As a community, people have come a long way in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and equality in Tampa. Though there still has work to do, many cities now have laws protecting trans people from discrimination and hate crimes, and there has been an increase in visibility for transgender individuals over the past decade. However, there is still much work left to be done when it comes to transgender healthcare in Tampa, FL; this goes beyond just access but also understanding what their needs are as well. This blog post discusses some of these issues and suggestions on how Tampa communities can help promote better access to care for their transgender friends and neighbors!
Healthcare Disparities Among Transgender Individuals
Transgender issues have been prevalent in Tampa for many years now. Furthermore, Tampa residents do not realize how much disparity exists between access to healthcare among the general population and transgender individuals.
- Transgender individuals are more likely to lack health insurance coverage than their non-transgender counterparts: 19% of transgender adults reported being uninsured compared with 14% of all adults in the United States(CDC 2017).
- Transgender individuals are less likely to have a regular primary care doctor: 23% versus 37% (CDC 2017).
- Transgender individuals are less likely to have a regular mental health care provider: 36% versus 55% (CDC 2017).
- Transgender people are also less likely to use preventive services such as dental visits and cancer screenings: 33%, and 50%, respectively (CDC 2016).
Restrictions On Healthcare For Transgender Individuals
Transgender individuals have been discriminated against for far too long to receive the healthcare they need. According to the Human Rights Campaign, transgender people are often denied coverage for transition-related care, hormone replacement therapy, and gender confirmation surgery.
This means that transgender people may be forced to pay out-of-pocket or go without these necessities—including mental health services, primary care visits, and breast exams—just because of their gender identity.
How To Support Transgender Individuals In The Community
There are a few ways that residents and communities can do their part in improving transgender healthcare in Tampa, FL:
- Be open-minded: Don’t assume to know what they are going through simply because of their gender identity or expression, but instead, be understanding and kind. If someone comes out as trans or non-binary, don’t make assumptions about how they identify sexually (such as assuming that they want to date people of their gender) or assume that because of this identity, they will be different from other people in terms of personality traits (such as being overly sensitive).
- Do not use the wrong pronouns for someone who identifies themselves differently than their birth sex assigned at birth (e.g., using she/her when someone prefers ze/zir). This is considered highly offensive by many LGBTQIA+ communities; furthermore, even if people do not personally know any specific individual who prefers these pronouns over others, there will most likely still be others around who do prefer specific pronouns, so please respect that! Additionally, please always use both versions so that everyone feels included – never write off an entire group based on one small aspect, such as gender, which doesn’t define anyone’s worthiness as a human being!
It can be intimidating to make a change, but when people come together and take action, great things happen! The more people speak up about their experiences with discrimination and stigma—whether they’re transgender or not—the more likely it is that others will listen and be moved into action themselves.
