What types of health care do local transgender people need? And how are they getting it?
Changes in health
by Kris Vagner k r isv @ ne wsr e v ie w.c o m
For local information about transgender health, see the Transgender Allies Group’s Resource Guide at http://transgenderalliesgroup.org/pdfs/2 016TransgenderResourc eGuide.pdf
Sherrie Scaffidi is a Fernley retiree in her 60s with a funny story about visiting her cardiologist. “Scaffidi, what’s going on?” the doctor, Basil Chryssos, asked. This was about four years ago, shortly after Sherrie—who used to be Paul—had decided to live as a woman. The change would be helped along by hormone treatments. But the doctor knew none of this yet. “Your hair’s getting long,” the doctor said. “You look like one of the Beatles.” Scaffidi needed an OK from the cardiologist in order to begin taking the hormones. She had already announced to her three grown children and her siblings that the transition was imminent—and already encountered some awkward moments, plus a level of family support that she found heartening—but she had trouble finding the words to announce it to the cardiologist. “I love my cardiologist,” said Scaffidi, recalling the incident recently. “He’s great. But he and I have had a very macho relationship over the years. I used to work at Scheels, selling firearms, and he would come in and buy guns from me all the time.” “I had a letter from my therapist, so I just handed him the letter,” she said. “And he read the letter, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘You really think I care about this stuff?’ He said, ‘I don’t care about this at all.’ He said, ‘You know what I care about? I care about your heart.’ He said, ‘Is this what you want to do?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Is it going to make you happy?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘By all means, do it. It’s the best thing for your health.’” Chryssos’ concern about his patient being happy isn’t simply a sign of him being a nice guy. For a population that faces harassment, violence, discrimination and a suicide rate often cited above 40 percent, the support of health practitioners is a critical piece of health care. Six months later, Scaffidi went to the cardiologist again. The doctor opened the door to the examining room, thought he was walking in on the wrong patient, and started to leave. Then he realized the patient was a more feminine-looking Scaffidi. These days, she looks
like the lady next door. On a summer day, she’s likely to sport casual retiree wear—a tank top, sneakers and a simple barrette—and shoulder length hair with a rich, graphite color that her hairdresser has deemed too enviable to condone dyeing. Here’s her recollection of that moment when the doctor came back into the room: “And then he said, ‘You look pretty good as a woman, Scaffidi,’ And I said, ‘Thanks, Doc.’ And I’ve seen him several times since then. We have a great relationship.”
Changing social climate Thirty-one years ago, a Nevada Supreme Court decision took away the parenting rights of Reno’s Suzanne Lindley Daly because she was transgender (see “Stripped rights,” RN&R, July 13). As of late, Nevada is more transgender-friendly. This year, the state Legislature passed SB 110, allowing transgender people to legally change their names without having to publish an announcement in a newspaper, a move toward privacy and safety, and SB 188, adding “gender identity or expression” to the list of things it’s illegal for employers and landlords to discriminate against. Scaffidi likes to talk about how grateful she is that most—though not all—people in her life have been warm and supportive to her since she came out. She gave extra props to her 31-year-old daughter’s friends and peers, who have embraced her new persona—and it is, to a large extent, a whole new persona. Paul did not strike up conversations with strangers in elevators; Sherrie most certainly does—with love and friendship. And when it comes to health care, she’s found many—though not all—practitioners knowledgeable and supportive. Scaffidi said, “Some want to learn, some are ambivalent, some are downright hostile.” She knows of a transgender person who, while being treated for a broken arm, saw doctors call each other into the room to gawk. Her own general practitioner was supportive about the transition but admitted to having no training in transgender health needs. He recommended a younger doctor.
“Changes in health” continued on page 12
07.20.17
|
RN&R
|
11
