Storm Rose Writer

Gender inclusive language is not an attack on your being cis. It is, however, a small step in equalling the playing field of medical environments, scientific discussion and educational settings. (An image of a trans female patient speaking with a trans male doctor) For context, earlier this year, I gave birth. Throughout my pregnancy, I had to endure being misgendered and feeling out of place at hospital and midwife appointments. I have rhesus negative blood. This means I have to have a lot of anti-D injections at the hospital to stop my body making antigens against my baby in the instance my baby has rhesus positive blood. I also had symptoms of pre-eclampsia and unrelated, often went into ketosis. For both of these conditions, you have to pee into a lot of cups for protein, ketone and sugar checks of your urine. The toilet on the Antenal Baby Clinic (ABC) ward was a singular accessible toilet. Now you might think “it’s a singular toilet, what’s exclusionary about that?” Well, the big...

WHY I DON’T PRESENT AS “MALE” I came out as trans back in the summer of 2018 after about a year of questioning my gender and a lifetime of feeling disconnected from my femininity. Until I saw a friend post on their Facebook about being trans, I didn't know I could just change my gender. I didn’t think I was trans enough. I wore dresses, I’d had a baby, I liked having long hair, I liked feminine things. I am now 100% sure I want to transition and for me, that includes surgery and hormones. I am on an eighteen to a thirty-six-month waiting list for my local Gender Identity Clinic. However, in the meantime, I am still stuck feeling like a fake trans. I have tried dressing exclusively in “men’s” clothing (and I do use quotation marks for the emphasis that the only thing that makes them men’s clothes is that they are cut for people with slim hips and flat chests) and I felt ridiculous. Like a kid when they put on their mum’s high heels and lipstick in an attempt to be a grown-up.  Now, ...