Carla A. Pfeffer, associate professor and director of the Consortium for Sexual and Gender Minority Health at Michigan State University, joins Cheddar News to discuss the trans and nonbinary community being left out of the discussion surrounding overturning Roe V. Wade.

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How Roe V. Wade Impacts The Trans Community

welcome back everyone to between 1000 baker machado and new york. A leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn roe V wade has caused a wave of controversy across the country all about women's reproductive health. However, those within the trans and non binary community still feel left out of this conversation and being left out could have deadly consequences if roe is overturned. As the majority of people would now face. New abortion limits, advocates say the difficulties accessing care is worse for those within the trans community, with many still facing stigma or discrimination just navigating the healthcare system. So here discusses dr carla, a fee for associate professor and director of the consortium for sexual and gender minority Health over at michigan state University. Such a pleasure to have you here. Thank you so much for joining us before we dive into how this would impact the trans community. Let's just talk about how significant the roe V wade conversation right now is in America. You know, I think it can be difficult to kind of think about this issue as a single issue and I don't really think it is. I think unfortunately what we're really witnessing here is a concerted conservative political attack on our freedoms, on our rights, on the right to privacy, on the right to bodily autonomy, on the relationship between healthcare providers and patients. Um I think it's important for us not to think about Roe V wade as a single issue and the potential overturn of roe versus wade as a single issue, but rather a concerted um and coordinated political attack. Doctor feffer. Let's talk about the trans community and this because again, I don't want to minimize how an overturning of this law would affect women in this country. But also the trans community as well. Obviously getting overlooked here, just how important would this be in terms of their access to healthcare and all of these other sorts of stigmas that they go through on a daily basis here. It's a really important question. So I think that it's often forgotten that overturning roe versus wade would affect not only cis gender women, but anyone who has a uterus who has ovaries, who has, who has fallopian tubes. And so what that means is that if you're a trans man or if you are non binary and you do have a uterus and ovaries and fallopian tubes, this can affect you, it can affect your access to reproductive healthcare, affect your access to abortion. Um, and just as importantly impact your access to overall health care. We see that trans and non binary people who disproportionately tend to be people of color, people who are poorer individuals who have been marginalized. Uh, these groups tend to seek care at health centers like planned parenthood, for example, who's funding would be challenged, who's very ability to continue operating after an overturn of roe v wade would be jeopardized. And so thinking about the lack of access to overall comprehensive health care for the trans and non binary community. It's absolutely huge and let's just talk about the stigma and sort of the awkwardness that a lot of trans people have. Just going to a medical facility. According to one study, 30% of trans people reported delaying or discontinuing their care because of fear of discrimination. And approximately one in four trans people said they were denied equal treatment in healthcare settings. Um let's just talk about how alarming these numbers are here and when it comes to a lot of trans people, just going to just see a doctor here. Yeah. You know, it all starts just walking into that clinic. So often if somebody is seeking out reproductive healthcare services, let's say a trans man needs a pap smear. Um you walk into a clinic, they may call you by the wrong name, use the wrong pronouns not even recognize you as a patient. You may be looking at forms that don't offer your particular gender pronoun, you may be working with healthcare providers who are not using the proper terminology for your body that you're comfortable with. And many providers may seek may not have the education that they need to ethically in a competent way. Work with trans and non binary patients. And so often patients will find themselves having to educate their own healthcare providers during a time that can be incredibly vulnerable. You're there with a lot of your clothes off, you're talking about some of the most private parts of your body, some areas of your body that you may have discomfort or dysphoria around. So it can be a very vulnerable experience working with healthcare providers that have not been provided the sort of medical education that is comprehensive and involves focus on trans and non binary populations. Yeah, not even just to mention even transphobia from some of these doctors. I mean, look as a gay man, I've experienced homophobia visiting a doctor before in the past, let alone what the trans community has to go through. But this isn't even just their physical health. I mean, this also impacts mental health as well here. It really does. And so the kind of, you know, mental calculus you have to go through just to psych yourself up to get to an appointment can be incredibly, incredibly difficult. Um, and if we think about just how vital forms of gender affirming medical care are. Often, they involve access to testosterone, which is medically necessary. Hormonal treatment for some members of the trans and non binary community. If we think about roe V wade being overturned and the potential of losing health centers that cater to these populations and provide these sorts of treatment. It's absolutely terrifying because we know that um mental health issues are impacted. We would expect to see increased risks of depression and suicide among these populations. If there are folks who have been using testosterone who are no longer able to access testosterone and part of that concerted political attack that we've seen has involved targeting gender affirming healthcare healthcare practices that have been supported by the American Medical Association and dozens of other health care providers and professional organizations. Um Their authority is being eroded under some of these conservative panics. Doctor feffer I've had, I have about a minute left with you pride month, obviously right around the corner. What sort of your message to the L. G. B. T. Q community as we head into Pride Month when it comes to our health here? I would say that nothing that we're facing right now is a single issue. We need to work intersectional e with other groups. Um, just as we've seen, uh, you know, panics around critical race theory, panics around gender affirming care for trans and non binary youth. The attempted overturn of roe v wade. This is a concerted political attack and one that needs to be faced intersectional E I say, partner with your local midwives, with the National Center for transgender Equality with planned parenthood, local and national chapters and with the A. C. L. U. To make a difference in your own communities. I really appreciate us having this conversation. Dr Carla F for is an associate professor and director of the Consortium for sexual and gender minority health over at michigan State University. Thank you so very much for joining us