mindyourmindpro.ca

As I have watched the LGBT movement from a health standpoint, I have had friends transition from ‘male’ to ‘female’, and watched ‘masculine’ women go to their doctors, therapists and care providers to be met with the ever annoying and ignorant requests to ‘prove’ their gender at once!

Now, I would argue that if you are treating a chest cold, or an allergy – no provider has the right to ask what is between your legs – simply because it is irrelevant, more complex however, because it is a form of oppression to need to know or get proof of which mysterious genitalia someone owns (make note that these days, gender and sex are completely disconnected terms in some cases, and penis no longer equals ‘male’.. and for that matter, what exactly is ‘male’ anymore).

Now I’ve driven off course as I often will do, but the link is coming.

On the flip side, I do work part time for a health focused organization and have been able to recognize where checking the ‘male’ or ‘female’ box on an intake can be completely irrelevant at times, I do support sharing knowledge of one’s sexuality with a service provider. And here is my reasoning.

If I am a counsellor, or social worker, or physician for that matter… your sexuality should be important. Not to judge or make assumptions about your lifestyle, but to become more aware of your ‘big picture’. *Someone with a ‘gay’ identity is less likely to have familial support and is more likely to be oppressed, isolated, or be victim to hate crimes.

For example (and I use this example a lot). Say you get a new intake today. A young man comes into your office and explains how he is feeling down in the dumps, a little hopeless, unmotivated, possibly having some thoughts about self harm. You find he has just started his first year of university – and figure he’s got a lot on his plate. You ask if he has family – he says yes, and they are the perfect family, everyone gets along. You ask if he’s got friends, he says yes, he’s got friends on campus, and is involved on the varsity football team. So he has resources, he has support, and possibly a case if depression? Well at least he has a good support system to help him along right?

However, if this same young man added one small piece of information: He has recently realized that he has sexual feelings for other young men, and has recently ‘came out’ to himself as ‘gay’ but is afraid to tell anyone and is ashamed, this might change your perspective a little. Is he safe to tell his parents? Do they know? Is he hiding this part of who he is in fear? Is he isolating himself for protection? If his parents found out he is certain they would stop talking to him, if his football team found out he would be pushed out of the team if not worse. With the release of one sentence, he could have lost his entire support system. And with that same sentence, your job as a care provider has changed as well.

I suppose what I’m getting at is just this. A teenager showing signs of depression, self harm, or anxiety has a larger risk trajectory if they are also dealing with issues of their sexuality. And this goes for both individuals who are hiding their sexuality to the world and those who are open and seem comfortable to share.