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Transgender surgeries improving people's lives |
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Written by Tara McPherson
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Saturday, 02 May 2009 |
Regarding the delisting of transgendered surgeries in Alberta:
I’m not a trans-gendered person. My sister, Leslea, is. She’s “physically” been my sister for about six years. I can tell you a bit about how much the surgery has changed her and improved her life.
Prior to her surgery, she would get in devastating depression slumps. There were times when she wouldn’t even pick up the phone, times when she would go missing entirely and was almost impossible to find. I can’t put into words the fear that ran through me not knowing if she was even alive, not only because of her depression at the time, but the fear of Alberta with all its rednecks and gay-bashers leaving her in the ditch for dead because they don’t “approve” of the way she is.
Leslea, in her depression, tried to get lost and she pushed everyone who cared about her away, a classic trait of those who are suicidal.
Since her operation, Leslea has blossomed. She no longer is riddled with the depression cycles, she is confident on who she is and what she is, even amongst the rednecks. Yes, she still has people talk about her, people who are rude to her, people who are so close-minded they can’t even entertain the idea that they were not, in fact, put on this earth to dictate who and what people ought to be.
Leslea is a positive person who would give you the shirt off her back if it would help someone out. She also is active in helping out many others who are in the same position as she was both pre- and post-op.
I would probably even feel differently about the whole gender-reassignment issue if not for my immediate family member going through it herself. Sometimes things just happen to families. We love her and we support her in who and what she is, just as she would do for us, it’s what families do.
I can guarantee you that the politicians who are trying to sweep this issue under the carpet would feel very differently about it if someone close to them, perhaps one of their children, or a sibling, showed that they needed this surgery. What wouldn’t a parent do for their child to keep them alive and happy?
Tara McPherson
Granum
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