021, he was seeking public health answers to begin the transition. But even in specialized centers times are long. We are discriminated against. The turning point is near, but little attention is paid to the election
We grow up with the gaze of someone who, when they look at us, does nothing but think “there she is, the faggot”. No wonder many of us often think about suicide. Even today society does not accept us for who we are, it marginalizes us and does not provide answers to our needs or take care of our “case” by treating it badly, with little knowledge or with biblical times at best. There isn’t a transgender person, myself included, that life hasn’t walked to such an extreme decision several times.
Andrea a river in flood: he feels sadness, anger, frustration. And a lot of disappointment. He is a non-binary transgender person who, since last October, has been searching for answers in the Piedmontese public health system to begin her own gender affirmation journey, technically called transition. Change from one gender to another.
For those who, like Andrea, feel the need to change their sexual characteristics, the only public institution between Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta is the Cidigem, Molinette’s Interdepartmental Center for Gender Identity Disorders, with whom she communicated 10 months ago in a first email in have set connection . And many more in the coming months, who will be contacted as recently as last February and told: “We have taken care of your problem, we will contact you as soon as possible”.
The Infotrans website explains that to meet a sexologist, neuropsychiatrist, endocrinologist or psychologist you have to wait on average between 6 and 8 months and at least 9-12 months for an operation.
A very long time ago and further expanded since Spo.T (of the Glbtq Maurice Club), a helpdesk for trans people, who has voluntarily joined the Cidigem for the last 10 years since December 2021, due to retirement the ‘the only endocrinologist, the he had – explains Nic from the Sei Trans group – and who was not replaced. So the people in charge of Spo.T – Nic concludes – will be followed directly by the only endocrinologists at the center, with foreseeable effects on the already long waiting lists.
Wait 10 months for an unacceptable consultation for any health service, and of course the visits that concern the future of an individual who is perceived by society as a different sex than who they feel they belong to are no exception. Those unfamiliar with the subject might think it affects a few people; On the other hand, according to data that the center itself has made available to the associations, the service today processes more than 400 requests. Not only. On average, Cidigem conducts more than 1,400 consultations per year, in addition to endocrinology visits.
On the need to reduce waiting times in this sector, Sarah Disabato, 5-star Regional Councilor, presented a question time in the classroom last week, to which Luigi Icardi, Piedmont Health Councilor, responded by explaining how the current delays are linked to a Increase in the number of patients to be monitored, accompanied by the departure of some professionals working within the structure.
And then: in order to at least partially absorb the reduced activity of the ASL of Turin – concluded Icardi – the Cidigem is gradually taking charge, with an agenda of 4 endocrinological visits per month, even the patients first followed in the area. Unfortunately, scarce and ineffective measures – concludes Nic from Sei Trans – we need services spread throughout the territory and with specific times to meet all our legitimate needs.
Andrea concludes and further clarifies the urgency. I am white, come from a middle-class family, live in the center and my parents can support me: I am privileged and therefore an exception. And the others? Finding work is an almost impossible task for a trans person – he concludes. And that almost in a tone that knows more risk than opportunity.
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July 20, 2022 (change July 20, 2022 | 10:56)
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